Best Cocktail Bars in Texas

Austin leads Texas by count, with Houston close behind and Dallas holding its own. Bandista in Houston ranks on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, and the 2026 Spirited Awards named a string of Texas Regional Honorees: Bar Fino in Austin for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar, Holiday in Austin for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar, Johnny's Gold Brick in Houston for Best U.S. Bar Team and Catbird in Dallas for Best U.S. Hotel Bar, with Midnight Rambler in Dallas a Top 10 nominee for Best U.S. Hotel Bar. Nickel City and The Roosevelt Room anchor the Austin scene, and Brownsville adds a James Beard Outstanding Bar honoree. The list below covers every Texas cocktail bar we have verified, each with the address, published hours and the drinks worth ordering; the city guides linked below rank each city's best.