Photo credit: @albaworksit
Houston’s premier cocktail sanctuary, Julep, has officially secured the 84th spot on the 2026 North America’s 50 Best Bars extended list (50–100).
This prestigious ranking is curated by The 50 Best, a global authority dedicated to honoring culinary excellence and beverage innovation. To ensure the integrity of the list, a massive assembly of over 300 industry experts cast their votes through a rigorous, audited process designed to capture the most exceptional drinking experiences across the continent.
To note, there are no fixed criteria for what qualifies as a “best” bar, allowing voters to prioritize elements like hospitality, atmosphere, or technical innovation according to their own professional judgment.
Photo via 50 Best
Helmed by James Beard Award-winning, Alba Huerta, helmed by cocktail expert, the menu serves as a love letter to Southern spirits, placing a heavy emphasis on Huerta’s passion for bourbon. While the offerings are anchored by a massive whiskey library and two dedicated Julep sections, the bar maintains a sophisticated range that spans from agave and cognac to thoughtful low-alcohol pours.
Julep is no stranger to the North America’s 50 Best Bars list, having placed as high as No. 46. This was the case in 2022, the same year that Alba Huerta and Julep earned a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. This was the first time that a Houston professional and/or establishment won in a national category for the first time in the history of the awards.
Photo credit: @julephou
Here’s what the World’s 50 Best had to say about Julep:
“Julep takes its Southern heritage seriously. American whiskey and warm hospitality form the backbone of the bar’s operation and identity, together with house cocktails that lean into herbal flavours. Make sure to venture beyond its trio of namesake concoctions into the selection of house creations, such as its guava-infused vesper.”
50 Best will unveil their list of the top 50 best bars in North America in a ceremony held in Vancouver on April 22, 2026.