Photo credit: @bandistahouston
The World’s 50 Best is a premier digital authority that scouts and ranks the globe’s most exceptional bars, restaurants, and hotels. For the 2026 edition, the spotlight is shining brighter than ever on Houston, with the annual ranking officially naming Bandista among the 50 best bars in North America.
Photo credit: @bandistahouston
Leaping into the elite top tier at No. 47 is Houston’s own Bandista. Tucked away behind a secret, password-protected bookcase inside the Four Seasons Hotel Houston (1300 Lamar St.), this speakeasy-inspired lounge has become a must-visit since its debut in 2022.
The space is swanky, intimate, and pays homage to the 1920s with a strictly limited capacity of just 20 guests.
Planning ahead is essential, as reservations are required to gain entry. Once you’re confirmed, a hotel official escorts you to the hidden entrance for a 90-minute immersion into high-end mixology.
Bandista’s cocktail program is as sophisticated as its setting—keep an eye out for creative standouts like the tiramisu-inspired Dulce Far Niente or the refreshing, absinthe-rinsed Writer’s Block 27.
Photo credit: @bandistahouston
Here’s what the publication said of Bandista:
“Scientific laboratory tech meets classic southern hospitality at Houston’s hot spot Bandista. Deep within the downtown Four Seasons Hotel, the chic lounge is hidden behind a nondescript bookcase. Inside, a mix of cocktalians and visiting VIPs experience a unique take on the classic speakeasy. Yes, touches of Art Deco invoke the expected 1920’s vibes and the exclusive space oozes Gatsby. However, the focus here is on tequileros and Prohibition’s oft overlooked smuggling routes along the US-Mexican border”.
Earlier this year, World’s 50 Best released their extended list of the best bars in North America. At No. 84 on the list is the Houston Southern cocktail spot from Alba Huerta, Julep.