LOCAL Houston | The City Guide November 2017 | Page 35

IF YOU’VE EVER ASKED THE QUESTION, THIS IS THE ANSWER
TO “WHERE DO FASHIONABLE PEOPLE DRINK WHEN NOT IN
A CLUB?” AS WE SIT HERE IN A MAJOR DEPARTMENT STORE IN
THE GALLERIA, DRINKING CRAFT COCKTAILS AND WATCHING
OTHERS ENJOY THE SAME, SPLITS OF CHAMPAGNE OR ESPRES-
SO, PEOPLE KEEP STOPPING BY. BY WHERE? BY BAR 12, PART
OF THE 51FIFTEEN CUISINE AND COCKTAIL PROGRAM IN SAKS
FIFTH AVENUE AT THE GALLERIA.
Beyond suitably fashionable for our Fashion Issue, Bar 12 sits on
the first floor of Saks, looking 100 emoji like it belongs in the high-
end shopping mecca. Situated at the base of the dramatically huge
staircase with marble steps and leather handrails curving between the
first and second floors, Bar 12 is beautifully adorned in black and
brass. Quite the design, nestled right there by beauty, Kiehl’s and the
men‘s collections, with the towering, curved shelf full of spirits and the
blacked-out oval shaped bar with plenty of seating. This is a wonder-
ful idea, and many shoppers seem to feel the same way. If you were
to time lapse this place over a normal shopping day, it would seem
like an NY Fashion Week runway meets The Galleria. People seem
to stop by all day long, duct tape wallet to Birkin bag, and there
are TVs and tables if you need some respite from burning up your
credit card or burning off your inheritance. It’s also a great place for
happy hour, people watching or simply enjoying some high-quality
bar cuisine and cocktails. These guys (Landmark Houston Hospitality
Group) run Hearsay downtown so they know how to do service, food
and drink, right.
Speaking of cocktails, you’re going to try the Lavender Peach Belli-
ni/Martini. Crafted with Enchanted Rock Peach Vodka, peach and
lavender honey and champagne, you really can’t go wrong with this
one. And in honor of, we assume, The Professional Shopper, the Bar
12 martini shows who‘s boss with Stoli Elite Vodka and blue cheese
olives, dirty or strong! And the food, it’s legit. The Galleria has eating
options; Few, if any, touch Bar 12 for a quick high-end bite. Why
doesn’t every good department store have one of these? I guess the
expense of a liquor license, but we’re really at a loss as to why these
aren’t more prevalent. Get a local operator, tried and true, to come in
and operate a cush cocktail bar right in the middle of your store. For
now, we’ll just all have to enjoy Bar 12.
BAR 12
@ SAKS FIFTH AVENUE IN THE GALLERIA (FIRST FLOOR)
5175 Westheimer Road .| Houston, TX 77056
713.963.8067 | www.51fifteen.com/about-51fifteen/bar-12/
Monday–Wednesday: 11am–9pm
Thursday–Saturday: 11am–10pm
Sunday: 11am–7pm
Happy Hour: 3–6:30pm
By Mike Cook | Photography provided by Bar 12
11 . 2017 | L O C A L
35