Houston’s Sophie’s Cocktail Bar and Terrace Opens in Montrose

All eyes are on Paris this summer as the French city prepares for the Summer Olympics, and luckily for Houstonians not traveling abroad, a little piece of France is returning to Space City.

Local entrepreneur Ashley Muncie has used her experience living in Paris and working for fashion companies to create a stylish new cocktail bar and lounge in Montrose. Officially opening on Friday, July 19, Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar captures the essence of the French Riviera with a touch of vaudeville-style décor.

Located next door to Uchi, Sophie offers a two-part experience that appeals to all the senses. On the ground floor, as bar patrons enter, a floral wall and a waft of sweet scent set the tone. Hidden behind a curtain is Sophie’s 20-seat cocktail bar. Designed by EAMStudio and its creative director Emilia Menocal, who hails from France, the intimate space exudes drama, with deep red lacquered walls, floral and animal prints, mirrored ceilings and oversized glass chandeliers, velvet club chairs, and paintings by French artist Philippine de Richemont. Upstairs, a whimsical 2,000-square-foot terrace and outdoor patio aim to transport bar patrons to the South of France. Seating up to 80 guests, diners can choose to sit at its patio tables and listen to live music, or roam the space and catch a glimpse of Sophie’s lively corner in Montrose.

Shawn Chippendale

Executive chef Anthony Anderson, formerly of Uchi, Uchiko and Nobie’s, designed the French-centric menu, where caviar makes an appearance in dishes like the Thon Cru, marinated yellowfin tuna served with saffron potatoes, and Sophie’s fettuccine dish that’s dripping with lemon butter. Diners can also enjoy charcuterie boards loaded with cheese and wild game, the casual but still decadent Sophie Burger, which is topped with Gruyere and caramelized onions, and the Swan, a pistachio cake topped with pistachio shortbread and raspberry confit.

Spritzes and a variety of wines, with an emphasis on the French variety, are on offer, but the cocktails steal the show. The King’s Lover cocktail is made with Kettle One vodka made with roasted barley brioche, 43 liqueur and Maven cold brew; while the aromatic Scent of a Rose, made with rose and grapefruit vodka, rose cordial, lemon, elderflower and sparkling rose, has a floral flavour. Bar patrons can also try Sophie’s “experimental” cocktails, which are served only in the ground-floor lounge. Sophie’s clever take on the gin and tonic, My Friend Picasso, features lemon and thyme-infused French gin, topped with elderflower tonic and poured into a quirky glass for two.

Alex Montoya

Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar is open daily from 4pm to 2am, with weekday happy hours from 4pm to 7pm and weekend brunch from noon to 4pm, featuring daily specials, live music and rooftop DJ sets. 910 Westheimer Road, Montrose, 77006.