Summer Sips, Breezy Patios & New Brunch Spots in Houston

As the summer sun blazes, there’s no better way to cool down than with refreshing cocktails, delectable brunches, and shaded patios! Check out the best of what Houston has to offer, featuring updates from Auden, Cafe Piquet Cuban Cuisine, and The Original Ninfa’s.

Summer Cocktails

Cool off with these invigorating summer sips:

• Cafe Piquet Cuban Cuisine brings the spirit of Cuban beaches to Houston with its new cocktail menu. The Vacation Upgrade combines Bacardi Coconut Rum, Plantation Pineapple Rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, and sweetened coconut cream for a tropical escape. The Old Cuban offers a twist on the classic martini with aged dark rum, muddled mint, Angostura bitters, simple syrup, and Prosecco. For a spicy kick, try the Dapper Pepper, a mezcal margarita with muddled serrano pepper, ancho chili liquor, Cointreau, lime juice, pineapple juice, agave, and a Taijin block rim.
• Auden’s cocktail menu is infused with rich Indian flavors. The Garam Old Fashioned blends Buffalo Trace bourbon, turbinado, Angostura bitters, cardamom bitters, and garam masala for a sweet and spicy finish. The Mai Taihini is a Tiki-inspired drink with toasted sesame, miso, Flor de Cana Rum, dry curacao, and lime. The Margarita Rosa features guava, pomelo, rose water, Lalo Blanco, Cointreau, and lime. Enjoy half-off cocktails during happy hour from Tuesday to Friday, 5pm-6:30pm.
• The Original Ninfa’s introduces the Tranquilita Margarita, a unique cocktail with Ocho Verde Cannabis Spirit. The Batanga includes Socorro Blanco, lime juice, Mexican Cola, and salt, stirred with a steak knife for added flavor. The Spicy Guava Rita and Tropical Rita offer refreshing twists with jalapeno-infused Agauasol Blanco, guava, pineapple, and Tajin rims.

Brunch

• Auden offers a brunch menu featuring Texas and Gulf Coast cuisine with Indian twists. Start with Scallion Hotcakes or a Greenhouse Salad. Indulge in the Brunch Burger with tomato jam, cheddar, dijonnaise, fried shallots, and a fried egg on a brioche bun, or the Biscuit & Crawfish Gravy. Brunch cocktails like the Eternal Sunshine and Chaijillo add a refreshing touch. Brunch is served on Sundays from 11am-3pm.
• The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation and in Uptown offers a diverse brunch menu. Highlights include Huevos Rancheros with eggs, carnitas, and cheese on a tostada, and Desayuno Mexicano with chorizo, eggs, frijoles puercos, crispy potatoes, and either Nueske bacon or smoked sausage. Brunch cocktails like the South Padre Sunrise, Hibiscus 75, and Horchata Borracha complement the hearty dishes. Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm.

Stay Cool in the Summer

• Cafe Piquet Cuban Cuisine features a spacious, partially enclosed patio with fans, a skylight, and surrounding greenery, emulating the colonial charm of Old Havana.
• Auden in River Oaks’ Autry Park offers a breezy patio lined with seating and tables, partially enclosed and shaded for comfort. The patio includes umbrellas and lounge furniture, perfect for happy hour.
• The Original Ninfa’s provides outdoor seating at its Navigation and Uptown locations. Uptown’s wrap-around patio is equipped with fans and A/C, while Navigation’s patio has retractable enclosures and fans to keep diners cool.

Conclusion

This summer, beat the heat with these refreshing cocktails, delicious brunches, and cool patio spots. Whether you’re sipping on a tropical drink, indulging in a flavorful brunch, or relaxing outdoors, these Houston hotspots have you covered.