What once was old is new again at Brennan’s of Houston where the highly anticipated overhaul and expansion of the restaurant’s storied Courtyard Bar is taking center stage. The iconic Midtown restaurant debuted its dreamy new bar, which was renovated over the course of the last year, giving the interior first floor space a luxe new look.
“For 58 years, Brennan’s has been a place where special memories are made, and our goal with this redesign was to create a space that continues to inspire,” says co-proprietor Alex Brennan Martin. “The Courtyard Bar is an extension of our hospitality—fine dining, fine casual, if you will. Now we have an inviting haven to unwind, celebrate and indulge, whether on date night or coming straight from the golf course.”
The redesign has resulted in a slight shuffle at the restaurant, with the barroom relocated to the “Terms” room, a space that famously appeared in the movie Terms of Endearment, starring Jack Nicholson and Shirley Maclain; and the former bar transformed into a relaxed dining area. For the main attraction, co-proprietors and cousins Alex Brennan Martin and Brad Brennan relied on Studio Red, a Houston-based architecture firm that previously worked with the restaurant in 2008 when it suffered fire damage. This time, the firm was able to stretch its creative muscles.
Inspiration for the redesign came from the cherished Parisian bistros, New York cocktail bars, and New Orleans hideaways favored by Brennan Martin. He also leaned into the memories of his childhood home where his mother Ella Brennan and Aunt Adelaide would host parties. Large black-and-white Carrera tiles, a popular New Orleans-style design feature that both cousins recall from their family homes, are incorporated alongside Parisian blue painted walls and French toile wallpaper. Vintage photos of the family decorate the newly minted space and feel fitting.
For the horseshoe-like-shaped bar, Brennan Martin wanted a zinc bar top. “We have a real zinc bar top because it’s something I’ve always loved, going back to my days in France,” he says. “If you found yourself in a new neighborhood, you would ask someone where is le zinc, rather than where is the bar because they all had zinc bar tops.”
Attention is naturally drawn to the coffered ceiling where chandeliers and hand-crafted mermaid light fixtures illuminate the room. Brennan’s loyalists may recognize the mermaid lights, which are a recreation of the lights that once lit the restaurant’s wine room before being destroyed in the 2008 fire. The maritime-inspired accents are a nod to New Orleans pirate lore, harking back to the family’s Louisiana roots.
As the central focus, bellying up to the bar and settling into one of the tufted bar stools feels like a natural choice, but guests can also retreat to cozy dining alcoves with quilted silver and blue banquettes that line the back wall. Views of the New Orleans-style courtyard remain on full display, with the outdoor area receiving its own makeover by adding lounge seating to the existing vintage wrought iron dining tables and chairs.
While drinking up the elegant new decor, bar patrons will appreciate a refreshed menu featuring bar-exclusive appetizers, small plates, and entrées. New additions include savory beignets presented with a four-cheese fondue; Creole ceviche lettuce wraps; muffuletta sliders; and seafood nachos stacked with fried oysters, Gulf shrimp, and crab meat. The bar’s expansion also allowed space for frozen drink machines, giving guests the opportunity to sip on icy bevs like frozen brandy milk punch as the warmer months roll in.
As Brennan’s Courtyard Bar draws in Houstonians once again, guests can look forward to it continuing to be a festive place for gatherings of all kinds, including wine tasting series and the popular courtyard crawfish boils that will resume this spring. With music having long been a significant part of Brennan’s courtyard culture, Brennan Martin has plans to introduce “Vinyl Nights” during which guests can vibe out to their own records, or choose from the collection at the restaurant.
“Immense care and thought have gone into making our new space a destination bar and another way to enjoy Brennan’s of Houston,” says Brennan Martin. “We can’t wait to see you there.”
Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith St., Houston, brennansofhouston.com
