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The Arc Room at Clarkwood Debuts Houston’s First Omakase Cocktail Experience

Army and Mason Sadeghi's latest venture is a 10-seat cocktail tasting experience that introduces Houston's first true omakase bar concept
Written By: author avatar Megha McSwain
author avatar Megha McSwain
Megha McSwain is the Texas Editor for DiningOut Magazine, managing editorial content for Houston and Dallas. Megha was born in Mumbai, India, and currently resides in Houston. She has a passion for reporting on food, restaurants, chefs, and travel, and has contributed to outlets like Food Network, Eater, InsideHook, Resy, Texas Monthly, and Texas Highways throughout her career. As a trusted member of the local media, Megha also appears as a regular guest on local lifestyle television shows, Great Day Houston on KHOU11, and Texas Today on NBC5.
Army and Mason Sadeghi continue to expand their Houston nightlife portfolio with the launch of the Arc Room at Clarkwood. | Photo by Alex Montoya
Army and Mason Sadeghi continue to expand their Houston nightlife portfolio with the launch of the Arc Room at Clarkwood. | Photo by Alex Montoya

Army Sadeghi has spent the past several years helping shape Houston’s nightlife scene through destination concepts such as Clarkwood, Melrose and, most recently, 1111. Now, the hospitality pro is introducing what may be his most ambitious project yet: The Arc Room at Clarkwood (3201 Allen Parkway), an intimate, reservation-only bar that brings Houston’s first true omakase cocktail experience to the city.

Limited to just 10 guests per seating, the Arc Room reimagines the traditional cocktail bar as a 90-minute guided tasting featuring five custom cocktails paired with curated light bites. The concept builds on Sadeghi’s reputation for creating venues where atmosphere and hospitality are as important as what’s in the glass.

Located behind the Clarkwood Courtyard, the Arc Room occupies a 700-square-foot space with its own entrance. | Photo by Jason Haas
Located behind the Clarkwood Courtyard the Arc Room occupies a 700 square foot space with its own entrance | Photo by Jason Haas

The 700-square-foot space sits behind the Clarkwood Courtyard, the patio expansion that was added to the property in 2024. With its own entrance and a completely separate identity from Clarkwood, the room was designed to feel tucked away from the energy of the surrounding bar.

“This is a truly sensory experience,” Sadeghi said in a press release. “It was designed to transport you in every sense of the word. This is a project near and dear to my heart and takes cocktail culture in a bold new direction.”

Priced at $95 per person, the tasting is offered Thursday through Saturday evenings, with seatings at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Every aspect of the experience—from the ingredients and garnishes to the glassware, lighting and soundtrack—has been carefully considered to create a seamless progression from one cocktail to the next.

Each cocktail at the Arc Room is designed as part of a larger narrative, with custom presentations, seasonal ingredients and theatrical flourishes. | Photo by Jason Haas
Each cocktail at the Arc Room is designed as part of a larger narrative with custom presentations seasonal ingredients and theatrical flourishes | Photo by Jason Haas

The Arc Room’s debut menu draws inspiration from Italy, exploring the country’s rich cocktail traditions and regional flavors. Stops along the way include Florence, Venice, Capri, Sicily, Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast, with each drink reflecting a different aspect of Italian drinking culture. The menu will evolve with the seasons, with future editions spotlighting different destinations from around the world.

Like a traditional omakase meal, guests place their trust in the host rather than ordering from a menu. Cocktails arrive in a predetermined sequence, allowing the team to guide guests through a specific theme and flavor profile.

Seasonal accompaniments, including fresh fruit and light bites, help punctuate the five-course cocktail tasting at the Arc Room. | Photo by Jason Haas
Seasonal accompaniments including fresh fruit and light bites help punctuate the five course cocktail tasting at the Arc Room | Photo by Jason Haas

“We’ve obsessed over every detail of the guest experience, from the cocktails and pairings to the music, lighting and pacing of the evening. Our goal is for every guest to leave feeling like they’ve traveled somewhere extraordinary,” said Jesus Villarreal, general manager of the Arc Room, in a press release.

The opening marks the latest chapter in a string of successful projects for Sadeghi. Clarkwood, which he opened with his wife and business partner Mason Sadeghi, established itself as one of Houston’s most recognizable cocktail destinations with its glamorous interiors and handcrafted drinks. Melrose followed in late 2024, transforming the former La Grange space into a lively nightlife venue.

Guests gather around the 10-seat bar at the Arc Room, where cocktails are presented in a guided tasting format inspired by the omakase tradition. | Photo by Jason Haas
Guests gather around the 10 seat bar at the Arc Room where cocktails are presented in a guided tasting format inspired by the omakase tradition | Photo by Jason Haas

Earlier this year, Sadeghi and hospitality partner Brandon Duliakis opened 1111, an internationally influenced cocktail lounge in the heart of Montrose. And most recently, Sadeghi partnered with former Houston Dynamo star Brian Ching and restaurateur Ben Berg to launch Pitch Live, a World Cup-themed pop-up experience designed to celebrate Houston’s role as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Arc Room takes a more intimate approach than its predecessors. While 1111 introduced a highly personalized cocktail program, the new concept narrows its focus to just a handful of guests at a time, allowing for greater attention to detail and interaction throughout the evening.

As Houston’s cocktail culture continues to mature, the Arc Room represents a new frontier—one where the bartender takes center stage and every drink is part of a larger story. That combination of scarcity and reinvention could make it one of Houston’s most sought-after drinking experiences.

Reservations for the Arc Room are required and can be made through Resy.

3201 Allen Pkwy., Houston, clarkwoodhtx.com/arc-room

author avatar
Megha McSwain Texas Managing Editor
Megha McSwain is the Texas Editor for DiningOut Magazine, managing editorial content for Houston and Dallas. Megha was born in Mumbai, India, and currently resides in Houston. She has a passion for reporting on food, restaurants, chefs, and travel, and has contributed to outlets like Food Network, Eater, InsideHook, Resy, Texas Monthly, and Texas Highways throughout her career. As a trusted member of the local media, Megha also appears as a regular guest on local lifestyle television shows, Great Day Houston on KHOU11, and Texas Today on NBC5.
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