Bandista at Four Seasons Hotel Houston Welcomes Iconic San Francisco Bar True Laurel for Exclusive Nikka Nights Guest Shift This Holiday Season

Bandista, recently recognized by North America’s 50 Best Bars, Top 500 Bars, and The Pinnacle Guide, welcomes iconic San Francisco bar True Laurel for an exclusive guest shift December 1. This special evening will bring the Bay Area's best cocktails behind the bookcase this holiday season.

True Laurel is the acclaimed cocktail bar located in San Francisco's Mission District, ranked #14 in North America’s 50 Best Bars (and Best Bar in the West). Known for creating technique-driven cocktails using hyper-local San Francisco Bay area ingredients, the bar celebrates the bounty offered by California and the West Coast, including hand-foraged wild botanicals.   

Co-Founder and Bar Director Nicolas Torres will create and present five True Laurel drinks, tailored for the moment, featuring highly seasonal ingredients and Nikka spirits. One-hour seatings between 6:00 – 10:00 pm require reservations, though walk-ins will be accommodated, as available.

Strongly rooted within the international bar community, Bandista serves as a gathering point for some of the world’s most respected establishments. Through hosting and participating in guest shifts at leading global bars, Bandista engages in an ongoing exchange of ideas and expertise grounded in a shared commitment to creativity, craftsmanship, and excellence.

“We're thrilled to welcome True Laurel to Houston,” says Tom Segesta, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Houston. “The best bar in the West will present their acclaimed drinks at the best bar in Texas for an unforgettable night of sharing great connection, cocktails and culture.”

Opened in 2022, Bandista has established itself in the Houston community as the preeminent bar for an intimate, thoughtful, and fun cocktail experience. An intimate, modern-day speakeasy (hidden behind a bookcase within Four Seasons Hotel Houston), Bandista is reminiscent of a 1920s lounge that dazzles with a decadent Latin vibe. Led by Beverage Manager Johnathan Jones, the small but mighty bar team of Josh Alden, Sam Ruiz, and Zachary Churbock guides guests through their journey, which showcases craftsmanship, creativity, and Southern hospitality. Its unique setting and high-touch service has helped it become a place where cocktail geeks and aficionados mingle with world travellers, and canoodling couples, while enjoying  inventive takes on classic and modern cocktails, often with whimsical touches - colourful and celebratory in nature. Inspired by the tequileros - the Prohibition-era smugglers who illegally transported tequila, the vibe is complemented by vintage barware, whimsical accoutrements, and rare spirits from around the world.

Bandista is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 pm – 12 am midnight, and requires reservations, during which guests enjoy 90-minute seatings at the eight-seat bar which provide a center-stage show of the cocktail laboratory or in the cozy 12-seat lounge. walk-ins will be accommodated based on availability. For additional information, view the Bandista press kit and follow the bar on Instagram.   

Guests choosing to make a night of it are invited to plan ahead and save with the Advance Purchase offer, which includes up to 25 percent off the Four Seasons Hotel Houston room rate when booking at least three days in advance. For more information, visit online, call (800) 734-4114 or contact your travel professional (chain code: FS).