On Thursday, July 18, Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar hosted their grand opening party, welcoming well-heeled Houstonians dressed in chic, seasonal attire on a warm summer evening. Over 150 guests gathered on the second-floor sprawling patio and the intimate downstairs bar and lounge, where they mingled and enjoyed specialty cocktails, champagne, delectable passed bites, and sultry live music from Houston Ensemble.
Guests were greeted with champagne upon arrival and had a selection of cocktails to choose from, including the Mademoiselle Sophie with Hendrick’s Flora Adora, lime concentrate, and Chambord; The King’s Lover made with roasted barley-infused Ketel One, Maven coffee, and Licor 43 infused whipped cream; Blackberry Spritz made with Black currant crème de cassis, blackberry, and prosecco; and the Elderflower Spritz made with elderflower, crème de cassis, blackberry, and prosecco to name a few.
Once attendees mingled and settled in, select VIPs were invited to the downstairs bar to indulge in two special “experiential” cocktails – My Friend Picasso, La Belle Vie, and the Madame De Menil. Party-goers marveled at the stunning South-of-France-inspired design of Sophie’s multiple spaces.
Throughout the night, guests enjoyed a glimpse of the French-inspired menu crafted by Chef de Cuisine Anthony Anderson. Passed bites included the Thon Cru made with marinated yellowfin tuna and pani puri; Duck Confit Flatbread with duck confit, figs, pistou, cilantro, and Gruyère cheese; Tartare de Boeuf made with elite prime beef tartare, house-made pickles served on an onion cracker; and an Endive Salad made with Belgian endive and Burrata.
Notable attendees included Vietnamese jeweler Johnny Dang; former anchor and reporter Katherine Whaley; Clarkwood owners Army and Mason Sadeghi; owner and founder of Christina Greene Jewelry, Christina Greene McAllen; co-founder of Kahani Social Group, Preet Paul Singh; professional basketball player Eric Moreland; fashion/lifestyle blogger Roz Pactor; Neiman Marcus public relations and events manager Heather Almond; vice president of marketing at Cotton Holdings, Inc., Zinat Ahmed; and Mignon Gill, Kristen Cannon, and Whitney Kuhn Lawson.
As the evening drew to a close, Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar bid attendees farewell with specialty branded handheld fans. Sophie partner Ashley Muncie thanked the crowd and expressed her gratitude, telling guests, “We hope you enjoy a slice of the French Riviera in the heart of Houston and that Sophie becomes your new favorite go-to spot.”
Sophie is open seven days a week from 4:00 p.m. to 2 a.m. with happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4:00 p.m., weekly menu specials, live music, and rooftop DJ sets. To stay up to date on the latest news and updates on Sophie, follow @sophiehoutx on Instagram and sign up for the Sophie newsletter at sophiehtx.com.
Melanie Camp, Johnny Rinando, Sarah Tucker
All photos courtesy of Michael Anthony