The Cotton Exchange Bar & Lounge

04/15/09

Beautiful club, good drinks but beware your credit card!!!

by xaysmama98 at Citysearch

Went there on a Friday night for the Spoken Word program. Loved it!!! Will go back again. However, after the credit card charges showed up on my account, I had someone else's drinks on my card!!!! Made several attempts to call, left 3 detailed messages, no response. No one and I mean no one ever answers the in-house phone no. so I had to call on the no. for reservations, but I guess after hearing what I wanted, they are not going to call me back. I guess I have to go back in to get this rectified. I will be honest and say I had a great time, my co-worker was off the chain w/ his performance (check out LEO THE GREAT) but when I go back I will definitely carry cash. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, well you know the rest!!!!

• Pros: Loved the Friday night spoken word!
• Cons: Rude bartenders, bad about answering the phone

03/09/09

Neva Again!!!!!!!! One bad apple spoils the bunch

by BrownSuga29 at Citysearch

My 29th Birthday Celebration was held here on 03/07/09 which for starters I felt was overpriced for a small bottle of grey goose a seating section accomodated only 5-6 people, no acknowledgements from the DJ that birthdays celebrations in the house. Started at the door.... I arrived, when asked for my ID I realized I forgot it in my clutch that I just switched out from my birthday dinner. The guy asked my age I told him I was 29 and that I was having a party here tonight and my name should be on the list. He asked my name and in song my sister, friend and I said my name and he proceeded to let us in. Then a female lady at the door said "We have to have a ID!" I then turned to her and said " oh, okay but i'm havng a party here tonight and I'm 29". She said " It does not matter who you are you STILL need a ID!" Frustrated with her tone i started to turn around when my friend checked her about her attitude. We got the car back from the Velet after about 7 min, the guy had just parked it and had to run to get it back. We fly to the house to get the ID and back to the club..keep in mind my guests were waiting. We get through the door and i noticed my friends scattered arounnd the place. I go to my best friend and ask why they were sitting in that area and she stated no one there knew where my area was that she asked. I went to the bar and asked for the manager on duty and he pointed the the rude lady that was previously at the door. I then asked for someone else and he apologized and said she will be the only one. I walked up to her, leaned in and nicely said " I have a party here and I wanted to know where my section was?" she said "who are you?"as if i had not told her at the door. I stated my name again. she said " I dont know anything about that" then she asked the bouncer/waiter that was walking up and he said I think Dawn booked her. She then walked off not saying a word as if she wanted me to follow her. VERY RUDE! too much to say to continue. It was horrible!

• Pros: Nice on the inside and drinks were great
• Cons: On a saturday night i seen more floor than people

08/20/08

Love the crowd!!!!!!

by msmaam at Citysearch

I went here in June and overall, I give it thumbs up. The fact that the crowd is all African-American is a plus for me. There are a bunch of spots downtown (and in Houston in general) that are all, or primarily, one race and that play music I am simply not interested in whatsoever; however, I wouldn't give it a negative review. To do so would be biased; I would simply say it's not my style. If you want a mixed crowd, well no this is not the place for you. But if you want to surround yourself with trendy and mature Black people, you should definitely consider this place.

• Pros: The crowd

08/12/08

Not mixed/ multi cultured

by cats70 at Citysearch

Went there with a friend after reading all these great review on the city guide. Asked the doorman if it was a good crowd and if the music was good. He said oh yeah you will have a great time. Paid $20 each to get in. We were surprised to see that it was a 100 % African American club not even one person of another race, no sorry the bus boy was hispanic. The music was not great. Even the cop was African American. I mean I do not want to go to a place which is so race oriented, as I am neither AA or Caucasian and I love Skybar. So we get out within a minute and ask for the refund, the doorman is like just go in an have fun, so we go in and come back in another minute and said this just isn't our crowd to the bouncer we will like a refund, the answer to which was its upto the manager, I am like ok then call the manager. He is like sorry we just do not refund! This place has ratings like if it was really something, come on people its crappy! The place sucked the only white person was the doorman.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Too expensive too enter, the music was bad and the crowd was not mixed

05/23/08

Uhm, Yeah I don't think so...

by Hershey7777 at Citysearch

I came with about 20 people more or less and we were all buying drinks. The bar service is really disorgainized. For some reason she felt we weren't buying enough drinks for her liking and told us if we didn't buy more drinks and tip more we were going to get 'horrible' service. I wondered when the 'good' service started? The music is great. The free cover was nice, but I wanted a refund after that attitude the the bartender. I won't be going back.....spend my money where its appreciated.

• Pros: Great music
• Cons: Older (late 30s, early 40s) crowd, 'horrible' drinks, and bad service

03/26/08

Great Friday Night Crowd!

by Carrie77 at Citysearch

So I am 29 years old and have been looking for a nice place, with good music, mix crowd to hang out at for awhile. I finally found it!! The place is beautiful, very classy. The manager and bartenders are very nice and accomodating. The music is top 40 and the DJ will work with you. The crowd is an older 25 & up crowd with a little bit of everything. Everyone was dressed really nice and it was an all over great time. I finally found my spot!!

• Pros: crowd, music, and overall environment
• Cons: sometimes its a late crowd

Travel through Houston's past at this classy cocktail lounge near Market Square.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
This downtown hideaway occupies the second floor of the historic Cotton Exchange building with Tiffany lamps highlighting original wood floors and muraled ceilings. A large marble bar dominates the center of the room while area rugs set off intimate couch and table arrangements. In the evenings, stylishly dressed gentlemen and chic 30-somethings mingle over cocktails and conversation. The in-house Seattle's Best opens at 7am for downtown dwellers looking for a morning jolt served with free Internet.

11/19/07

Hot night spot on friday nights, Great customer service

by deontre at Citysearch

So I searched high and low for the perfect place for my going away party and, after reading all the reviews, took a chance on this place. It's definitely nerve racking to have a party somewhere you've never been, but I definitely chose right! KB was great with helping me set everything up: no cover, top shelf bar, reserved table, the works. The drinks were great (try The Blue magic). I usually find it difficult to find a place that suits everyone's taste, but The Cotton Exchange was perfect, you could chill at your table, drink at the bar or create your own little dance floor. Music was great, place was big (never had that "too crowded" feeling), location was super close to the Icon Hotel (for all us out in kingwood) and we had a great time. If you're looking for a great night out in the city, go here!

• Pros: Great service, drinks were awesome, not overcrowded, great music, not pricey, convenient location

02/20/07

beautiful building/terrible service

by tango2 at Citysearch

i love the actual building, but the service is terrible. i have been there for several art shows so im not sure what it is like on normal popular nights. several of the bartenders tried to hustle and take care of the large number of people at the event, but one bartender in particular seemed completely indifferent to the needs of her customers. drinks were expensive and service took forever. its worth checking the place out and i will return again for future shows, but i will be fully prepared for drinks a couple bucks too much served in slow motion with a scowl.

• Pros: beautiful building
• Cons: slow service

10/11/06

all good except one bad apple

by cricketgirly at Citysearch

I went in last weekend with my best friend and she & I are both in the industry so we know what good service is, but the Asain guy behind the bar left much to be desired. He was so rude & short with us. We aren't ugly and we know how to tip, so there's no excuse for being crass with us, unless his wife left him or something. Anyway, we will go back because the guys in the place were cute & a few bought us drinks. We like the music but we must recommend the female bartenders not the Asain dude whose clothes were from the 80s!