Tucked into Houston’s Heights neighborhood, Donna’s is the latest venture from Houston hospitality legends Bobby Heugel and Jacki Schromm. While the cocktails may be among the best in the city, what makes the space memorable is something harder to define. It feels less like a bar and more like a house party that has been going on for decades, one where every object has a story and every corner reveals something unexpected.
The namesake of the bar is Jacki’s grandmother, Donna. By all accounts, she was a force of nature, and it’s easy to imagine that some of her spirit made its way into the project. The result is a space that feels collected rather than decorated, personal rather than polished.
From the beginning, the vision for the artwork was clear: provocative, eclectic, and a little unexpected, but still something that could plausibly hang in your grandmother’s house.
One of the undeniable stars of the collection is Denise Prince’s Doubles in Brassiere. Equal parts playful, bold, and unforgettable, the photograph has become a staple of the room. It anchors the collection with exactly the right amount of irreverence. If there isn’t already a cocktail named after it, there probably should be.
Throughout the space, the collection unfolds like a cast of characters at the world’s most interesting dinner party. Works by Carter Flachbarth bring intimacy and personality, whispering of a Donna’s story. Chuck Ramirez’s 7 Days Birthday work adds another distinctly Texas voice to the conversation, while sketches by musician and artist Darden Smith lend a sense of spontaneity and humanity.
What makes the collection successful isn’t that the artists share a style. They don’t. It’s that they share a point of view. Together, they create the feeling that every piece has been discovered over time, collected through stories, friendships, travels, and conversations.
Like the best house parties, nothing feels overly planned, yet somehow everything belongs.
And that’s exactly what makes Donna’s special.
The cocktails are excellent. The music is excellent. The room glows with the kind of warmth that can’t be manufactured. But the artwork is what gives the space its soul.
If you find yourself in Houston, grab a drink, settle into a seat at the bar, and spend a little time looking around. The collection is every bit as memorable as what’s in your glass.
Get started today. Email us at info@cocollect.art.
