HOUSTON

TRAVEL GUIDES — Houston, Texas, USA

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CULTURE

Houston is more than oil, gas and NASA. Founded in 1836 by Augustus Chapman Allen and brother, John Kirby Allen, Houston has become the country’s fourth largest and most diverse city with over 140 languages spoken! Not only has it been my home for the past 30 years, it’s home to the world’s largest rodeo, baseball World Series Champions, ten thousand multi-cultural restaurants and more! To fully explore the city, you’ll need to visit its many different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is unique and helps give Houston its ‘big city with small town’ vibes. Get ready to add ‘y’all’ to your vocab and see what Houston has to offer! Here’s the ultimate travel guide to Houston with things to do, where to stay and what to taste – perfect for visitors, new residents and locals!

DO

From Downtown to the Museum District, you’ll definitely find some cool things to do.

Downtown/East Downtown – farmers markets & sports

Let’s start with Downtown. She’s “different and not like the others”. You won’t see many people walking around downtown like you do in most major cities. Since the climate here varies a lot, the city has built an underground 7-mile tunnel system with restaurants and shops that people can enjoy! You can access the tunnels (only during business hours) from different buildings like the Hyatt Regency hotel and Understory Food Hall. It’s definitely a bit of a hidden gem in Houston–most locals don’t even know about it!

For outdoor activities like farmers markets, yoga, movie nights and history tours visit: Market Square Park, Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park (the best view of the skyline) and The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park. If you’re a sports fan, catch an Astros baseball game at Minute Maid Park, a Dynamo soccer game at Shell Energy Stadium or a Rockets basketball game at Toyota Center! Be sure to also check out a play at one of the theaters in the Theatre District (one of the best in the country). For nightlife, grab your friends or date and start the night at the new POST HTX. You can catch the sunset with a beautiful downtown skyline view from the rooftop and then head downstairs to the food hall (this is the first spot I take my friends when they visit). Then, head to Main Street to enjoy dancing and drinks at bars like High & Dry Rum Bar and Dean’s Bar.

If you love art murals, head to Graffiti Park in East Downtown. This neighborhood celebrates art and music. Some of my top spots are Truck Yard Bar with a ferris wheel!

Midtown – best nightlife

This neighborhood next to downtown is best known for Houston’s best bars and nightlife scene. Clubs and bars are within walking distance, making it the perfect place for a fun night out with friends (My friends and I definitely partied here during college). I recommend starting the night at Electric Feel Good Bar with frozen drinks and a fun slide!

Montrose – coffee & art
Near Midtown you’ll find Montrose. In this cool and artsy neighborhood you can shop at vintage stores like the Leopard Lounge, view murals, hang out at coffee shops like Agora and Common Bond Bakery and even watch a drag show. The Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel art galleries are located in this neighborhood as well. They are across from each other and offer free admission!

Museum District / Rice Village – artsy & family-friendly
With over 18 museums, lush gardens and streets lined with live oak trees (similar to Savannah, Georgia), the Museum district is one of my favorite neighborhoods! View incredible art at the Museum of Fine Arts, see dinosaur fossils at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and play at the Children’s Museum. You can also spend a day at the Houston Zoo and then take a train ride or pedal boat ride around Hermann Park. End with a walk around the free Japanese Garden and McGovern Centennial Gardens nearby. Tip: Most museums are free on Thursdays (times vary). Visit their website for more information. Also, make sure to drive through Rice University to see the beautiful architecture and a hidden gem that lights up at night: James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace!

The Heights – cool bars & antique shops
This beautiful residential neighborhood is decorated with live oak trees, historic Victorian-style homes, antique shops, cool bars and restaurants. Visit 19th Street to see an early 1900’s movie theater and shop along the street for antiques, retro discs, home decor and more. My favorite store is Casa Ramirez with Mexican folk art and handmade artifacts. At night, head to Wicklow Heights for a cold drink then bar hop!

Northside – best authentic mexican food
With a large Mexican community, the northside of Houston is where you can find authentic Mexican restaurants, shops and places to learn about the culture. Start your day by visiting El Bolillo Bakery for a pan dulce and freshly-baked bread heaven. You can also spend time shopping at the historical Houston Farmers Market across the street (I also recommend Azteca Farmers Market on the east side of town). Then, taste THE BEST Mexican street tacos at El Taconazo Taco Truck. It’s cash only and there may be a line, but I promise it is worth it! My family has been enjoying this place for 20 years. Want to try Mexican candy? Visit Las Delicias Mexicanas and feel like a kid in a candy store.

River Oaks / Upper Kirby – upscale dining & living
Home to the River Oaks Country Club, River Oaks is an upscale residential area with lush greenery and multi-million dollar homes. It is mostly visited by locals and visitors during the holiday season where one can drive around the neighborhood and see the mansions decorated in festive holiday lights. For shopping and fine dining, you can visit the upscale River Oaks District with brands like Cartier and restaurants like Toulouse Cafe and MAD for Spanish tapas. We also can’t forget about the new chic brunch spots: Little Hen and Ojo de Agua (y’all loved this one on my Instagram)!

Galleria / Uptown – best for shopping
If you like to shop til you drop, this is the spot for you! The Galleria Mall is a large 3-story mall with an ice-rink, shops like Express, Zara and luxury brands like Prada and Gucci. You can also shop at the nearby Highland Village Shopping Center with stores like Crate & Barrel, Lululemon and Sephora. For an outdoor activity, you must visit the iconic Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park. You can see 11,000 gallons of water fall down a 64-foot semi-circular water wall – If you stand in the middle, it feels like the ground is moving!

Memorial / Washington – Best for Parks & Outdoor Activities
If you love to bike, hike and run, visit Memorial Park with some of the largest green areas and trails in the city! You can start your hike near the Eastern Glades or just drive through the new large grass-covered tunnels at Memorial Park. It’s the perfect place to go for a walk with friends, family or pets. On Washington Avenue, you’ll find plenty of fun bars and clubs to visit with friends like Kung Fu Saloon (arcade games), Sugar Room (hidden door) and the new Bayou Heights Bier Garten (with a coffee bar and food)!

Medical Center / NRG – best for health care & sports
The Texas Medical Center is the world’s largest medical center with over 160,000 employees learning, practicing and researching cures for illnesses like cancer. This network of hospitals and universities is so large that it has its own skyline! Be on the lookout for the two buildings that look like syringes. NRG Stadium, the Texans Football team’s stadium is nearby and offers the best game and concert experience with a retractable roof (the one Lady Gaga jumped from during her super bowl halftime performance). This 72,000+ seat stadium is also home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, making it the largest rodeo in the world! In addition to a weeks-long concert lineup with top country and pop artists, there’s a fun carnival for locals and visitors to enjoy. It’s a great bachelorette trip idea too- ‘Let’s go girls’ theme?

Asiatown / Chinatown
Houston’s Chinatown was first in downtown and later moved to the southwest part of the city. Asiatown began in the 1980’s and has grown so much over the years with great shops, restaurants and businesses to explore! Some of my favorite places to visit are Bellaire Food Street, East Wall Restaurant (China), Handam BBQ(Korea), Ellicor (candy & gift shop), Saigon Arts Matcha Cafe (Japan) and Sweet Memes (dessert). If you’re wanting to cook an authentic Asian meal, visit The Hong Kong Mall and H-Mart with the best Asian ingredients!

The Six Wards – historical
After the proclamation for freedom of slaves in Texas occurred in Galveston on June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth), many freed slaves settled in the six wards in Houston. Now, Houstonians continue to keep its history and culture present by preserving areas like the Bethel Church Historic Site and events like Freedmen’s Town Walking Tours in Fourth Ward. Located in Third Ward, Texas Southern University is one of the country’s largest historically black universities (HBCUs). Also in Third Ward, is the top ranking University of Houston – Go Coogs!

Greater Houston – suburbs & NASA
Houston’s many growing suburbs include Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, Pearland and Clear Lake. Each also have great restaurants and things to do. If you travel down I-45 South, you’ll find the world-renowned NASA Johnson Space Center! You can easily spend 3 hours here. Here’s my guide on How to Plan a Visit to Space Center Houston.

Want more Things to do in Houston? Here are 17 Things to Do in Houston!

TASTE

As the Culture and Culinary Capital of the South, Houston has so many talented chefs including James Beard Foundation Award winners Hugo Ortega, Chris Shepherd and Justin Yu. All contribute to the diverse culinary scene in the city. The city is so diverse that you can taste dishes from Mexico, Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Colombia, Peru and Nepal for any meal of the day!

Start your morning at one of the city’s best coffee shops: Brass Tacks in East Downtown has the best food, coffee and plants for purchase. Giant Leap Coffee is a space-themed coffee shop near The Galleria and it is great for a grab & go option. Common Bond Brasserie & Bakery has multiple locations and is perfect for a coffee and pastry run! See my Common Bond Spring Location review.

For Breakfast & Brunch in Houston, I definitely recommend Traveler’s Table with different food from around the world and cocktail flights to share. If you love hearty brunch dishes like Country Fried Steak and “Fruity Pebbles” French Toast paired with whiskey, visit Bosscat. Dine at Hugo’s Mexican Restaurant for brunch favorites like chilaquiles and margaritas (and brunch buffet on Sundays)!

I suggest trying one of the many food halls in the city for lunch like POST, Bravery Chef Hall, Understory and Finn Hall with a great variety of dishes. A trip to Texas isn’t complete without tasting BBQ! Truth BBQ and Feges BBQ are both delicious options offering modern twists to the traditional ribs, brisket and sides – perfect for lunchtime!

For dinner, I love recommending restaurants for date night, birthdays or a special occasion–there are so many in town! Right now, my husband and I love Marmo for modern Italian (the half size Squid Ink Campanelle Pasta is a must!). Indianola is a great option for New American cuisine with excellent service, comfy pink dining booths and it is connected to a fun bar, Miss Carousel. If you want to try authentic Mexican dishes, visit Chef Hugo Ortega’s Xochi or Caracol for amazing Oaxacan mole, ceviche and more!

STAY

Whether you’re looking for a nice place to stay during your visit to Houston or in need of a staycation, here are my top favorite hotels in Houston. In downtown, you’ll want to stay at the Marriott Marquis Houston to enjoy their Texas-shaped pool and lazy river! If you’re catching an Astros game, stay at the nearby Le Méridien and enjoy drinks on their rooftop bar before or after the game.

Treat yourself to a luxury stay at the 5-Star Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston (named 2023 Best City Hotel by Travel & Leisure and awarded a Michelin One Key in 2024!), Four Seasons or The St. Regis Houston–you’ll love them all!

If you love boutique-style hotels with attention to detail, unique and intimate decor, I recommend staying at Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District and book one of their 12 themed suites like Houston we have a Problem (space themed suite) and SoHo Loft (New York themed suite). It was also awarded a Michelin One Key recently! The C. Baldwin is another great option especially for a girls trip. It’s named after the “mother of Houston”, Charlotte Baldwin. She was the wife of one of the founders of Houston and helped finance the founding of the city (it was unknown for years since back then women couldn’t sign off on financial documents). The hotel has women-empowerment murals, pink decor and a chic restaurant to enjoy a fun girls night out! Other favorites are Le Meridien Houston Downtown.

I have saved my favorite hotels on my Plannin Profile. You can save up to 40% off Houston hotels & hotels worldwide when you sign up for a free Plannin account using this link!

STYLE

Wear casual clothes like shorts, t-shirts, jeans, baseball caps and tennis shoes for exploring Houston. In the colder months November – March, wear warm clothes like puffer jackets, cozy sweaters and rain boots. For upscale dinners and fun nightlife, feel free to dress up!
Don’t forget your cowboy boots and hat for the rodeo in late February and March (it’s pretty much the only time you’ll see the whole city dressed in western gear).

TRAVEL

When planning a trip to Houston, note: there are two major airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on the north side and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) on the south side. Hobby is perfect to fly into if you’re flying domestically. It’s much smaller than Bush Airport and can save you time during check in.

How to Get Around Houston: I recommend renting a car or using Uber. Just remember that the city is huge so Uber might cost $35+ one way from one side of town to the other. There are 3 major highway loops in the city, 610 Loop (inner loop), Beltway 8 (Toll) and Highway 6 (outer loop). When finding things to do, most locals and visitors explore within the inner loop (inside 610 Loop).

Best times to visit: February/March while the rodeo is in town (chilly to mild weather), April/May for baseball season and outdoor activities (spring weather), September-November for outdoor activities (breezy and nice weather). Try to visit museums or indoor spots during the summer since it can get above 100 degrees!

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed my Ultimate Houston Travel Guide, basically my love letter to the city that has given my family so many opportunities. Bookmark this page and send this to a friend visiting or moving to Houston! Stay up to date on all things food, travel & lifestyle on @atastefultrip.

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