Houston is big—after all, it is in Texas. And this city has a Texas-sized appetite for vibrant food, drinks and culture. Within its labyrinth of streets and towering steel buildings, and amid the often-stifling heat and humidity, you’ll find this intricately diverse city has charm, character and a whole lot of soul.
See
The Menil Collection, a multibuilding campus with more than 17,000 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and rare books, is the largest private collection of its kind in the country. It includes works of Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Be be sure to walk or jog through Buffalo Bayou Park, with its newly renovated hike and bike trails, and stroll through downtown’s beautiful Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park.
Eat
In the arty, edgy Montrose neighborhood, Chris Shepherd’s Gulf Coast-centric Underbelly pays homage to the city’s diversity with flavors from around the globe. Hugo’s offers a taste of authentic Central Mexican fare. Little Pappasito’s Cantina on Upper Kirby has classic Tex-Mex covered with its cheesy enchiladas and creamy chili con queso. Enjoy cocktails, wood-fired pizzas and a cacio e pepe to die for at Coltivare, in the historic Heights neighborhood. New to the scene: Underbelly’s Shepherd recently opened One Fifth Steak. It’s the first offering in a five-year project that seeks to annually rotate culinary focuses through the same historic Montrose building. (Next year, the concept will transition to One Fifth Romance Languages, with a focus on French, Italian and Spanish cuisines.) In the East Downtown area, the team behind Coltivare is developing its own multistage concept in a renovated 15,000-square-foot warehouse. It launches this summer with Vinny’s, a wood-fired pizza kitchen that will soon be followed by an American diner-style eatery with an adjacent lounge.
Drink
Thirsty patrons clamor for cocktails at Montrose-area Anvil Bar & Refuge, led by Houston’s cocktail king, Bobby Heugel, whose downtown Pastry War is a mezcaleria with some of the best south-of-the-border spirits you can find (and a darn good frozen margarita, too). For whiskey, the Heights’ Eight Row Flint serves a devilish list of cocktails. It sports 120 whiskeys on the menu and eight barrels of various aged whiskeys on tap. Love Sherry and Scotch? Downtown, Public Services Wine & Whisky has a diverse selection of Sherry to go with a lineup of Sherry-barrel-aged whiskeys. Wine zealots have long hung out at 13 Celsius and Camerata, but Master Sommelier David Keck is planning on shaking things up with an upcoming hip honky-tonk, Goodnight Charlie’s, set to open later this year, featuring Texas beer, wine and live music.
Shop
You’ll find plenty of the usual suspects in shopping districts like Highland Village and Rice Village, but for the edgy and unique, look inside the city’s Inner Loop (the area in the center of town bordered by Interstate 610). The iconic Kuhl-Linscomb features a dazzling array of housewares, furniture and home accessories. For a more “indie” feel, look to Space Montrose for gift-worthy letterpress cards, prints by local artists, handmade jewelry and home accessories. In the Heights, Manready Mercantile peddles handmade textiles, leather, wood and natural apothecary goods tailored for the modern man. And for a dizzying selection of unique beers and ciders, don’t miss the quirky D&Q The Beer Station in Montrose. Even if you don’t grab a six-pack, you’ll enjoy the quippy product descriptions.
4 Hour Getaway
Make your way down Interstate 45 toward the coastline to Galveston Island, said to be the country’s most haunted city. It also offers a glimpse of the state’s rich history and a taste of the Gulf Coast’s bounty. As you cross the great bridge over the bay, the salty sea air welcomes you to what was the second-largest port of entry for immigrants in the late 1800s, after Ellis Island. Located downtown, The Strand offers a view of historic buildings and quaint beach shops. Tour the Bishop’s Palace and The Moody Mansion before taking in a show at the Grand 1894 Opera House or dinner at iconic Gaido’s seafood restaurant.
Last Updated: May 4, 2023
