Houston, Texas is a city that is sure to make you realize what your own may lack in terms of food and culture. This city is actually noted as one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world! There is so much to do and so much TO EAT. They say everything is bigger and better in Texas, and I'd have to say I agree. I've visited the city a few times now, and it has definitely become a favorite, so check back here from time to time to catch any updates I make to this post with new recommendations.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the city's official nickname, "Space City", is due to its historical role as a prominent center of activity for NASA? Think of the famous lines, "Houston...we have a problem."
Table of Contents
3. What To Do
4. Where to Eat
Transportation
I highly recommend renting a car to drive around the city since Houston is HUGE and having your own car to get around will most likely be cheaper than getting an Uber/Lyft everywhere you want to go.
Accommodation
This was a great budget stay for a quick trip to Houston; the hotel is in the Uptown District, which is prime location near the Downtown Houston area and only a few minutes drive to many attractions, restaurants, and bars. The hotel itself also offers free breakfast, free hot food & cold refreshments during their nightly 5:30pm Kickback and is only located about 5 minutes from the famous Galleria Mall in Houston. Once there, you're only a few steps walk from the well-known Gerald D Hines Waterwall Park.
On a separate stay for a Bachelorette trip, this was a great Airbnb that is actually hosted by a black couple! The apartment is as pictured; cozy, well decorated, and even came equipped with snacks. Eddie and his wife made sure to check in often to make sure we were well accommodated and even made sure to send us suggestions on what to do and where to eat based on our interests. When we experienced a mechanical issue with the AC, they were super quick to accommodate us and even provided a partial refund and discount for us to utilize during our next stay with them. I have no complaints!
What To Do
1. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is home to a variety of amazing art collections and exhibitions, and one of the simplest, most impactful art pieces I came across is pictured below. Admission is $19 for adults, $12 for college students/youth, and free for children under 12! But there are a host of options for free admission: one of them being that every Thursday is free for all visitors.
If you're a fan of all things natural science, this is the place for you! Learning about prehistoric animals and dinosaurs while also viewing some the most precious gems in the world were some of the things I couldn't get enough of. My absolute FAVORITE part of it all was the butterfly garden (this is a separate entrance free from the general museum, although the buildings are connected). You're literally encased in this warm, green wonderland where butterflies roam free, and if you're lucky enough like I was, maybe one of them will decide you look like a nice resting spot. The Butterfly Center reopened earlier this year, and tickets start at $12 for adults and $10 for kids. The Museum of Natural Science is still open with admission rates of $25 for adults and $16 for Children.
(Please ignore our excited voices in the background, especially mine lol)
3. Discovery Green
Discovery Green is an expansive park area that hosts many different events and activities. During my visit there, I saw people enjoying the space as they should: riding bikes, playing with their friends in the grass, relaxing under trees, sitting near the small lake and even ice skating in the winter months! A few steps away are large sculptures as well as a convention center that normally hosts concerts and similar events. Take a look at their site to see if there are any events happening that you may be interested in checking out during your visit!
4. Hines Waterfall Park
This literal wall of water is located within a small park that boasts as the community centerpiece representing uptown Houston, and is a 64-foot semi-circular fountain that re-circulates a whopping 11,000 gallons of water per minute! It's an amazing sight to behold, and of course, a perfect photo-op. The mist that inevitably comes your way is refreshing during the hot summer months, but does not help when its freezing cold out (which is why I RUSHED to get this picture before I ended up sick lol)
5. The Galleria
Shopping, shopping, shopping and more shopping! This is Texas' largest shopping mall that hosts over 400 stores, with over 70 of them being exclusive to Houston.
Another thing that the city of Houston is known for is its vibrant street art and expansive murals. Many of them are located throughout the Arts District as well as downtown. To find them, you can just search up 'Houston Murals' in Google, where you'll get multiple links to addresses or actual maps to some of the most famous murals in the city.
This Korean bath house that focuses on the relaxation and wellbeing of its guests is a spot where you'll want to spend the entire day! They have literally everything you'd want for a fun, relaxing, cultural experience. Take advantage of the many amenities like the baths, saunas, multiple heat/cold therapy rooms, and even places to nap. Not only that, but there is plenty of delicious Korean meals to indulge in while there. They even have the grounds to enjoy a game of mini golf! This was one of the best experiences I had while in the city, and the best spa experience I've had thus far. I highly recommend you visit. A day pass is $39 on weekdays and $49 on the weekends/holidays. This gives you access to the all of the sauna rooms and the gender-split bath house. There is an added fee if you decide you want to book a service such as a massage, body scrub, or any food/drinks, but it's well worth the full experience. Be advised that to use the bath house facilities you need to fully undress, but if that makes you uncomfortable you can opt to just stay in the communal areas that include the heat/cold therapy rooms.
A great activity for you and your girls if you want to try something different! Myx Blend Bar has two locations in Dallas and Houston, specializing in Lip Cosmetics. Basically you choose a package (which starts at $50 each), where you get to design your own lip product(s) from start to finish! You even get a glass of champagne to start you off, and by the end of your activity, you get to name and take home your creation(s). This was SO fun and the employees in charge of helping us make our choices were so funny and friendly. Definitely a 10/10 experience!
Pro Tip: For any big city you visit, check to see if they have the CityPASS coupon book available for purchase. This coupon book allows admission to the top 5 tourist attractions of the city, and purchasing this is usually cheaper than buying single tickets for each attraction you plan to visit.
Where to Eat
Houston has SO MUCH good food, I've honestly yet to have a bad meal while there. In my opinion, Houston has some of the best food in the US. Everywhere I eat has larger than life portions (as expected, because Texas) with drinks to match. Check out my recommendations below!
This restaurant chain serves up New Orleans cajun cuisine with a Texas twist, hence the "Tex-Orleans". BB's is known mostly for their crab boils and crawfish. Having tasted both, I can honestly say that their food does not disappoint. The drinks are great too!
2. The Breakfast Klub
Known nationwide for their delicious chicken and waffles meal, The Breakfast Klub is a class all its own on the comfort food front. It seems that there is always a line wrapped around the building, and once you make it inside the walls are covered with paintings of Black musicians and artists. An entire vibe. This place right here...I think I can safely say that this place has the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. I'm not even joking. And you can even buy your own "Chikin Koating", "Koffee" grounds, and waffle/"Pankake" mix to have some TBK at home for your own dining pleasure.
3. Phil & Derek's
From the moment that I walked into Phil & Derek's, I loved absolutely everything about the ambiance and atmosphere. Although I was there midday on a Sunday, I felt like at any moment someone would be up on the mic with a spoken word, while someone else sat at the piano in the corner of the restaurant alongside other musicians, filling the space with sultry jazz music (it is actually part jazz lounge!). Although that wasn't exactly what was happening, music did indeed fill the space, and you could even text in your requests to a number that pops up on one of the many tv screens. The hot chicken and pancakes?! Fire! (literally and figuratively). This spot is a MUST for great brunch vibes.
4. Lost and Found Midtown
This is a great spot to enjoy delicious food any time of day; whether it be for breakfast, brunch or dinner. I got to try their Lobster Cajun Pasta, and let me tell you...its indescribably GOOD. It's one of the pricier plates on the menu, but well worth the price-tag They're also well-known for their $5 happy hour daiquiri drinks that are deceptively sweet, so be careful!
Authentic Ethiopian food with the atmosphere to match! If you're a first-timer to this cuisine, the Beef Tibs never disappoint. The owner of the restaurant is also very welcoming and that alone made this restaurant a great experience for me.
An amazing food experience that gave us a taste of foods from around the world, hence the title of this restaurant. They serve Brunch, Lunch and Dinner in a spot with aesthetics that are perfect to take some great photos, whether alone or with friends. I recommend the Kimchi Fried Rice, Edamame Dumplings and the Caribbean Queen cocktail. So so good!
I'm a seafood lover, and on my most recent trip to Houston I was specifically craving crab legs. This place was everything I needed and more. The Krajun-seasoned snow crab clusters were so so delicious, I may be salivating as I type about it right now. They also serve daiquiris, I got their Hpnotiq and Margarita flavors mixed and it did what it needed to do! Boba and fruit slushies are also on the menu, but I unfortunately didn't get to try these (I have them on my list for next time!)
8. Tiger Den
This izakaya style ramen spot located in Bellaire is for you if you like authentic, delicious Japanese ramen and yakiniku (various types of grilled meat) paired with low lights and smooth R&B. Go for the Spicy Cucumber appetizer followed by some Green Onion Chicken Skewers, Spicy Miso or Garlic Black Bean ramen, and finish it off with the Pandan Custard Doughnuts if you're still feeling for something sweet.
9. Trill Burgers
This Houston-made, Bun B owned burger joint typically has a line out of the door, and after trying it for myself I completely understand why! I've been trying to lay off the red meat so I went for the OG Vegan Combo, which comes with fries and a drink-- I'll say that if you didn't tell me the burger is vegan beforehand, I would have absolutely no idea. It was juicy and well seasoned, and the vegan cheese didn't have any weird aftertaste. The fries were fresh, crispy and delicious. Yeah, a definite 10/10 for me.
For a Good Time
Looking for a good night out? You're sure to find it in Houston, as there's TONS to do in terms of nightlife that cater to all types of different tastes. Below I'll put you on to the spots that I went to and enjoyed!
1. Washington Ave
Washington Ave, especially the section running from Patterson Street to Westscott Street is the perfect area to bar hop after dinner or pre-gaming with friends. You have lots of options to choose from ranging from local sports bars to full on clubs. From Clutch to Sugar Room or even Bottled Blonde, you're sure to find a spot that fits the vibes. Be aware that parking can be limited unless you're willing to pay $20 for self-parking lots.
This space is part sports bar, live music venue and lounge that is a great place to visit for the start to a fun night out. Besides the food, hookah, and music, the stand out for me personally was the drink menu. They have a little bit of everything to choose from, but the 'Hole in One' frozen margarita was it for me. For one, it's HUGE. It's a frozen house margarita mixed with strawberry puree and Chandon Rosé (with the mini bottle of rosé to top it all off).
3. Bar 5015
This spot is all good vibes! The food is expectedly delicious and the drinks (especially the frozen daiquiris) are tasty and sure to sneak up on you. It has both indoor and outdoor seating, and feels a bit more grown and laid back in terms of attendees, around 25+. A hit for me!
4. FAO HTX
A super fun bar that houses tons of games to keep you and your friends engaged and entertained, including ping pong, Jenga, arcade games and even Street Fighter. You're also not too far off from other Midtown bars in the area, so it's a good place to start if you plan to bar hop.
5. 13 Celsius
This wine bar located in Midtown is very intimate and warm; a perfect date night spot for wine lovers or to just spend chill nights with friends. Their menu provides you with much to sample, so you're sure to find a few to your tastes alongside some small plates.
Happy Wandering!