Roberta’s guidebook
Things To Do
Galveston is not just about the beach. Explore the fascinating history of this wonderful island filled with art, architecture, and stories of a colorful past.
This beautiful building was previously a children’s orphanage. Now, it houses a wonderful collection of Texas history and memorabilia. There is a gift shop on the property where you can sit in the garden and sip a glass of wine. On Sundays and Thursdays the museum host a farmers market with locally grow produce.
116 locals recommend
The Bryan Museum
1315 21st StThis beautiful building was previously a children’s orphanage. Now, it houses a wonderful collection of Texas history and memorabilia. There is a gift shop on the property where you can sit in the garden and sip a glass of wine. On Sundays and Thursdays the museum host a farmers market with locally grow produce.
Fun carnival atmosphere. Must purchase a walk-on pass.
662 locals recommend
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
2501 Seawall BlvdFun carnival atmosphere. Must purchase a walk-on pass.
Moody Gardens
1 Hope Blvd
Bishops Palace
1402 Broadway Avenue JLandmark building with an excellent gift shop.
Rosenberg Library
2310 Sealy AveGreat place to spend a rainy day.
One of the founding families in Galveston. Tour the home and be transported back in time.
180 locals recommend
Moody Mansion
2618 Broadway Avenue JOne of the founding families in Galveston. Tour the home and be transported back in time.
Miles and miles of paved sidewalk for walking, strolling, biking, skateboarding. Day or night, clear or foggy-it’s Galveston! Don’t miss the tiled benches along the way. They have a story to tell.
40 locals recommend
Galveston Seawall
Seawall BoulevardMiles and miles of paved sidewalk for walking, strolling, biking, skateboarding. Day or night, clear or foggy-it’s Galveston! Don’t miss the tiled benches along the way. They have a story to tell.
Self guided tour through the railroad yard. Climb aboard!
140 locals recommend
Galveston Railroad Museum
2602 Santa Fe PlSelf guided tour through the railroad yard. Climb aboard!
Tour the tall ship!
121 locals recommend
Galveston Historic Seaport - Home of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA
8Tour the tall ship!
An education in every aspect of oil drilling.
73 locals recommend
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum
2002 Wharf RdAn education in every aspect of oil drilling.
Shop for a while, buy a beer or soda at the counter, then grab a rocking chair and take in the view.
79 locals recommend
Murdochs
2215 Seawall BlvdShop for a while, buy a beer or soda at the counter, then grab a rocking chair and take in the view.
Great entertainment venue. Live theatre productions and concerts in a stunning restored theatre.
99 locals recommend
Grand 1894 Opera House
2020 Postoffice StGreat entertainment venue. Live theatre productions and concerts in a stunning restored theatre.
Pirates and Ghosts
2313 Harborside DrFamily fun on the Strand.
Take the free ferry ride to the Bolivar Peninsula. Beautiful views and once there, enjoy quite beaches and scavenge for sea glass.
48 locals recommend
Galveston Ferry Terminal
1000 Ferry RdTake the free ferry ride to the Bolivar Peninsula. Beautiful views and once there, enjoy quite beaches and scavenge for sea glass.
Galveston Island Horse and Pony Rides
1929 Boddeker RdFun and unique activity.
Galveston Helicopters
521 Seawall BlvdTour the island from the air.
Look for special themed cooking classes. Fun night with friends or great date night. Educational eating!
Kitchen Chick
2402 Market StLook for special themed cooking classes. Fun night with friends or great date night. Educational eating!
Wonderful local bookshop! Great books on Galveston history and nice selection of used books.
7 locals recommend
Galveston BookShop
317 23rd StWonderful local bookshop! Great books on Galveston history and nice selection of used books.
Galveston Slingshot Rentals
2115 61st StEnjoy the island In a unique and exciting way!
Food scene
Find your favorites. Happy hour is not just for drinks. Weekdays, many of our restaurants offer small plates at small prices. It’s a great way to sample some of the best menu offerings without breaking the bank.
Ice cream is dreamy. Try the banana walnut, my favorite. The chocolate malts are the next level! Order in for the best value. Taffy pulls are conducted daily. Look for the time posted on a board out front.
163 locals recommend
La King's Confectionery
2323 Strand StIce cream is dreamy. Try the banana walnut, my favorite. The chocolate malts are the next level! Order in for the best value. Taffy pulls are conducted daily. Look for the time posted on a board out front.
Best place for happy hour. Monday to Friday 11:00am till 7:00pm. Great craft cocktails but this happy hour has the best peal and eat shrimp, surf and turf, stuffed pasta shells, and much more. It is a must!
82 locals recommend
Willie G's Seafood & Steaks
2100 Harborside DrBest place for happy hour. Monday to Friday 11:00am till 7:00pm. Great craft cocktails but this happy hour has the best peal and eat shrimp, surf and turf, stuffed pasta shells, and much more. It is a must!
Restored Historic Hotel with a wonderful rooftop bar or listen to live jazz in the atrium bar.
82 locals recommend
The Tremont House
2300 Ship Mechanic Row StRestored Historic Hotel with a wonderful rooftop bar or listen to live jazz in the atrium bar.
Drop by for a look around the magnificent lobby. Check out the spa. But don’t miss the Sunday Champagne Brunch! Make reservations and plan on spending several hours there. No need to rush. You’ll feel like you stepped into a scene from “The Great Gatsby”
46 locals recommend
Hotel Galvez and Spa
2024 Seawall BlvdDrop by for a look around the magnificent lobby. Check out the spa. But don’t miss the Sunday Champagne Brunch! Make reservations and plan on spending several hours there. No need to rush. You’ll feel like you stepped into a scene from “The Great Gatsby”
The Spot
3204 Seawall BlvdWatch sports, listen to music, enjoying a great burger.
I love the blackened fish dinner, boiled potatoes, hush puppies, and coleslaw.
198 locals recommend
Miller's Seawall Grill
1824 Seawall BoulevardI love the blackened fish dinner, boiled potatoes, hush puppies, and coleslaw.
Local favorite. Breakfast and lunch only. Save room for a huge piece of cake!
129 locals recommend
Shykatz Cafe & Bakery
1528 Avenue LLocal favorite. Breakfast and lunch only. Save room for a huge piece of cake!
Yaga's Cafe
2314 Strand StIt’s a Galveston thing. Casual food done well, great value.
Gorditas Mexico
712 Seawall BlvdAuthentic, good value.
In the heart of the East End Historic District. Stroll through this lovely neighborhood with grand Victorian homes after your big Mexican meal.
88 locals recommend
The Original Mexican Cafe
1401 Market StIn the heart of the East End Historic District. Stroll through this lovely neighborhood with grand Victorian homes after your big Mexican meal.
Sunday brunch is a local thing. Be prepared to wait for a table. However, weekday lunch you’ll get right in.
271 locals recommend
The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe
512 14th StSunday brunch is a local thing. Be prepared to wait for a table. However, weekday lunch you’ll get right in.
Miller's Seawall Grill
1824 Seawall BoulevardNice view, breakfast all day. Yummy biscuits and gravy!
Every meal at Gaidos is a special occasion. Upscale dining.
183 locals recommend
Gaidos Seafood Restaurant
3828 Seawall BoulevardEvery meal at Gaidos is a special occasion. Upscale dining.
Amazing selection of beers, 52 I believe. Good food good atmosphere.
43 locals recommend
Stuttgarden Tavern
111 23rd StAmazing selection of beers, 52 I believe. Good food good atmosphere.
Sidewalk seating allows for people watching on picturesque Post Office Street. Enjoy a yummy, fresh granola bar or muffin with your latte. Indoor vibe is also great.
139 locals recommend
MOD Coffeehouse
2126 Postoffice StSidewalk seating allows for people watching on picturesque Post Office Street. Enjoy a yummy, fresh granola bar or muffin with your latte. Indoor vibe is also great.
Excellent gumbo but the grilled oysters are my favorite menu item. Located on beautiful Post Office Street, right in the hub of the Galveston Art scene. If your lucky enough to be here for ArtWalk, it’s the perfect place to end your evening.
60 locals recommend
Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar Galveston
2107 Postoffice StExcellent gumbo but the grilled oysters are my favorite menu item. Located on beautiful Post Office Street, right in the hub of the Galveston Art scene. If your lucky enough to be here for ArtWalk, it’s the perfect place to end your evening.
Great food and weekday lunch specials. Fabulous fish tacos!
43 locals recommend
Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill
2402 Strand StGreat food and weekday lunch specials. Fabulous fish tacos!
Portions are huge, so share a plate if you’re not that hungry. Weekday lunch specials. Great seafood po’boy sandwiches.
71 locals recommend
Black Pearl Oyster Bar
327 23rd StPortions are huge, so share a plate if you’re not that hungry. Weekday lunch specials. Great seafood po’boy sandwiches.
Fish Tales
2502 Seawall BlvdBest shrimp kisses on the island!
Wonderfully unpretentious, this restaurant has amazing service, creative menu, and delicious food. Upscale experience in a casual, hip setting. If you are a foodie-must try! They also have a great happy hour menu.
111 locals recommend
BLVD Seafood
2804 Avenue R 1/2Wonderfully unpretentious, this restaurant has amazing service, creative menu, and delicious food. Upscale experience in a casual, hip setting. If you are a foodie-must try! They also have a great happy hour menu.
Amazing brisket and possibly the best tamales in the WORLD!! Call ahead to place your order. Everything is prepared fresh and many items sell out in advance. Closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for tamale assembly and preparing and smoking the meats. This is a family owned and operated business for take out only. They do have some picnic tables in the side yard.
27 locals recommend
Pennies Tex Mex Take Out
1713 37th StAmazing brisket and possibly the best tamales in the WORLD!! Call ahead to place your order. Everything is prepared fresh and many items sell out in advance. Closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for tamale assembly and preparing and smoking the meats. This is a family owned and operated business for take out only. They do have some picnic tables in the side yard.
Groceries
Full service grocery store. Easy in and out for most of your shopping needs. A five minute drive. Very small deli. Not as many prepared foods as the big grocery’s.
50 locals recommend
Arlan's Market
513 Market StFull service grocery store. Easy in and out for most of your shopping needs. A five minute drive. Very small deli. Not as many prepared foods as the big grocery’s.
My suggestion for fresh produce, large deli, cheese, and bakery items. This store can get congested at times and is about a 15 drive from the cottage. But they should have everything you need here including a variety of beach items and sunscreens.
135 locals recommend
Kroger
5730 Seawall BlvdMy suggestion for fresh produce, large deli, cheese, and bakery items. This store can get congested at times and is about a 15 drive from the cottage. But they should have everything you need here including a variety of beach items and sunscreens.
City advice
Don't miss
Check out Galveston.com.
Browse through the calendar of events for your Galveston stay. You might be surprised of all the special activities going on while your in town. Event tickets, dates, times, and even parade routes can be found at Galveston.com. Many free activities are listed on the calendar as well. A great resource to reference.