Guidebook for Houston
Food Scene
Down House
1801 Yale StCasual chic eatery with a full bar and chef-inspired menu.
Try the Infernal Chicken curry! Jennie's is counter service style and has a picture book showing all of the items available. Vietnamese.
34 locals recommend
Jenni's Noodle House
602 E 20th StTry the Infernal Chicken curry! Jennie's is counter service style and has a picture book showing all of the items available. Vietnamese.
Busy taco shop with full bar and outdoor seating. Menu is not just typical tacos, but unusual variants as well.
170 locals recommend
Torchy's Tacos
2400 Times BlvdBusy taco shop with full bar and outdoor seating. Menu is not just typical tacos, but unusual variants as well.
Pinks Pizza
1403 Heights BlvdThey have pizza by the slice and it's only a block away!
Cake by the slice, and um, hot dogs too! Indoor and outdoor seating in a repurposed house with art displays. The Italian Cream cake is the best I've ever had!
16 locals recommend
Happy Fatz
3510 White Oak DrCake by the slice, and um, hot dogs too! Indoor and outdoor seating in a repurposed house with art displays. The Italian Cream cake is the best I've ever had!
Antidote
729 Studewood StNot a coffee drinker myself, but people like this place!
I haven't been there in it's current incarnation, but this converted house is cozy and very close by.
33 locals recommend
EQ Heights
1030 Heights BlvdI haven't been there in it's current incarnation, but this converted house is cozy and very close by.
By morning a coffee shop, by night a coffee/beer and wine hot spot. A converted two-story house welcomes you with various types of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Books and games available too. What I really like about this place is that it is always alive with people engaged with other people and also there is no wait staff, so you can order at the counter and have a seat for as long as you like and no one will pester you to buy more of anything. Sometimes they have belly dancing!
111 locals recommend
Agora
1712 Westheimer RdBy morning a coffee shop, by night a coffee/beer and wine hot spot. A converted two-story house welcomes you with various types of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Books and games available too. What I really like about this place is that it is always alive with people engaged with other people and also there is no wait staff, so you can order at the counter and have a seat for as long as you like and no one will pester you to buy more of anything. Sometimes they have belly dancing!
Very laid back rustic Texas place with indoor and outdoor seating. Counter service. American fare, but with more flair and healthy options then the typical bar. Plenty of craft beers with strange names.
96 locals recommend
Onion Creek Coffee House, Bar and Lounge
3106 White Oak DrVery laid back rustic Texas place with indoor and outdoor seating. Counter service. American fare, but with more flair and healthy options then the typical bar. Plenty of craft beers with strange names.
The closest upscale restaurant in the area. Chef-created local foods and it never disappoints.
19 locals recommend
Shade
250 W 19th StThe closest upscale restaurant in the area. Chef-created local foods and it never disappoints.
Sightseeing
Take the elevator up to the free observation deck and get a panoramic view of the city, including nearby Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum, our oasis of green inside the 610 loop.
26 locals recommend
Williams Tower
2800 Post Oak BlvdTake the elevator up to the free observation deck and get a panoramic view of the city, including nearby Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum, our oasis of green inside the 610 loop.
Staring at the waterfall for a few minutes can transport you to an alternate reality. Or, for a more mundane experience, take your camera and get a cool backdrop for your vacation shots!
19 locals recommend
WaterWall Place Luxury Apartments
2801 Waterwall DrStaring at the waterfall for a few minutes can transport you to an alternate reality. Or, for a more mundane experience, take your camera and get a cool backdrop for your vacation shots!
Lots of space and activities to find in Houston's largest centrally located park. There's a bike loop and more rustic bike and jogging trails (and places to rent bikes close by), golf course, soccer fields, picnic tables, baseball fields, playgrounds. Next door is the Arboretum for a more naturalistic experience.
246 locals recommend
Washington Avenue
Washington AvenueLots of space and activities to find in Houston's largest centrally located park. There's a bike loop and more rustic bike and jogging trails (and places to rent bikes close by), golf course, soccer fields, picnic tables, baseball fields, playgrounds. Next door is the Arboretum for a more naturalistic experience.
Arts & Culture
Many museums in one small area! Look for free days on Sundays and Thursdays at some museums.
549 locals recommend
Houston Museum District
Many museums in one small area! Look for free days on Sundays and Thursdays at some museums.
Iconic Houston art collection with a variety of styles and mediums represented. Take a walk around the surrounding area too and stop by the Rothko Chapel, a contemplative space open to people of all faiths and none at all, and other points of cultural and artistic interest nearby.
491 locals recommend
The Menil Collection
1533 Sul Ross StIconic Houston art collection with a variety of styles and mediums represented. Take a walk around the surrounding area too and stop by the Rothko Chapel, a contemplative space open to people of all faiths and none at all, and other points of cultural and artistic interest nearby.
This free museum is uniquely Houston. Celebrating Houston's annual Art Car Parade, this small museum in the Heights offers rotating exhibits of cars turned into art as well as pictures of past parade exhibits and local folk art.
130 locals recommend
Art Car Museum
140 Heights BlvdThis free museum is uniquely Houston. Celebrating Houston's annual Art Car Parade, this small museum in the Heights offers rotating exhibits of cars turned into art as well as pictures of past parade exhibits and local folk art.
Essentials
Full grocery store with many organic and natural food items. A full fresh deli including entrées, sides, soups, and salad bar. Fresh sushi made at counter. Starbuck's in store. Open 24hrs. What more can we ask for?
334 locals recommend
Kroger
4000 Polk StFull grocery store with many organic and natural food items. A full fresh deli including entrées, sides, soups, and salad bar. Fresh sushi made at counter. Starbuck's in store. Open 24hrs. What more can we ask for?
Shopping
Stroll along 19th street to the West of Yale and you'll find a variety of eclectic shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
21 locals recommend
West 19th Street
West 19th StreetStroll along 19th street to the West of Yale and you'll find a variety of eclectic shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Parks & Nature
This park is next to the Houston Zoo. It offers paddleboating, a Japanese garden (one of my favorite spots in Houston), a reflecting pool, large playground with water features for kids, and many areas of shaded picnicking. It is across the street from the Houston Museum of Natural Science and close to many other museums. In the spring and summer, check out the onsite Miller Outdoor Theater for free live shows- ballet, contemporary dance, symphony, plays, movies, and live music of all sorts. World-class performances brought to you for free by the citizens of Houston! Check out the Miller Theater website for more info.
586 locals recommend
Hermann Park
6001 Fannin StThis park is next to the Houston Zoo. It offers paddleboating, a Japanese garden (one of my favorite spots in Houston), a reflecting pool, large playground with water features for kids, and many areas of shaded picnicking. It is across the street from the Houston Museum of Natural Science and close to many other museums. In the spring and summer, check out the onsite Miller Outdoor Theater for free live shows- ballet, contemporary dance, symphony, plays, movies, and live music of all sorts. World-class performances brought to you for free by the citizens of Houston! Check out the Miller Theater website for more info.