Guidebook for Houston
Food Scene
Tacos El Jaibo
5821 Bellaire BlvdCheap decent, breakfast and lunch, the better out of the tacos in the area.
Green Vegetarian Cuisine
6720 Chimney Rock RdVegetarian fast food, some decent burgers.
Bernie's Burger Bus
5407 Bellaire BlvdHeavy duty burgers and good beer.
Lemongrass Cafe
5107 Bellaire BlvdQuiet Vietnamese fusion; one my go-to treats.
Saltillo Mexican Kitchen
5427 Bissonnet StUpscale Mexican, kind of pricey.
Costa Brava Bistro
5107 Bellaire BlvdUpscale Spanish/French, very quiet. Always good.
Catalina Coffee
2201 Washington AveBest coffee in Houston.
Mercantile
5411 Morningside DrSecond best coffee in town.
Not super authentic Indian, but great, fresh ingredients. Check out their bake lab upstairs too. Yeah, a bake lab, it's nuts.
163 locals recommend
Pondicheri
2800 Kirby DrNot super authentic Indian, but great, fresh ingredients. Check out their bake lab upstairs too. Yeah, a bake lab, it's nuts.
Les Givral's
2704 Milam StCheap bahn-mi, usually with a long, but fast-moving line. Do it.
JINYA Ramen Bar
3201 Louisiana StBest Ramen in town. Expect a slight wait. Worth it!
Huynh Restaurant
912 St Emanuel StFantastic Vietnamese near downtown.
They make their own beer and have a constantly rotating selection of other beers. Also a good place to get a gourmet hotdog.
120 locals recommend
Moon Tower Inn
3004 Canal StThey make their own beer and have a constantly rotating selection of other beers. Also a good place to get a gourmet hotdog.
Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar
1050 Studewood StThey take food seriously here. You've been warned.
A little pricey, but decisively compelling and good food and drinks.
74 locals recommend
Weights + Measures
2808 Caroline StA little pricey, but decisively compelling and good food and drinks.
Mala Sichuan Bistro
1201 Westheimer RdGet something with Sichuan peppers--tingly!
Good value and good quality pasta and sandwiches. Go for a late breakfast or early lunch--they've got pretty good coffee.
54 locals recommend
Paulie's
1834 Westheimer RdGood value and good quality pasta and sandwiches. Go for a late breakfast or early lunch--they've got pretty good coffee.
Great farmers market, often with live entertainment. Saturday mornings!
28 locals recommend
Urban Harvest Farmers Market
2752 Buffalo SpeedwayGreat farmers market, often with live entertainment. Saturday mornings!
Parks & Nature
Secluded, but beautiful hiking trails. Easy to feel as if you've left the city, if only for a moment.
246 locals recommend
Washington Avenue
Washington AvenueSecluded, but beautiful hiking trails. Easy to feel as if you've left the city, if only for a moment.
Miles of walking and biking trails. Great way to experience downtown too.
549 locals recommend
Buffalo Bayou Park
Memorial DriveMiles of walking and biking trails. Great way to experience downtown too.
Arts & Culture
Great non-profit art venue in the museum district. Always free, usually some really interesting work.
13 locals recommend
Lawndale Art Center
4912 Main StGreat non-profit art venue in the museum district. Always free, usually some really interesting work.
Does cost admission, but worth it to access the permanent collection and temporary shows.
979 locals recommend
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Beck Building
1001 Bissonnet StDoes cost admission, but worth it to access the permanent collection and temporary shows.
Always fresh, always free. The CAMH is a must see if you plan on being around Montrose or the museum district. Some really good shows up right now!
144 locals recommend
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
5216 Montrose BlvdAlways fresh, always free. The CAMH is a must see if you plan on being around Montrose or the museum district. Some really good shows up right now!
Fantastic non-profit, has rotating shows that engage the community with issues in art and politics.
29 locals recommend
Project Row Houses
2521 Holman StFantastic non-profit, has rotating shows that engage the community with issues in art and politics.
Weird place you should go if you have a minute. Admission is $5 or something. A sort of insane Houston treasure. Bring a camera.
37 locals recommend
The Orange Show
2401 Munger StWeird place you should go if you have a minute. Admission is $5 or something. A sort of insane Houston treasure. Bring a camera.
Houston's hackerspace. If you are interested in making things come check this place out. One of the best equipped makerspaces in the nation. Virtually anything can be made here. Come take a tour Friday nights. They also offer dinner and breakfast during those times.
TXRX Labs
6501 Navigation BoulevardHouston's hackerspace. If you are interested in making things come check this place out. One of the best equipped makerspaces in the nation. Virtually anything can be made here. Come take a tour Friday nights. They also offer dinner and breakfast during those times.
Make a reservation for a sunset viewing; it's free, but I recommend parking in the lot for a few bucks. Do it!
http://skyspace.rice.edu/cms/visit-skyspace/
66 locals recommend
James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany Skyscape
Make a reservation for a sunset viewing; it's free, but I recommend parking in the lot for a few bucks. Do it!
http://skyspace.rice.edu/cms/visit-skyspace/
Station Museum of Contemporary Art
1502 Alabama StSicardi Gallery
1506 W Alabama StShowcases strong work from Latin-American Artists, contemporary and modern.
Gotta stop by here if you need a break, it's free and worth hunting for parking.
164 locals recommend
Rothko Chapel
3900 Yupon StGotta stop by here if you need a break, it's free and worth hunting for parking.
Free, fantastic collection of ancient, contemporary, and surrealist art.
491 locals recommend
The Menil Collection
1533 Sul Ross StFree, fantastic collection of ancient, contemporary, and surrealist art.
David Shelton Gallery
4411 Montrose BlvdDiverseWorks
3400 Main StNon-profit art space in a beautiful space downtown.
I really recommend getting tickets to a tour of the cistern. They are very affordable.
http://buffalobayou.doubleknot.com/facilitysearch/3280
126 locals recommend
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
105-B Sabine StI really recommend getting tickets to a tour of the cistern. They are very affordable.
http://buffalobayou.doubleknot.com/facilitysearch/3280
Houston's non-profit community-oriented center for photography.
15 locals recommend
Houston Center for Photography
1441 W Alabama StHouston's non-profit community-oriented center for photography.
Byzantine Fresco Chapel
4011 Yupon StBeautiful architecture hosting long-term installations.
Hiram Butler Gallery
4520 Blossom StLovely, tucked-away building hosting contemporary and modern work.
Drinks & Nightlife
Grand Prize Bar
1010 Banks StDive-y bar, good cocktails.
Mongoose Versus Cobra
1011 McGowen StGreat beer selection. Really good cocktails.
Julep
1919 Washington AveReally neat place, good cocktails.
Beautiful interior. Great place to relax and have a classic cocktail
19 locals recommend
Public Services Wine & Whisky
202 Travis StBeautiful interior. Great place to relax and have a classic cocktail
Usually have a band or a dj. Good place to go dance and sweat in the summer.
48 locals recommend
The Continental Club
3714 Main StUsually have a band or a dj. Good place to go dance and sweat in the summer.
Lei Low Bar
6412 N Main StOne of three tiki bars in Houston; this one's the weirdest.
Make sure you make it upstairs, drinks are fine, but the view from 5 stories up of highway 45 and the bayou is as Houston as it gets.
21 locals recommend
The Raven Tower
310 North StMake sure you make it upstairs, drinks are fine, but the view from 5 stories up of highway 45 and the bayou is as Houston as it gets.
Take a tour of Houston's Oldest Microbrewery, try some beer!
291 locals recommend
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons AveTake a tour of Houston's Oldest Microbrewery, try some beer!
Shopping
H-E-B
6055 South FwyFairly priced grocery store. Good produce.