I am fortunate enough to have a close friend in Houston that I visited a few months back. We ran all over the city exploring for 3 days and Houston was such a pleasant surprise! It is one of the most diverse cities in terms of culture, food, and environments. Houston is a real gem that I strongly recommend, but maybe wait till any time to go but summer or Hurricane season! Now is the perfect time to plan a winter visit!
Getting there and getting around.
The city has 2 separate airports so you can shop around for the cheapest flights as there are TONS of options. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the hub for American Airlines and Spirit but offers nonstop flights to some pretty big cities around the world through several airlines.There is also William P. Hobby Airport that is closer to downtown but I could not find the flight dates I needed coming from Atlanta. I ended up flying Delta and, even with some big storms, both flights were just over 2 hours each. Their security and airport layout is not as organized as Hartsfield so definitely give yourself extra time. Either way, such a quick hop from Atlanta for a long weekend!
I would recommend renting a car if you want to go around to different neighborhoods. They have public transportation but unless you want to stay inside the downtown area only, its not the best option. This city has 3 perimeter highways that circle the city like a bulls-eye and the 2 outer ones are larger than 285 here in Atlanta. Traffic is nowhere near as bad as Atlanta given all the highways, too. So if you plant to go from Rice Village all the way to the Astros at Minute Maid Park, get you a car!
Staying.
I stayed in the Westend area which is outside of the downtown area but still has the city vibe. Unfortunately, I stayed with friends and there are no good lodging options in their exact area. There are, however, some great options nearby and downtown. If you want to stay in the relative area I was in, Hotel Derek is a great lux option under $150 a night. It has super views of the skyline and is across from The Galleria, which is a high end mall similar to Lenox. The hotel food also look top notch if you don’t want a journey for a meal.
Downtown has great options with fun features. I’d recommend staying at the Marriott Marque Hotel which does run north of $200 a night but this is in line with other brand-named options in the area. The reason you should choose this hotel downtown is that it has a Texas state shaped lazy river on the roof! It is HOT in Houston and this is just a great feature worth the stay and comes with accessible skyline views for great pics. A lot of other hotel pools in the area are a little sad or on the ground floor and this one is the coolest.
Eating around.
Houston is known for their BBQ and Tex-Mex. Sadly for the meat-eaters reading this, I am a vegetarian and did not hit up the BBQ scene… But you better believe I was hear for the Tex-Mex and it did not disappoint! Houston, as I stated before, is so diverse. You can get authentic food from just about any cultural region around the world. Not a single meal was disappointing from the places below!
Tex-Mex: El Tiempo was one of the best meals I have ever had and the drinks are very generous. I went for the fajitas and they came with this mysterious butter sauce that I’m pretty sure could perform miracles. My friends go to their location at least once a week and have never eaten a bad choice. 10/10 across the board for service, atmosphere, and food quality. This is a small chain so you can find their food offerings in a few areas of Houston suburbs so click the link above to see the options.
Fresh Pasta: North Italia is a trendy choice but it has a great view of a few high-rise buildings and all the pasta was delicious. It is in a quiet area if you are looking for a late night bite in twinkly city lights but prepare for a wait. We tried the more classic pasta dishes; pesto, bolognese, and tortelloni. Each plate left our table cleaned off! Yes this is another chain but if you just flew in late, like me, and really needed some quality carbs, this one won’t stray you. The wine menu is A+, also.
Texas Grocery Must Stop: H.E.B. No this is not a restaurant but I feel like everyone needs to see what they are missing with the level of grocery store Texas is packing. Samples EVERYWHERE, fresh pressed juices that are affordable, unbelievable veggie selection, cool parking lot system that blew my mine, ect. I could go on and on but if you just want to do some snacking and maybe grab a few necessities, go here over anywhere else!
Brunch: The Dunlavy is a photo hungry tourist’s best friend. It is located on the edge of a redesigned park between some high-rises and has a cool treehouse feel. The inside is lit with dozens of chandeliers with floor to ceiling windows showing off the park trees and the city’s edge. It is a small space so I would recommend arriving early and expect to valet. I had the fried green tomato sandwich with a latte. Not the best green tomato I’ve had but I’m from Georgia so none ever compare well outside the deep south. Coffee was great and the atmosphere is worth the trip.
Quick Breakfast: Kolache Factory is a place I so wish was in Georgia. Kolaches are just sweet bread rolls that are stuffed with eggs, meats, jams, and all other things. They are just a handful of yum that are somehow so much more exciting than a breakfast sandwich. This food item is huge in Texas so you can definitely find them in any area you are in.
Group Food Spot: Finn Hall is like the Krog Street of Houston. Great food options from grain bowls to an oyster bar and good coffee! It is the perfect place to start your day if walking around downtown Houston as it is just a few blocks from the stadium. and Convention Center.
Honorable Mention: Drive Thru Daiquiris are as common as Smoothie King here! Great pregame grab or if you are eating in and want a fun night alone.
The Sites!
Its already been said, but Houston is HUGE! So I’ve listed the neighborhoods to visit as there are great individual places and vibes to find at each of these.
The Galleria – You can shop, you can walk around, and it has great city lights at night with all the high rises. North Italia restaurant is right around the corner to start your first night off right. Its also a super clean and quiet area to ease into the trip.
Rice Village – The Oak trees! Great place to drive around looking at all the mansions and right around the corner from Hermann Park. Stop here to wander around the Japanese Gardens, catch a show at the outdoor theater, the zoo, or if the heat is too much, head into one of the large museums surrounding the park. Its like a little Smithsonian Mall and just as walk-able. Some of the best hospitals in the country are also visible in the distance and have very cool architecture to them.
Downtown – Take the train or drive in and spend the day taking in great street art and a very organized city center. You can catch a baseball game at the stadium or sneak into the Marriott for that Texas shaped lazy river on the roof. There is lots going on and a little bit for everyone.
Montrose – More specifically on Westheimer Street. Start out at Biscuit, the cutest home decor shop with a few trinket option to remember the trip by. Then walk west down the street for fun vintage shops! Great selections and reasonable prices to boot. This area also has beautiful homes to check out and an abundance of bars if that is your thing.
Sharpstown – This is basically the ‘Little Italy’ or ‘Korea-town’ of the Asian population of Houston. Start off at 85C Bakery Cafe and try EVERYTHING. Incredible Korean baked goods that you will want to bring back home. Across the street is all kinds of restaurants from dumplings, Korean barbecue, and real Chinese food. But one store sells Japanese skincare and they have all the masks you could ever want or need!
These are all the places I wandered to during the 4 days I was in Houston. So much more to see in and outside the city but for a short trip, this gets the highlights and the varied cultures that make up this impressive city. Thanks for tagging along for this Short Trip Travel and hope to have a post on Charleston soon!