Houston Have To-Dos

Being a native Houstonian is becoming rarer and rarer these days. When I tell people I was born and raised here, with short detours for college and grad school, they are often surprised. (I did a brief stint in Dallas but that's neither here nor there.) I love my city and will gladly elaborate to anyone who will listen! There is just so much to see and do here. Since Super Bowl Weekend is around the corner, I thought I would share all of my favorites for any recent transplants or those of y'all planning to visit soon. So whether you're visiting or new to town, consider these your Houston Have To-Dos!

In Houston, like many other big cities in the South, you get the best of both worlds. There is no shortage of urban amenities and the simple life is just a stone's throw away. Folks raised in places like Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans, are somewhere smack-dab in the middle of country bumpkin and city slicker. We were raised to say "Yes, ma'am/sir." We had Go-Western days in grade school. We probably have cowboy boots in our closets. But right next to those boots might be a cute pair of designer pumps. We would just as soon go to a spoken word night as a hoe-down. And we're probably saying "Yes, ma'am." to another round of Rosé! It's a good mix that feels like home to me.

Additionally, we've got all the Southern hospitality you could want, the best Tex-Mex, and pockets of culture all throughout the city and surrounding areas. If all that wasn't enough, I just have one word for you: Beyoncé. *drops mic* If you're going to be in town, some of these things should definitely be on your list. Below are direct links to my favorite local spots and I've also written about several of them here on the blog. If you want my recommendations on what to order at each place, check out the Houston Living page.

Houston Watering Holes

• 13 Celsius - Midtown
• A'bouzy - Montrose
• Alley Kat - Midtown
• Axelrad Beer Garden (review here)
• Bebidas - Uptown
• City Orchard - Sawyer Heights
• East End Hardware (Order the John Snow Cone!) - EaDo
• Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors - Uptown
• Holman Draft Hall - Midtown
• Juiceland - Multiple Locations
• Lancaster Hotel (Go for cocktails and bar bites before a show!) - Downtown
• Ogun Wine & Art
• Present Company - Montrose
• Secret Garden HTX - Downtown
• Sixty Vines - Rice Village
• UnWine on Almeda - Third Ward
• Wooster's Garden - Midtown

Where to Eat in Houston

• Bar 5015 - Third Ward
• Batanga -Downtown
• Bisou - Uptown
• Bravery Chef Food Hall - Downtown
• Breakfast Brunch Cafe (review here) - Cypress
• Caribbean Cuisine - Southwest
• Collection of Healthy Houston Restaurants
• Craft Burger
• Crumbville - Third Ward
• Cupcake Kitchen - Third Ward
• The District Downtown - Downtown
• EaDeaux's Cajun Cocina (review here) - EaDo
• Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors - Uptown
• Harold's (review here) - Heights
• Houston Cupcake Directory
• Hungry's Upstairs (review here) - Rice Village
• King Wok - Southwest
• Kulture (review here and brunch here) - Downtown
• Le Colonial - Uptown
• Liberty Kitchen (review here)
• Lucille's - Museum District
• The Original Marini's Empanada House - Westchase
• Original Max's Wine Dive - Montrose
• Ouisie's Table - Uptown
• MKT Bar (review here) - Downtown
• Peli Peli (review here) - Galleria
• Petite Sweets - Westchase
• PPK (review here)
• Ritual - Heights
• Ruggles Black (Order the Caribbean Chicken Salad and Chai Tres Leches!) - Uptown
• Shipley Do-Nuts
• Soul Food Vegan - Third Ward
• Suya Hut - Southwest
• Turkey Leg Hut - Third Ward
• Weights and Measures - Midtown

Places to See in Houston

• Buffalo Bayou
• Discovery Green
• Downtown Murals
• Hermann Park/Miller Outdoor Theater
• Midtown Murals
• Montrose Murals
• Uptown Water Wall
• Waugh Bridge Bat Colony
• We Love Houston Sign

Things to Do in Houston

• Black Swan Yoga
• Booked HTX
• CityCentre (review here)
• Etta's (blog post here)
• The Galleria
• Hong Kong City Mall
• Inner Me Studios (blog post here)
• The Mad Potter (review here)
• Revolution Studio
• River Oaks District
• Rooftop Cinema Club
• The Tuck Room (review here)
• Vibe & Ride (review here)

If you have questions about anything not mentioned here, don't hesitate to ask me--I love playing the local guide. Thanks for reading!

P.S. more Houston stuff:

• Healthy Houston Restaurants
• Houston Cupcake Directory
• Third Ward Neighborhood Tour

sad

So I might regret this post because the secret sauce of Houston is already being leaked. Lines at restaurants around the city are long. Visitors (or out-of-town folks, as we call them) have been flocking to the city and as a born-and-raised Houstonian, I get it. Houston has been deemed the Culinary and Cultural Capital of the South for a reason. SaveSave