From NASA to instagrammable bars, Texas’ coastal city is anything but sleepy or country. Houston has been made famous by space movies and a hurricane named Harvey, but what makes this city tick, is it’s diversity, eclecticness and the warm, rad people that call it home. We had heard Houston was a cool city, but we had no idea we’d fall in love as hard as we did until we experienced it. These are just a few of the many places you must see, that make up this unique city.
11 Space Center Houston
NASA is one of the most impressive places to see in the world. I mean…they put man on the moon. The Space Center Houston is right next door and NASA’s visitor’s center for all things science and space exploration. The center features more than 400 space artifacts, exhibits of moon rocks and lunar samples, theaters and a tram tour to the behind the scenes of NASA Johnson Space Center.
Where | 1601 NASA Pkwy, Houston, Texas
Website | https://spacecenter.org
10 Hotel Icon
Over 100 years old and originally the famed Union National Bank, the Hotel Icon was restored and modernized into the luxury hotel it is now. Located in downtown Houston, it’s walking distance to the Convention Center, Theater District, Restaurants, Bars + Nightclubs, Buffalo Bayou Park, Minute Maid Field, and Discovery Green Park.
Where | 220 Main Street, Houston, Texas
Website | https://hotelicon.com
9 Present Company
Present Company puts all other ‘instagram-worthy’ spaces to shame. Every single detail and corner of this place is a photo op of neon signs, tropical wallpaper, vintage furniture, bright colors, plants and flowers and LaCroix cocktails. You’ll have to go back several times in different outfits just to avoid spamming IG. Not only that, but they also have unique cocktails, delicious food and DJ’s spinning for Sunday Funday.
Where | 1318 Westheimer, Houston, Texas
Website | https://presentcompanyhtx.com
8 Truck Yard
Another instagram hotspot, Truck Yard is an IRL movie of your wildest dreams. Inside a shipping container fort, there are antiques wall ornaments, old pick up trucks and pinball machines for tables, games, karaoke, neon and vintage signs, a cheesesteak station, stage for live music and of course – the actual working ferris wheel (which you can bring your drinks on).
Where | 2118 Lamar St Suite 150, Houston, Texas
Website | https://truckyardhouston.com
7 Bosscat Kitchen + Libations
When you have an inventive chef that makes foods like Totchos (tater tot nachos), Nutella S’mores Pancakes, Donut Burgers and Fruity Pebbles French Toast, brunch has a whole new meaning – like your parents won’t yell at you for eating junk for breakfast. There are also Breakfast in Bed (or as we like to call it – the Canadian Breakfast) shots of OJ, whiskey and bacon, so the ‘no drinking before noon’ rule is out the window.
Where | 150 – 4310 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas
Website | https://www.bosscatkitchen-houston.com
6 Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Houstonians take the saying “everything’s bigger in Texas” very seriously. Why build just a brewery, when you can build a brewery with tours, tastings, a beer hall, a massive beer garden, games, bocce ball, bean bag toss and the most impressive art murals everywhere you turn? If that wasn’t enough, you can check out the Burning Man Art Cars parked out front. Oh, and there is really good beer.
Where | 2000 Lyons Ave, Houston, Texas
Website | https://www.saintarnold.com
5 8th Wonder Brewery
If you’re looking for the perfect Saturday afternoon, it will definitely include a visit to 8th Wonder Brewery / Taproom / Beer Garden / Event Space. With weekly concerts, mixtape food trucks, giant statues and signs, games for all ages and lots of beer (and kombucha) on tap. If nothing else, you need to check out the I Heart Houston sign and the giant Beatles statues, but they’re on loan, so hurry up!
Where | 2202 Dallas St, Houston, Texas
Website | https://8thwonder.com
4 W Grill Margaritas To-Go
Only in New Orleans would they have a quickie take-out place for boozy frozen margs and daiquiris. After Hurricane Katrina, a lot of people from New Orleans were displaced to Houston, bringing their fun and unique traditions – like grabbing a margarita to go on the way to shop, which is way cooler than coffee.
Where | 4825 Washington Ave, Houston, Texas
Website | www.wgrilltogo.com
3 Tour De Brewery
The city of Houston is pretty spread out and each area has it’s own vibe, so the best way to see it (without missing anything), is by bike. Tour De Brewery mainly does brewery tours (obvs) and there are a lot of those to see (as we mentioned), but if you just want to see the sights, they do that as well. Start the ride along the Buffalo Bayou (in the southern US – a marshy outlet of a lake or river), see historic downtown and some of the oldest buildings in the city and the beautiful art along the way.
Where | Meeting place – 105 Sabine St, Houston, Texas
Website | https://www.tourdebreweryhouston.com
2 Irma’s Southwest
You couldn’t visit Texas without some proper tex-mex food and that doesn’t just mean street food. In 1988, Irma opened a sandwich shop, which she grew into a mexican restaurant. 10 years later, her son expanded the family business and opened Irma’s Southwest – the elevated version. There’s no need to compromise a nice evening for good home cooking.
Where | 1475 Texas Ave, Houston, Texas
Website | https://www.irmassouthwest.com
1 Goodnight Charlie’s
As modern and global as Houston is, it’s still Texas and you won’t get the whole effect without boot scootin’ or two-stepping at a honky tonk bar to a live country band. Thankfully for us non-cowboy, northern city folk, Goodnight Charlie’s is a modern honky-tonk, with tacos, a cute patio, good drinks, and all types of people. But you’re sure to find yourself a gentleman or gentlewoman, who will entice you to dance (and hopefully show you how).
Where | 2531 Kuester St, Houston, Texas
Website | https://www.goodnightcharlies.com
If none of these places entice you, go for the warmest and most hospitable people we’ve ever met!
