Those of you who know me are aware that I love to travel. Slightly obsessed. I have been staying up late recently on Kayak, trying to manipulate flights and hotels for the honeymoon. Last week, I discovered Entouriste, and I’m addicted. I am seriously freaking out about going to every single place featured on the site. I’ve covered a few, but am now adding Bali, Thailand and the BVI to my ‘must see’ list.
I mean, these tigers? C’mon!
In the first Honeymoon Series post, I talked about us traveling to Croatia, which is still a top contender. One of the other places that we have been researching is New Zealand, which I have pegged as God’s proof to man that he created the earth. I mean, please look at the photos below and tell me they are not absolutely unreal? If we go to New Zealand, we would make the trip in November/December, after his finals end. We would likely be there for two full weeks, given the large amount of places we want to visit. Number one on my list is definitely to go hiking in Milford Sound. Luckily for us, there are five hotels around the country that are managed by Hilton (where Sasha has all of his points), and United has reasonably priced tickets from Houston through LA (where I have my points). These are big deciding factors for us – total consultant move! Decisions, decisions.
// images via //
I found this map by Bonnie Dain online, and I love love love it. It highlights most of my favorite places. I went to Kuhl-Linscomb for the first time on Friday, and I’m seriously obsessed. I’ve embarrassingly never eaten at Da Marco!
I must admit it, I love the Bayou City, so I’ve compiled a list of my favorite restaurants + coffee shops by area, including some brief thoughts about each place. Let me know if you have any other good suggestions – always up for a new culinary adventure!
Email me if you want any specific recommendations! Click here for a Google map of all these restaurants, which helps when trying to pick a restaurant nearby.
Downtown
The Grove – love the views and the fact it’s a part of Discovery Green
The Blue Fish – a perfect downtown spot for a night at the theater – good tofu options for veggies!
Midtown
Sparrow (by Top Chef Monica Pope) – try the brussels sprouts (oh, and everything else)
Barnabys (there are a few around the city) – this is a staple in my life – get the falafel patty
Pass & Provisions – one of the more recent “cool” places to go – formal and casual in one building
Brooklyn Athletic Club – plan on having a fun game night at BAC with amazing food (not typical bar food!)
Montrose/West Gray
Bistro Menil – a pretty little restaurant directly across from the Menil Collection with delicious sangria and quinoa + roasted veggie dish
Indika – amazing Indian fusion restaurant – try the Kale Blueberry Salad
Roost – one of my new favorites – very intimate setting with delicious food (and yes, Brussels)
Cafe Brasil – love this eclectic spot – sit in the back courtyard and eat the Goat Cheese Salad
Uchi – amazing sushi, beware – the wait may be LONG, but the Brussels sprouts are worth it
El Tiempo Cantina – amazing Mexican food – pretty busy on the weekends (warning: strong margs!)
Just Dinner – it’s an old house converted into a BYOB dinner-only restaurant
Canopy – the layout of the place can change and it looks like it’s a canopy – how cool is that?
Black Hole Coffee – totally Austin-like coffee shop – Dell-users would feel out-of-place
Backstreet Cafe – a gorgeous two-story house turned into an absolutely delicious restaurant
Dolce Vita – step into Italy at this intimate restaurant – please, please eat the Brussels sprouts
Baba Yega – a “wholesome vegetarian” menu? yes… please
La Griglia – a big, loud Italian restaurant – worth a visit
Underbelly – not the most veggie friendly place in the world, it’s definitely worth a visit (great wine menu!)
Mockingbird Bistro – more of a fancy, quiet restaurant (for dates!) – the food is phenomenal, as are the cocktails
The Heights
Cedar Creek or Onion Creek – the former feels like it’s in Austin – love both!
El Gran Malo – delicious flavor-infused tequila – grungy garage style, but cool
Cottonwood Club – popular hangout place at night – just north of the Heights (pretty new)
Antidote Coffee – it’s super, super hipster and it’s pretty much awesome (as is the sign)
Glass Wall – go there for a date night – it’s small and tasty and you won’t regret it
Rainbow Lodge – two words: Sunday Brunch, and three more: 99 cent mimosas!
Washington Corridor
Benjy’s (also in Rice Village) – where I go for my birthday every year – Brussels sprouts are amazing!
The Counter – make your own yummy burgers (veggie options too)
Catalina Coffee – best coffee in Houston, hands down
Beavers – not the healthiest option in town, but great food and vibe
Coppa – great wine selection, delicious “bites” and fresh salads (try the burrata cheese!)
Rice Village
Benjy’s – see note above
Black Walnut Cafe – has become a chain but doesn’t feel like it – the Black Walnut Salad is great
Tiny’s No. 5 – sister restaurant to Tiny Boxwoods (below)
Upper Kirby/River Oaks
Tiny Boxwoods – you need to go here – it’s perfect – esp. in the spring – best “ladies who lunch” experience
Haven – organic, delicious, pretty – went there when I got engaged and for the Royal Wedding
Pondicheri – Indian fusion at West Ave – love the big doors when you walk in
Tasting Room – also in Galleria and CityCentre – small bites are amazing (baked brie – eeeek!!) and wine selection is great
Giacomo’s – authentic Italian food – don’t leave without trying the involtini di melanzane alla parmigiana
Corner Table – tucked away off Westheimer, this gorgeous, healthy restaurant has one of the best menus around (try the Earth veggie burger!)
Field of Greens – not a fancy restaurant, but darn good vegetarian and vegan food – Quinoa Delight is unreal
Local Foods – I am seriously obsessed with this place (namely the giant old map of River Oaks on the wall) – try the Fall Harvest Salad or Falafel Sandwich as a salad (+ sangria!)
Galleria/Tanglewood
Adair Kitchen – must go there – it’s best during lunch, but busy – get the Black Bean Quinoa Burger
Relish – gorgeous glass building and amazing light, healthy meals
Kiran’s – delicious Indian food (kind of pricey) – great for a romantic meal or special occasion
Philippe – a great place for a private party or romantic dinner – Quartette of Vegetables, all day long
Dish Society – a relative newcomer, this farm-to-table restaurant will win you over with the quinoa stuffed avocado
Memorial/Bellaire
Barnabys – see note above
Brenner’s on the Bayou – a tucked-away garden with great views, this laid-back version of Brenner’s Steakhouse won’t disappoint (perfect date night spot)
Harvest Grille – all organic – lovely
La Vista – BYOB, down the street from Harvest – amazing portobello mushrooms
Jonathan’s The Rub – the “hidden gem of Houston” – also BYOB – total Memorial crowd
Union Kitchen – do yourself a favor and order the baked brie
Island Grill – hummus, falafel and the best juices and smoothies in town (new location at Bunker Hill/I10!)
Maryz – amazingly authentic lebanese food, with hummus so good, you’ll order seconds
Shri Balaji Bhavan – voted best Indian in Houston by Alison Cook – who am I to argue? Try everything
Latin Bites – attention all vegetarians: order the Quinoa Salad… it’s absolutely phenomenal
CityCentre/Town and Country
Cyclone Anaya’s – try the skinny blueberry mojito – it’s Sasha’s favorite
Ruggles Green – one of my top three regular go-to places – I dream about the Texas Goat Cheese Salad
Zoe’s Kitchen – the only “fast food” worthy of your time (you’ll find others across town as well)
Sasha and I love to travel, and I think we’ve put a lot of pressure on ourselves to pick the perfect honeymoon spot. We talk about it often, but have landed on nothing. Sasha is getting his MBA through the University of Texas at Austin weekend program, so we are limited for dates, but we’ll make it happen (just not immediately following the wedding in July).
I’m going to share some of the places as we explore them – the first being Croatia. We talked about doing a trip to Scotland (where I was born) to visit my family, then flying to Serbia to see his relatives (both his parents are from there), then doing a short flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia. We could take a cruise along the coast, or rent a car and do a coastal drive. I am literally entranced by the pictures of the Croatian water. I have probably looked at thousands of pictures of this gorgeous country, and I’m seriously obsessed.
// click on the pictures above to link to the host site //
Leaving San Francisco always makes me so sad (and reminds me of this Walter Cronkite quote + pictures). I was in the Bay Area from Thursday through Sunday – first in Palo Alto, then Mountain View, Oakland, San Francisco, and finally Napa + Sonoma. A lot of wedding tasks were accomplished during this time – tasted our vegan cupcakes, (re)visited the venue, met our florist, and assessed various rehearsal dinner wineries (see list below). We ate delicious food (Oren’s Hummus in Palo Alto, Google cafes in Mountain View, Hopmonk in Sonoma, and DOSA and The Plant in San Francisco). We drank amazing wine + champagne at Artesa Winery (amazing 360 views on site), Gundlach Bundschu, Nicholson Ranch Winery, and Domaine Carneros. It was tough to board my flight yesterday – cannot wait until we go back for the menu tasting in a few months! See highlights below.
Where the adventure began – in Palo Alto
Posing in front of Alcatraz
At Boudin on the Fisherman’s Wharf – love these letters so much
The perfect sunset with the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge
On the hunt for a rehearsal dinner winery spot – at Domaine Carneros
Georgia during the wine tour at Artesa Winery
At Hopmonk in Sonoma for lunch
Local brew and my favorite – St. Germain Cocktail
View from the top of Artesa Winery
The Wine Country – is there any place prettier? Already missing it