It is no secret that I love Houston. After moving back to the city from Austin, where I went to college, I became an adventurer of my own habitat. I wanted to try every restaurant, see every sight, walk on all the trails, etc. I also love to travel to new cities in the US, and in the last 2 years covered San Francisco (6 times), Los Angeles, Boston (3 times), Miami, Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Denver, Durango, Dallas, Austin, Chicago (2 times), Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Bozeman (Montana), and Washington DC. I would always have a fully packed agenda for all of these places, which included food, event, and sightseeing recommendations. I thought it would be fun to create my own Houston weekend guide (Friday evening through Sunday night)! Hopefully you find this list useful.
Friday Evening
- Take pictures at the Waterwall Park (Galleria)
- Enjoy happy hour at Anvil (Montrose) – try the French 75! or go to Bar Boheme for a more relaxed vibe
- If you go to Anvil, walk across the street and take a picture outside of Biscuit Home (#biscuitartwall on Instagram) and check out their gorgeous, slightly eclectic selection of home goods
- Eat at Indika (Montrose) if you like Indian food or head to Benjy’s (Rice Military and Rice Village) if you prefer modern American cuisine
- Head to Sprinkles for a cupcake or to Pinkberry (both River Oaks) for some frozen yogurt
- Drive down Westheimer to Underbelly or Hay Merchant (both Montrose)
Saturday
- Eat breakfast at Common Bond Bakery (Montrose), Empire Cafe (Montrose), Adair Kitchen (Galleria) or Buffallo Grille (Memorial)
- Shop at the cool antique stores on Westheimer in Montrose next to Empire Cafe and Agora or Texas Junk Co. (Montrose)
- If antiques aren’t for you, go to the Urban Harvest Farmers Market (Upper Kirby)
- Drive to the Menil Collection (Montrose) – enjoy the museum and the gorgeous trees outside
- Walk to Rothko Chapel
- Enjoy coffee at Catalina Coffee (Fourth Ward)
- Take pictures in front of the We Love Houston sign (Heights)
- Stroll down the historic 19th street (Heights) for antique shopping (if you didn’t in the morning)
- Eat lunch at Shade, Revival Market, Rainbow Lodge, or Cedar Creek (all nearby in the Heights)
- Make your way to West End Bikes (Rice Military) and rent bikes
- Ride along the Buffalo Bayou Trails (Rice Military, Montrose) – see my post here
- Cycle by the Beer Can House (Rice Military) and the Blue Trees (off Memorial and Allen Parkway on Waugh)
- Return bikes and rest/change for dinner or caffeinate at Antidote Coffee
- Head to Discovery Green (Downtown) and walk around the park, then head at The Grove or drive to Sparrow (Midtown)
- Enjoy post-dinner drinks at Mongoose vs. Cobra (Midtown)
Sunday
- Enjoy brunch at Canopy or Hugo’s (both Montrose)
- Drive to Memorial Hermann Park and take the train ride or ride a pedal boat – make sure you take pictures in front of the gorgeous Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool (Rice/Musuem District)
- Head to Black Hole Coffee (Montrose/Rice) if you want caffeine or Lucille’s (Museum District) if you want a Bloody Mary
- Eat lunch at Tiny Boxwood’s (River Oaks) or Local Foods (Rice Village)
- Walk around Rice Village and window shop (or go in!)
- Drive to Station: Museum of Contemporary Art (Midtown) if you enjoy artsy things (free on Sunday) or go to Dogwood (Midtown) if you want to watch sports
- Eat dinner at Pondicheri (Upper Kirby) – request nicely to have some of the curried popcorn from the bar, or go to Coppa (Rice Military) if you’re in the mood for delicious Italian food, or eat at Roost (Montrose) if you want a smaller, more intimate setting – last, but not least, try Ruggles Green (Upper Kirby) for healthy, organic food
- End the weekend by driving to Rice University campus at walking by the illuminated James Turrell Skyspace
Voilà. There you have it – some suggestions for a “perfect weekend in Houston.” There are, of course, tons and tons more fun things to do in this city, but I had to narrow it down. Some additional items include:
Visit the Bayou Bend Collection
Go to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Run at Memorial Park
Visit the Saint Arnold’s Brewery
Take a cruise down the Bayou on a canoe or kayak
Go and experience Houston’s Theater scene
Laugh out loud at ComedySportz
Take a tour of Houston’s underground tunnel system downtown
I am always open to suggestions and also would love to help you plan a personalized trip if you’re coming to visit the Bayou City. Please email me!