Guidebook for Houston

Brian, Brian, & Pharaoh
Brian, Brian, & Pharaoh
Guidebook for Houston

Food Scene

Award-winning bakery just down the street that also serves sandwiches for lunch.
6 locals recommend
Acadian Bakery
604 W Alabama St
6 locals recommend
Award-winning bakery just down the street that also serves sandwiches for lunch.
This new hotspot is only 2 blocks away
86 locals recommend
Siphon Coffee
701 W Alabama St
86 locals recommend
This new hotspot is only 2 blocks away
It's Starbucks
128 locals recommend
Starbucks
4790 Calhoun Rd
128 locals recommend
It's Starbucks
PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
13 locals recommend
Canopy
3939 Montrose Blvd
13 locals recommend
PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
JUST ANNOUNCED - CLOSING DEC. 15, 2019. English pub with pints of Guinness and authentic food. Service tends to be a bit slow, so allow ample time.
18 locals recommend
The Black Labrador
4100 Montrose Blvd
18 locals recommend
JUST ANNOUNCED - CLOSING DEC. 15, 2019. English pub with pints of Guinness and authentic food. Service tends to be a bit slow, so allow ample time.
Second-best Greek food in Houston
116 locals recommend
Niko Niko's
2520 Montrose Blvd
116 locals recommend
Second-best Greek food in Houston
Terrific value Italian place...Bottomless mimosas at brunch ;) LGBT owned and staffed.
18 locals recommend
Riva's Italian Restaurant
1117 Missouri Street
18 locals recommend
Terrific value Italian place...Bottomless mimosas at brunch ;) LGBT owned and staffed.
PERMANENTLY CLOSED. Bryan Caswell's award-winning seafood eatery. Casual and hip.
35 locals recommend
Reef
2600 Travis St
35 locals recommend
PERMANENTLY CLOSED. Bryan Caswell's award-winning seafood eatery. Casual and hip.
A favorite local burgers and more place
257 locals recommend
Barnaby's Cafe
414 W Gray St
257 locals recommend
A favorite local burgers and more place
Hundreds of beers and good bar food
104 locals recommend
The Hay Merchant
1100 Westheimer Rd
104 locals recommend
Hundreds of beers and good bar food
Funky cool place serving coffee, beer, wine, etc.
28 locals recommend
Mercantile
5411 Morningside Dr
28 locals recommend
Funky cool place serving coffee, beer, wine, etc.
Upscale mexican
87 locals recommend
Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen
309 Bagby St
87 locals recommend
Upscale mexican
Our favorite Thai place. Great food at reasonable prices and very friendly staff.
Thai Spice Restaurant
5117 Kelvin Dr
Our favorite Thai place. Great food at reasonable prices and very friendly staff.
Fine italian dining. A favorite of ours.
8 locals recommend
Damian's Cucina Italiana
3011 Smith St
8 locals recommend
Fine italian dining. A favorite of ours.
Best Greek restaurant in the area, in our humble opinion.
19 locals recommend
Skipper's Cafe
1026 Marina Bay Dr
19 locals recommend
Best Greek restaurant in the area, in our humble opinion.
Best calzone's in the area, in our humble opinion.
30 locals recommend
Boondoggle's
4106 E NASA Pkwy
30 locals recommend
Best calzone's in the area, in our humble opinion.
LGBT-owned favorite local mini-chain of burger ++ joints.
257 locals recommend
Barnaby's Cafe
414 W Gray St
257 locals recommend
LGBT-owned favorite local mini-chain of burger ++ joints.
The original greasy spoon burger joint that started the chain. Great for breakfast too!
257 locals recommend
Barnaby's Cafe
414 W Gray St
257 locals recommend
The original greasy spoon burger joint that started the chain. Great for breakfast too!
Closest Pizza Hut.
36 locals recommend
Pizza Hut
906 St Emanuel St
36 locals recommend
Closest Pizza Hut.
Permanently Closed.
8 locals recommend
Papa John's Pizza
7700 Hwy 6 N
8 locals recommend
Permanently Closed.
Famous breakfast-only soulfood joint. Over-priced in our opinion, but the line goes around the block every weekend.
494 locals recommend
The Breakfast Klub
3711 Travis St
494 locals recommend
Famous breakfast-only soulfood joint. Over-priced in our opinion, but the line goes around the block every weekend.
Revolving restaurant with a view. We've never been, but hey, it rotates!
22 locals recommend
Spindletop
1200 Louisiana St
22 locals recommend
Revolving restaurant with a view. We've never been, but hey, it rotates!
A favorite mainstay of chef Hugo Ortega. American cuisine with flair and a great patio.
62 locals recommend
Backstreet Cafe
1103 S Shepherd Dr
62 locals recommend
A favorite mainstay of chef Hugo Ortega. American cuisine with flair and a great patio.
Our favorite italian spot for theatre-district pre-show eats. They don't charge for plate sharing so you don't have to worry about leftovers. They are all about getting in and out fast if you're hurrying to get to a show. We've been several times and never a bad meal.
Birraporetti's
500 Louisiana St
Our favorite italian spot for theatre-district pre-show eats. They don't charge for plate sharing so you don't have to worry about leftovers. They are all about getting in and out fast if you're hurrying to get to a show. We've been several times and never a bad meal.
Now trending! Get there ridiculous early if you want to avoid an hour-plus wait. The food is OK, service is OK, prices are on the high side. It's new and hot. My advice is wait a month or two for the hype to die down.
179 locals recommend
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
3217 Montrose Blvd
179 locals recommend
Now trending! Get there ridiculous early if you want to avoid an hour-plus wait. The food is OK, service is OK, prices are on the high side. It's new and hot. My advice is wait a month or two for the hype to die down.
This is a complex with everything. Restaurant, bar, desserts...all Gulf-front. There is generally a long wait and a line out the door. The burgers are very good and the view can't be beat!
327 locals recommend
The Spot
3204 Seawall Blvd
327 locals recommend
This is a complex with everything. Restaurant, bar, desserts...all Gulf-front. There is generally a long wait and a line out the door. The burgers are very good and the view can't be beat!
Very good gourmet pizza and italianesque food. Full bar.
11 locals recommend
Bollo Woodfired Pizza
2202 W Alabama St
11 locals recommend
Very good gourmet pizza and italianesque food. Full bar.
Good bbq and prices. Nice atmosphere in an old Montrose house.
8 locals recommend
Brookstreet BBQ The Montrose House
1009 Missouri Street
8 locals recommend
Good bbq and prices. Nice atmosphere in an old Montrose house.
The new concept of chef Chris Shepherd where his award winning Underbelly used to be. We've not been, but have heard raves from our guests. Check the menu online first to avoid sticker shock ($150 ribeye anyone?)
20 locals recommend
Georgia James
3503 Westheimer Rd
20 locals recommend
The new concept of chef Chris Shepherd where his award winning Underbelly used to be. We've not been, but have heard raves from our guests. Check the menu online first to avoid sticker shock ($150 ribeye anyone?)
Chocotastic Houston! Homemade yummies a few blocks away.
49 locals recommend
The Chocolate Bar
1835 W Alabama St
49 locals recommend
Chocotastic Houston! Homemade yummies a few blocks away.

Shopping

Now open Tuesdays and Thursdays after a complete renovation. One of the best resale/consignment/charity shops in the city just 2 blocks away.
The Blue Bird Circle
615 W Alabama St
Now open Tuesdays and Thursdays after a complete renovation. One of the best resale/consignment/charity shops in the city just 2 blocks away.
discount designer store. Huge drop in customer service lately. Prices and selection are better at the Galleria department stores. Used to be good, but really don't see the point in shopping here anymore.
27 locals recommend
Marshalls & HomeGoods
5000 Westheimer Rd
27 locals recommend
discount designer store. Huge drop in customer service lately. Prices and selection are better at the Galleria department stores. Used to be good, but really don't see the point in shopping here anymore.
discount designer store.
14 locals recommend
T.J. Maxx
1554 W Gray St
14 locals recommend
discount designer store.
One of the best resale shops in Houston
13 locals recommend
The Guild Shop
2009 Dunlavy St
13 locals recommend
One of the best resale shops in Houston
One of the best resale shops in Houston
Charity Guild of Catholic Women
1203 Lovett Blvd
One of the best resale shops in Houston
A Houston institution for liquor and finer foods. Their flagship store.
116 locals recommend
Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods
1011 Westheimer Rd
116 locals recommend
A Houston institution for liquor and finer foods. Their flagship store.
Permanently Closed.
116 locals recommend
Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods
1011 Westheimer Rd
116 locals recommend
Permanently Closed.
Huge multi-vendor antique mall. Amazing and diverse selection. Definitely a place to get your wheel-and-deal on.
Thompson's Antique Center Of Texas
9950 Hempstead Rd
Huge multi-vendor antique mall. Amazing and diverse selection. Definitely a place to get your wheel-and-deal on.
High end retailers like Cartier, Dior, Hermes, etc.
141 locals recommend
River Oaks District
4444 Westheimer Rd
141 locals recommend
High end retailers like Cartier, Dior, Hermes, etc.
Multi-level shopping skybridged between buildings including Williams tower. Features a year-round indoor ice-skating rink.
1869 locals recommend
The Galleria
5085 Westheimer Rd
1869 locals recommend
Multi-level shopping skybridged between buildings including Williams tower. Features a year-round indoor ice-skating rink.

Essentials

Huge and awesome new grocery store
342 locals recommend
H-E-B
6055 South Fwy
342 locals recommend
Huge and awesome new grocery store
Permanently Closed. Big development on the way.
97 locals recommend
Kroger Fresh Fare
3300 Montrose Blvd
97 locals recommend
Permanently Closed. Big development on the way.
Walgreens
120 locals recommend
Walgreens
3317 Montrose Blvd
120 locals recommend
Walgreens
Healthy stuff
450 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
515 Elgin St
450 locals recommend
Healthy stuff
Gourmet market
136 locals recommend
Phoenicia Specialty Foods
1001 Austin St
136 locals recommend
Gourmet market
Closest branch with lobby service. Try the kiosk for faster service.
14 locals recommend
United States Postal Service
4110 Almeda Rd
14 locals recommend
Closest branch with lobby service. Try the kiosk for faster service.
Closest UPS store.
11 locals recommend
The UPS Store
2450 Louisiana St
11 locals recommend
Closest UPS store.

Parks & Nature

Great place to run soft surface trails, hang in the various gardens, visit the zoo or Miller Outdoor Theatre, etc. Houston's largest urban park. The place to run if you want not to see and be seen.
586 locals recommend
Hermann Park
6001 Fannin St
586 locals recommend
Great place to run soft surface trails, hang in the various gardens, visit the zoo or Miller Outdoor Theatre, etc. Houston's largest urban park. The place to run if you want not to see and be seen.
nice compact urban park amongst art museums and sculpture gardens
49 locals recommend
Menil Park
1423 Branard St
49 locals recommend
nice compact urban park amongst art museums and sculpture gardens
Expansive trails, skateboard park, greenspaces, all along the bayou for miles
93 locals recommend
Eleanor Tinsley Park
18-3600 Allen Pkwy
93 locals recommend
Expansive trails, skateboard park, greenspaces, all along the bayou for miles
Massive man-made waterfall and park. Great spot for pictures.
204 locals recommend
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
2800 Post Oak Blvd
204 locals recommend
Massive man-made waterfall and park. Great spot for pictures.
Great urban space for festivals, outdoor art installations, seasonal ice-skating rink, and outdoor movies.
933 locals recommend
Discovery Green
1500 McKinney St
933 locals recommend
Great urban space for festivals, outdoor art installations, seasonal ice-skating rink, and outdoor movies.
Nice gardens with plenty of trails and benches.
40 locals recommend
Mercer Botanic Gardens
22306 Aldine Westfield Rd
40 locals recommend
Nice gardens with plenty of trails and benches.
Small but scenic nature center along marshes and bayous.
69 locals recommend
Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Blvd
69 locals recommend
Small but scenic nature center along marshes and bayous.
The place to run if you want to see and be seen. Just about the only mountain biking trails in Houston.
233 locals recommend
Memorial Park
6501 Memorial Dr
233 locals recommend
The place to run if you want to see and be seen. Just about the only mountain biking trails in Houston.
Terrific place to sit and smell the roses. Check the operating hours as they are limited, plan to walk a few blocks to get there on nice weekends as the lot stays full, and be aware of closures for special occasions.
74 locals recommend
McGovern Centennial Gardens
1500 Hermann Drive
74 locals recommend
Terrific place to sit and smell the roses. Check the operating hours as they are limited, plan to walk a few blocks to get there on nice weekends as the lot stays full, and be aware of closures for special occasions.
New pocket park with stage and lawn, unique river-like water and nature feature, and small dog park.
26 locals recommend
Midtown Park
2811 Travis St
26 locals recommend
New pocket park with stage and lawn, unique river-like water and nature feature, and small dog park.
very small pocket park that time forgot. Rarely used, but nice water feature and benches.
Bell Park
4800 Montrose Blvd
very small pocket park that time forgot. Rarely used, but nice water feature and benches.

Entertainment & Activities

Very nice zoo. Newest exhibits include Asian elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas.
1102 locals recommend
Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Dr
1102 locals recommend
Very nice zoo. Newest exhibits include Asian elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas.
reserved seats, comfortable space, unique movie offerings.
120 locals recommend
AMC Dine-in Houston 8
510 Texas Ave
120 locals recommend
reserved seats, comfortable space, unique movie offerings.
Restaurant with massive aquariums (the largest is 150,000 gallons), amusement park, white tigers, aquarium exhibit, shark tube tram
699 locals recommend
Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby St
699 locals recommend
Restaurant with massive aquariums (the largest is 150,000 gallons), amusement park, white tigers, aquarium exhibit, shark tube tram
Home of the Houston Astros baseball team
638 locals recommend
Minute Maid Park
501 Crawford St
638 locals recommend
Home of the Houston Astros baseball team
Home of the Houston Texans football team
771 locals recommend
NRG Stadium
NRG Parkway
771 locals recommend
Home of the Houston Texans football team
Home of the Houston Rockets basketball team
606 locals recommend
Toyota Center
1510 Polk St
606 locals recommend
Home of the Houston Rockets basketball team
Home of the Houston Dynamo soccer team
293 locals recommend
BBVA Compass Stadium
2200 Texas Ave
293 locals recommend
Home of the Houston Dynamo soccer team
Home of NASA
426 locals recommend
Johnson Space Center
2101 E NASA Pkwy
426 locals recommend
Home of NASA
3 exhibit pyramids and a man-made beach
620 locals recommend
Moody Gardens
1 Hope Blvd
620 locals recommend
3 exhibit pyramids and a man-made beach
Closest 18-hole course with driving range and putting green.
96 locals recommend
Hermann Park Golf Course
2155 S MacGregor Way
96 locals recommend
Closest 18-hole course with driving range and putting green.
Although it's all Landry's Restaurants...There is an amusement park, midway games, a 100-foot speedboat excursion, live music, fireworks, haunted house, shops and nice view over the channel and bay.
575 locals recommend
Kemah Boardwalk
215 Kipp Ave
575 locals recommend
Although it's all Landry's Restaurants...There is an amusement park, midway games, a 100-foot speedboat excursion, live music, fireworks, haunted house, shops and nice view over the channel and bay.
Large multi-screen theatre complex.
89 locals recommend
Regal Edwards Greenway Grand Palace ScreenX & RPX
3839 Weslayan St
89 locals recommend
Large multi-screen theatre complex.
195 locals recommend
House of Blues Houston
1204 Caroline St
195 locals recommend
A smaller, slightly more intimate space where you"ll find indie bands.
113 locals recommend
White Oak Music Hall
2915 N Main St
113 locals recommend
A smaller, slightly more intimate space where you"ll find indie bands.
huge barroom overlooking beer garden and live performances
89 locals recommend
The Rustic
1836 Polk St
89 locals recommend
huge barroom overlooking beer garden and live performances
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Will house the new neighborhood library, shopping, and green spaces. Coming late 2021.
Montrose Collective
888 Westheimer Rd
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Will house the new neighborhood library, shopping, and green spaces. Coming late 2021.

Arts & Culture

Now open after complete renovation. Like to meditate and contemplate spirituality? This is your place.
164 locals recommend
Rothko Chapel
3900 Yupon St
164 locals recommend
Now open after complete renovation. Like to meditate and contemplate spirituality? This is your place.
Closest branch of the Houston Public Library. A new branch is under construction a couple blocks away.
Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library
4100 Montrose Blvd
Closest branch of the Houston Public Library. A new branch is under construction a couple blocks away.
Highly rated art museum
491 locals recommend
The Menil Collection
1533 Sul Ross St
491 locals recommend
Highly rated art museum
Large art museum, may want several days to do this one
979 locals recommend
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Beck Building
1001 Bissonnet St
979 locals recommend
Large art museum, may want several days to do this one
Very nice central park with several tourable historic houses run by the Houston Heritage Society.
34 locals recommend
Sam Houston Park
1000 Bagby St
34 locals recommend
Very nice central park with several tourable historic houses run by the Houston Heritage Society.
MFAH house museum for American decorative arts. Also host of the yearly azalea trail, usually in March, not-to-be-missed opening of the house gardens featuring hundreds of blooming azaleas.
97 locals recommend
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
6003 Memorial Dr
97 locals recommend
MFAH house museum for American decorative arts. Also host of the yearly azalea trail, usually in March, not-to-be-missed opening of the house gardens featuring hundreds of blooming azaleas.
MFAH house museum for European decorative arts.
20 locals recommend
Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1406 Kirby Dr
20 locals recommend
MFAH house museum for European decorative arts.
Contemorary arts museum and exhibits.
144 locals recommend
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
5216 Montrose Blvd
144 locals recommend
Contemorary arts museum and exhibits.
Great amphitheatre featuring many free performances spring through fall. Of particular note are the Opera and Ballet.
299 locals recommend
Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Dr
299 locals recommend
Great amphitheatre featuring many free performances spring through fall. Of particular note are the Opera and Ballet.
Home of the Brown and Cullen theatres of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet.
74 locals recommend
Wortham Theater Center
501 Texas Ave
74 locals recommend
Home of the Brown and Cullen theatres of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet.
Home venue for the Houston Symphony.
68 locals recommend
Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
615 Louisiana St
68 locals recommend
Home venue for the Houston Symphony.
An incredibly successful theatre company founded in 1947 in a small shack at the end of an alley and occupying today, what is considered to be one of the largest theatrical production spaces in the US
94 locals recommend
Alley Theatre
615 Texas Ave
94 locals recommend
An incredibly successful theatre company founded in 1947 in a small shack at the end of an alley and occupying today, what is considered to be one of the largest theatrical production spaces in the US
Art gallery space designed by Peter Zweig. Houses 5 galleries in a sleek contemporary building. Proposals are in place for an adjacent office tower and 4000 more square feet of gallery space.
4411 Montrose Blvd
4411 Montrose Boulevard
Art gallery space designed by Peter Zweig. Houses 5 galleries in a sleek contemporary building. Proposals are in place for an adjacent office tower and 4000 more square feet of gallery space.
Cutting edge exhibits
Unix Gallery
4411 Montrose Blvd
Cutting edge exhibits
Cutting edge exhibits
Barbara Davis Gallery
4411 Montrose Blvd
Cutting edge exhibits
cutting edge exhibits
Anya Tish Gallery
4411 Montrose Blvd
cutting edge exhibits
cutting edge exhibits
Cindy Lisica Gallery
4411 Montrose Blvd
cutting edge exhibits
HMNS
863 locals recommend
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Dr
863 locals recommend
HMNS
Bring your tissues.
117 locals recommend
Holocaust Museum Houston
5401 Caroline St
117 locals recommend
Bring your tissues.
Houston's African American theatre. My last role there was "Seth" in "Lotto - The American Dream."
21 locals recommend
Ensemble Theatre
3535 Main Street
21 locals recommend
Houston's African American theatre. My last role there was "Seth" in "Lotto - The American Dream."
Nice historic estate in the country. Makes for a pleasant road-trip.
Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site
1702 N 13th St
Nice historic estate in the country. Makes for a pleasant road-trip.
Variety of performances.
134 locals recommend
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2005 Lake Robbins Dr
134 locals recommend
Variety of performances.
You're here.
Phocion Park Historic Home
4002 Jack St
You're here.

Everything Else

Houston's tier 1 private University
232 locals recommend
Rice University
6100 Main St
232 locals recommend
Houston's tier 1 private University
Houston's tier 1 public university
101 locals recommend
University of Houston
4300 Calhoun Rd
101 locals recommend
Houston's tier 1 public university
TSU
59 locals recommend
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne St
59 locals recommend
TSU