We really enjoy traveling and always appreciate receiving recommendations from friends (and/or bartenders) on where to go and what to do when we’re in a new place. Houston is not the place that most people think about going to on vacation (shocker!), but should you find yourself here, the food scene, bars, performing arts, and museums might pleasantly surprise you.

For our inaugural city guide, we thought that we would share some places that we (Kathrine + Jeff) would recommend in our hometown. This is by no means a survey of “the best of the best” in Houston — there’s Erick Sandler for that — it’s where we like to go (especially when we can get a babysitter).

eats

Kolache Shoppe - The BEST kolaches in town. We like the sausage/egg/cheese and the kielbasa/cheese.

Hobbit Cafe - Houston staple that's been around since the 70's. Huge menu, larger sandwiches, and they're famously generous with the avocado on the sandwiches. We usually share a Smaug's Delight.

Lúa Viet Kitchen - Fast casual Vietnamese restaurant, but really good quality. They use local food and meat suppliers.

Ramen Tatsu-ya - Out of Austin, but our favorite ramen place in town. Kathrine gets the OG and Jeff gets the Sho-Yu. Add an extra egg; you'll want it.

Kata Robata - One of the best sushi restaurants in town. Really high quality fish that will melt in your mouth. They also have a popular ramen, but we prefer Ramen Tatsu-ya for that.

The daily crudo special at Kata Robata.

Uchi - Also out of Austin (and increasingly in more cities), but SO. GOOD. They have an amazing food and drink happy hour as well.

Candente - Best chicken enchiladas verdes you can order at a restaurant. They smoke the chicken at their sister BBQ joint The Pit Room (also worth going to), which gives it this incredible flavor. Open for dinner as well, but we like to go for lunch and sit on the patio outside (inside is REALLY smokey).

Pinkerton's BBQ - Our favorite BBQ inside the Loop, though we like the sides better at The Pit Room. You HAVE to get the brisket, and the beef ribs are glorious, but huge. We also like the jalapeño sausage and pork ribs.

Paulie’s - Fast casual Italian food. They make a mean (and really spicy in a good way) bucatini amatriciana. A half order is plenty for one person, so we always share a full size. Get it with at least 2-3 meatballs on the side (or on top).

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Wonderful Italian restaurant with a very loyal following. They don't take reservations, so plan ahead.

Tiny Champions - Mostly really good pizza, but don't sleep on their pastas and other sides -- the beans! You gotta get the beans! They also do a Detroit-style pie mid-week that is worth getting (if they haven't run out already). The dessert list is small, but they make their own ice cream. We are obsessed with love the sherry cookies 'n cream.

Nancy's Hustle - Really interesting and eclectic menu. Get the dumplings and Nancy cakes. The cheeseburger is also great if you're in the mood for that. Same owners as Tiny Champions.

Nobie's - An industry fave for good reason. It's in an old bungalow, the menu is super creative, and the music is loud. They're also known for their pies, but Kathrine's favorite is the olive oil cake.

Squable - A collaboration between two James Beard award winners, Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel, it's one of the rare restaurants where the bar program rivals the food. Also has a great happy hour -- 1/2 off ALL alcohol if you sit at the bar. Get the pain de mie for dessert, even if you're too full. You won't regret it.

Brunch at Squable.

Theodore Rex - A wonderfully curated but creative menu that reflects the diversity of Houston. Great food and service in one of the coziest spaces in town.

The Marigold Club - We haven't actually been yet, but it looks really pretty, and we've heard good things.

drinks

Anvil - Solid cocktails, and one of the few places that it's truly safe to do bartender's choice. The bartenders go through a famously difficult training program that makes them some of the best in the country.

Refuge - Cozy sister bar above Anvil. Japanese inspired, with a curated list of cocktails and snacks. All cocktails on the menu are 1/2 off during happy hour. Reservation recommended.

Bobby's martini at Refuge.

Better Luck Tomorrow - Also a collaboration between Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel, but more of a casual bar with a few tv's a surprisingly fancy food menu. All cocktails on the menu are 1/2 off during happy hour.

Johnny's Gold Brick - Our favorite neighborhood bar that we often walk to when the weather allows. Good cocktails and a limited beer/food menu. Very good happy hour specials.

Lei Low - A neighborhood tiki bar that is everything you want your local tiki bar to be.

Padre’s - Cool wine bar in the Heights that has a good selection of wines by the glass and a really nice patio in the back (for those few months of the year when you actually want to be outside).

Montrose Cheese & Wine - Cute little wine/cheese shop that has some outdoor tables and limited indoor seating for having a glass (or three) of wine and a charcuterie board.

The Lounge at March - The self-described "prelude" to the tasting menu experience at March, where you can enjoy a drink and nibble on some small bites. We've been to both places, and actually prefer the Lounge, which is a small, beautiful space. You are always greeted with their house-made vermouth, and the cocktails are really innovative. Reservation required, though sometimes you can get lucky walking up.

The Lounge at March. 

coffee

These places all have solid coffee, really just depends on what part of town you're in. If you want a more robust food menu, go to Blacksmith or Ema.

Blacksmith
Catalina
Tenfold
Ema
Antidote
Black Hole
Slowpokes

hotels

art museums

Museum of Fine Arts Houston - Free on Thursdays
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston - Always free
The Menil Collection - Always free
Cy Twombly Gallery - Always free
The Rothko Chapel - Always free, but sadly closed at the moment due to damages sustained from Hurricane Beryl

performing arts

parks

good to know

Houston is big...like, really big. And spread out. A lot like LA, it's not very walkable unless you plan to stay in a very concentrated area (and the weather happens to be nice), so plan to rent a car or uber most places. The most walkable areas (and where a lot of the recommendations above are located) would be in the Heights or Montrose.

Bring a jacket! With how hot and humid it can be here, the a/c's are usually turned up pretty high, so you might need a jacket inside, even in the middle of summer.

Did we say it can get hot? The high humidity makes it that much worse, so don't come after May or before October if you can avoid it, lol.