Guidebook for Houston
Food Scene
Cozy Italian. They don’t take reservations so be prepared to wait during peak hours. My favorite spot for great food with fresh ingredients (they source most of their greens from their backyard garden!). Fairly close in proximity to the condo (less than 10 minute drive down I10).
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Coltivare Pizza & Garden
3320 White Oak DrCozy Italian. They don’t take reservations so be prepared to wait during peak hours. My favorite spot for great food with fresh ingredients (they source most of their greens from their backyard garden!). Fairly close in proximity to the condo (less than 10 minute drive down I10).
Worth breaking the bank – amazing and innovative Japanese. Fresh sushi, yummy savory dishes, and cool desserts. Make a reservation. Must haves: wagyu beef, dayboat scallop, brussels sprouts.
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Uchi
904 Westheimer RdWorth breaking the bank – amazing and innovative Japanese. Fresh sushi, yummy savory dishes, and cool desserts. Make a reservation. Must haves: wagyu beef, dayboat scallop, brussels sprouts.
Trendy Italian in a buzzy neighborhood. Make a reservation. Great pizzas and pastas. Must have: burrata appetizer.
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Coppa Osteria
5210 Morningside DrTrendy Italian in a buzzy neighborhood. Make a reservation. Great pizzas and pastas. Must have: burrata appetizer.
Great for brunch! They don’t take reservations for brunch, and the line is longgg during weekend brunch hours, but if you can get there early the outdoor seating is set in a beautiful yard facing a high-end plant nursery/landscaping firm. Must have: chocolate cookie.
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Tiny Boxwoods
3614 W Alabama StGreat for brunch! They don’t take reservations for brunch, and the line is longgg during weekend brunch hours, but if you can get there early the outdoor seating is set in a beautiful yard facing a high-end plant nursery/landscaping firm. Must have: chocolate cookie.
Awesome banh mi’s (Vietnamese sandwiches). Go here if you’re looking for a quick, cheap, but amazingly yummy bite to eat. It’s a short (less than 10 min) drive from the condo to either location.
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Roostar
5551 Richmond AveAwesome banh mi’s (Vietnamese sandwiches). Go here if you’re looking for a quick, cheap, but amazingly yummy bite to eat. It’s a short (less than 10 min) drive from the condo to either location.
Hole-in-the-wall neighborhood spot for great authentic Thai food. BYOB. Live music (one man cover band ☺) some nights. Very close to the condo (north of I10).
Vieng Thai
6929 Long Point RoadHole-in-the-wall neighborhood spot for great authentic Thai food. BYOB. Live music (one man cover band ☺) some nights. Very close to the condo (north of I10).
Awesome and easy Tex-Mex. Must-try when visiting Texas. This location is closest to the condo but there are a several others around town.
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El Tiempo Cantina - Washington
5602 Washington AveAwesome and easy Tex-Mex. Must-try when visiting Texas. This location is closest to the condo but there are a several others around town.
Amazing casual Indian food in West Ave. Get one of the Thali plates and a chocolate chili cookie!
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Pondicheri
2800 Kirby DrAmazing casual Indian food in West Ave. Get one of the Thali plates and a chocolate chili cookie!
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun groovy spot for decent drinks and even light bites. My favorite place to dance but also just to chill inside or on their back patio.
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The FLAT
1701 Commonwealth StFun groovy spot for decent drinks and even light bites. My favorite place to dance but also just to chill inside or on their back patio.
Specialty cocktails, small, more upscale industrial-chic vibe. Walking distance to some more eclectic bars.
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Anvil Bar & Refuge
1424 Westheimer RdSpecialty cocktails, small, more upscale industrial-chic vibe. Walking distance to some more eclectic bars.
Favorite wine bar. Definitely more of a chill vibe, but a great place to chat and enjoy good wine. They also have a small food menu – great Paninis and cheeses – and a cute back patio.
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13 celsius
3000 Caroline StFavorite wine bar. Definitely more of a chill vibe, but a great place to chat and enjoy good wine. They also have a small food menu – great Paninis and cheeses – and a cute back patio.
My favorite downtown bar. Also in prime walking proximity to a bunch of other cool, hip bars. Fun, lively vibe, and all the mescal you can drink.
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The Brewery Tap
310 Main StMy favorite downtown bar. Also in prime walking proximity to a bunch of other cool, hip bars. Fun, lively vibe, and all the mescal you can drink.
Grungier bar with a more loungey, old-school feel. Dim room with colorful lights Fun place to chill, but you always end up having an interesting night here.
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Grand Prize Bar
1010 Banks StGrungier bar with a more loungey, old-school feel. Dim room with colorful lights Fun place to chill, but you always end up having an interesting night here.
Fun spot to chill during the day. There’s expansive outdoor space with hammocks and sometimes live music!
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Axelrad Beer Garden
1517 Alabama StFun spot to chill during the day. There’s expansive outdoor space with hammocks and sometimes live music!
High-end French-inspired Vietnamese restaurant on the first floor in River Oaks District, swanky lounge on the second floor. Always packed with Houston socialites.
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Le Colonial
4444 Westheimer RdHigh-end French-inspired Vietnamese restaurant on the first floor in River Oaks District, swanky lounge on the second floor. Always packed with Houston socialites.
Started by a Tex-Australian couple. More of a cozy taproom with Australian-inspired food.
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Platypus Brewing
1902 Washington AveStarted by a Tex-Australian couple. More of a cozy taproom with Australian-inspired food.
8th Wonder Brewery
2202 Dallas StIn East downtown with a sports-bar like feel.
Near Midtown and Museum District with new takes on traditional brews.
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Under the Radar Brewery
1506 Truxillo StNear Midtown and Museum District with new takes on traditional brews.
Arts & Culture
Awesome permanent exhibits as well as traveling ones - some of my favorite permanent 19th century paintings are here. Their films are great too!
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The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Beck Building
1001 Bissonnet StAwesome permanent exhibits as well as traveling ones - some of my favorite permanent 19th century paintings are here. Their films are great too!
Super sweet private collection of art turned into public gallery. Great to visit on a nice day because it’s by a cute park where you can picnic before or after!
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I-Menil Collection
1533 Sul Ross StSuper sweet private collection of art turned into public gallery. Great to visit on a nice day because it’s by a cute park where you can picnic before or after!
Parks & Nature
The Bayou Park runs through an awesome area of Houston where you can rent bikes, kayaks or boats, tour the recently closed underground cisterns, or even visit some restaurants and bars.
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Buffalo Bayou Park
Memorial DriveThe Bayou Park runs through an awesome area of Houston where you can rent bikes, kayaks or boats, tour the recently closed underground cisterns, or even visit some restaurants and bars.
Great park near the house to go for a run, bike ride, or picnic.
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Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park
Great park near the house to go for a run, bike ride, or picnic.
Entertainment & Activities
Basically inside Hermann Park – fun outdoor musical and theatrical shows and daytime events.
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I-Theatre ye-Miller Outdoor
6000 Hermann Park DrBasically inside Hermann Park – fun outdoor musical and theatrical shows and daytime events.
Awesome place to throw a few extra bucks for plush reclining chairs, complete with blankets, pillows, and free popcorn. In the River Oaks District.
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IPIC - Houston
4444 Westheimer RdAwesome place to throw a few extra bucks for plush reclining chairs, complete with blankets, pillows, and free popcorn. In the River Oaks District.
Right across I10 from the condo – great studio with plenty of class times. Mostly power classes with a few yin/restorative classes if you need to unwind after some of those Super Bowl events. Go to Nick or Nancy’s classes – they will be tough but you’ll feel great after! There are showers in the bathrooms and the friendliest staff.
BIG Power Yoga - Memorial
1014 Wirt RdRight across I10 from the condo – great studio with plenty of class times. Mostly power classes with a few yin/restorative classes if you need to unwind after some of those Super Bowl events. Go to Nick or Nancy’s classes – they will be tough but you’ll feel great after! There are showers in the bathrooms and the friendliest staff.
Essentials
Probably the easiest grocery store to get to from the condo – a couple of exits down I10, and they open fairly late. Huge supermarket with anything you could need: fresh produce, prepared foods, groceries, home supplies, toiletries, and more.
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H-E-B
9710 Katy FwyProbably the easiest grocery store to get to from the condo – a couple of exits down I10, and they open fairly late. Huge supermarket with anything you could need: fresh produce, prepared foods, groceries, home supplies, toiletries, and more.
My favorite! Best prepared foods and the freshest produce. There’s also a juice/smoothie bar and nice lounge upstairs to sit and work or enjoy a meal.
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Whole Foods Market
515 Elgin StMy favorite! Best prepared foods and the freshest produce. There’s also a juice/smoothie bar and nice lounge upstairs to sit and work or enjoy a meal.
Best dry cleaners almost inside the loop and so close to home! It is super affordable and quick with next day turnarounds. Even same day if you get it there in time! Staff is friendly, helpful, and professional.
Spring Valley Cleaners
7951 Katy FwyBest dry cleaners almost inside the loop and so close to home! It is super affordable and quick with next day turnarounds. Even same day if you get it there in time! Staff is friendly, helpful, and professional.
Shopping
The obvious – all the retailers you could ever want, from big department stores to small retail chains, a huge ice skating rink and food court.
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The Galleria
5085 Westheimer RdThe obvious – all the retailers you could ever want, from big department stores to small retail chains, a huge ice skating rink and food court.
High-end luxury boutiques in a mixed-use development with designer lines and trendy restaurants.
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River Oaks District
4444 Westheimer RdHigh-end luxury boutiques in a mixed-use development with designer lines and trendy restaurants.
Higher-end retail in an outdoor setting, including some home-goods stores.
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Highland Village
4055 Westheimer RdHigher-end retail in an outdoor setting, including some home-goods stores.
Montrose
Great area for resale shops and eclectic boutiques and bars.
My favorite luxury boutique department store for random gifts. They have everything from a small selection of men and women’s clothing, to houseware, bedding, children’s toys and clothes, cosmetics, greeting cards, and a giant home scents section.
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Kuhl-Linscomb
2418 W Alabama StMy favorite luxury boutique department store for random gifts. They have everything from a small selection of men and women’s clothing, to houseware, bedding, children’s toys and clothes, cosmetics, greeting cards, and a giant home scents section.