Lately I’ve had a lot of friends, family, and you guys who have asked me for my top places to visit in Houston. That list is quite large, because Houston is huge and there are so many places to eat and drink at!
This list will continue to evolve, but I wanted to finally give it a place on the blog, instead of it living on my iPhone’s notes forever and ever.
The Heights
Coltivare – Italian and amazing cocktails. You’ll need a reservation.
Hando – Hand Rolls. There’s a bar by the same restaurant group called Kan Pai Club right next door, you have to sip on a cocktail there too!
Handies Douzo – Also a hand rolls restaurant. This one feels a bit more upscale, and you can make reservations!
Better Luck Tomorrow – A cocktail bar with amazing cocktails. Don’t miss their pasta Tuesdays!
Permission Whiskey – A Whiskey-focused bar but you can find cocktails with any spirit. It’s a gorgeous bar for a nightcap. You’ll need reservations.
Da Gama – Indian and Portuguese fusion. They have a great happy hour! They are located at M-K-T. Super cool area for shopping and more eats + drinks.
Local Foods – Healthy-ish restaurant with a great vibe (and booze). It’s one of my all-time favorites, get their Taco Salad and their Crunchy Chicken Sandwich!
Cantina Barba – Super casual taqueria. Quesadillas are amazing. Get a spicy ranch water!
Chilosos Taco House – Craving breakfast tacos? In need of a hangover cure? Their chilaquiles breakfast tacos + horchata are what you need. They are my go-to breakfast taco spot on the weekends.
Postino – They have multiple locations but this is the one I frequent the most. They’ve got wine, bruschetta boards, cheese & charcuterie and it’s always such a fun time.
Casa Nomad – 30 seat Tulum-style bar. Go if you can get a reservation, it’s been nearly impossible to get one since they opened.
Wicklow Heights – Great drinks, great music and a fabulous outdoor patio area. I’ll even hang out here in the Texas heat. A great place to pre-game, day drink, spend the full day, you name it. Don’t miss the photo opp at their super cute mural!
Northside Village (Where I live yay)
Monkey’s Tail – Mexican bar with great cocktails and they’re always playing great music. It’s one of my all-time faves.
Trash Panda Drinking Club – I’m obsessed with this place. Their patio is gorgeous and they have such a cool vibe. Plus, any place with a cool neon sign is a place where I want to be!
Rocco’s – Neighborhood Italian restaurant, we order from here at least once a week. It is so, so good! The bread they give you with your pasta is heavenly.
Laredo Taqueria – Another one of my favorite breakfast taco spots. Be prepared to stand in line for a bit, but it’ll be sooo worth it!
Downtown
Rosalie – Located inside the C. Baldwin Hotel, this Italian restaurant is not only so pretty but the food is amazing too! Don’t miss their arancini balls.
C. Baldwin lobby bar – The perfect hangout spot before or after your meal at Rosalie. It’s such a gorgeous bar.
Post – A new food hall in Downtown with very diverse vendors and breathtaking architecture. Check out Golfstrommen for an amazing seafood meal.
Lawless Spirits & Kitchen – A fabulous rooftop bar in Downtown Houston with great views and a killer happy hour.
Eado (East Downtown)
Nancy’s Hustle – New American restaurant that is loved by everyone in Houston. You’ll need a reservation.
Tiny Champions – Italian restaurant with the greatest pizza crust I’ve had in Houston. If you like pineapple on your pizza, this place will blow you away. You’ll need a reservation.
Miss Carrousel – A cocktail bar with plenty of seating. It’s next to a pizzeria called Vinny’s and a restaurant called Indianola. You can make a night out of the 3 places without having to walk very far.
St Arnold Brewery – An iconic brewery with great food and views of Downtown Houston.
Roots – A wine bar with with wine on tap where you serve yourself! They’ve got great food as well.
J-Bar-M – If you’re craving real Texas BBQ, you’ve come to the right place. They have a huge dining room, outdoor patio and they’re dog friendly!
Montrose
Uchi – This is the best sushi EVER. Check out their social hour (happy hour) every day. Reservations recommended.
Anvil – Amazing cocktail bar, it’s super cozy and great for a date night or a double date!
Paulie’s – Casual pasta place but it’s some of the best pasta I’ve had in Houston. If you like spicy food get their Amatriciana pasta, it’s what I always get. Don’t miss their shortbread cookies. There’s a wine bar next door by the restaurant group.
Bacco – Wine bar in a funky setting. It’s a big house with lots of rooms.
El Tiempo Cantina – Iconic Tex- Mex restaurant in Houston. They have the best (and booziest) margaritas. They have multiple locations and on weekends there will be a wait, but you’ll hardly feel it with a marg or two in hand.
Bar Boheme – This is a huge bar but that somehow feels super cozy at the same time. They’ve got lots of outdoor space. Great bar food!
Montrose Cheese and Wine – Cheese, wine, sandwiches and a super cute patio. Check out their sister restaurant Rosie Cannonball next door as well.
Riel – Globally inspired, gulf coast cuisine. It’s a great restaurant for those who love sharing small dishes. Don’t miss their kimchi carbonara.
Idle Hands – A second location from the original in Austin. They’ve got great Caribbean, Latin-American inspired cocktails and a giant rooftop/patio area.
Rice Village / West U
Sixty Vines – Italian restaurant and 60+ wines on tap. Leave room for dessert and don’t miss the olive oil cake.
Roma – Elevated Italian restaurant where you can get tableside cacio e pepe in a wheel of cheese! This place is soooo sooo good. Their patio will be a super cute hangout spot when the weather is nice.
El Topo – A Western restaurant born from a food truck. The place is so adorable and their food is delicious. Visit them for brunch or dinner!
Tiny’s No. 5 – The quintessential Houston brunch place. There’s always a line but it’s sooo worth it. Don’t miss their chocolate chip cookies.
Galleria/ River Oaks
Afternoon Tea at Hotel Granduca – A beautiful hotel with amazing Afternoon tea service. It’s a great girl date or mom/daughter date! Reservations required 24 hrs in advance.
Joey Uptown – Globally inspired menu. They give you bubbly while you wait for your table. It gets pretty busy on the weekends so I recommend a reservation. Don’t miss their seared salmon sushi, I literally could eat 10 rolls.
Le Colonial – Upscale vietnamese restaurant. I love doing cocktails and light bites in their upstairs bar area. Also on the pricier side.
Ouzo Bay – I love doing lunch at Ouzo Bay. It’s on the pricier side, especially during dinnertime. Checkout their Flaming Saganaki and their Napoleon dessert.
That’s all for now, babes! This list will continue to evolve as new places open + I continue to explore this fab city.
xo,
Alessandra