What to Do, See, and Eat in Houston

July 26, 2019

As the fourth largest city in the U.S., it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do, see, and eat in Houston for your next business trip or vacation. So, our team has compiled a list of attractions, shops, and restaurants to help you plan your next trip!

What to do and see

If you’re on a business trip trying to find some great things to do after your meetings or relaxing on vacation with friends or family, there are so many things to check out in and around Houston. Check out some of these top spots — with options for every budget!

Visit the Space Center

The Houston Space Center is the number one tourist attraction in the city for international visitors for good reason. It offers endless hours of fascination and intrigue with everything from spacecrafts, spacesuits, and shuttle replicas to films, special exhibits, and more.

See Houston’s new and green urban oasis

Discovery Green is not your average city park. This urban oasis features 12 acres filled with art, numerous walks, dog runs, fountains for cooling off (or just enjoying), a playground, patios, music venues, bocce ball, botanic gardens, and a few more surprises to delight just about anyone.

Catch an outdoor show at the Miller Outdoor Theatre (for free)

Proud to be the largest free outside venue in the United States, the Miller Outdoor Theatre has eight months of free entertainment ranging from classical, jazz, and world music performances to dance, ballet, films, and theatre. Enjoy a seat in their covered area or stretch out with your picnic on the hillside.

Go to China

San Francisco’s Chinatown might have most of the notoriety, but Houston’s Chinatown deserves its own special recognition. Spend a few hours or the whole day eating, singing karaoke, shopping, or enjoying one of the areas popular reflexologists.

See a lot of bats

Waugh Drive Bridge in Houston is home to an extensive bat colony. To see the bats, plan to arrive at the 30 minutes before sunset. Bats emerge from the east side of the bridge, and if you happen to be lucky enough to be there in early July — you might just get to see the babies take flight.

Visit underground Houston

Houston has over seven miles of tunnels running below their city. If that wasn’t a surprise enough, these tunnels feature stunning art deco and sculptures by some of the most famous artists in the world.

Where to shop

Whether you’re looking for souvenirs for family and friends or just trying to treat yourself with a little retail therapy, don’t miss these unique shopping options around the city.

The Galleria

With more than 400 shops, The Galleria has every luxury department store you would want, the chains you would expect from one of America’s most popular malls.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC)

A different take on the traditional shopping experience, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is a non-profit which focuses on featuring, exhibiting, and selling the crafts and pieces from Houston artists.

River Oaks District

What people love about River Oaks District is the inviting outdoor setting. Walk from luxury-brand shop to luxury-brand shop, all the while enjoying the well-groomed outdoors.

One of Houston’s numerous small boutiques

If small stores with more curated boutique fashions are your thing, be sure to check out Hello Lucky, Tres Chic, Abejas, Atrium Ready to Wear, and many others.

Where to eat and drink

The Houston area has over 10,000 restaurants. Plus, there are more than 70 countries’ cuisines represented in the city! So, you’re sure to have plenty of options on your trip.

The Hay Merchant

The Hay Merchant is considered “a little slice of heaven” for beer lovers and people who want a true taste of Texas. Take your pick from their numerous available libations while you enjoy their popular gumbo or pig ears.

Okra Charity Saloon

Have your happy hour money go to a good cause while you sip a cocktail in a very cool atmosphere at the Okra Charity Saloon. Money raised from food and drink goes to a different charity every month.

Axelrad Beer Garden

A beer, a pizza, a hammock, and maybe some live music? If that is what you fancy (and who doesn’t) the Axelrad Beer Garden has you covered. Oh, and if you are feeling a bit more like the indoors – you will love their 100-year-old building,

Lei Low Tiki Bar

Just because Houston is not on the coast, or the South Pacific, does not mean there is not a great tiki bar experience to be had. Lei Low receives rave reviews for their Polynesian ambience and creative cocktails.

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Article written by

Audrey Fairbrother

Audrey Fairbrother is the Content and SEO Manager at Engine. She spends her days writing about all things business travel, researching topics that are important to Engine's audience and cultivating the company's brand voice.