THE FULLEST Guide to Houston
Houston, Texas. It’s not just Beyonce’s hometown, it’s also an incredible city full of organic foodie spots, innovative art installations, and a treasure trove of trails and natural gardens. Semi-local, Laura Lemon, gives us her round-up of everything to see and do on your next trip.
Stay
Magnolia Hotel
Housed in the Houston Post-Dispatch Building, this heritage boutique hotel has been voted one of the top 100 new hotels in the world. The 1926 historic landmark building has been thoughtfully renovated with all the appointed comforts of home and modern flair. If you’re looking for a true luxe hotel experience that also brings old school Texan charm — this is it.
Airbnb Plus
Explore Houston’s unique shops and restaurants or Buffalo Bayou’s hike and bike trails! This space is perfectly nestled between Montrose and the Museum District. Kick back on a papasan swing in the outdoor lounge area at this two-story artist space in the Westmoreland Historic District. Abundant house plants, chic wall art, and pink Eames dining chairs make for an eclectic retreat — close to Midtown and Downtown too.
Eat
Vibrant
We love Vibrant for its commitment to going the extra mile — whether it’s their nutritious breads, pastries, crackers, cheeses, or nut milks — all their food is made from scratch in-house. They also use solar energy, natural cleaners by Branch Basics, and compost the majority of their waste. Plus, they only use avocado, coconut, and extra virgin olive oil. You have to try their Blue Masa Pancakes!
Coltivare Pizza & Garden
A neighborhood restaurant serving rustic Italian cuisine with a gulf coast perspective. They grow a lot of their produce in their backyard garden, which is my favorite place to enjoy pizza and a glass of wine al fresco.
Better Luck Tomorrow
A cozy, modern bar for inventive cocktails and elevated comfort food with both indoor and outdoor seats. One of my favorite places to grab happy hour and a surprisingly fresh but nostalgic meal.
Shop
Feel Good Markets
Feel Good Markets are well known for their high-quality vendor list. Started by Casey Barbles, a certified functional nutritionist and creator of The Informal Grub, you’ll find a mix of food stalls and local artisans selling their pieces. Their family-friendly (and at times, wacky) entertainment brings a crowd and keeps them around.
Lemon Laine
A modern beauty boutique with an ethos that revolves around natural, effective, and sustainable products. Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind oil bar experience. It’s like a wine bar meets skin consult in one, plus you leave with your own custom blend of organic facial oil.
Forth + Nomad
Forth + Nomad is a contemporary and curated marketplace that focuses on small-batch brands and interactive experiences. It was founded on the idea that the story and people behind every product are as significant as the product itself.
Visit
The Menil Collection
Considered one of the most important privately assembled collections of the twentieth century, The Menil Collection houses approximately 17,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, and rare books. Find masterpieces from the Byzantine Empire and medieval worlds, alongside masterpieces from tribal cultures of Africa, Oceania, the American Pacific Northwest, and the twentieth century.
James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace
Twilight Epiphany is acoustically engineered to host musical performances and to act as a laboratory for Shepherd School of Music students. Constructed of grass, concrete, stone, and composite steel, the structure is equipped with an LED light sequence that projects onto the ceiling and through an aperture in the 72-foot square knife-edge roof during sunrise and sunset.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Containing over five miles of nature trails that include forest, pond, wetland, and meadow habitats, their specialty gardens include a Hummingbird & Butterfly Island, The Sensory Garden, and Wildlife Garden. Side note: It is a favorite date spot for Houstonians.