Houston
Houston City Guide
It’s sprawling; vibrant; relentless; and undeniably diverse. Houston, the unapologetically Texan city, defies easy categorisation. Its skyline rises amidst a patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own flavour and story. Yet, amid its ceaseless growth and ever-changing landscape, Houston remains a beacon of opportunity and energy.
A city of contrasts, Houston wears its complexity proudly. From the opulence of River Oaks to the grit of the East End, it is a tapestry woven with threads of ambition and resilience. Despite its challenges, Houston pulses with a spirit of innovation and determination, attracting dreamers and doers from every corner of the globe.
For some, Houston is a city of dreams, offering boundless opportunities in industry, technology, and the arts. For others, it’s a labyrinth of highways and strip malls, where the heat and humidity seem to conspire against you at every turn. Yet, beneath the surface, there’s an undeniable warmth to Houston – a sense of community that transcends its vast expanse.
Love it. Hate it. Houston elicits strong emotions in equal measure. Its swagger is as big as its Texas-sized portions, drawing people in with promises of bold flavours, vibrant cultures, and endless possibilities. Food, music, sports, and space exploration – Houston has it all, and then some.
Introducing our latest City Guide: Houston. A curated collection of the latest hotspots, hidden gems, and must-see attractions, designed to help you navigate the Bayou City with ease. From the heights of the Space Center to the depths of the Museum District, our City Notes guides are your passport to all that Houston has to offer. So buckle up, and get ready to experience the magic of Houston, one neighbourhood at a time.
Latest from Houston
Shopping
Kindred Stories, Houston
Set inside Houston’s historic El Dorado Ballroom, Kindred Stories redefines what a bookstore can be. Designed by local studio gin design group, this vibrant space brings literature, community, and cultural legacy together under one bold roof....
Eating Out
Haii Keii, Houston
Blending cinematic flair with Japanese-inspired cuisine, Haii Keii brings an electrifying new energy to Houston’s River Oaks/Upper Kirby neighbourhood. Located at 3300 Kirby Drive, this 3,000 square foot dining destination — plus a 1,000 square...
Hotels
Hotel Saint Augustine, Houston
Bunkhouse Hotels open their first lodgings in Houston, Hotel Saint Augustine located in the eclectic Montrose neighbourhood and now home to 71 hotel rooms and suites, an all-day lobby lounge, listening room, event space, destination restaurant, and...
Eating Out
Late August, Houston
With a name references the time of year when the Sears catalogue would drop on doorsteps across the USA, bringing joy to all who would begin excitedly circling items to hopefully arrive for Christmas, 'Late August' is a culinary project from chef...
Eating Out
Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern, Houston
Husband and wife team Sara and Martin Stayers (the duo behind Houston favourites Nobie’s and Toasted Coconut) add a retro pizza joint to their list of eateries, the eclectic Montrose neighbourhood now home to Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern, where...
Eating Out
The Lymbar, Houston
Chef David Cordúa opens The Lymbar, a Latin-Mediterranean all-day restaurant, bar and lounge, located at the Ion, a hub of creativity in Houston, Texas. Named after Lymbar Drive, the street on which the chef-owner grew up, the restaurant is an...
Eating Out
Mala Sichuan Bistro M-K-T, Houston
Celebrating the distinctive flavours of China's Sichuan province, Mala Sichuan Bistro is a small chain of authentic restaurants found dotted throughout Houston, Texas. Unlike in the West, where 'spicy' refers to a wide range of tastes with the...
Staff Favourites
Stuff Crush
In the age of homogeny, individualistic architects' Weird Buildings are celebrated in a joyful new Hoxton Mini Press book...
Weirdness is a notion long entwined with the concept of creativity. Mocked by the strait-laced confined to their boxes of conformism, celebrated by the bold and the brave who pursue the outré as a means of pushing beyond the banal. In Weird...
City Notes
Tiny Little Italy pasta and natural wine hotspot, Pasta Pooks, is making a big sound on Montreal's contemporary dining scene...
In Montreal’s Little Italy, a new arrival is making waves with a fresh take on Italian dining. Pasta Pooks, which opened in March 2025, is a compact five-seat takeout counter serving pasta and natural wine in a space that marries Old World charm...
City Notes
A once-forgotten 19th-century residence in Savannah’s historic district is reincarnated as exquisite boutique hotel, The Douglas...
A once-forgotten 19th-century residence in Savannah’s historic district has been brought spectacularly back to life, reincarnated as The Douglas; a refined 16-room boutique hotel at 14 East Oglethorpe Avenue, where design meets old-world...
Dispatches
With a captivating and human touch, Elizabeth Waterman fixes her lens on the contradictions of Thailand's red-light districts...
In a country where club floors open with Buddhist chants and Ladyboys offer dawn alms in corsets and stilettos, Elizabeth Waterman has found a world of contradictions too vivid to ignore. Over the past three years, and across four extended trips,...
Dispatches
Dispatches
Self-care tips for busy adults, from freeing your time to building a new routine, this is why it matters and how to do it...
There's a paradox about self-care, which is that those who need it most are probably the least likely to practice it. If you're one of those people, you might even be put off by the term self-care. Maybe it sounds too self-indulgent to you. If...
Dispatches
Discover the top 5 affordable Japanese lessons in Chicago; how to find quality tutors without the premium price tag...
Looking for a Japanese tutor in Chicago without breaking the bank? You’re not alone. Whether you’re aiming to order ramen with confidence, ace a language exam, or shape your skills for business or travel, one thing’s clear: good private...
Dispatches
Maximise your balcony's potential with smart all-budget ideas for decking, greenery, comfort and ambience, safety and more...
If you’ve ever looked at your balcony and thought, “What a wasted space,” you’re not alone. Many of us live in homes where every square foot counts, yet balconies often remain underutilized. Whether it’s too small, too plain, or simply...
Dispatches
One of the A' Design Awards' most forward-thinking categories, does your work fit into 'Sustainable Products and Green Design'..?
Recognising the world’s most inspiring work across design, innovation and creativity, the A’ Design Award & Competition stands as one of the most respected and far-reaching international design accolades. Each year, a diverse panel of academics,...