Houston's best neighborhoods

To get to know Houston’s 88 neighborhoods, you would probably need several months, if not years. Even then, you might not know exactly know where one ends and another begins, as locals and realtors will argue about where neighborhoods are bounded – but that’s part of the fun: exploring a diverse mashup of cultures, foods, art projects and more filled with slightly cantankerous yet good-hearted people, set in a bayou land that is the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States.

Use the following guide to begin unpacking Houston on this trip, but know it’s worth coming back – you’ll still have 83 more neighborhoods waiting for you.

1. Montrose

Best for funky restaurants, thrifting and nightlife

Houston’s “Gayborhood” became a hub for LGBTIQ+ activists in the 1970s (Houston’s first Pride event was held here in 1978). Still, before and since then, it has attracted an array of artists, musicians and counterculturalists. The eclectic spirit is felt in its dining – go to the Hobbit Café for a burger or sandwich if you’re a JRR Tolkien fan, or grab a coffee at Agora, one of Houston’s few late-night cafes. The 7.5 square miles of Montrose also hold multiple award-winning restaurants, like the Michelin-recognized Mediterranean spot March.

To shop resale and vintage shops, head to Westheimer Rd to have your pick of locales (Leopard Lounge has fun ‘80s and ‘90s pieces) or go up Dunlavy St to The Guild Shop for deals on secondhand jewelry, home goods and clothes. Later on, head to Numbers Nightclub, a longstanding venue with a huge dance floor and theme nights, and Ripcord, a gay leather bar.

Montrose also offers calm and contemplation in the Rothko Chapel, a free nondenominational space adorned with paintings by the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. Just outside, the Broken Obelisk sculpture commemorates the work of Martin Luther King Jr. Across the lawn, the Menil Collection holds a free gallery of art from the ancient to the modern.

2. The Heights

Best for architecture, boutiques and getting active

The Heights can refer to the Houston Heights neighborhood or the Greater Heights area, which is made up of the Houston Heights and several other neighborhoods, including Woodland Heights, Sunset Heights and Norhill. The Heights was so christened when it was developed because it was 23 feet higher than Downtown.

Feel the neighborhood’s history by walking down Heights Bl, lined with Victorian-style homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you want to shop, though, stroll down 19th St for artsy stores, like Casa Rameriz’s Mexican handicrafts and clothing, or the Manready Mercantile, a menswear boutique and apothecary. To barhop, head over to 20th St for your pick of watering holes, all within walking distance of each other.

For running, walking or cycling in nature, head to the Heights Hike and Bike Trail. Tracing the route of an old railroad line, the 4.7-mile path intersects with the 15-mile White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail.

Where to stay: The bed and breakfast Sara’s Inn allows patrons the chance to stay in a Victorian home, while the soon-to-open Hotel Daphne, part of the popular Bunkhouse hotel management company, will be a good fit for solo travelers who want a groovy but slightly luxurious vibe.

3. The Museum District

Best for art and educational activities

Home to 19 museums, the Museum District has plenty of options for educational (and air-conditioned) fun. See massive dinosaur skeletons, rare crystals and a rainforest habitat housing hundreds of butterflies at the Houston Museum of Natural Science; let your creativity and imagination run loose at interactive exhibits of the Children’s Museum Houston; or go for after-hours cocktails on select nights at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Many of the museums are free on Thursdays.

Should you want to venture outside, check out Hermann Park, a green space of trails, a lake with paddleboats and a Japanese garden. It also holds Miller Outdoor Theater, where the non-profit group Theater Under the Stars hosts free summer events of musical theater, ballet, concerts and plays.

The Museum District is within walking distance of Rice University, considered to be the most prestigious college in Houston and home to a wealth of tree-lined paths and backpack-laden students always milling around campus and its environs.

Where to stay: Even though it’s a small neighborhood, it’s possible to find accommodation for whatever your price range is here. Budget-conscious travelers can book a dorm bed at Wanderstay Houston Hostel, while those with money to spare can reserve an over-the-top outer-space-themed suite at Hotel Zaza, formerly the Warwick, one of Houston’s first luxury hotels.

4. Midtown

Best for being in the center

Base yourself here to be centrally located inside the Loop (Interstate 610), the circular highway that wraps around inner-city Houston. A lot of the young professional crowd has moved in in recent years, but iconic spots like the Breakfast Klub, a Zagat-rated homestyle breakfast restaurant featured in the Netflix series Mo, and the Ensemble Theater, the country’s largest African American professional theater company, has drawn Houstonians and visitors alike to Midtown for years. It’s also worth seeing what’s on at MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston), which hosts theater, dance and even circus shows.

Once night falls, boogie down at Unicorn Disco or swing in the hammocks of Axelrad’s garden with a craft beer in hand, just two of Midtown’s many bars. Meanwhile, music lovers should go straight to the Continental Club, where popular acts from U2 to Houston’s own blues legend Little Joe Washington have played.

Where to stay: La Maison in Midtown is one of very few excellent B&Bs in Houston, surrounded by the dining and nightlife of the Midtown neighborhood.

5. The East End

Best for culture and soccer

Made up of EaDo (East Downtown) and the Second Ward, the East End has long seen waves of Asian and Hispanic immigrants, as well as African American transplants from other parts of the South. The East End feels industrial, a bit gritty and always surprising. Here, you’ll find restaurants that espouse Houston’s melting pot nature, such as the Cambodian-American fusion bakery Koffeteria and the inventive hot dogs of Moon Tower Inn. Beloved dive bars here are the neon-glowing Voodoo Queen for slurping daiquiris, and Lil' Danny Speedo's Go Fly a Kite Lounge for pool and artisan night markets.

Houston sports fans also frequent the East End for game days of the Houston Dynamo FC (the men’s professional soccer team) and the Houston Dash (the women’s professional soccer team) when they play at the Shell Energy Stadium on Texas Avenue.