Houston Bayou City Guidebook
Neighborhoods
Shady acres is where I live (Zone 11). It has plenty of places within it's borders but the Greater Heights in general is all within 10-15 minutes driving. Great places to go within the Greater Heights include:
Zone 11 - 20th, 19th, 18th street bar and restaurants between TC Jester and Durham. Greatest density is 20th street and Beall (5 minutes walking)
Zone 9 - Washington Ave bars and restaurants from Westcott all the way to downtown. Plenty to choose from and about 10 minutes drive away. Buffallo Bayou with the Waugh Drive Bat Colony, Eleanor Tinsley park, and miles of biking, walking, and running trails that lead directly into downtown Houston.
Zone 1 - Memorial Park has a 3 mile dedicated running trail trail, excellent driving range, pretty great golf course, and miles and miles of mountain biking trails. There's also a large lake with walking paths aplenty.
Zone 2, 6, 8, 11 - home to White Oak Bayou. Our local bayou with a running / biking trail extending > 15 miles. TC Jester park with a 21-hole disc golf course is located along this path in zone 8 along with Bandit disc golf course and Victory Disc Golf course
Zone 4 - Houston Heights area is the old heights. Generally less townhomes and more space. Heights Blvd with it's dirt / rock running trail goes north / south. On the North side 19th / 20th street between Yale and Nicholson have plenty of walkable shopping and food / drinks to offer. On the south side White Oak drive betweek Heights Blvd and Studewood has another very walkable area of restaurants and bars.
Zone 10 - Sawyer Heights or The Houston Arts District has over 300+ studio spaces for local artists, designers, and makers. This makes it the highest concentration of working artists in Texas. It's home to Houston's oldest neighborhoods in the 1st and 6th wards and has tons of places worth visiting!
Shady Acres
Shady acres is where I live (Zone 11). It has plenty of places within it's borders but the Greater Heights in general is all within 10-15 minutes driving. Great places to go within the Greater Heights include:
Zone 11 - 20th, 19th, 18th street bar and restaurants between TC Jester and Durham. Greatest density is 20th street and Beall (5 minutes walking)
Zone 9 - Washington Ave bars and restaurants from Westcott all the way to downtown. Plenty to choose from and about 10 minutes drive away. Buffallo Bayou with the Waugh Drive Bat Colony, Eleanor Tinsley park, and miles of biking, walking, and running trails that lead directly into downtown Houston.
Zone 1 - Memorial Park has a 3 mile dedicated running trail trail, excellent driving range, pretty great golf course, and miles and miles of mountain biking trails. There's also a large lake with walking paths aplenty.
Zone 2, 6, 8, 11 - home to White Oak Bayou. Our local bayou with a running / biking trail extending > 15 miles. TC Jester park with a 21-hole disc golf course is located along this path in zone 8 along with Bandit disc golf course and Victory Disc Golf course
Zone 4 - Houston Heights area is the old heights. Generally less townhomes and more space. Heights Blvd with it's dirt / rock running trail goes north / south. On the North side 19th / 20th street between Yale and Nicholson have plenty of walkable shopping and food / drinks to offer. On the south side White Oak drive betweek Heights Blvd and Studewood has another very walkable area of restaurants and bars.
Zone 10 - Sawyer Heights or The Houston Arts District has over 300+ studio spaces for local artists, designers, and makers. This makes it the highest concentration of working artists in Texas. It's home to Houston's oldest neighborhoods in the 1st and 6th wards and has tons of places worth visiting!
Food scene
The best Crawfish (if you're here between February and June - crawfish season) and Cajun food close to home in a very cool strip of bars and restaurants on White Oak. About a 10 minute drive
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BB's Tex-Orleans
2701 White Oak DrThe best Crawfish (if you're here between February and June - crawfish season) and Cajun food close to home in a very cool strip of bars and restaurants on White Oak. About a 10 minute drive
Classic Tex-Mex place with strong margaritas. Very close
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El Tiempo Cantina - Washington
5602 Washington AveClassic Tex-Mex place with strong margaritas. Very close
Arguably the best Mexican food in Houston. It's downtown so a perfect pre-game or post-game food location after watching the Houston Astros / Rockets / Dynamo / Dash.
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The Original Ninfa's on Navigation
2704 Navigation BlvdArguably the best Mexican food in Houston. It's downtown so a perfect pre-game or post-game food location after watching the Houston Astros / Rockets / Dynamo / Dash.
Gatlin's BBQ
3510 Ella BlvdGreat BBQ that's less than 10 minutes away
Awesome place to hang out on the patio and gather in the Houston vibe. It's 5 minutes away if you walk (which i recommend if it's not too hot out). Tons of other bars and restaurants close by to hop to and from
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Cedar Creek Cafe Bar & Grill
1034 W 20th StAwesome place to hang out on the patio and gather in the Houston vibe. It's 5 minutes away if you walk (which i recommend if it's not too hot out). Tons of other bars and restaurants close by to hop to and from
The Boot
1206 W 20th StAuthentic Louisiana food location 5 minutes from home
Great sushi place with an awesome reverse happy hour (9-11pm). It's a fun place to go and about 10 minutes away
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Miyako Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
4601 Washington AvenueGreat sushi place with an awesome reverse happy hour (9-11pm). It's a fun place to go and about 10 minutes away
CorkScrew BBQ
26608 Keith StArguably the best BBQ in Houston
Some of the best BBQ in Houston. It's a trek to get there (~45 minutes) but people swear by it
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Tejas Chocolate+Barbecue
200 N Elm StSome of the best BBQ in Houston. It's a trek to get there (~45 minutes) but people swear by it
Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe
1511 Airline DrGreat authentic Mexican food about 12 minutes from home!
My go-to "bar / restaurant" in Houston. It has 3 sand volleyball courts, a kids playground, plenty of outdoor or indoor seating, and a great vibe.
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Wakefield Crowbar
954 Wakefield DrMy go-to "bar / restaurant" in Houston. It has 3 sand volleyball courts, a kids playground, plenty of outdoor or indoor seating, and a great vibe.
Breweries
The closest brewery to me - a 10 minute walk or 5 minute drive away. I love the vide of this place and they have great beer. Try a Wow Factor or Bucklebunny or any one of their excellent dark beers.
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Eureka Heights Brew Co.
941 W 18th StThe closest brewery to me - a 10 minute walk or 5 minute drive away. I love the vide of this place and they have great beer. Try a Wow Factor or Bucklebunny or any one of their excellent dark beers.
Quintessential Houston - this is the oldest microbrewery in Texas. It offers great views of downtown and plenty of beer and food to choose from. Kid-friendly and very large. Try the Art Car IPA and look up the Art car festival as well as checking out some of Saint Arnold's very own Art Cars. A perfect combination to a downtown visit. They also have a full menu restaurant
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Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons AveQuintessential Houston - this is the oldest microbrewery in Texas. It offers great views of downtown and plenty of beer and food to choose from. Kid-friendly and very large. Try the Art Car IPA and look up the Art car festival as well as checking out some of Saint Arnold's very own Art Cars. A perfect combination to a downtown visit. They also have a full menu restaurant
One of the best views in Houston, this three-story brewery is located right in the Houston Arts District. Couple this brewery with a walk to Sawyer yards or a trip to the east side of Buffalo Bayou / Washington Avenue. This also stands as a restaurant for food on-site
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Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co - New Restaurant and Bar
2101 Summer StOne of the best views in Houston, this three-story brewery is located right in the Houston Arts District. Couple this brewery with a walk to Sawyer yards or a trip to the east side of Buffalo Bayou / Washington Avenue. This also stands as a restaurant for food on-site
A popular brewery to go to before an Astros or Houston Dynamo game. Located in EaDo (East Downtown) it offers a great spot to start your downtown adventures! Plenty of cool places to go from here including Truck Yard, Pitch 25, Neil's Bahr, and The Rustic!
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8th Wonder Brewery
2202 Dallas StA popular brewery to go to before an Astros or Houston Dynamo game. Located in EaDo (East Downtown) it offers a great spot to start your downtown adventures! Plenty of cool places to go from here including Truck Yard, Pitch 25, Neil's Bahr, and The Rustic!
Right down from Walking Stick brewery and Wakefield crowbar this is a sweet mostly-indoor brewery. Typically a food truck on site
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Great Heights Brewing Company
938 Wakefield DrRight down from Walking Stick brewery and Wakefield crowbar this is a sweet mostly-indoor brewery. Typically a food truck on site
Right across the street from Wakefield Crowbar and Great Heights Brewing Company this brewery offers expansive patio seating and typically has a food truck.
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Walking Stick Brewing Co.
957 Judiway StRight across the street from Wakefield Crowbar and Great Heights Brewing Company this brewery offers expansive patio seating and typically has a food truck.
This might be a trigger for local Houstonians (Karbach "sold out" to big beer and is owned by Anheuser-Busch now) but it's a great brewery. There's a biergarten with live music along with an indoor pub that servers food.
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Karbach Brewing
2032 Karbach StThis might be a trigger for local Houstonians (Karbach "sold out" to big beer and is owned by Anheuser-Busch now) but it's a great brewery. There's a biergarten with live music along with an indoor pub that servers food.
If the folks at Eureka Heights stand out for their lighthearted goofiness, John and Katheryn Holler, the couple behind Holler Brewing, stand out for their meticulous approach to the craft.
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Holler Brewing Co
2206 Edwards St If the folks at Eureka Heights stand out for their lighthearted goofiness, John and Katheryn Holler, the couple behind Holler Brewing, stand out for their meticulous approach to the craft.
New Magnolia Brewing Co
1616 Bevis StreetBrunch Places
My favorite brunch place nestled right in downtown! ~10 minutes from my house.
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The Rustic
1836 Polk StMy favorite brunch place nestled right in downtown! ~10 minutes from my house.
Crisp
2520 Research Forest DrGreat brunch place ~10 minutes walking distance away.
Fun brunch place 8 minutes from home. Based out of Denver it's great but also relatively small. Get there early or you might be waiting a while.
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Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
3217 Montrose BlvdFun brunch place 8 minutes from home. Based out of Denver it's great but also relatively small. Get there early or you might be waiting a while.
Local Bars (with a restaurant on the side)
Great bar with outdoor patio on turf and typically a food truck. About 10 minutes walking distance
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Wicklow Heights
1027 W 19th StGreat bar with outdoor patio on turf and typically a food truck. About 10 minutes walking distance
Awesome dive bar 10 minutes walking distance from my home. Tiny trailer indoors but excellent large patio outdoors with live music most nights and typically a food truck
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Shady Acres Saloon
1115 W 19th StAwesome dive bar 10 minutes walking distance from my home. Tiny trailer indoors but excellent large patio outdoors with live music most nights and typically a food truck
Great outdoor / indoor 23-and-up bar with adult swings, patio furniture, and plenty of TV's to watch the game. Happy hour specials here are typically pretty great
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McIntyre's
1230 W 20th StGreat outdoor / indoor 23-and-up bar with adult swings, patio furniture, and plenty of TV's to watch the game. Happy hour specials here are typically pretty great
Great bar with plenty of craft cocktails. The Whiskey Sour, Bourbon Sidecar, and Old Fashioned are my personal favorites but there's tons to choose from! ~10 minute drive. Typically has a food truck
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Johnny's Gold Brick
2518 Yale StGreat bar with plenty of craft cocktails. The Whiskey Sour, Bourbon Sidecar, and Old Fashioned are my personal favorites but there's tons to choose from! ~10 minute drive. Typically has a food truck
Mellow local tiki bar that's typically on the top of the lists of bars to visit in Houston. It's on the smaller side so be prepared to show up early or wait!
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Lei Low Bar
6412 N Main StMellow local tiki bar that's typically on the top of the lists of bars to visit in Houston. It's on the smaller side so be prepared to show up early or wait!
Expansive patio with over 96 beers on tap. Great place to sit outside on a patio and enjoy a beer and good company (because that's a favorite pastime of native Houstonians)
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Heights Bier Garten
1433 N Shepherd DrExpansive patio with over 96 beers on tap. Great place to sit outside on a patio and enjoy a beer and good company (because that's a favorite pastime of native Houstonians)
Eight Row Flint
1039 Yale StGreat bar in the Central Heights right next to Heights Blvd.
Great place for some German-vide beer and food! The outdoor patio is very cool and typically offers live music
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King's BierHaus
2044 E T C Jester BlvdGreat place for some German-vide beer and food! The outdoor patio is very cool and typically offers live music
Local Disc Golf Courses
THE disc golf course of Houston. Wide open fairways, a shot over a bayou, massive oak trees. What more could you want!?
T.C. Jester Disc Golf Course
4201 T C Jester BlvdTHE disc golf course of Houston. Wide open fairways, a shot over a bayou, massive oak trees. What more could you want!?
A great disc golf course built in an abandoned neighborhood (due to flooding during the construction phase).
Victory Disc Golf Course
4311 Black Maple LnA great disc golf course built in an abandoned neighborhood (due to flooding during the construction phase).
I think this is the hardest disc golf course in Houston. First three holes are easy-peasy in the open before you go into the woods...you won't leave the woods until hole 18
Texas Army Trail Disc Golf Course
12405 Telge RdI think this is the hardest disc golf course in Houston. First three holes are easy-peasy in the open before you go into the woods...you won't leave the woods until hole 18
Great wide open disc golf course! Only issue is if it's rained in the past 4 days there's typically lots of standing water
Agnes Moffitt Park
10645 Hammerly BlvdGreat wide open disc golf course! Only issue is if it's rained in the past 4 days there's typically lots of standing water
Course built on an old golf course. Typically not mowed very often so make sure you check UDisc for local conditions.
Inwood Forest Disc Golf Course
7603 Antoine DrCourse built on an old golf course. Typically not mowed very often so make sure you check UDisc for local conditions.
Quite the trek to get out here but have heard this is a great course! About 45 minutes to an hour from my house.
Zube Park Disc Golf Course
17560 Roberts RoadQuite the trek to get out here but have heard this is a great course! About 45 minutes to an hour from my house.
This is the Bayou Bandit disc golf course. Look it up on UDisc for directions and hole locations. About 5 hanging baskets and pretty good overall fun.
Shady Grove Drive & Loren Lane
This is the Bayou Bandit disc golf course. Look it up on UDisc for directions and hole locations. About 5 hanging baskets and pretty good overall fun.
Local professional sports
BBVA Compass Stadium
2200 Texas AveLocal MLS team Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash play here
the Houston Texans (NFL) play here - you'll probably want to visit for the away team though...
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NRG Stadion
NRG Parkwaythe Houston Texans (NFL) play here - you'll probably want to visit for the away team though...
The Houston Rockets (NBA) play here. Right in the heart of downtown. You'll probably want to visit to watch other teams play...
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Toyota Miðstöð
1510 Polk StThe Houston Rockets (NBA) play here. Right in the heart of downtown. You'll probably want to visit to watch other teams play...
The best place to go for a professional game - the Houston Astros (MLB) play here. Say what you want about 2017 the venue is great and it's located right in downtown with expansive views available with the roof open (typically closed when it starts getting hot).
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Minute Maid Park
501 Crawford StThe best place to go for a professional game - the Houston Astros (MLB) play here. Say what you want about 2017 the venue is great and it's located right in downtown with expansive views available with the roof open (typically closed when it starts getting hot).
The Houston Sabrecats (Professional Rugby) play here. I've never been but I've heard it's entertaining and intimately small
Aveva Stadium
12131 Kirby DrThe Houston Sabrecats (Professional Rugby) play here. I've never been but I've heard it's entertaining and intimately small
Not professional but this is where the Houston Cougars (NCAA Division 1 football) play
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TDECU Stadium
Not professional but this is where the Houston Cougars (NCAA Division 1 football) play
Where the Sugar Land Skeeters play minor league Triple-A baseball. They're a feeder team for the Astros
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Stjörnusvið
1 Stadium DrWhere the Sugar Land Skeeters play minor league Triple-A baseball. They're a feeder team for the Astros
Rice University Division 1 football stadium. It's probably more worthwhile to see the university campus, the medical center, and the Houston museum district
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Rice Stadium
6100 Main StRice University Division 1 football stadium. It's probably more worthwhile to see the university campus, the medical center, and the Houston museum district