The best things to do in Houston right now

Fusing art, technology and viewing rooms complete with bean bag chairs, Artechouse is home to 26,000 square feet of art that dances across walls and vibrates to special soundtracks, earning this place the title of Houston’s number one most immersive experience. For those who find museums a bit dry, this is the alternative, and it’s an exciting one. Seasonal exhibits mean that each visit is like your first. 

Time Out tip: Come early and relax with a cocktail or glass of wine at the Artechouse bar. 

Address: 600 W 6th St

Price: Tickets start at $30

What started as a small collective of artists in 2008 has grown into an immersive multimedia experience known today as Meow Wolf. The company opened its Houston location in late 2024, introducing multisensory, immersive exhibits connected through an interdimensional radio station storyline. Representing more than 100 artists—half of whom hail from the Lone Star State—Meow Wolf invites visitors to discover new dimensions. After exploring every nook and cranny, head to beloved spot Cowboix Hevvven, Meow Wolf’s first functioning honky-tonk dive bar, for a drink and casual bites. 

Time Out tip: Each season, Meow Wolf debuts a new exhibit, so be sure to check the website for the latest installation. 

Address: 2103 Lyons Ave

Price: General admission tickets start at $33

On the edge of downtown, a large mail processing center has been transformed into a culinary and cultural hub with Instagram-worthy views to complement your experience. In the food market, don’t miss Michelin guide-winner ChopnBlok, where chef Ope Amosu serves West African cuisine, from smoky jollof jambalaya to beef patties. POST is also home to Art Club, a hybrid museum and nightclub that opened in 2024. Spanning 28,500 square feet, each room is filled with a series of connected galleries, including a lounge with cutting-edge A/V equipment for experimental DJs. On the roof of POST, the Sky Lawn is a five-acre urban park and a sustainable organic farm for those seeking a peaceful retreat. 

Time Out tip: Your first two hours of parking is free in POST’s main lot, or park on the street for free after 6pm

Address: 401 Franklin St

Price: Menu items average $15–$25

Houston is no stranger to the oh-so-trendy sport of pickleball, with multiple places to play throughout the city. PKL Social is a 21+ pickleball sports bar located in the vibrant Washington Corridor. Expect good vibes, a dog-friendly patio, over 20 big screens and a food and bar menu featuring handheld sandwiches and health-conscious options like the coconut shrimp bowl.

Time Out tip: Can’t commit? PKL offers free open play Monday through Thursday from 11am to 2pm, plus walk-in play on weekends. 

Address: 1112 Shepherd Dr

Price: Reserve a court for $35 per hour

A Houston staple—and a favorite of Simone Biles and other celebs—Kiran’s is helmed by chef Kiran Verma, known as the godmother of Indian fine dining. She’s self-taught, and her eponymous restaurant offers one of the most unique tea experiences in the city. The menu is just as exciting, putting a fun spin on Indian dishes like curried crab and tandoori chicken finger sandwiches. Plus, tea service starts with Verma’s very own chai tea brand.

Time Out tip: Special menus are available for vegetarian and vegan diners.

Address: 2925 Richmond Ave Ste 160

Price: $65, with an additional automatic gratuity of 20%

Houston is hot enough, but if you’re looking for an extra sweat session, there’s no shortage of options. Opened in 2025 in Uptown Park, Ritual One offers a mixture of hot pilates, power vinyasa and inferno HIIT, all taking place in a state-of-the-art, infrared-heated studio designed for a killer workout session. 

Time Out tip: Download the Ritual One app to easily follow the weekly calendar, schedule classes and keep track of your workouts.

Address: 1121 Uptown Park Blvd Ste #9

Price: Drop-in classes are $35, with discounts available through packages

Located inside La Colombe d’Or hotel in Montrose, Bar No. 3 offers craft and seasonal cocktails surrounded by fine art and stunning architecture. In addition to the 425 pieces of art on display, this historic home-turned-hotel has a sculpture garden, a private park and a cozy cocktail lounge. It’s an art lover’s paradise! 

Time Out tip: Grab a seat in the courtyard near the fountain and capture some Instagrammable photos.

Address: 3410 Montrose Blvd

Price: Most beers are $5 and most cocktails are $17

The first word spoken on the moon was “Houston,” so it is fitting that the city is home to one of the finest interstellar museums on planet Earth. NASA’s Space Center Houston boasts larger-than-life permanent displays and attractions, including a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket over 156 feet long, over 400 out-of-this-world artifacts, an immersive show narrated by Tom Hanks and a NASA tram tour that takes visitors behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center. 

Time Out tip: Purchase your tickets online to save $5 each. Seniors and children also qualify for discounts.

Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy

Price: $30–$45 a ticket

Houston boasts the second-largest Indo-Chinese population in the U.S. (after Los Angeles), so it is only fitting to visit Asiatown, which, authentically and deliciously, brings together delights from all over the largest continent. Head to the thriving district in Southwest Houston for an epicurean adventure. Savor the rich and tempting tastes, sights and smells of the bustling Hong Kong Food Market. After that, head to Nam Giao, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, for Hue cuisine. We recommend ordering the steamed rice cakes with pork rinds and chives. 

Time Out tip: Work off your meal with a peaceful stroll around Jade Buddha Temple’s serene lotus ponds, statues and gardens. 

Address: Bellaire Boulevard

Price: Varies

The Houston Museum of Natural Science boasts several world-class exhibits, including wildlife dioramas and artifacts from ancient Egypt. Most major paleontology exhibits feature dinosaur fossils lined up one after the other, but this museum does it differently—and much better. It recreates actual encounters between dinosaurs as they might have occurred millions of years ago. The results are more realistic, with skeletal dinosaurs eating, chasing and fighting. The rotating special exhibits are also not to be missed—just check the website for details. 

Time Out tip: From 5 to 8pm on Tuesdays, admission to the museum is free!

Address: 5555 Hermann Park Dr

Price: General admission is $25

The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston is one of the largest museums in the United States, so expect exhibitions and installations galore. Happy Hour Thursdays means you can check out everything from Renaissance art to rare African sculptures, then, cocktail in hand, enjoy the resident DJ while grabbing a bite from one of the curated food trucks usually parked outside.

While you’re there, make it a point to stop at the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Formerly home to 20th-century art collector and philanthropist Ima Hogg, it showcases American furnishings, silver, ceramics and paintings from around the world. Since the property sits on 14 acres of beautifully manicured gardens, there’s plenty of space to explore and wander. 

Time Out tip: On Thursdays, admission is free all day.

Address: 1001 Bissonnet St

Price: $24 per ticket

When temperatures rise, head to the Marriott Marquis to check out its Altitude Rooftop and Pool. The 550-foot lazy river in the shape of Texas is flanked by your choice of lounge chairs, cabanas, pergolas and day beds. A festive bar and live music create a party atmosphere, but the giggles of kids remind you that the space is family-friendly. Settle in by the poolside grill, Hive Dive, and enjoy a mahi-mahi sandwich. 

Time Out tip: Be sure to jump into the infinity pool, where you can snap a photo swimming along the Houston skyline.

Address: 1777 Walker St

Price: Day passes are $65, or book a room for about $400 per night

This nonprofit showcases Houston’s thriving performing arts scene with a mission to expand the city’s reputation as a world-class center for culture. The complex has two performance chambers and an upscale restaurant for those looking to make an evening of it. If you’re searching for the perfect excuse to dress up and see some performing arts, think of the Hobby Center as Houston’s own Broadway—all of Broadway squeezed into one building, that is. Featuring hits like Mamma Mia! and Hamilton, not to mention drag shows, parodies and seasonal goodies, this place has it all.

Time Out tip: Secure center mezzanine seats for great views of the action.

Address: 800 Bagby St

Price: Prices vary by event and date

One of the most significant art assemblages of the 20th century, the Menil Collection is housed in a magnificent purpose-built gallery designed by none other than Renzo Piano (the same architect behind NYC’s Whitney Museum of American Art). Displayed in spacious, naturally lit, white-walled sections, the superb works are the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The more than 20,000 pieces range from Paleolithic carvings to surrealist paintings and many prominent artists—including Picasso and René Magritte—have entire rooms to themselves. With free admission and parking, it would be a crime not to spend time here.

Time Out tip: Don’t show up on a Monday or Tuesday—Menil Collection is closed those days.

Address: 1533 Sul Ross St

Price: Always free!

Austin may have South Congress Bridge for bat watching, but Houstonians have the Waugh Drive Bridge in Buffalo Bayou Park. Every night at sunset, 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their slumber. Even the locals who have witnessed this site countless times still gasp at the flaps of the wings, the chirping and squeaking, and the sheer mass of the blanket of black as the bats head out to explore the city. It’s the perfect way to end a day at the park or kick off an evening in the city.

Time Out tip: Arrive considerably earlier than sunset, set up a blanket on the hillside and watch the red-tail hawks. They start swooping just before the bats take flight. 

Address: Corner of Waugh Dr and Allen Pkwy

Price: Free

Considered Houston’s most significant natural resource, Buffalo Bayou has hundreds of acres of parkland and running trails. One of the finest ways to enjoy the bayou’s beauty is from the water, starting downtown at Allen’s Landing and working your way west. Rent a kayak from the Buffalo Bayou Partnership or join one of the tours: cistern, boat, walking or self-guided. 

Time Out tip: The 5.1-mile Buffalo Bayou Loop is great for walking, jogging and biking. The path is crushed gravel, so wear closed-toe shoes. 

Address: Between Eleanor Tinsley Park and Sabine Street

Price: Free to use the trails; $20 to rent a kayak

Visitors can discover everything from the mysterious traditions surrounding the burial of a Pope to the re-creation of Abraham Lincoln’s state funeral at this morbidly curious museum. Admittedly, a trip to this museum may not be the most upbeat adventure, but it is certainly engaging. Learn about the history of cremation or explore the extensive display of artifacts from burial services of former American presidents. 

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the funeral folders: They are memorial programs for the likes of Whitney Houston, Marilyn Monroe and John Denver. 

Address: 415 Barren Springs Dr

Price: $15

One of Houston’s brightest cultural gems, Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, has staged free outdoor performances since 1923. With eight months of free arts programming every year, the sloping lawn in front of the stage gets packed with locals toting blankets and picnics. Where else can you enjoy everything from drama to the symphony, free of charge? Just check the event calendar before your visit (and book tickets in advance, if necessary). It’s a great way to lay back and enjoy toasty Texan weather without being accused of laziness.

Time Out tip: Arrive early to stroll the park—it is well worth it.  

Address: 6000 Hermann Park Dr

Price: Free

“Inspired, hip, tasty, funky, savvy” shouts the famous mural at 520 Travis Street, which has become a photographic flag-bearer for the city. This wonderfully vibrant, colorful image is more than just Instagram bait; it is an homage to local pride, drawing attention to Houston’s best characteristics in the heart of the Market Square District. Its message is clear: Houston, we don’t have a problem.

Time Out tip: Explore beyond this iconic mural to EaDo, which is rapidly becoming THE place to take in Houston murals. 

Address: 520 Travis St

Price: Free

Towering over the Houston Ship Channel, the San Jacinto Monument is the tallest war memorial in the nation, standing 15 feet higher than the Washington Monument. The 570-foot obelisk—topped by a massive 220-ton Lone Star of Texas—pays tribute to those who fought for Texas’ independence from Mexico in 1836. The outstanding San Jacinto Museum at its base contains several fascinating artifacts from the Texas Revolution and subsequent Republic and serves as the access point for the all-important elevator to the summit. The San Jacinto Museum also houses the Albert and Ethel Herzstein library, where you’ll discover rare books and delicate manuscripts.

Time Out tip: The least crowded times to visit are Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9am.

Address: 1 Monument Cir, La Porte

Price: $14

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall and its surrounding park is one of Houston’s most popular spots to relax (naturally, it is also one of the most photographed sites in the city). A dramatic 64-foot semicircular fountain, it recycles a ferocious 11,000 gallons of water per minute in what has become liquid Instagram gold. Once you’ve taken your mandatory snap, grab some lunch to-go from the neighboring Galleria before returning to the oak glades in the Waterwall’s nearly three-acre park for a picture-perfect picnic.

Time Out tip: Don’t restrict yourself to the inside of the wall—the outside is often less crowded, allowing you to take that one photo that looks like you have the whole place to yourself. 

Address: 2800 Post Oak Blvd

Price: Free

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