DRINKS

Relaxed and casual

AXELRAD

Outdoor beer garden with lots of live events, music, comedy, art, etc. Check their calendar.

TOASTED COCONUT

Great tiki drinks and AMAZING french fries. Could also be listed under casual restaurants.

LIGHT YEARS

Relaxed natural wine bar and bottle shop with outdoor seating

WEST ALABAMA ICE HOUSE

A very casual outdoor beer spot, excellent taco truck across the street for a very easy meal. Someone might walk around selling tamales, too.

UNDER THE VOLCANO

Good outdoor space

RUDYARD'S

“Montrose’s living room”. A casual divey pub with games and good beer

TRUE ANOMALY

Favorite Houston brewery from some ex NASA folks

GRAND PRIZE

Kitschy Dive bar with good deals

ST ARNOLD BREWING CO

One of Houston’s first big breweries, now with an enormous outdoor space

More refined

13 CELSIUS

Relaxed wine bar with extensive wine list and good cheese boards/charcuterie

CAPTAIN FOXHEART’S BAD NEWS BAR

Cocktail bar downtown-kind of hidden upstairs through a door for a law firm.

ANVIL BAR & REFUGE

Extensive craft cocktail list in an industrial setting. Bar food available. Downside: loud/crowded at peak hours.

JULEP

Cocktail bar

RESTAURANTS

Casual (can probably show up without reservations)

CUCHARA & CUCHARITA

Two great Mexico-city style spots across the street- Cucharita for brunch

LORO

Asian smokehouse, counter service

CANDENTE

Tex-Mex

THE PIT ROOM

BBQ, huge patio

COOKING GIRL (Montrose)

Wonderful Sichuan food

‘93 TIL

Casual 90s hangout and vinyl bar with food and cocktails

POSCOL

Relaxed but delicious Italian food in an old house. Great Roman-style pizza

MERCATO AND COMPANY

Italian market, and also a counter-service cafe with delicious sandwiches, pastries and wine. Lovely outdoor patio.

URBE

Mexican street food

GIACOMO’S

Homey Italian cafe

GYPSY POET

Creative artisan pizza

COASTLINE

Neopolitan style oven grilled pizza

BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE

Ironside pizza and barfood, wacky decor, full bar (multiple locations - better outdoor space on Washington St.)

AGA’S

Maybe the best Indian/Pakistani food in Houston?

POST

A food court inside of an old post office, with many food options and a nice rooftop for strolling and seeing city views.

Nicer spots, and/or might need reservations:

CHOPNBLOCK

Fast casual West African food.with rich flavors and great vegetarian options. A new favorite, but it gets so crowded that reservations are recommended.

TINY CHAMPIONS

Delicious Pizza and pastas, and good cocktails. Casual vibe, but can get full.

HANDIES DOUZO

A casual handroll and sushi bar, but with limited seating, so reservations still recommended.

MAXIMO

Cozy, charming and relaxed ambience with creative Mexican cuisine. Great, reasonably priced tasting menu.

HUGO'S

Refined Mexican cuisine

ROSIE CANNONBALL

European comfort food

NANCY’S HUSTLE

American and European… get the Nancy cakes

OPORTO

Portuguese tapas

LUCILLE’S

Rich southern food

KATAMI

Japanese, intimate setting

KATA ROBATA

Japanese, a more lively setting

KIRA

Japanese handrolls and vinyl bar. Seating around the counter

Fancy/Special/Spendy

UCHI

Creative sushi, one of my favorites

BCN

Fantastic Spanish food

LE JARDINIER

Seasonal French food at the Museum of Fine Arts

TATEMO

A special occasion spot, with a maize-based 7 course experience. Need reservations well in advance

NEO

A special Omakase experience in an intimate setting - Just 8 seats around the kitchen.