Downtown
Downtown Houston, bounded by Interstate 45, Interstate 10 and U.S. 59, continues to evolve as the nucleus of the city. Ten years ago, a downtown visitor may have wondered why the bustling business district was empty after 5 p.m. No more. Home to five professional sports teams, nine performing arts companies and a wide selection of restaurants and nightlife, the consensus is in. Downtown is FUN.
Since 1999, public and private investors have spent nearly $5 billion to revitalize downtown. This includes a light rail system to make public transportation around the city much more accessible and convenient. Two sparkling new sports stadiums—Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, and Toyota Center, home to the Houston Rockets and Aeros. An expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center, which virtually doubled its space, and the development of the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel, connected via skywalk to the George R. Brown Convention Center. There has been a resurgence in boutique hotels—four have opened in downtown since 2002.
Unveiled last spring, Houston’s 12-acre Discovery Green park—across from the George R. Brown Convention Center—provides year-round activities for families and hipsters alike. There are happy hour concerts, movies on summer nights, ice-skating on Kinder lake in the winter and weekly farmers markets that offer organic produce. Not feeling like a DIY picnic? Score casual comfort food at the park’s Lake House restaurant. Or, for a seeand-be-scene, there’s The Grove—an upscale American dining option. Nearby, the Houston Pavilions continues to settle into the area. The openair development opened in fall 2008, with Jay-Z’s much-buzzed-about show at the House of Blues. The concert venue lives alongside retail shops like BCBG, a Forever 21 flagship, Books-a-Million and several restaurants.
Buffalo Bayou, the slow-moving waterway that winds through downtown, offers an aesthetic component—a $15 million beautification project added lighting, landscaping and hike and bike trails.
Where to Stay
The most difficult part of spending a weekend in downtown is choosing your hotel—there’s something for every taste. Budget travelers should try either of the two new Marriott properties, located in the historic Humble Oil building right on the light rail line. The Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott both offer affordable rates. Those willing to splurge have much to choose from. The Four Seasons Houston is a classic, complete with the Four Seasons’ signature outstanding service. Traditionalists who prefer a smaller property would like The Lancaster, a small luxury property in the heart of the Theater District that is frequently found on Travel + Leisure’s “Best Hotels” list. For something a little funkier, try the Alden-Houston Hotel, chicly decorated in browns and creams, or the Hotel ICON, with a grandness representative of the early 1900s, when the building was used as a bank. Don't miss the rooftop pool at the Magnolia Hotel. Baseball lovers shouldn’t miss the Inn at the Ballpark, a luxury hotel themed in baseball tradition. Book ahead during Astros game—the hotel fills quickly, and the hotel bar is a popular pre- or post-game spot. The Hilton Americas-Houston is much more than a convention hotel, although it can be difficult for leisure travelers to find a room, due to an influx of bulk business since the hotel opened in 2004.
Families shouldn’t miss the Downtown Aquarium, a recent addition to the downtown scene. This 500,000-gallon under-water adventure complex includes a Ferris wheel, an aquatic carousel, Shark Voyage, a white tiger exhibit and a restaurant. Families could easily spend half a day at the aquarium, so plan accordingly.
Catch a performance in Houston’s renowned Theater District, which spans 17 blocks. Houston is one of only a few U.S. cities with permanent professional resident companies in opera (Houston Grand Opera), ballet (Houston Ballet), music (Houston Symphony) and theater (Alley Theatre), so there are plenty of options. The five performing arts venues in the Theater District are also home to musical theater troupes Theatre Under the Stars and Broadway in Houston and innovative local groups like Uniquely Houston, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater and Da Camera.
Where to Eat
You’ll find everything from fine dining to great pizza in downtown Houston. Traditional favorites include Zula, with New American cuisine and Las Vegas-style décor; Cabo, a Mexican eatery with one of the city’s best balcony’s; Frank’s Pizza, popular with the bar crowd due to its 3 a.m. closing time; and Artista, a South American restaurant inside the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, which is popular before and after performances. Mexican food lovers shouldn’t miss Irma’s, only open for breakfast and lunch. Known for having no menu, memorable lunches include fajitas, center-cut pork chops with ancho chili sauce, spinach enchiladas and, of course, the fresh-squeezed lemonade. Hotel restaurants have become increasingly popular in recent years. VOICE is located in the Hotel ICON. 17, at the Alden-Houston Hotel, is known for its unique décor and out-of-this-world short ribs. Quattro, at the Four Seasons, continues to entice with its Italian cuisine, popular brunch and “dinner and a movie” events, with dishes inspired by movies like Chocolat and Sideways.
Main Street has become Houston’s hub for nightlife. Pubs like Slainte, Shay McElroy’s and the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium are popular with beer lovers, while La Carafe, Houston’s oldest bar, is a romantic date spot. Rub shoulders with politicos on the balcony of the State Bar, inside the Rice Lofts Building, or listen to live jazz at Sambuca or Red Cat Jazz Café. Warren’s is famous for their martinis.
Underground
If you’re in town during the week, and you are wondering why there aren’t more people on the street, it’s because they are all underground. The 6.3-mile Houston Tunnel System connects office buildings throughout downtown. Inside the tunnel, mainly used for office works Monday-Friday during business hours, you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops, newsstands, dry cleaners, salons, shops—anything you could possibly need during your work day.
Green Houston 
