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The Guy's Weekend

Here are the elements for a great weekend in Houston

Need a little help planning a weekend in Houston with the guys? We've put together an itinerary for a great time. Mix it up, swap things out, and don't forget to have fun!

Cigar lovers might want to pay a visit to Downing Street Pub

The DETAILS

Where to Stay: Hilton Americas, Inn at the Ballpark, Embassy Suites Downtown, aloft Galleria, Intercontinental Hotel or pick another hotel.

Getting around:Traveling from Bush Intercontinental or Houston Hobby Airport, take Super Shuttle or a Metro bus to Downtown or a cab anywhere you need to go. In the city: Take a cab or use the MetroRail to travel between downtown, the Museum District and other neighborhoods. For more information about how to navigate the city, click here.

FRIDAY

NOON: After you’ve checked into your hotel, you’ll probably want to grab lunch. Head over to Lankford Grocery for a juicy burger in the middle of one of Houston’s trendiest neighborhoods, Montrose. It’s ranked as one of the best in town and was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Looking for alittle Texas-style barbecue? Try Goode Co. on Kirby Blvd. near Rice Village - a Houston institution. Or visit family-run Gatlin’s in the Heights neighborhood for a brisket you’ve got to taste to believe.

Texas Junk Company

2 PM: Need a pair of boots? How about a vintage cowboy hat or a deer trophy? You can pretty much find it all at Texas Junk Co. Located in the same neighborhood as Lankford, this place has been around for decades, proving that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. You’ll get lost rummaging through old belt buckles, rustic furnishings and other merchandise.

3 PM:Saint Arnold Brewing Co. is Texas’ oldest craft brewery. The operation moved to a 100-year-old space on the edge of downtown a few years ago, dramatically expanding its operations. At 3 p.m. every weekday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays), the brewery opens its doors to the public for tours and tastings. Seven bucks gets you a behind-the-scenes peek at the tank farmand the entire brewing process, a logo-encrusted tasting glass and several fill-ups of whichever of the 10 brews are on tap. The biergarten-inspired tasting room is a festive place to spend an afternoon.

5 PM: Market Square is downtown Houston’s historic area, on the shore of Buffalo Bayou where the city was founded in the 1830s. Buildings here have a lot of character and it’s a good spot to people watch. Several laid-back restaurants and bars surround Market Square Park, including Warren’s, Bitterman’s, Char Bar and Treebeard’s. Kick back on a patio with a pilsner and an app and see Houston transition from work to play.

7 PM:After a change of clothes and a quick refresh at the hotel, it’s time for dinner. In a town known for excellent food from all over the world, picking just one place to eat can be a challenge. Going the local route you’ll want to check out the original Ninfa’s on Navigation.This was where Mama Ninfa started the restaurant that would spawn a chain concept. But the recipes here are wholly unique and very authentic. The revamped patio bar offers inventive cocktails you won’t find anywhere else. For a different take on traditional Tex-Mex try celebrity Chef Bryan Caswell’s latest venture, El Real on Westheimer. The chili con carne and puffy tacos are amazing.

10 PM: Houston has a great live music scene. For a mix of fun local and Texas bands, ride on over to the Continental Club in Midtown. If country tunes and Texas two-stepping are more your style, check out Armadillo Palace on Kirby for live music or Rebels Honky Tonk on Washington Avenue where you’ll find a mechanical bull to test your manhood.

SATURDAY

9 AM: Assuming you handled last night like a pro, pay a visit to Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber, the proprietors of Revival Market on Heights Blvd. These guys have developed an entire grocery store around mostly local, organic products—from meats raised down the road byWeber himself and displayed in the charcuterie case to produce and dairy products from Houston-area farmers. Have a cup of coffee and a homemade biscuit in the café to start the day’s adventure.

Hamilton Shirts

10:30 AM:Nothing beats a crisp new shirt made to fit your body just right. And that’s exactly what you get when you visit Houston-based custom clothier Hamilton Shirts —where shirt-making has been an art form for more than 125 years. You can go the made-to-measure route for a superb fit, or you can get fitted for one of their bespoke custom shirts, where a paper pattern is created to match your individual body type and style. These are shirts frequently worn by celebrities and featured on the cover of magazines such as GQ and Esquire.

NOON: If you’re looking for a ballgame, you’ve come to the right place. Houston is home to pro-football (Texans), pro-baseball (Astros) and pro-basketball (Rockets) teams, not to mention competitive minor league soccer (Dynamo) and hockey (Aeros).Whatever time of year you’re here, there’s always a sport a game being played in H-Town. You’ll definitely want to get in on the action! For lunch, pick up a hot dog at the game or stop by one of Houston’s awesome food trucks along the way.

Anvil Bar and Refuge

4 PM: You won’t find a more civilized place for drinks than Anvil Bar & Refuge.This former tire store-turned-hotspot on Lower Westheimer serves up a wide array of creative cocktails developed by master mixologist Bobby Heugel. Everything about this place is inviting, from the warm woods andextra-long bar top to the expert bartenders who know their regulars by name. Craft beer fans can't miss Hay Merchant, with 80 beers on tap, 5 casks and a killer bar menu. If you're a cigar lover, you might want to pay a visit to Downing Street Pub on Upper Kirby. Just as the name suggests, this place bleeds British style and has a scotch selection and humidor room that would make Churchill proud.

7 PM: When you think Texas, you think steak. And Houston is home to some of the best steakhouses in the Lone Star State. Try Vic & Anthony’s downtown for a perfect porterhouse and an award-winning wine list. Other downtown favorites include III Forks and Morton’s, but there are many more. If you leave any of these steakhouses with even an inkling of hunger, something is seriously wrong. 

9 PM: After dinner downtown, head a few blocks south to Midtown for a little pub crawling. You’ll want to check out Little Woodrows for a smorgasbord of beer options in a traditional ice house vibe. Just a few blocks away is Pub Fiction where you’ll find a lot of live music and . Wonderbar is an urbane, trippy spot with an intergalactic interior. Get a kick out of German beer culture? Head over to Bar Munich. If you want a more alternative scene, Poison Girl on Westheimer has a kitchy décor, large patio and pinball machines for entertainment. Or perhaps the club scene is more your speed making Washington Avenue your destination of choice, with spots such as Sawyer Park and The Drinkery to choose from.

SUNDAY

10 AM: Enjoy a late morning round of golf at one of the city’sbeautiful public courses. Set on 407 acres in the center of the Museum District, Hermann Park Golf Course offers a challenging 18-hole course. You’ll find another great round at Memorial Park Golf Course near the Galleria. Stop at Beck’s Prime before departure for one of the best burger’s you’ll ever taste.