Where to Eat in Midtown
Just outside of downtown Houston, Midtown is home to young professionals and families, as well as a vibrant culinary and cultural scene. Its high concentration of restaurants, bars and coffee shops make it an ideal place to enjoy a day of eating, and because Midtown is one of Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods, it’s easy to explore its culinary offerings.
Keep reading for our suggestions for one day of eating in Midtown.
Quicklinks:
BREAKFAST
Back to Top of ListThe Breakfast Klub
Yes, Midtown has several great breakfast options, but it’s hard to ignore the quintessential Houston experience of standing in line for The Breakfast Klub’s biscuits and gravy, fried wings and waffles, and katfish and grits. Open until 2 p.m. every day of the week, the homey restaurant serves breakfast all day.
For a lighter bite, try Retrospect Coffee for a good cup of coffee and a bite from the small menu of crepes named after famous Texans, such as Sam Houston (bacon and butter drizzled with syrup) and Howard Hughes (smoked salmon, capers and cream cheese). On weekends don’t miss Fluff Bake Bar’s fabulous brunches.
LUNCH
Back to Top of ListWeights + Measures
Part restaurant, part bakeshop, part bar, Weights + Measures is a neighborhood go-to for seasonal American fare. While it’s a good destination for baked goods and coffee in the mornings and happy hour, its wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and fresh salads hit the spot during lunch. Try the Tuscan kale panzanella made with red pears, ricotta salata, and bacon, or the Green Goddess pizza, which comes loaded with greens, roasted chicken and pesto. If you’re hungry for something more substantial, the menu includes dishes like chicken parmesan and wood-grilled steak.
Also try Les Givral for a quick budget-friendly meal. This Vietnamese coffee shop serves banh mi sandwiches (try the barbeque pork and pate), crispy egg rolls, and steaming bowls of pho. During the lunch rush, lines may form out the door but things move along fast.
HAPPY HOUR
Back to Top of ListWooster’s Garden
With forty-six cocktails on its menu, 49 beers on tap, an ample wine list and a spacious patio, there’s no better place to go for a drink in Midtown. And you can enjoy all that boozy goodness for less during Wooster’s Garden’s happy hour, which takes place from Monday to Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Head on over after work for $3 draft beer and half-priced house cocktails and selected wines.
Also try Izakaya, a Japanese gastropub, where Japanese flavors fuse with global cuisine. The drinks are equally important here with plenty of options including sake, cocktails and beer, which you can enjoy along with small bites for as little as $3 during happy hour. Happy hour is on weekdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
DINNER
Back to Top of ListOporto Fooding House & Wine
Best enjoyed by ordering snacks and petiscos (small plates) to share, Oporto Fooding House & Wine serves rustic Portuguese dishes in a warm and vibrant atmosphere. Go for the accessible wine list and bites such as pão com chorizo (potato bread with chorizo), codfish croquettes, and wood-grilled octopus with potatoes. Hungry? Try the portuguese seafood paella. Cocktails, many based on Brazilian sugar cane spirit, cachaça are also good here.
Also try the iconic Brennan’s of Houston for an upscale Texas-Creaole dinner. Favorites include turtle soup, shrimp and grits, and bananas foster.
LATE NIGHT
Back to Top of ListMongoose versus Cobra
Housed in a historic building that used to be the home of a grocery store, this laid-back Midtown bar with the peculiar name is perfect for a nightcap. You’ll find some 40 beers on tap, as well as well curated spirits, and inventive staff-created cocktails. Not sure what to have? Ask the friendly staff to guide you and enjoy a night in this welcoming Houston bar. If hunger strikes, the bar serves bar snacks like chicharrones, giant pretzels and curry spiced popcorn. Open daily until 2 a.m.
Also try Little Woodrow’s Midtown, a lively watering hole where you can enjoy a drink and weekly themed events, including the bar’s well known turtle racing (yup, we wrote that right).