10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Houston

Houston’s Museum District has over a dozen interesting museums in a relatively small part of the city. There’s literally a learning centre for just about every interest. Families may appreciate the Children’s Museum of Houston, the Houston Zoo, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Those interested in Houston’s cultural connections can visit the Czech Center, the Houston Museum of African American Culture, and the Asia Society Texas Center. Art lovers have the Museum of Fine Arts, the Moody Center for the Arts, and the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston. Even if you managed to visit all of these venues, you’ve only just scratched the surface of all this neighbourhood has to offer.

Downtown Houston, sometimes referred to as the Central Business District, is the city's largest business hub. But it’s not just a key destination for business, as leisure travellers will find plenty to enjoy as well. Beyond all the Fortune 500 companies and employees who call Houston home, the district offers live theatrical events at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and world-class concerts at the Toyota Center.

Families can enjoy the handful of museums and family-friendly attractions, such as the Houston Aquarium. As the neighbourhood is so accustomed to catering to discerning white-collar workers, it has an admirably high-end dining scene.

River Oaks is a residential neighbourhood with lovely homes and excellent amenities. It’s about 7 miles west of Downtown Houston, so it’s quite removed from the city’s traveller-centric neighbourhoods. Upmarket shops and international restaurants are available at the River Oaks Shopping Center, one of the largest malls in Houston.

Attractions that might catch your interest are a little more high-end and culturally focused, such as the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. The neighbourhood backs up to Memorial Park, which houses the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. You can enjoy a stroll through 150 acres of gardens, forests, meadows, and ponds.

Midtown is a popular nightlife area for both locals and travellers. It’s easy enough to find a great bar or music venue by just walking down the street, but some of the favourites include Continental Club and Axelrad Beer Garden. The neighbourhood is between Houston’s Downtown and Museum District.

But it’s not just drinking and music that attracts visitors to Midtown. You can also find a handful of museums for daytime diversions. The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum catalogues the experiences of African American soldiers in the US Army, while the Houston Fire Museum highlights the history of the Houston Fire Department.

EaDo – short for East Downtown Houston – is a triangular-shaped neighbourhood with a thriving entertainment scene. Having taken the spot of Houston’s Old Chinatown, efforts are continuously made to revitalise the industrial-heavy strip of blocks into a desirable place for Houstonians to work, live and play.

For an enjoyable evening in EaDo, grab a drink at one of the neighbourhood’s many breweries, such as 8th Wonder Brewery and True Anomaly. EaDo is also a great place to try a wide range of international cuisine, from Vietnamese and Indian to British and French. Soccer fans can catch a game at the BBVA Compass Stadium – it’s the home to the Houston Dynamo FC and Texas Southern Tigers football team.

The Theater District is one of several compact neighbourhoods in Houston. It has only 17 blocks but packs a lot of fun and fanfare. There are 9 headquarters of notable theatrical organisations, along with plenty of theatres and music halls to explore.

There’s always a show taking place in the Theater District, virtually any day of the week. From musical tributes and Broadway-style performances to ballet and music concerts, if it’s live and you love it, you can probably find it in Houston’s performance hub. A must-visit is Bayou Place, a 130,000-sq-ft complex housing a cinema and music centre, as well as multiple bars and restaurants

Northwest Houston is a residential neighbourhood with a tranquil vibe, catering to locals rather than travellers. This can be a great reason to stay here, especially if you’re seeking peace and quiet after nightfall in Houston.  

You can find plenty to do during the day, such as hiking and wildlife-watching at Bear Creek Pioneers Park (which takes up a huge portion of the neighbourhood). Great cycling and trekking can be found in the adjacent 500-acre Terry Hershey Park. Northwest Houston has several shopping malls if you prefer staying indoors.

Montrose is known for its eclectic mix of independent shops, restaurants, and art galleries, as well as its LGBTQ+ scene. Located near the University of St. Thomas, the Rothko Chapel is one of the most visited sites in the neighbourhood. It’s more of an art gallery than a worship centre, thanks to huge murals and outdoor sculptures.

For more art and history, visit The Menil Collection to see over 17,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, books, and photographs. Montrose is just 2 miles south of Eleanor Tinsley Park, where you can enjoy outdoor art installations, sports facilities, and annual festivals.

Houston Heights is a great place to get a feel for the city’s local side. If you only have a short amount of time in the neighbourhood, stroll 19th Street to discover local eateries and shops that are a bit quieter — but no less enjoyable — than what you’d find in some of the busier Houston neighbourhoods.

It’s a good idea to branch out and see some of the other clusters of stop-worthy shops, bars, and entertainment venues in Houston Heights. Standouts include Heights Mercantile and White Oak Drive, both of which are known for hosting independent restaurants and boutiques.

Uptown Houston is so centred around shopping that it’s sometimes just called The Galleria neighbourhood – after its primary shopping complex. There are plenty of malls to explore if you can’t resist a good bargain, such as Uptown Plaza Houston, Post Oak Plaza, and Uptown Park.

The Galleria is a must-visit for upmarket retailers you already know and love. The mall also has a year-round ice-skating rink, while several hotels are within a short walk away. You can unwind at the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, which has an impressive 64-ft-tall sculptural fountain.