Take a field trip across Houston and try one of Houstonia’s Top 50 restaurants.
Deciding where to go and what to do can feel overwhelming, but in a city like Houston, you don’t have to look far. From bold bites to buzzy bars to uniquely Houston pastimes, there’s always something worth exploring. That’s where Houstonia comes in. In this weekly series, our editors share their favorite places to eat, drink, and “Hou”—so you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying the city.
EAT
Try our top 50 restaurant suggestions
Multiple Locations
Before 2025 wrapped, Houstonia editors set out to compile a list of our favorite 50 restaurants in the city. This daunting task meant we had to fully scope out everything Houston has to offer—including the hole-in-the-wall spots, hidden gems, beloved staples, Michelin-starred destinations, and Beard Award honorees. We did our best to include the spots that make our restaurant scene exceptional. Drive out to the suburbs for a meal by chef Thomas Bille at Belly of the Beast, stay in the Loop and treat yourself to a Michelin-starred experience at March, or make your way to Chinatown for some comforting Cantonese cuisine at House of Bowls. —Sofia Gonzalez, food and travel editor
Cookies at Bittersweet
heights
Bittersweet’s cookies graced my family’s Thanksgiving table this year. Specifically, three seasonal flavors: the stuffed versions with pecan pie and pumpkin pie, and the gingerbread filled with buttercream. I was immediately obsessed (I need to try the oatmeal cream pie), and then, I became even more obsessed when I saw their seasonal options for December—a peppermint hot chocolate–flavored cookie stuffed with Lindt truffles and topped with marshmallows and crushed peppermint candy. It was ooey and gooey without losing its moisture or crumb, just as incredible as all the others I’d previously eaten. Anyway, this is all to say that Bittersweet rules and everyone who can eat cookies should try them. (Pro tip: They really are best with milk.) —Meredith Nudo, senior culture editor
Cookies from Bittersweet more than satisfy our sweet tooth.
Detroit-style Hunger Force at Gold Tooth Tony’s
various locations
Ordering Gold Tooth Tony’s delivery—and eating an entire pizza by myself because, whatever! It’s a holiday. I’m allowed to cheat on my diet—has become my New Year’s Eve tradition in recent years. To close out 2025, I “live[d] like a star” with the Hunger Force, topped with mouthwatering meatballs and ricotta cheese that “make the homies say, ‘Ho!,’ and the girlies wanna scream” (IYKYK). Detroit style, always, because I love the way the cheese gets crispy on the edges. —MN
DRINK
Kick off Dry January with a drink from our list of Houston bars with mocktails
The era of New Year’s resolutions is upon us. For many, it’s a time when folks decide to embrace a healthier lifestyle. And after weeks of wine and cocktails, sobriety is a change I’m welcoming with Dry January, but that doesn’t mean I won’t crave a fun drink here and there. Thankfully, there are plenty of Houston bars that are ready to serve up some fun mocktails to curb that itch to drink. Head to Jethro’s for a Watermelon Fresca made with Cut Above Zero Proof Agave, get a workout in at PKL Social and sip on a spirit-free spicy mezcal margarita, or adventure into Downtown for a refreshing kiwi-flavored mocktail at HiFi at the Finn. —SG
HOU
Cheer on runners at the Houston Marathon
jan 11 | free
One of Houston’s largest single-day sporting events is happening this weekend. The Chevron Houston Marathon will take over city streets, with thousands of Houstonians and runners from around the world racing to the finish line. Instead of trying to fight traffic, why not become a part of the beautiful chaos? Find a fun place to cheer on your fellow humans, whether that be at mile 2 with the Aldine High School Drumline booming, at the half marathon near City Hall, or at the finish line at Buffalo Bayou Park (view a full list of spots to cheer them on here). It’s a testament to how amazing the human body and will truly is. And if you need more motivation to get your run on for next year, read this story by Houstonia contributor Saba Khonsari on how Houston’s winding, wildlife-filled Bayou Greenways make for the ideal marathon training grounds. —Brittany Britto Garley, editor in chief
Salman Rushdie at Inprint
Venue disclosed upon ticket purchase | Jan 12 | $40
This special installment of the Margarett Root Brown Reading Series brings Salman Rushdie back to Houston for a special reading of his latest work, The Eleventh Hour, and a Q&A with author and University of South Florida assistant professor Brenda Peynado. Advertised as “a quartet of stories,” The Eleventh Hour crosses varying times and geographies for a meditation on mortality and memory. Yes, it’s on Monday and not the weekend. But given Rushdie’s experience with government censorship, his voice is one we’d do well to listen to right now. Every ticket comes with a copy of the book. —MN
Louvre Couture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Thru March 2026 | $20–24
Sometimes, you just need to look at some gorgeous gowns. Through March 2026, the MFAH is hosting Louvre Couture, a new exhibition melding the museum’s permanent collection with several new fashion pieces on loan from Paris’s iconic pyramid-shaped gallery. Avant-garde pieces from the most iconic eras of fashion, including the early 2000s, are on full display, all for the price of an all-access ticket. Gaze at pieces from John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto, Schiaparelli, and more while you contemplate works from the Renaissance period and beyond. —Erica Cheng, news and city life editor