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Neighborhood in Harris County, Texas, United States
Photo: Mrkstvns, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Downtown is the central business district of Houston. It is bounded by the I-10, I-45, and I-69 freeways.
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The Chase Tower is the tallest building in Houston, the second tallest building in Texas (the tallest from 1982-2025), and the tallest five-sided building in the world.
Discovery Green opened April 13, 2008. The park is located across the Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel.
Seen as pretty mundane by locals, but might still appeal to fish fanatics. Situated right on Buffalo Bayou. Not just an aquarium, it has a Ferris wheel and other carnival-style rides.
The majority of Downtown Houston's buildings are connected by an intertwining, complex tunnel system. Scores of lunch restaurants and easy access to building entrances from underground keep Houston's workforce primarily underground during the day. Only open during the weekdays, the tunnels are an interesting spectacle to observe, but try to avoid getting lost. There are a few street level entrances, but it can also be accessed from various buildings.
Surrounded by some of the city's oldest buildings, the site was once home to City Hall in previous years. In 2010, the block-sized space was transformed into a modern park, with features akin to Discovery Green but on a more compact scale. At the center of the park is local favorite Niko Niko's.
20-acre heritage park in the heart of downtown. Several historic homes from Houston's past show the city's cultural past.
World-class opera in the heart of downtown's Theatre District.
Concerts throughout the year including both a classical series and a pops series.
Baroque music for the historical purist.
TUTS
Broadway style big theatre productions in one of Houston's newest downtown arts venues.
Largest and best-known Theatre in Houston with a lineup of serious dramatic works with both classics and modern works.
The city's Major League Baseball team, playing at Daikin Park (Minute Maid Park), celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. It was also the last season for the Astros in the National League; they moved to the American League in 2013.
The city's NBA (basketball) team plays at the Toyota Center.
Houston's Major League Soccer team plays in Shell Energy Stadium. Located in the East End, it is the first major soccer-specific stadium in the US in a downtown area.
Houston's representative in the National Women's Soccer League. The team is owned and operated by the Dynamo and also plays at Shell Energy Stadium.
The world's largest and oldest Art Car Parade. The event features over 250 Art Cars, more than 200,000 live spectators, and media from all over the world, making Houston ground zero of an international phenomenon. Held in April.
Built on an 8/10 mile asphalt loop surrounded by lush trees, foliage, and picnic areas, the annual fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Held in October.
Exhibitions and art installations, film and video programs, lectures and forums.
The largest celebration for children in the United States. The Houston Children's Festival offers over 350 events packed into a couple of hectic days. Held in April
AKA iFest
Annual international festival featuring juried arts, crafts, food, music, games and events for adults and children. Held in April.
Western-style sports bar featuring several TVs, draft brews & a menu of Tex-Mex food & burgers.
Nestled in a small, nondescript space in the Warehouse District, culinary couple Justin Yu and pastry chef Karen Mann dish out 4- or 8-course seasonal Texas Gulf Coast tasting menus (including a veg-centric option - "oxheart" is also a type of carrot, cabbage, and tomato, after all) in a restaurant lauded locally and nationally as one of the best around, period. Sit back with a beer or glass of bubbly from the expertly curated beverage list, watch the crack team of chefs go to work, and be prepared to be wowed. By reservation only.
Located right on Old Market Square, this restaurant serving New Orleans style Creole cuisine.
If you are unable to head into Louisiana for whatever reason just go to this restaurant instead. This restaurant specializes in Cajun/Creole fare such as oyster po'boys, jambalaya and étouffée. They even have frequent after work crawfish boils too.
Restaurant known for their unique take on combining Indian/Italian cuisine. It was also featured on the Food Network and they also offer online ordering and delivery.
A Houston institution! Fun, traditional atmosphere with authentic, unwatered down Tex-Mex cuisine.
Located in a historic building, the restaurant has a creative menu and bar.
Vibrant taqueria in warm, funky digs serving classic tacos, tortas & tostadas, plus beer & horchata.
Relaxed Thai choice serving curries, noodles & other classic fare in a lofty space with a warm vibe.
Traditional Spanish small plates, paella & more accompanied by sangria & live flamenco dancing.
A staggering variety of beers, some wine, scantily clad staff.
Billed as Texas' oldest microbrewery. Their brews are often sold in local bars. Very popular beers are the Texas Wheat, Oktoberfest (August through October), and Christmas Ale (November through December). Brewery tour every Saturday at 1PM.
Spacious wine & whiskey bar with art deco furnishings in the historic 1884 Cotton Exchange building.
2-story lounge with velvet furniture for bespoke cocktails, guest bartenders & rotating DJs.
Dive bar located right across from the House of Blues. They mainly play rock music.
This pub has the feel of a small town Irish pub transplanted into downtown Houston. The pub offers a good selection of Irish and American beers on tap as well as respectable pub food.
Rock- & blues-themed chain with Southern dishes such as po' boys & jambalaya, plus live music.
Lively local bar chain offering speciality cocktails, dueling-piano shows & singing waitstaff.
Swanky multi-room nightclub offering a range of dance music styles most weekend evenings.
Local party destination for DJ dance parties & live musical performances, from metal to hip-hop.
This hotel is private and club-like but it has 24 hour room service and it accommodates your needs, for example there are state of the art televisions.
In the historic 1921 Humble Oil Building. Offers free shuttle to George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park.
Pet friendly hotel.
Pet friendly hotel located a few blocks away from Discovery Green, with a rooftop pool, and free hot breakfast.
Boasts a modern minimalist interior and is one of Houston's top boutique luxury hotels.
Two noteworthy onsite restaurants, fitness center, business center, and valet parking.
Pet-friendly hotel with onsite dining options, 24-hour room service, and fitness center.
Hotel that has a heated pool on the roof.
Hotel with three onsite restaurants, an infinity pool and a lazy river shaped like the state of Texas on the roof.
By public transit
The METRO Rail light rail has several downtown stops along the red line: Downtown Transit Center, Bell, Main Street Square, Preston, and UH-Downtown.
By bus
Megabus, Greyhound and the Mexican bus services have moved their stations to the East End from the area around the Downtown Transit Center light rail station.
By train
Long-distance Amtrak trains arrive just west of downtown. Services include the daily Texas Eagle route and the thrice-weekly Sunset Limited.
By bus
Houston's METRO system has a bus network that has decent local service in the downtown area but is largely set up to provide commuter services between outlying suburbs and the central city.
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Houston · International · HOU
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