Montrose
Houston's bohemian heart
Tattoo parlors next to art galleries next to some of the best restaurants in the state. Montrose is where Houston keeps its weird: vintage shops on Westheimer, the Menil campus, dive bars, patios, and the city's LGBTQ+ history. Base yourself here to eat well.
Vibe: artsy, eclectic, foodie. Best for: food & drink, nightlife, vintage shopping.
Things to do
What to do in Montrose
1.The Menil Collection
FreeA Renzo Piano-designed museum on a 30-acre campus of bungalows and lawns, always free. Surrealists, antiquities, and the Cy Twombly Gallery. Houstonians' favorite quiet afternoon.
Montrose · Indoor
2.Rothko Chapel
FreeAn octagonal meditation space housing 14 of Mark Rothko's darkest paintings, lit only by a skylight. Silent, non-denominational, and strangely moving. Twenty minutes is enough; an hour is better.
Montrose · Indoor
3.Guided Houston Food Tours
$$Walking and van tours through Montrose, the Heights, EaDo, and Asiatown, typically five or six tastings in three hours. The fastest way to understand why Houston is a food city.
Montrose
4.Anvil Bar & Refuge
$$The cocktail bar that started Houston's craft cocktail scene in 2009 and is still the best. A 100-drink list, a no-nonsense room, and bartenders who've trained half the city.
Montrose · Indoor
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