Get ready for a festive weekend.
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
multiple locations
All of Houston’s one-star restaurants held onto their stars this year, which means tables might be easier to snag this year—though the check might still make your wallet wince. The new Bib Gourmand and Recommended honorees might be affordable, but they could actually be harder to get into right now, as diners rush to see what caught inspectors’ attention.
Or, take a cue from us.
Our editors rounded up the best dishes we ate this month, from Beijing duck to chicharrón tacos to a quiet teahouse worth lingering in with your favorite friend or book.
Drink
Sip on spooky cocktails
multiple locations
Bars across Houston are pulling out the cobwebs and cauldrons for Halloween weekend. From eerie pop-ups to themed cocktails, food and travel editor Sofia Gonzalez rounded up the best spots to get in the spirit. Try the smoky, dry-ice Murderita at Best Regards in the Heights, the sage-laced Coven’s Callin at Botonica’s Cursed Cauldron in River Oaks, or head upstairs to the HiFi at the Finn Downtown to try the palo santo–rimmed Agave Cemetery, which comes in a chemistry flask that gives serious Halloween vibes.
Hou
Book a tour with Historic Galveston Ghost Tours
Galveston
Ghost stories in Galveston go far beyond the Hotel Galvez. This Halloween weekend, take a walking tour and hear spine-tingling tales from Ashton Villa, the Mansard House, and other historic haunts tied to hurricanes, epidemics, and restless spirits. Bundle up, because these stories are chilling in more ways than one.
Browse the Jewish Art & Book Festival
Southwest houston area
Now in its 53rd year, the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival remains one of Houston’s most celebrated cultural traditions. Over two weeks, it brings together authors, performers, and thinkers from across the Jewish diaspora, with a lineup that spans literature, music, art, and history. Few festivals in the city have this kind of staying power—proof it’s worth carving out time for.
See public art at Discovery Green
Downtown
Discovery Green’s Art Lab has turned the park into a living gallery, with installations that challenge how Houstonians see the city and their place in it. But the program’s future is uncertain: Funding questions mean its days could be numbered. This weekend, take in the works while you can—and consider showing your support for one of Houston’s most vital public art spaces.
Pay your respects at Casa Ramirez
Heights
For more than three decades, Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery has taught Houstonians about Mexican folk art and Día de los Muertos traditions. This weekend’s celebrations will once again feature altars, art, and community tributes—but the occasion is bittersweet. Casa Ramirez is closing at the end of the year. Stop by to honor the holiday, celebrate its legacy, and bid farewell to a Houston institution.