5 Things: A Local’s Guide to Houston

5Things_Houston

In “5 Things,” I’ll ask some of my favorite bloggers in cities all over the country to share insider travel tips on where to eat, shop, stay, and play in their neighborhoods (plus, what to pack to make the adventure complete). This week, Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth welcomes us warmly to Houston, Texas.

5 Things: Houston
Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth / Photos by Jared Smith

Though I may not be a Houston native (I originally lived in West Virginia), I’ve grown to really, really love this city and definitely consider it home these days. It’s got all of the opportunities you could want, but it still has a tendency to feel small and welcoming once you find your little niche. On top of that, it’s the kind of town foodies dream of, but with less of a wait then you’d expect most places, and there’s almost always something going on for families and young adults alike.

EAT:

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Blacksmith, 1018 Westheimer Road, (832) 360-7470
Tout Suite, 2001 Commerce, 713-227-8688
Weights + Measures, 2808 Caroline Street, (713) 654-1970
Tacos A Go Go, 3704 Main Street, (713) 807-8226
Ninfa’s on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Boulevard, (713) 228-1175

You could go out to eat every single meal of every day for a month and still find great places to eat in Houston. Stand-outs include Blacksmith, which is great for a quick coffee and some of the best biscuits in town, and we frequent Tout Suite the most because our studio space is just upstairs. Weights + Measures has a very cool vibe and amazing brunch, and Tacos A Go Go and Ninfa’s are token places to try for Tex-Mex.

SHOP:

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Myth & Symbol, 2537 Times Boulevard, (832) 422-6984
Kuhl-Linscomb, 2424 West Alabama Street, (713) 526-6000
Saint Cloud, 5217 Kelvin Drive, (713) 522-0077
Biscuit Home, 1435 Westheimer Road, (713) 942-9797
Manready, 321 West 19th Street, (800) 554-9352
Montrose Shop, 1723 Westheimer Road, (832) 834-6994
The Class Room, 2534 Amherst Street,(713) 874-0004

We’ve had several awesome local shops pop up lately, and we love longtime fan favorites like Myth & Symbol and Kuhl-Linscomb, too. (See above for a longer list of go-tos.) There’s a little something for everyone and a whole lot of awesome photo ops!

STAY:

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Hotel ZaZa, 5701 Main Street, (713) 526-1991
JW Marriott Downtown, 806 Main Street, (713) 237-1111
Hotel Derek, 2525 West Loop S, (713) 961-3000
Hotel Granduca, 1080 Uptown Park Boulevard, (713) 418-1000

For accommodations, we recommend Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District, the JW Marriott Downtown, four-star Hotel Derek, and Hotel Granduca in Uptown.

PLAY:

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Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street, (713) 400-7336
Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Drive, (713) 533-6500
The Honeymoon, 300 Main Street, (281) 846-6995

Whether it’s catching a movie on the lawn at Discovery Green water park, hitting up the Houston Zoo, or even just drinks around Market Street downtown at places like The Honeymoon, there is always something to do in Houston—rain or shine.

PACK:

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A Fujifilm Instax Mini, $77

Bring a camera that’s lightweight and easy to transport. We love the Fujifilm Instax Mini for perfectly-sized instant prints.

Thank you so much, Ashley! So many places to check out! (Thank you to Shoko Wanger for her help with this series.)

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