Downtown Houston Restaurants

17 at the Alden Houston Hotel
1117 Prairie St., Houston TX 77002
American. A bold and stylish restaurant, 17 at Alden has consistently receives accolades from prestigious publications like Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Gourmet Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Esquire and more. The menu mimics the ambiance with big flavors and artfully plated dishes with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients indigenous to Texas and the Southwest. Located in the landmark Alden Houston Hotel, 17 takes guests on a journey that they enjoy taking time and again.

Artista
800 Bagby St., Houston, TX 77002
American. It’s difficult to judge whether the food or the atmosphere wins more favor at this ultra-modern eatery located inside the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Cushy seats, high ceilings, dramatic detail and dramatic views of Houston’s downtown skyline blend for an ideal dining ambience. The Artista menu, which features contemporary American cuisine, is an inventive and eclectic combination of flavors that highlight the masterful culinary skills of premiere chef Michael Cordua. If you haven’t got the appetite for a meal, this is also a great place to enjoy a glass of wine at the bar or out on the terrace.

Azuma – Downtown
909 Texas St., Ste. E, Houston TX 77002
Japanese, Sushi. Azuma Restaurant in downtown is a hip Houston sushi restaurant serving up all of the traditional favorites, along with a few creative combinations. The menu showcases centerpiece ingredients ranging from fresh king crab to fresh salmon, as well as comfortably priced combination dishes that let diners enjoy an array of different options.

Birraporetti’s
500 Louisiana St., Houston TX 77002
Italian. A lively combination of a great Italian restaurant and a lively Irish bar, Birraporetti’s may seem a little odd at first, but the loyal following of locals proves its popularity. Located in downtown, this Houston Theater District restaurant offers everything from private dining rooms to Wi-Fi access to Live Jazz Sunday Brunches every weekend. The champagne bellini’s and Irish coffees are a must-try for cocktail fans.

Bistro Lancaster @ The Lancaster Hotel
701 Texas St., Houston, TX 77002
American, International. Located in Houston’s beautiful and highly praised Lancaster Hotel, The Bistro is a sophisticated and intimate restaurant that is popular all throughout the day. The breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus showcase creative New American cuisine, and the extensive, handpicked wine list offers ample pairing opportunities. The Bistro restaurant in Houston is located in the heart of historic downtown, making it a prime destination for everything from power lunches to pre-theater dinners.

III Forks
1201 San Jacinto, Houston TX 77002
Steakhouse. A contemporary Houston steakhouse, III Forks impresses diners with stylishly appointed rooms (paying homage to Houston’s rich heritage), great music, devoted service and a lengthy menu featuring USDA prime beef, fresh seafood and light local favorites. Whether enjoying a glass with dinner or stopping in for one of the complimentary wine tastings on Mondays, sampling from the robust cellar of 1,500 wines is a must for the vino lover.

Korma Sutra
706 Main St., Houston TX 77002
Indian. Located in the heart of downtown, Korma Sutra offers North Indian cuisine (Mughlai) deftly executed true to the original preparations that once satisfied India’s royals in the days of old. Honoring authenticity above all else, the menu is rich with robust flavors and fragrant dishes, and the helpful staff will gladly explore the menu with each patron to help find something that will surely indulge both timid and daring palates.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood - Houston Pavilions
1201 Fannin St., #121, Houston TX 77002
Seafood, Steak. With over 30 varieties of fresh seafood and over a dozen cold water oyster selections offered daily, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood restaurant in downtown Houston is inarguably one of the city’s authorities on the fruits of the sea. The menu at this stylish, casually elegant restaurant also caters happily turf fans with aged Midwestern steak, chicken, pork and pasta dishes. McCormick & Schmick’s is also a prime destination for Houston happy hour celebrations.

Morton’s The Steakhouse - Houston Downtown
1001 McKinney St., Houston TX 77002
Steak, Seafood, American. The downtown Houston installation of the nation’s premier steakhouse group, Morton’s The Steakhouse is famous for a lengthy menu of classic steakhouse fare and a lively fine dining experience. In addition to providing warmth and personal service, the well-poised staff offers animated, tableside menu presentation showcasing centerpiece ingredients like prime steaks, whole Maine lobsters, fresh seafood and vegetables.

Quattro - Four Seasons Hotel
1300 Lamar St., Houston TX 77010
Italian, Tapas / Small Plates. A classic, sophisticated choice for Italian cuisine in Houston, Quattro in downtown’s Four Seasons Hotel keeps locals and travelers pleased with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a bustling antipasti bar. The dinner menu features a unique twist on Italian favorites offered in “small plate” style to encourage sampling an array of different preparations, including truffle fondue, grilled lamb tenderloin with citrus pesto, and black and white calamari. The extensive wine selection presents ample pairing opportunities.

Saffron Moroccan Cuisine
2006 Lexington St., Houston TX 77098
Moroccan. Praised as an “exotic neighborhood find” by Gayot, Saffron Moroccan Cuisine in Houston is a striking experience with robust flavors, rich aromas and a beautiful lounge atmosphere. The menu of authentic Moroccan cuisine offers a journey for the senses, and nothing rounds off the night better than a few flavorful puffs off a hookah on the Moroccan-style patio.

Samba Grille
530 Texas St., Houston TX 77002
South American, Brazilian. A South American steakhouse in Houston, the Samba Grille draws inspiration from regions all over Latin America to create a menu of bold and flavorful dishes. Selections of a la carte options throughout the day evolve into a Rodizio (or prix fixe) style of dining in the evening, with options like ceviche, traditional Cuban black bean soup, cashew crusted chicken with marañón sauce, traditional Spanish paella and South American center-cut tenderloin with chimichuri sauce and sweet plantains.

Shula’s Steak House – Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 Louisiana St., Houston TX 77002
Steak, Seafood. Named and themed after Don Shula and the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Shula’s is a classic Houston steakhouse. Honoring the winning ‘72 record of the famed NFL team, this restaurant features premium Black Angus Beef, great seafood, top-notch service and a captivating atmosphere. The steak selections are presented tableside on hand-painted Wilson Footballs, truly adding a unique touch to the classic fine dining style of this snazzy Houston restaurant.

Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops - Hilton Americas
1600 Lamar, Houston TX 77010
Steak, Seafood. Far from your typical steakhouse, Spencer’s is the standard for top quality steak and chops in Houston. Serving only USDA Prime Beef along with other creative dishes on the well-crafted menu and touting one of the city’s most extensive wine lists, Spencer’s is a reliable choice for everything from dates to social gatherings. The adjacent Piano Bar and Lounge is ideal for cocktails and conversation.

Spindletop - Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 Louisiana St., Houston, TX 77022
Seafood, Southwest. Accessible by a 34-story rise in a glass-enclosed elevator, Spindletop—a luxurious, revolving rooftop restaurant—stands out from the start as one of the most unique fine dining restaurants in Houston. Panoramic views of the city accompany the menu of southwest-influenced seafood and sophisticated steakhouse fare deftly prepared by award-winning chefs.

Strip House Houston
1200 McKinney St, Houston TX 77001
Steakhouse. The Strip House specializes in select cuts of beef, richly marbled, aged steaks grilled with an expert’s hand. Side dishes like the roasted peppers and fresh parsley salad, white bean stew and braised collard and kale with roasted garlic and crisp bacon almost steal the show. As you’d expect from a temple of red meat like the Strip House, there’s a spot-on wine list to match.

The Grove
1611 Lamar St., Houston TX 77010
American. A new signature restaurant in Houston’s Discovery Green Park, The Grove impresses with modern architecture, flawless style, a chic bar and a satisfying menu of creative, rustic American cuisine. Small plates like fresh ceviche, deviled eggs with Spanish chorizo, smoked quail skewers and soft shell crab tacos lead the way into entrée selections like charcoal grilled skirt steak, Hill Country venison, pulled rotisserie chicken sandwiches and wood grilled marinated vegetables with saffron cous cous.

Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse
1510 Texas Ave., Houston TX 77002
Steak, American. Handcrafted mahogany woodwork and leather furnishings give a sleek, executive feel to Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, a Houston fine dining restaurant. Fantastic hospitality and an award-winning wine list with over 1,000 worldly selections back the highly acclaimed menu of prime beef, lamb, veal, poultry, live Maine lobsters and Gulf red snapper.

VOICE @ Hotel ICON
220 Main St., Houston TX 77002
Contemporary American. Voice @ Hotel Icon is a unique Houston restaurant in the hip Hotel Icon in downtown. The menu is crafted of smaller options to allow diners to create their own dining experience and unique tasting options. The setting offers everything from intimate alcoves to communal and lounge seating areas, and the bar is one of the best places to enjoy this prime Houston happy hour destination.