Things to do and eat in Houston

Here are five things to know about Houston to help visitors experience the best of the city during the 2025 Leadership Conference or anytime.

Some of the greatest perks of holding meetings in Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States, are the enriching experiences offered between meetings—lunch with colleagues or an hour or two of free time in the afternoon. As the fourth most diverse city in the United States (according to WalletHub), Houston’s richness of language, background, and culture provides a comfortable environment for you, no matter who you are or where you come from. We’ve rounded up five things you need to know before you go.

A great food city

With more than 12,000 restaurants, Houston reflects the city’s diversity—a quarter of its residents were born in a foreign country and more than 180 languages ​​are spoken here. So you can see a lot of cultural collaborations on the menu. New arrivals include a late-August James Beard Award finalist serving Southern fare in Midtown, Som Boon Thai Kitchen in the Heights neighborhood, and trendy Drake’s Hollywood in Montrose restaurant, whose gourmet dishes include 24-layer strawberry cake.

Discovery Green is also known as the front yard of the George R. Brown Convention Center.

go out

Houston has an abundance of green spaces, making it easy for attendees to pursue active adventures. Memorial Park is the city’s largest urban green space, with wooded trails for scenic runs, while the Buffalo Bayou Waterway is a popular spot for kayaking and paddleboard tours. Don’t miss the attraction outside the front door of the George R. Installations, markets, concerts.

Along the 52-mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou, visitors will find a thriving public art program. The stainless steel figures in Jaume Plensa’s Tolerance represent the seven continents.

Lots of museums

Did you know that Houston is home to one of the top cultural districts in the country – the Houston Museum District? There are 19 world-class museums as well as Hermann Park and the recently expanded Houston Zoo. Not sure where to start? The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is a place you can’t miss, with over 300,000 square feet of exhibition space spread across three buildings. Currently, the museum is the only museum in the United States hosting “Gauguin in the World,” a special exhibition of the work of post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, currently on display through February 2025.

Communities to watch out for

Houston’s vast size—the city covers about 665 square miles—means there are dozens of neighborhoods waiting to be explored. Here are two: EaDo (or East Downtown) is just steps away from the GRB, home to a lively mix of sports and concert venues, funky art installations and galleries, breweries and nightclubs. Meanwhile, the Montrose neighborhood west of downtown is another cultural and creative hub, including a thriving LGBTQIA+ scene.

buy it

Retail therapy is a well-known pastime among Houstonians, as evidenced by the numerous malls, boutiques, and malls dotted throughout the city. Perhaps the most famous is The Galleria, an international retail destination with more than 400 shops and restaurants and even an indoor ice rink. For a more upscale shopping experience, head to the River Oaks District or Highland Village, which features stores from both local and national brands.

Jennifer N. Sethers is a senior editor held.