Here's a look at the best new and renovated venues in Houston such as corporate event venues, party rooms, conference centers, restaurants with private rooms, unique venues, and more. These event and meeting spaces can accommodate groups large or small for winter entertaining including holiday parties, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, and private and corporate events.
The seafood-centric Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette opened in October from F.E.E.D. TX restaurant group. Anchoring the dining room is a circular bar that dedicates half to cocktail service and the other half to oyster and seafood dishes. The 200-seat restaurant has a 46-seat glass-encased private dining room.
From the owners of El Gran Malo is El Big Bad, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant serving 50 infused tequilas, Texas & Mexican beers, and cantina fare such as tacos, tortas, and ceviche. The multilevel space has several options for events including a 100-person private room, a wrap-around balcony for 60 people, the mezzanine, which accommodates 20, and Club Social, which holds 90. It opened earlier this month.
Westin Houston, Memorial City recently opened 024 Grille, a combination bistro and steak house. Four private dining rooms host gatherings for as many as 50 people each; the rooms also feature large screen TV monitors and Wi-Fi connectivity.
A Houston version of Austin's video dance club Barbarella opened in midtown this fall. The 300-person club is owned by two DJs and has a strict music code: only indie music, no Top 40 or techno tunes. The space has multiple bars as well as a raised patio balcony that offers downtown views. It offers buyouts on nights the club is not open to the public.
Fielding's Wood Grill in the Woodlands mixes casual and full-service dining, giving customers the option of order at an iPad counter. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant, which opened in September, offers craft beers and burgers, as well as rotisserie chicken and a full breakfast menu. Fielding's offers full buyouts and accommodates 70 guests for dinner or 120 for receptions.
A brick-and-mortar home to popular food truck Fusion Taco opened downtown in July. The small yet stylish eatery features mid-century modern chairs, bright floral-patterned banquettes, and chandeliers made from chord lights. Its Asian-inspired menu offers tacos such as Tempura rock shrimp with wasabi aioli and sandwiches such as Kim Cheese (kimchi grilled cheese). The 2,500-square-foot space seats 65, and the 16-seat patio has views of Market Square Park.
The historic Lancaster Hotel Houston finished an extensive renovation this summer that included a redesign of the lobby and meeting spaces as well as its 93 guest rooms and suites. The result is a more modern take on luxury, with a large, dramatic lobby and reception area filled with natural light and warm tones.
As part of its transformative Campus Gateway project, the Menil Collection will open a new café in one of the bungalows that surround the museum. Stern and Bucek Architects are renovating the building, which is slated to open next year. Chef Greg Martin will operate the café, which will be named through a public contest.
Opened the first week of November, Union Kitchen—Kingwood is the third Union Kitchen from Paul Miller. Kingwood seats 250 and has three private rooms: the Board Room, which seats 18 at a long table; the Fireplace Lounge, which seats 30; and the largest space, which seats 60. The dinner menu features steaks, seafood, thin-crust pizzas, and a full bar.
Upscale steak house chain the Capital Grille opened this week in CityCentre. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with menu items such as porcini-rubbed Delmonico steak with an aged balsamic glaze, lobster mac 'n' cheese, and a wine list of more than 350 selections. The restaurant holds 274 guests spread over the main dining room and three private dining rooms. A spacious lounge area opens onto a covered patio. It will be similar in look to existing locations (pictured).
