This year saw the opening of many significant event and meeting venues in Houston. Here's a look at the best restaurants, party rooms, hotels, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open in 2013. These new and renovated Houston venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Established in to 1894, the storied Houston Club has a new home atop One Shell Plaza. As part of a $3.5 million renovation, the social club offers a sleek lounge, Allen's Landing restaurant and bar, and small meeting rooms with videoconferencing and other audiovisual equipment. A second phase of the renovation debuted in October and added the 16-person Power Board Room, the full-service Magnolia restaurant, and a 2,652-square-foot ballroom that holds 320 for receptions or 190 at rounds.
The Galleria location of the Palm reopened in July following an expansion and renovation in time for its 35th anniversary in the city. The now-8,800-square-foot restaurant boasts a 150-seat dining room, a 23-seat bar, and a lounge; it also features a 1,400-square-foot private function room that accommodates standing cocktails for 125 and has 60-inch flat-screen TVs and an audiovisual system for presentations. The restaurant has its signature cartoons on the walls as well as a mural designed by Zachary Bird that features iconic Houston landmarks and notable guests.
In December, the Fourth Ward space formerly home to Zimm’s Little Deck was transformed into Brooklyn Athletic Club, a bar, restaurant, and casual sports center. The patio area has facilities for boccie, badminton, horseshoes, and croquet, as well as outdoor movies. The club is available for private events and teambuilding retreats.
Previously a Boy Scouts of America building, the three-story Mr. Peeples Seafood & Steaks opened in July following a major renovation. The 40,000-square-foot space is glamorously decorated with purple and red graffiti art, alligator accents, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a 16,000-bottle wine tower. The second floor is a private event space for as many as 250 people, and a 10,000-square-foot dance floor is planned for the basement.
The golf entertainment complex TopGolf offers its own game similar to bowling or darts, only players shoot golf balls with embedded microchips at targets. In addition to play, the venue offers separate event space. The 3,000-square-foot Signature Room fits 200 guests and can be divided for smaller events. There is also a rooftop terrace.
Del Frisco’s Grille, the more casual concept from the company behind Double Eagle Steakhouse and Sullivan's Steakhouse, opened in March in the River Oaks area with more than 7,000 square feet of space, including a 1,400-square-foot patio. The main dining room seats 240 and two outdoor spaces can each accommodate 75 guests. A private dining room seats 25 people or holds 45 for receptions. The space features a bar countertop made of zinc, an open kitchen, dark wood accents, and chrome light fixtures designed to resemble stars.
The former Brownstone building in Upper Kirby has added 1919 Wine & Mixology to its mix of venues. Corner Entertainment's mother-daughter duo Darla Lexington and Michelle Coopwood's latest space features a shabby-chic three-sided bar, lounge seating, a speakeasy-theme cocktail room where guests can choose their drink's ingredients from costumed waitstaff, a private event space called the Lexington Room, and a patio. The venue accommodates 90 people.
A $25 million renovation to the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston, which finished in October, includes updates to its 50,000 square feet of meeting space and a new prefunction lobby area. The 23 meeting rooms host events for as many as 1,080 guests. A new color scheme features earthy tones like chocolate, taupe, and cream, with sapphire accents. New lighting is intended to create a starry-sky-like atmosphere.
The entrance to the Rosemont Social Club is through the back door, a speakeasy touch to this two-level lounge that opened in July in Montrose. While the first-floor space is a jewel box of a bar—just six seats, a couch, and slipper chairs—the upper level has its own bar and is attached to a large furnished patio that accommodates 150 for events. The landscaped roof includes individual cabanas for 10 people; two can be combined for standing receptions for 30. The entire club can be rented for events of as many as 250 people. Rosemont's menu features seasonal craft cocktails as well as small plates to share.
From the owners of El Gran Malo is El Big Bad, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant serving 50 infused tequilas, Texas and 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 the Club Social, which holds 90. It opened earlier this month.
