Here's a look at the best new Houston restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this summer. These new and renovated Houston venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Bowlero, a 40-lane bowling alley from Bowlmor AMF, opened in May in the Woodlands. The 45,000-square-foot sports and dining complex includes multiple theme bars, a full-service kitchen, an ice cream parlor, and games such as shuffleboard, foosball, beer pong, and cornhole. The decor includes vintage pieces such as ski-lift rocking chairs and a reclaimed Airstream trailer.
TopGolf opened its second Houston-area entertainment complex in April. Located between downtown and The Woodlands, TopGolf Houston North is a three-level, 65,000-square-foot venue with 2,900 square feet of dedicated private event space. The facility includes 102 hitting bays with a 32-inch LCD TV at each bay, a full-service restaurant, three bars, and a rooftop terrace with fire pits and cabanas. For buyouts, it holds 1,200 people for receptions but has options for smaller groups as well.
Moody Gardens Hotel Spa and Convention Center in Galveston finished a $20 million renovation in May that saw upgrades to the entire property. The renovations touched the 103,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, 418 guest rooms, spa, and food and beverage outlets including Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks and the new Café in the Park.
Springbok, an upscale sports bar and South African restaurant, which opened in July, is named for the country's famed rugby team and the antelope native to the region. Located in a turn-of-the-century downtown building, the space features dark woods, leather seating, and decor such as rugby shirts from around the world. The first floor seats 100, including at a 35-seat bar that connects to a patio. A second-floor event space called the Texas Lodge holds 75 people and has a 50-person terrace with its own bar.
Following a $15 million renovation that finished in the spring, the former Renaissance Houston Hotel is now the DoubleTree by Hilton—Greenway Plaza. The 388-room property has nearly 27,000 square feet of meeting space; the 5632-square-foot Century Ballroom is the largest and seats 800 theater-style or 520 banquet-style. The property's dining options include Bistro 59 and Edloe's Lounge.
Open since 1972, the bar Marfreless has long been known for its bright blue front door and no signage. Now under new management, the River Oaks venue underwent a complete renovation and reopened in January. The ground level holds the bar, while an upstairs lounge is available for private events. It seats about 50, including two small V.I.P. areas, and holds 100 people for receptions.
True Food Kitchen—a mini chain of healthy, eco-friendly eateries from Fox Restaurant Concepts—opened in late July. The Galleria-area location offers vegan, vegetarian, organic, and gluten-free options and caters to other specialty diets. The venue seats 145 indoors and 58 on its patio.
Owner Kevin McElroy named Pimlico Irish Pub after his father's old pub in Dubin and used its photos and memorabilia in the design of the new space. The 2,100-square-foot pub holds 91 people inside; a second-story patio offers downtown views.
Common Bond Café & Bakery, which opened in May in the Montrose neighborhood, comes with a haute cuisine pedigree. Chef Roy Shvartzapel has worked at famed restaurants such as El Bulli, Balthazar, Bouley, and Bouchon Beverly Hills. The menu features more than 50 baked items as well as sandwiches, salads, sides, coffee, tea, and wine. The bakery seats 80 indoors and 20 outdoors.
Sylvia Casares, who has two locations of Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen, is opening a third restaurant called Sylvia's on Eldridge on August 17 that will feature menu options beyond enchiladas. The restaurant will seat approximately 150 diners. The private room will seat about 25 and the patio about 50.
