Here's a look at the best new Houston restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private and party rooms to open this spring. These new and renovated Houston venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
Gray's Public House, a Midtown gastropub, opened in October. With white subway tile accents, black concrete floors, and metal bar stools, the interiors have a modern industrial vibe, yet the communal tables and flat-screen TVs lend a communal vibe. For private events, it is available for full buyouts. The restaurant holds 150 people inside for receptions; there is also a patio.
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center finished a $60 million renovation and expansion in September. Among the improvements are a new 184-room guest room wing and renovations to existing rooms, bringing the total to 440 guest rooms, and a new 1,000-foot lazy river. The property also renovated its 60,000-square-foot conference center. Looney & Associates was the interior designer, and Gensler was the architect.
Robard's, a steak house at the Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, opened as part of the center's renovation that finished in September. The restaurant, which has a separate entrance, has a club-like atmosphere with dark woods, exposed ceiling beams, and a mix of leather chairs and plaid upholstered booths. It has two options for private dining: the 30-seat Premiere Room with views of the water feature on the golf course's 18th green and the Legacy Room, which seats 12 at a community-style, bar-height dining table made from reclaimed wine crates.
From the Mexico-based Ysita family of restaurateurs comes Peska Seafood Culture, which is set to open in late March in the Blvd Place development. The family's first United States restaurant is also notable for its chef Omar Pereney, a 20-year-old who already has opened restaurants, hosted a TV show, and served as an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Mexico. With a design from Gensler, the 6,000-square-foot space will have seating for 125 inside as well as a patio that holds 35 at lounge and table seating. A private dining room will hold 30 and will open onto a dedicated outdoor space. During the evenings, the restaurant will have a high-tech entrance that will feature an installation of animated bubbles and seaweed as well as 3-D video mapping.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science reopened its Farrish Hall of Texas Wildlife in October after a major renovation. The hall represents about 250 species, from whooping cranes and black bears to bald eagles, with an emphasis on rare, endangered, and extinct species. As the hall does not allow food and beverage, it cannot be used as an event venue by itself, but it can be offered for touring for events at the museum. The museum has several spaces available for rental, including a conference room and its planetarium, and for large events, the entire museum seats 1,100 or holds 3,500 for receptions.
Hotel Sorella recently debuted a floor of penthouse suites on its 12th floor, each with a distinctive design and views of Houston. The 11 suites in the 266-room hotel, located in CityCentre district, have residential-style design and as many as three bedrooms. The spaces range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, which the hotel believes is the city's largest penthouse. When used as meeting or event space, the suites hold 10 guests in a boardroom setting or as many as 50 for receptions.
Former professional boxer Andrea Magi opened a second location of his Italian concept Mascalzone in January. Located on Shepherd Drive, the eatery serves classic Italian entrées, pizza, and homemade pastas, including its namesake dish that is half calzone and half pizza. Gluten-free options also are available. The entire restaurant seats 150, and a private dining room, the Wine Room, seats about 30.
Museum Park Café, an elegant restaurant in the museum district, opened in September. The contemporary American eatery has an open kitchen, a bar that runs the length of the dining room, and industrial chic touches such as exposed ducts. The main dining room seats 50 or holds about 100 for receptions. A private dining room seats 20, and staff can arrange for a projection for business meetings as well as floral centerpieces.
From the team behind Museum Park Café is Bosta Wine & Coffee, located in the same museum district building. The casual spot for drinks and light fare measures 4,100 square feet. It seats 42 at tables and couches and 24 at bar stools or holds 65 for receptions.
Hearsay on the Green, a sister restaurant to Hearsay Gastropub, opened in October at the Embassy Suites Houston—Downtown. The eatery, located across from the Toyota Center and near the George R. Brown Convention Center, serves New American fare and original craft cocktails with house-made ingredients. The space seats 129 guests but does not offer private dining; semiprivate space is available for large groups.
