Houston’s tourism activity has steadily grown over the years. Its amusement parks, such as Houston Funplex, Boomers! Houston and Hermann Park Railroad are fun places to add to the itinerary for those traveling with kids and kids at heart. Its cowboy-related attractions, particularly the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, are also worth exploring. Its food, art, and culture scenes are not to be missed as well. However, did you know that the most populous city also has plenty of activities to offer a night, many of which go beyond bars and clubs? Check out this list of things to do in Houston at night.
If these ideas are tempting you to book a trip here soon, check out the list of downtown hotels as well as downtown Airbnb rentals for your accommodation needs.
1. Dive into a spooky tour (from USD 36.0)
This two-and-a-half-hour walking tour is exactly what you need if you’re looking for fun activities in Houston for adults at night. It involves going through old buildings with ghostly and spooky backstories (which will be narrated by a costumed guide) in the historic districts of the city. There will also be stops in four pubs so you can enjoy a refreshing drink while taking a break from all the scary stuff you will learn about the city.
Haunted Houston 2.5-Hour Ghost and Pub Walking Tour
Duration 2 hours 30 minutes
2. Have an exciting night with friends at The Escape Game Houston (from USD 42.0)
If you are into puzzles, then this fun activity is definitely for you! This escape game facility offers an immersive experience as you will be taken to a world where you will need to find clues, solve puzzles, and ultimately try to escape before the time runs out! It features five rooms with different storylines—from embarking on a Californian Gold Rush adventure to being part of a daring prison break as you escape the clutches of an evil warden.
The Escape Game Houston CityCentre
Duration 1 hour 15 minutes
3. Go for the Late Nights at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
If you’re a fan of museums and you’re looking for places to go in Houston at night, you may want to try out the Late Nights program at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. There are different adventure-filled options available: one for scouts, one for children and their chaperones, and one for those who are 12 years old and up. Depending on the package, the activities may include a scavenger hunt, a planetarium show, and/or a detective game. If you want to spend more time at the museum, there are overnight options there as well. Choose the adventure that’s best for you and your group for a night in Houston to remember.
Houston Museum of Natural Science Late Nights
Address: 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston,Texas 77030
Prices: Starts at 450 USD
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4. Go for a City Lights tour
If you’re in town for the holiday season and you’re thinking about what to do in Houston at night, be sure to check out this Houston tour. While the activity is advertised as a holiday lights tour, it also brings guests to many of the well-known areas of the city (Historic District, Theater District, Market Square Park, Buffalo Bayou, Allen Parkway, and the River Oaks District).
The double-decker bus gives them fantastic, unobstructed views of the sights, and a guide provides interesting commentary throughout the trip. Guests get to enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate to complete the experience.
Houston City Lights Tour
Duration 1 hour 15 minutes
5. Visit Houston’s Orange Show to see the Beer Can House
If you love to visit quirky attractions, make sure you don’t miss out on seeing the Beer Can House while in Texas, named as one of the top roadside attractions in America by Time Magazine. The project was started by John Milkovisch in 1968, who completed it after 18 years. An estimated 50,000 beer cans, each of which was emptied by Milkovisch, was used here. Upon his and his wife’s deaths, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art acquired, restored, and continues to maintain the Beer Can House.
Beer Can House
Address: 222 Malone St, Houston, TX 77007-8117
Prices: 5 USD for adults; children 12 and under are free
Website: Beer Can House
6. Overnight trips by Houston Space Center
If you’re looking for a chance to say “Houston, we have a problem”, visit the Houston Space Center and get the opportunity to do so. For an added adventure, especially if you’re looking for a different kind of camping experience for you and your family, check out the overnight trips offered by the space center. This activity does not just cover an overnight tour and stay, as well as meals, in the space center, it also comes loaded with activities designed to build up the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills of guests.
Houston Space Center
Address: 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, USA, 77058
Prices: 24.95 USD for children and 29.95 USD for adults. Campouts are priced at 59.95 USD per person.
Website: Houston Space Center
7. Catch a baseball game at Minute Maid Park
If you’re a sports fan, make sure to catch a baseball game at Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, while in the city. The first retractable-roofed stadium in the city, the stadium has a seating capacity of 41,168. Besides hosting baseball games, it also serves as a concert venue. Night games often begin at 7:10 pm, leaving you plenty of time to see the other sights in the city during the day.
Minute Maid Park
Address: 501 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas
Prices: Starts from 95 USD
8. Visit the Woodlands Town Center
If you’re a fan of shopping, make sure you don’t miss out on dropping by Woodlands Town Center, one of the top night activities in Houston, which features over 1,000 acres (405 hectares) worth of shopping, entertainment, and dining spaces. There are bars here if you want to kick back with a few drinks. This area also regularly hosts a number of festivals, concerts, and other events, so be sure to do your research before you head there at night to see what activities that await you when you visit.
Woodlands Town Center
Address: Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Website: Woodlands Town Center
9. Hit the Texas Rock Gym
If you love rock climbing or want to try out this activity, head on over to the Texas Rock Gym. It comes with features and routes that fit all skills levels, ranging from beginners to seasoned pros. There are staff and instructors available who are ready and willing to lend a hand in case you experience trouble in one of the walls there. If your group is up for it, you can arrange an all-nighter at the Texas Rock Gym. Beginners need not worry, because instructors will still be available to provide assistance if needed.
Texas Rock Gym
Address: 1526 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas
Price: Starts at 35 USD
Website: Texas Rock Gym
10. Visit The Chocolate Bar
Houston visitors with a sweet tooth should definitely drop by The Chocolate Bar and sink their teeth in at least one of the delicious creations offered here. Whether you’re a fan of chocolate drinks (like hot cocoa) or desserts (like cakes and ice creams), there’s a chocolatey treat that awaits you here. There’s limited parking here, so be sure to come early if you’re driving here. On Thursday nights, the Rice Village branch features live music.
The Chocolate Bar
Address: 2521 University Boulevard, Houston, TX
11. Tour the Saint Arnold Brewing Company
If you’re the kind of person who loves to learn about how beer is made as much as you love drinking it, make sure to drop by Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in the city, and explore how they make their brews. Ask your server if you can go on brewery tour when you drop by at their restaurant or the beer garden for a visit.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Address: 2000 Lyons Ave., Houston, Texas
Website: Saint Arnold Brewing Company
12. Enjoy an endless variety of cocktails at the Anvil Bar and Refuge
If you are a traveler looking for a great cocktail selection around Houston and bartenders who know how to make a drink, Anvil Bar and Refuge is the place to be. This place has around 100 different cocktails where they use premium ingredients and garnish them superbly. The service and ambiance of this place will make you fall in love with it instantly.
Anvil Bar and Refuge
Address: 1424 Westheimer Rd Ste B Houston, TX 77006 Montrose
Website: Anvil Bar and Refuge
opening hours: 4 p.m to 2 a.m [7 days a week]
Price: from 5 USD to 30 USD
13. Have a grand view of the downtown Houston skyline at the 3rd Floor Rooftop Bar
Editor’s note: establishment is permanently closed
The 3rd Floor is a rooftop bar serving an all-American menu of 47 draft beers, 47 draft wines, and 10 draft cocktails. There’s also a short menu that consists of both shareable sandwiches, meat and cheese boards. The highlight of the large, expansive room are the two patios; a north-facing one with a decent view of the downtown skyline and a south-facing one with a decent view of the Spec’s sign. This is a place you will fall in love with once you enter for its service and ambiance that makes your unwinding time pleasant.
3rd floor-Rooftop bar
Address: 2303 Smith Street 3rd Floor, Houston, TX 77006
Website: 3rd floor-Rooftop bar
Opening hours: 8 p.m to 2.am Thursday to Saturday
Price: From 7 USD to 11 USD
14. Experience fine dining and cocktails at the Bayou and Bottle
Bayou & Bottle restaurant is set in the lobby of Four Seasons Houston created by celebrity chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval. This lively bar serves cocktails and 150 types of whiskeys, coupled with the most delicious meals you will ever taste. Even better, they offer complimentary whiskey tastings on Saturday evenings, served by the most attentive waiters. While you’re there, try your hand at the first Topgolf simulation experience located in the back of the restaurant.
Bayou and Bottle
Address: 1300 Lamar St Houston, TX 77010 Downtown
Website: Bayou and Bottle
Opening hours: 11 a.m to 1 a.m [Thursday to Sunday]
Price: from 11 USD to 30 USD
15. Great meals and happy hour beers at the Onion creak Cafe
Onion Creek is a coffee shop, bar, and part burger joint surrounded by a patio complete with outdoor televisions for game-watching. The menu features quality Texas pub staples like big juicy burgers, chicken sandwiches with bacon, pizza, and mouthwatering hotdogs. Large, fresh salads are available for those looking for a tasty meal without the grease.
Onion Creek Cafe
Address: 3106 White Oak Dr Houston, TX 77007 The Heights
Website: Onion Creek Cafe
Opening hours: From 4 p.m to 2 a.m
Price: from 5 USD to 18 USD
16. Sample some wine varieties with friends at the Beckrew Wine House
Beckrew Wine House has a lot to offer; from their many wine varieties and pairings to their delicious meals. This is a classic place that you will definitely fall in love with. For a more hands-on experience, reserve some private space with a group of friends for a private tasting or blind tastings led by a Sommelier.
Beckrew wine house
Address: 2409 W Alabama St Houston, TX 77098 Upper Kirby
Website: Beckrew Wine House
Opening hours: From 4 p.m to 12 a.m
Price: From 10 USD to 40 USD
17. Go for a Segway tour
If you want a quirky way of exploring Houston, consider joining this tour, which starts in the late evening and allows you to explore the key attractions in the city on a Segway. Each tour group is limited to seven people or fewer, which means that guests have more freedom to see the sights and ask the guide for more information about each stop. The activity runs for approximately 1.5 hours. Rates are inclusive of the use of the equipment.
Houston after dark
Houston may best be known for its foodie scene and street food markets, its amusement parks, and its cowboy-themed attractions and activities, but these are far from being the only things that this Texan city has to offer to its visitors. If you’re visiting there and want to see how the place comes alive at night beyond the usual bars and nightclubs, check out this list for alternative activities to do in the area.