Houston’s most beautiful restaurants are also its most transportive. These stunning spots confirm that it’s not just about what’s on the table that defines an epic meal—it’s also about what surrounds you.
A Mexican beauty channels a chic glass treehouse with endless chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows. Neon-lit decor and eclectic art shuttle diners to Madrid at a lively tapas spot. At a majestic Indian restaurant, carved wooden columns and rich brocade panels contribute to a scene that’s fit for royalty.
The design details in these special spaces have the power to take you away. Read on for a guide to Houston’s 12 most gorgeous restaurants.
Flora (Montrose)
A veritable forest of chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows set the mood at Flora—it’s no wonder the elegant Mexican spot is often described as a “glass treehouse.” Take in gorgeous Buffalo Bayou views and prepare for food that’s just as statement-making as the decor: Guacamole is plated to look like the Mexican flag, and charred octopus is artfully presented with roasted sweet potato, crispy bits of housemade chorizo, and a dollop of sour cream.
Annabelle Brasserie (Montrose)
Benjamin Berg’s restaurants are known for impeccable design, and this French bistro is no exception. You’re greeted by life-sized teddy bears and a Citroën truck loaded with flowers at the front door. The dainty botanical theme continues in the dining room, decked with a floral ceiling centerpiece, gold-accented walls, and pink banquettes. Naturally, Annabelle’s dishes also arrive in style, including a tower of smoked salmon and a raclette burger that comes with cheese that’s melted tableside.
MaKiin (Upper Kirby/Shepherd Corridor)
The massive gold door is a fitting preview for the luxe atmosphere inside this lavish Thai restaurant. Restaurateur Lukkaew Srasrisuwan’s fine-dining gem is splashed with deep jewel tones, along with vibrant hand-painted murals and custom bronze mesh curtains. The menu was inspired by Thai royal kitchens, featuring intricately plated masterpieces like tom yum bisque mousse with caviar and the colorful magic noodle salad, made with vermicelli noodles soaked in butterfly pea tea that change colors when a sauce is poured on top.
Guard and Grace (Downtown)
Set in a 1970s downtown skyscraper, Guard and Grace fully leans into the building’s Brutalist and mid-century modern roots. You’re here for some of the city’s best steaks, plus knockout sides like spicy duck confit and housemade gnocchi. The massive dining room has 30-foot glass walls and exposed concrete, but the focal point is a showstopping light installation, made up of over 5,000 hanging bronze-dipped rods. TL;DR: There’s not a bad seat in the house at this sleek and swanky steakhouse.
Turner’s (Galleria/Uptown)
This timeless restaurant (another Berg Hospitality star) is a thoughtful throwback to the social clubs of the 1970s. The stately dining room is adorned with dark green walls, gold-framed paintings, wainscoting, and dark tufted banquettes. There’s even a baby grand piano that supplies live music to complete the retro-chic scene. On the menu, expect blast-from-the-past dishes like a wedge salad, topped with bacon tableside, and Wagyu filet with foie gras and spinach truffle jus.
Rainbow Lodge (Heights/Washington)
Even though it’s stood on the banks of White Oak Bayou for more than a century, Rainbow Lodge still impresses. Much of the credit goes to owner Donnette Hansen, who built a one-of-a-kind wild game and seafood menu (the mixed grill is the move here) that matches the restaurant’s hunting-lodge setting. Wooden walls are decked with nature-themed art and taxidermy mounts, leaving you feeling like you’ve been dropped into a sophisticated but far-flung cabin.
Bloom & Bee (Galleria/Uptown)
The dining room at this elegant Post Oak Hotel restaurant channels a springtime garden. Each table is topped with a vase of fresh flowers—natural anchors to the floral hand-blown glass installation on the ceiling. Pink velvet chairs add to the blossom-like backdrop and are beautiful perches to dig into colorful seasonal dishes like oven-roasted duck and Hikari honey miso sea bass. Bonus points for featuring actual flowers in the cocktails.
Le Jardinier (Heights/Washington)
Masterpieces quite literally surround you at this Museum of Fine Arts restaurant. Le Jardinier’s windows face an Isamu Noguchi-designed sculpture garden; its dining room showcases a wool and silk tapestry depicting trees, sage carpets, and walls wrapped in vintage wood, giving it a nature-forward feel. Fittingly, the food celebrates seasonal vegetables and French techniques, which means dishes like Parisian gnocchi with morels and Pacific bass with fennel and wilted greens.
MAD (River Oaks)
From its Spanish nightlife-inspired interiors to the molecular gastronomy menu, everything is over the top at MAD. | Credit: MAD
MAD gets its name from the airport code for Madrid, but it’s also a reference to the vibrant, freewheeling interiors. Madrid’s nightlife and Spanish gastronomy inspired the restaurant, and everything is over the top. The dining room’s neon-lit decor and eclectic art make for a dreamlike experience, enhanced by playful dishes. The “liquid olive” and the MAD tomato—both examples of molecular gastronomy—reflect what MAD does best: surprise and delight.
Bungalow Downtown Dining (Downtown)
Marble floors, plush blue velvet seats, and chic golden backlighting make Bungalow Downtown Dining a see-and-be-seen sensation. It’s especially popular with groups, thanks to a something-for-everyone menu that delivers in both the small-bites department (the truffle fries are a must) and the mains, featuring head-on whole-fried red snapper. Don’t skip the cocktails—they’re served with opulent garnishes like gold-tinted strawberries and honey wands and worth a visit on their own.
Musaafer (Galleria/Uptown)
Musaafer’s elegant two-story space showcases all things Indian. Between the brass artwork, brocade paneling, and carved wooden columns, the regal restaurant is a feast for the eyes. And then there’s the food, which includes reimagined favorites like pani puri (fried semolina shells filled with potato, onions, and chickpeas). Even though it’s typically served as street food, Musaafer elevates the dish by presenting it on a pedestal with five shot glasses of flavored water.
Cocody (River Oaks)
Art Deco accents set the tone for sumptuous French-inspired food at Cocody. The main dining room is home to a spacious bar and a mesmerizing crystal light canopy, which provides flawless lighting for artistic dishes like slow-baked Chilean sea bass with saffron rouille and cod filet with leek ravioli. If you’re lucky enough to score a spot in the chef’s tasting room, you’ll get front-row seats to the kitchen, thanks to strategically placed windows that offer a view of the action.
Lauren McDowell is a Houston-area native and freelance food and lifestyle writer with an M.A. in Food Studies from New York University. She contributes to publications including Chron and Houstonia.
