The Most Fun Restaurants in Houston

Houston’s dining scene has grown in leaps and waves over the past few years—some foodies even consider it to be one of the most interesting culinary scenes in the country. While the BBQ and Meat and Three restaurants here are still going strong, the city has branched out to welcome in all kinds of flavorful forces. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. Houston now has amazing and eclectic food choices from all over the world—it’s a great spot for authentic flavors and recipes from first-generation chefs. When looking for fun restaurants in Houston, be sure to check out these spots.

The OpenTable Team

10 Restaurants

Updated January 14, 2020

Restaurants:	Kulture Restaurant, MAD, Artisans Restaurant…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	Southern, Unspecified, French…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown, River Oaks, Midtown / Montrose…

Kulture Restaurant

$$$$

Southern

Downtown

4.7

195 reviews

Kulture is a casual restaurant and bar located on Avenida de Las Americas right in the heart of downtown. It’s a popular place with Houstonians, visiting business folks, downtown locals and event attendees. The menu offers a take on Caribbean-Southern cuisine and explores food, spirits, art and music in a casually-elevated, yet comfortable dining atmosphere. They also have a fantastic selection of quality wines and signature cocktails. Come by for their daily Happy Hour from 4 to 7pm for great specials on a smattering of food items and drinks.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

MAD

$$$$

Unspecified

River Oaks

4.6

1945 reviews

MAD is a unique restaurant and bar concept inspired by Madrid’s famous nightlife. It features the most popular form of Spanish gastronomy: classical and modern tapas and rice, meats and fish cooked on an open fire. Located in the River Oaks District on Westheimer Road, the space has a decidedly Spanish theme with orange and blue velvet, red and blue neon, rotating mirrors and decor featuring leopards, bears, flamenco dancers. They have an extensive list of cocktails and one focused solely on creative Gin drinks!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Artisans Restaurant

$$$$

French

Midtown / Montrose

4.7

2556 reviews

Artisan Restaurant, located in the Midtown neighborhood, is definitely one of the most fun restaurants in Houston. The vibe here is casually elegant and they serve an eclectic menu of French food including steaks and seafood that will match up to the fine cuisine and artistic talent of any fine dining place in the city. The atmosphere is luxurious and you can enjoy all of the breathtaking decor while you eat. Seafood dishes here include Le Thon Au Poivre and Le Saumon Fume et Caviar.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Rainbow Lodge

$$$$

American

Heights / Washington

4.7

4528 reviews

Rainbow Lodge offers a blend of fine dining and lodge-style relaxing. The restaurant sits in a 100-year-old log cabin and offers a cozy but refined setting. The menu offers succulent wild game including elk, bison, venison, pheasant, antelope, duck, and quail. They also serve up seafood and steaks along with a selection of seasonal fresh produce. You can even opt for a tasting of wild game, Fried Texas Quail Bites, Smoked Duck Gumbo, plenty of seafood and fowl selections, and meaty favorites like the North American Elk Chop and Wild Game Mixed Grill.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Union Kitchen (Towne Lake)

$$$$

American

Cypress

4.4

635 reviews

This popular Union Kitchen outpost is the 6th to open in the greater Houston area! It boasts a sprawling interior and a big, beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy when the weather is nice. It features the same great menu of delicious staples, like burgers, pizzas, wraps and entree salads. The dinner menu highlights heartier fare like steaks, chops, chicken entrees and seafood. This is a great place to bring friends and family visiting from out of town who want to experience the cool, relaxed vibes of Houston.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Batanga

$$$$

Tapas / Small Plates

Downtown

3.9

1391 reviews

For delicious tapas at one of the most fun restaurants in Houston, check out the menu at Batanga. It’s a laid-back Latin American restaurant on Congress in the First Ward, across from Market Square Park. The central location and welcoming vibes make this place a local favorite for small plates that are great for sharing. Standout menu items include oxtail mole and duck confit tostadas as well as the chilaquiles and vanilla pancakes for brunch.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Avenida Brazil - Woodlands

$$$$

Brazilian Steakhouse

Texas

4.4

568 reviews

Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse is a Brazilian-inspired restaurant in Shenandoah that definitely qualifies as one of the most fun restaurants in Houston. They aim to spoil patrons with authentic cuisine and offer traditional churascaria-style meat to the community in a warm, welcoming environment. Churrasco is a Spanish term referring to beef or grilled meat over a three to five hour dining experience! You can expect exactly that here so come in planning to relax, drink and dine in style in this classy, upscale eatery.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Mezzanotte Ristorante

$$$$

Italian

Cypress

4.8

1297 reviews

Cypress-area residents have been keeping Mezzanote a secret for years - it’s so good they want it all to themselves! This restaurant serves upscale and contemporary Italian food and regulars rave about signature dishes like the veal Marsala and filet mignon, which is pan-seared and flambeed with brandy and then topped with a butter brandy sauce. They offer a unique blend of fine restaurant and bar elements fused together for an amazing culinary experience in Houston as well as a place to truly relax and have fun.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Costa Brava Bistro

$$$$

Spanish

Bellaire

4.8

1656 reviews

Costa Brava Bistro is a super fun place to dine and soak up the cool vibes while enjoying truly delicious food. The owners started the bistro with a combined experience of over 60 years in the hospitality field and they serve the very best of Spanish and French cuisine. The interior has dark, clubby hues and warm lighting, making the upscale spot feel like a time warp. Menu highlights include the suckling pig with a vanilla-laced apple puree, white bean and chorizo soup made with Iberico bone broth and tapaslike small plates and salads.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen

$$$$

Seafood

The Woodlands

4.8

2398 reviews

Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen is an intimate, elegant French Quarter-style restaurant on Market Street serving lots of fresh fish from all over the world. The menu consists of Louisiana classics, from seafood gumbo to crawfish etoufee, shrimp creole and red beans and rice. Award-winning dishes include the Smoked Crawfish Dip, Duck and Sausage Gumbo and Bread Pudding. It’s a super fun place to dine and they also have an extensive wine list with great specials on select bottles of wine and champagne throughout the week.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Most Fun Restaurants