today’s new city guide belongs to the lonestar state. carolina saunders of carolina eclectic was kind enough to write this guide to houston, focusing on the “inner loop” including downtown, the museum district and many others. houston is a large city and there may be some spots we’ve missed so please feel free to list your favorite spots in the comments section below. thanks again to caroline for creating this great guide to houston! click here to read the full houston design guide. [want to see guides to other cities, products and gifts? click here to browse the d*s guide page]

I’m so happy to share a few of the sites in my adopted home town. Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. and the energy capitol of the world. Despite the size, Houston has a bit of a gentile Southern atmosphere. People will stop to say hello, wave to you as you drive by, and even allow you to cut in while on the highway!

The landscape is constantly changing everyday, with new high-rise buildings, shopping centers and restaurants everywhere one looks. This guide concentrates on the “Inner Loop” area of Houston which consists of everything inside the 610 loop including everything from Downtown, Museum district, and the Medical Area to name a few. If I tried to cover the rest of town, this guide would have to be several pages long.

Every area has its own personality, and often times Houstonians find the area that most suits their personal tastes and stick to it. The city has undergone considerable change in the last few years- I hope you’ll be able to visit and take in some of my favorite sites.

Montrose and Midtown: My personal favorites, they are considered somewhat bohemian and alternative. Here you can find everything from high-end antiques to low-down junk stores. It is a very fun mix of lifestyles.

Shop:

Kuhl-Linscomb- I think, calling this store the Mecca of contemporary furnishings would be an understatement. It consists of five different showrooms and carries cutting-edge European furnishings, bedding, vintage finds, bath and body products…etc. It is a must see!

Sloan-Hall: A beautifully edited space that carries limited edition modern jewelry, unique stationary, and very exclusive apothecary products. I also love going there to get my John Derian fix.

Thompson and Hanson: This a very lovely nursery and home shop. It is not very large, but definately makes up for in charm and style. Their look is organic and natural, mixed with European antiques. If you get a little hungry while you are there, you can stop at the on-site cafe for a yummy breakfast or lunch.

Moxie: A fun shop for anyone looking for a little vintage Hollywood glam and unique art.The bright white showroom is always filled with colorful and one of a kind pieces.

Era Antiques: The name sounds a bit stuffy, but the furniture is pure vintage fun. You can find amazing pieces ranging from Art Deco period to the cool 1970’s. Era is located in a refurbished building that also houses a few other vintage furniture stores, including:

The Mod Pod: The name pretty much says it all. It is a tiny showroom that is filled with all things groovy.

Metro: I think of Metro as the place for die-hard Mid-century lovers. The furniture is strictly Mid-century with little alterations, except for restoration to the original finishes. Next door to these shops is,

High Fashion Home: Once a only a fabric store, it is now a four story building filled with an eclectic mix of furnishings. High Fashion still carries a huge variety of home fabrics, for DIY set.

Okay, so if you are like me, you are wondering “What about the thrift stores?”. Two, of the best thrift stores I have ever been too (and I’ve been to many) are:
The Guild Shop: I think people like to keep this place a secret, because its always packed, and yet no one ever talks about it. I know I have seen shop owners and other designers sneaking around looking for great finds. I must add that if you find an interesting piece, grab it immediately;
because there is always someone lurking around waiting to take it. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way.

Texas Junk Co.: I love this place. It is for die-hard junk lovers…be prepared to dig around!

Food and Coffee:

Brasil: Anyone who knows me for even a few minutes, knows how much I love this place. I spend many, many hours here with my family or alone. It is the ultimate hang-out spot. Brasil is a combination coffee shop/restaurant. They make killer pizzas and unique culinary dishes.

Empire Cafe: Across the street from Brasil, it is set
among funky antique shops and vintage clothing stores. Sunday, brunch is the most popular time to visit Empire, because their food and atmosphere is killer. Get there early or be prepared to wait.

Mission Burrito: This is a fun place for the family. Kids can have a fun time in the outdoor play area, and parents can enjoy the yummy Baja style Mexican food.

T’afia- A restaurant owned by local chef Monica Pope. She is a bit of a local celebrity. T’afia is a dinner only restaurant that serves fresh foods inspired by local cuisine.

Farrago- I consider this a “Date” restaurant, its not a place to take the kids. It has a stylish and moody decor and serves “world cuisine”. It has a great atmosphere and wonderful
food.

I think every town has those breakfast places that only locals know about. Well, here are  a few of Houston’s “In the know” breakfast places.

Buffalo Grill: One word…Pancakes! The biggest pancakes you will ever see and very delicious. Of course, they serve other things, but who cares.

The Breakfast Klub: A long time favorite in Houston. They serve good old-fashioned Southern favorites. This is also a place that requires some patience to get in.

Harry’s restaurant: A little unassuming looking, but don’t pass it by. You can get a little bit of everything at Harry’s; traditional American, breakfast tacos, and Greek specialties. My family and I are
there pretty much every week.

Museums
The Menil Collection: A very well respected museum established to show the large art collection of the de Menil family. It includes modern masterpieces, sculptures, and photographs.

The Art League: This a fun and funky little gallery, mostly dedicated to modern art. The work shown here is constantly changing. Also, stop by the on-site coffee shop for a great cup of joe.

Museum District and Rice Village: These are two of the most prestegious areas in Houston. Here you can find many museums, beautiful mansions, and the Rice
University campus.

Shop
Found for the Home:  Eclectic is the name of the game here. Found, features industrial, antique,and contemporary pieces.

Area:( 5600 Kirby Dr.) This is a very beautiful high-end showroom. Trust me you will fall in love with every piece you see. You will find the obligatory European antiques, mixed with contemporary art and very unusual accessories.

Surroundings: If you are looking for colorful and fun, this is the place. Surroundings is set in a large older home, and sits in the middle of the West University neighborhood. They carry imported items from Mexico and Latin America.

M. Naeve: Made up of beautiful, mostly French antiques. It sounds like it could be a stodgy place, but its 20something owner manages to keep it very fresh.

Shabby Slips: A total misnomer. There is nothing shabby about this store. They make custom slipcovers so that it is why its called Shabby Slips. Actually, it is very chic and elegant.

Lot 8:  A clothing store, but I included it on this list because it is owned by Project Runway winner Chloe Dao. If you love Project Runway as much as I do, this is a place you can’t miss.

Food
The Raven Grill: Oooh, so delicious! Their menu offers a little bit of everything and everything I have ever tried is wonderful.

Picnic: Owned by the the proprietors of The Raven, it offers deli style food and delicious pastries.

Hungry’s: They are dedicated to healthy food that is actually delicious. I was skeptical at first, but I can say that their “Light and healthy” menu is creative and tasty.

Mi Luna: There are several locations around Houston, but my favorite is in the Rice Village shopping center. Mi Luna is a Tapas bar. Before eating here, I didn’t know what “tapas” were. They are Spanish dishes that are small in size.
Because of their size, you can order as many dishes as you would like. This a great place for large groups,

Benjy’s: A very popular restaurant, especially on the weekends. They serve “Modern American Cuisine”. You can find anything from angus burgers to sesame crusted agadashi.

Museums: Being the “Museum district” there are more than I could list. Here are a few stands out.

Contemporary Arts Museum: I love contemporary art, and I must admit that I still feel challenged by some of pieces shown here. If you love modern art, don’t miss this place.

Center for Contemporary Craft: You can find amazing
pottery, sculpture, and many more craft pieces here. Also, many of the artists have studios on location, so you can see them at work.

The Children’s Museum: I love going to this museum as much as my son does. It has fun things to do for kids of all ages, including tiny babies!

The Holocaust Museum: I know this can sound a little somber, but I think everyone should see this place. Many of the artifacts are from local families who had relatives in the concentration camps. I recommend following one of the tours, because they can enlighten you on many small details.

The Houston Heights: Located close to downtown, this neighborhood has undergone  a lot of change over the years. Many people have moved in and renovated many of the
Victorian beauties. Thankfully, despite all the renovations, The Heights has not been over-run by McMansions.

Shop
Installations: You may have seen this amazing place featured on Design Sponge before (here). It is set in a large refurbished building. The theme is industrial meets Dutch antiques. It is very unique. I love their large scale pieces that are often made on location.
Much of Heights shopping can be found on 19th street. It is several blocks of mom and pop shops, art galleries, and funky clothing stores aimed at the younger crowd. There are several interesting stores to see, a few of my favorites are:
The Homestretch: Lots of interesting found objects. These ladies, do a wonderful  job of re-imagining the pieces they find.
Eclectic Home: Bold and modern table-top and home accessories. I love the fearless combination of furnishings here.
Tansu: Simple and Sophisticated, is how they describe themselves, and that says it all. Dedicated to Asian accessories and stationary.

Food: I would like to say that my friend Courtney of Inside the Loop, directed me to some of these restaurants.

Shade: A very chic little restaurant and bar. It has a wonderful modern and zen like mood. The lunch and dinner menu offer salads, sandwiches, seafood, and other light fare.

Dacapo’s Pastry Cafe: Although it is a pastry shop it also offers soups, salads, and boxed lunches.

Cricket’s Creamery and Caffe: You will feel like you walked back in time here. The cafe sits among the antique stores on 19th st. This is a great place to cool your heels with an ice cream or iced coffee.

I hope this list helps anyone visiting Houston. It can seem like an overwhelming place, but there are fun things to see and do, in just about every corner.