Best Things To Do In Houston At Night

Best Things To Do In Houston At Night

More about: Best Things To Do In Houston At Night

The night plans in Houston are so varied that they range from musical tours to ghost tours. You can take advantage of the night to get to know that side of the city you didn't know, or to enjoy a good play. Everything is possible when the sun goes down in the city of the state of Texas.

Going out at night is one of the best things you can see and do in Houston, especially because the activities you can enjoy don't necessarily have to be expensive or anything like that. I invite you to check out some of my favorite plans.

1. Take a tour of Houston lit up

Lights of Houston| ©Sarah Worthy
Lights of Houston| ©Sarah Worthy

One of the activities you definitely can't miss when you visit Houston is to take a tour of the entire city at night. You will love to see how the buildings light up and all the night lights leave a nice and illuminated atmosphere in Downtown and Midtown.

You can do this tour on your own, or you can take one of the best tours in Houston, where a tour guide will take you around the city showing you some of its best attractions during the illuminated night.

Among the places you can visit on this tour are: the theater district, the Downtown Aquarium, the Buffalo Bayou, among other really interesting places of the nightlife.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can find this tour for an approximate price of 40 euros per person.
  • Schedule and duration: The schedule of this tour you are generally going to be able to coordinate with your tour guide, although it usually departs at 19:00. It usually lasts between an hour and an hour and a half.
  • Means of transportation: This tour is done by private bus.

2. Walking tour of the enchanted pubs

Houston Pub| ©Ed Schipul
Houston Pub| ©Ed Schipul

If ghost tours are your thing, then you can't miss this one which is one of the best ghost tours in Houston. If you want to get to know some of the most popular haunted pubs in the city, then I recommend you take this haunted pub crawl tour.

On the tour you are not only going to learn about some of the darkest and most chilling stories in the city's history, but you are also going to taste cocktails and dishes that are traditional in these bars.

Surely one of the things you will like most about this tour will be to enjoy the live music shows and popular singers of the city. In addition, your tour guide will show you only the most select of the nightlife, will tell you in detail the history of each place and above all will give you the indications of the dishes and cocktails that you can not miss during the tour.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can take this tour for an approximate price of 36 euros per person.
  • Schedule and duration: The tour schedule may vary according to your tour guide's information, but it usually starts around 19:00. It lasts approximately two and a half hours.
  • Means of transportation: This tour is on foot, so you will have to get to the starting point on your own.

Get to know Houston's haunted pubs

3. Visit the Alley Theater

Alley Theater| ©Ed Schipul
Alley Theater| ©Ed Schipul

The Alley Theatre Company is one of the most recognized non-profit organizations in the United States, so annually they can present up to 16 plays. Visiting this place is one of the best things to do at night in Houston because you will have the opportunity to see the most popular plays nowadays, but you will also be able to see some new presentations of classic plays.

To visit this place you can go on your own or take a night tour that includes the Alley Theater. One of the things I recommend when you want to visit this place, is to check on their official website what is the updated program with the different plays that are available every night. The Alley Theater is one of the places you can visit using the Houston City Pass.

Details of interest

  • Price: Depending on the plays that are available and where you want to sit in the theater, your tickets can be priced from 70 euros per person.
  • Schedule and Duration: The schedules are set out in the updated program on their website. And the duration depends on each of the performances.
  • Means of transportation: You can get there on your own or using the Houston tourist bus.

4. Go dancing and have a few drinks in a nightclub with a Latin influence

Nightclub| ©clubworld2
Nightclub| ©clubworld2

A plan that can not miss in the visit to Houston for at least one day, is to go dancing in the nightclubs that are so popular in the city. With an infinity of musical and tropical rhythms that are heard and danced in these places, you will surely love the atmosphere that is enjoyed in each one of them.

This is a special activity to do in Houston because this city is popular for its strong Latin influence, so it is not uncommon to see how vibrant the Latin touch is felt in the night bars. In fact, you can take a guided tour of the most fun bars and nightclubs in downtown.

There are bars for all tastes, but they are also distributed by zones throughout the city. For example, if you want to go dancing and have some drinks with friends, one of the best places to find great quality bars with an incredible nightlife atmosphere is definitely Downtown. In these places you can also discover different drinks and cocktails that are traditional in Houston, as well as some international ones.

Interesting details

  • Price: The price depends on the policies of each nightclub. In many of them you will not be charged the entrance fee but you will be asked to drink inside.
  • Hours and duration: You can go to these places from 19:00 hours to enjoy the show. If there is a specific show you want to attend, you will have to check the schedule and duration at the box office of the venue you are visiting.
  • Means of transport: You can go by private car, bus or even on foot to these places, although my recommendation is that you do it by private car.

5. See the performances of the Houston Ballet

Houston Ballet| ©Lowell Hendrix
Houston Ballet| ©Lowell Hendrix

If you like classical ballet and dance performances, then you can't miss a performance of the Houston Ballet, a company with many years of experience and special works to present at all times. The works that the Houston Ballet organizes and presents are generally in keeping with the season of the year.

One of the best things you can take advantage of with this ballet's performances is that, in some cases you can purchase family ticket packages to attend more than one ballet performance.

You can plan your visit to the dance company, but you can also attend one of the varying theater performances. Although they are evening performances, many of the works presented by the Houston Ballet are for minors, so this is an excellent activity to include among the best things to see and do in Houston with children.

Details of interest

  • Price: Tickets may vary in price according to the work presented, although in most cases prices range from 40 to 149 euros. Also prices may vary according to the location of each seat within the theater.
  • Schedule and duration: Show times vary according to each performance, although in most cases they could start around 17:00. The duration is strictly dependent on each performance.
  • Means of transportation: You must get to the theater to see the performances on your own, using a private car, public transportation, cab or any other means of transportation.

6. Attending a staging of classics at The Miller

Miller Outdoor Theatre| ©Adam Baker
Miller Outdoor Theatre| ©Adam Baker

Miller Outdoor Theatre is one of the most interesting, crowded and fun theaters of the nights in Houston, because it is a kind of amphitheater that is outdoors, so you can enjoy the different plays while also enjoying the cool atmosphere of the Houston night.

One of the things you will like most about visiting this place is that the performances are free, but at the same time they are of very high quality. You have two options to see the performances at The Miller, the first is to arrive early and sit on the front sidewalks that belong to the amphitheater structure, but you can also bring a blanket or lawn chairs and sit on the hill that is right in front of the stage.

Details of interest

  • Price: Tickets are free, so you don't have to worry about paying anything. But if you want to be in the front seats, you have to get tickets before you go to this place.
  • Hours and duration: The Miler is available from afternoon hours until late at night. The duration of each show will depend on the set up that is scheduled for each night.
  • Means of transportation: To go to these performances you have to get there on your own. You can do it by private car, public transportation or cab.

7. Enjoying live music at Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck

Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck Sign| ©Ed Schipul
Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck Sign| ©Ed Schipul

One of the nightclubs to enjoy live music in Houston is Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck, a place where you can also enjoy traditional southern food and drinks from different places, both national and international cocktails. It is a good option if you want a fun night of good music.

If you are one of those who like to sing and put your talents to the test, you can also do it in this place of live music, since many nights in the place there is an open microphone so that the fans can take the microphone and make good interpretations.

Of course, to participate in the so-called open mic night you have to sign up in advance, in a registration that starts around 18:00 hours. Once you sign up, the show usually starts at 19:00 or 20:00 and part of the rules is that you are given ten minutes to perform three songs. If your thing is not singing but comedy shows, you also have a chance to participate in the open mic.

Details of interest

  • Price: Prices may vary according to the type of show and the artists on stage. Some of the performances are free, while in others you only have to bring a contribution to get in. There are also performances where you have to pay between 30 and 65 euros per person, or between 130 and 700 euros per table, according to the number of attendees.
  • Schedule and duration: The schedules and duration of each show you can find them on the official website, where they constantly post information about the presentations.
  • Means of transportation: You have to arrive on your own, and you can do it by private car, public transportation or cab. If you go by private car, you will be sure to have a place to park.

8. Nightlife in The Heights

Partying| ©Cesar Pics
Partying| ©Cesar Pics

This is a party area par excellence, where you will be able to know different bars and night establishments to have some drinks, dance and above all enjoy the top nightlife in Houston. If there is something you will like about The Heights is that you can walk from one place to another to get to know each nightclub.

In addition, you won't just get to party in each venue, but you will also enjoy the party on the street, in the middle of the road between one establishment and another. Some places have terraces to enjoy good music and also sell beers and other traditional liquors. This is even a good place to include among the best places to visit in Houston for Christmas, thanks to its special atmosphere.

Details of interest

  • Price: In most of these music venues they don't charge you admission but you will have to consume inside to be able to stay and enjoy the different presentations and shows.
  • Hours and duration: The party usually starts between 19:00 and 20:00 every night, and ends when dawn breaks in the morning.
  • Means of transportation: You have to get to The Heights on your own, either by public transportation, private car or cab.

9. Party at River Oaks and West University

Going out to party| ©cottonbro studio
Going out to party| ©cottonbro studio

If we're talking about a high-rise experience and going a little off the beaten path to enjoy the opulence, River Oaks and West University are definitely the place. These places have the most elegant party atmosphere in the city. If you want to spend a romantic moment with your partner or enjoy Irish traditions, this is the place to go.

A true English experience and a youthful atmosphere par excellence are also characteristics that stand out in this area, given that many of the young university students in the area tend to party in this area of the city. Some of the bars that will catch your attention and that you have to know are: Marquis II, The Volcano, Little Woodrow's, among others.

Interesting details

  • Price: Prices may vary according to the policies of each bar. In some places it is not necessary to pay admission, but you must consume inside so you can stay.
  • Hours and duration: The party in this area starts around 20:00 and lasts until dawn.
  • Means of transport: You have to get to this area on your own, you can do it by private car and get parking nearby. You can also go by cab or public transport.

10. Meet the gay community of Montrose

Party in Montrose| ©enigmaarts
Party in Montrose| ©enigmaarts

Montrose is one of the most important gay areas in Houston, so if you want to enjoy the parties of the LGBTQ+ community, this is the place you have to visit during the night. It's not only about music and drinks venues, but you will also have different entertainment options such as plays.

You can go to some places to simply enjoy movies, videos and music. You can also enjoy inexpensive drinks and traditional Houston foods in one of the best atmospheres in the city. You can enjoy homemade liquor, and street performers, there is definitely a little bit of everything in this place.

Some of the recommended places to go to enjoy the gay nightlife are Anvil Bar and Refuge, Poison Girl, Boheme Café and Wine Bar, or JR's. Each one has its own specialties, so there is something for everyone. Each one has its own specialties, so you can get different types of entertainment in each of these places.

Details of interest

  • Price: The prices may vary according to the place you enter, what you have to know is that this area stands out because it is low cost, compared to other party areas in Houston. In some establishments you can enter without paying anything, but you need to consume in order to stay. In other places you do have to pay for your entrance fee.
  • Hours and duration: The nightlife atmosphere in this area starts to be felt from 19:00 and lasts until late in the morning.
  • Means of transport: You have to get to this place on your own, so you can do it by private car, because you will get parking nearby, you can also go by public transport or cab.

Reviews from other travelers

4
· 1347 Reviews
  • V
    V.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    A very fun experience with a lot of excitement in between. Highly recommended.
  • R
    R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Highly recommended for everyone. The drinks we were offered were quite good, although the bars don't look like much from the outside, they have a nice side.
  • R
    R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    It is worth doing.
  • A
    A.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The guide was excellent, he was able to tell us each story in a very exciting and intense way, as if we were living it in our own flesh. An unforgettable experience.
  • K
    K.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    It was an incredible few hours and a lot of fun.