How to Plan the Ultimate Staycation in The Woodlands

With destination restaurants, drink specials, and plenty of outdoor activities, here’s how to spend 24 hours (or more) in The Woodlands

When searching for a staycation in the Houston area, The Woodlands should be at the top of your list. This metropolitan suburb, located just 30 miles north of Houston, was established in 1974 and aptly named after its lush acres of trees and wooded areas, which, at times, can make any visitor feel as though they’re nestled in an enchanted forest. Though relatively new compared to the city of Houston, The Woodlands has been growing steadily, becoming fertile grounds for new and established restaurants like Katy’s Phat Eatery, fan-favorite chains like North Italia, and homegrown, lauded restaurants like Amrina. Fortunately for residents and visitors alike, this means the area is brimming with dining options, plus walkable districts that guarantee hours of bouncing between bars, restaurants, and shops.

Whether seeking a short 24-hour stay or a full weekend getaway, here’s the ultimate guide on how to spend your time eating and dining wisely in The Woodlands.

Visit The Woodlands

7 a.m. Coffee at Third Gen Coffee

Early risers seeking a cup of coffee should check out this coffee shop run by a third-generation Honduran coffee-farming family. Enjoy its selection of signature and flavored lattes, like the white chocolate-laced cinnamon roll latte, or the Cane Break latte, a simple but potent mix of brown sugar, espresso, and milk made with unique varieties of coffee, including beans sourced from Honduras. If waiting until brunch is out of the option, choose something from its menu of bagel sandwiches, sausage rolls, croissants, and chai oatmeal to hold you over.

10 a.m. Breakfast/Brunch at State Fare Kitchen & Bar

Enormous pancakes that span the plate, behemoth biscuits, spicy brown sugar-crusted bacon, jammy egg-topped burgers, mimosa flights, and chef-curated brunch boards await at State Fare Kitchen, which prides itself on its Southern hospitality and dishes. Other strong brunch options include Bosscat Kitchen and Libations, a whiskey-fueled import initially founded in Newport Beach, California, that serves Fruity Pebbles French toast, peach cobbler waffles, short rib chilaquiles, and cinnamon rolls made with Vietnamese spices until 3 p.m. If in search of something hyper-local, try out the Kitchen, which offers staples like pastrami hash, lobster tostada Benedicts, plenty of pancakes, Tex-Mex breakfast staples, frozen cocktails, milkshakes, and more until 3 p.m. on weekends.

Audrey West

2 p.m. Lunch at Phat Eatery

With its flagship in Katy, this James Beard Award-recognized restaurant has earned a reputation for some of the best hawker-style Malaysian food in the Houston area, served family-style. The restaurant’s layout is also uniquely charming, with a bar and kitchen area that resemble a bustling food market and its main dining area lined with windows that offer views of the picturesque trees and trails that surround the restaurant. Start with the satay skewers and the roti canai, composed of Indian flatbread with a sinful curry sauce for dipping. Then, dig into mainstays, like the award-winning spice-laden beef rendang, the delightful poached Hainanese chicken, which is served at room temperature, and the sizzling egg tofu. The salt and pepper calamari is a sleeper hit.

Jenn Duncan

5 p.m. Happy Hour at Kirby Ice House

The Woodlands location of this popular Houston watering hole is somewhat of a landmark. This dog- and family-friendly locale of Kirby Ice House is home to the longest bar in Texas, plus a massive outdoor patio that’s ideal for lounging with friends and pups while watching the latest game on its colossal screens. While there are plenty of daily specials during the week, weekends offer steals, too, with $5 bloody marys and mimosas poured in the early morning, and $7 cocktails served all day on Sundays along with $4 Jameson and Fireball shots in the afternoon. Open until 2 a.m., it’s also a great late-night option, so don’t be afraid to double back.

Michael Anthony

7 p.m. Dinner at Amrina

Chef Jassi Bindra, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens, creates a phenomenal experience at this Woodlands Indian restaurant, which offers an inventive journey through Indian cuisine. Opt for the tapas bar for street-style snacks like golgappa and papri chaat, which can be enjoyed a la carte or in a tasting menu format, or experience a full spread in its sharply designed dining room, with sumptuous dishes like pork vindaloo, the festive whole Queens duck served with rumali pancakes and tamarind hoisin, and a world of breads, including spinach and goat cheese kulcha and whisky naan. The restaurant also makes for an easy late-night transition, with a lounge area and compelling cocktails, including the smooth “New Fashioned” made with cardamom-spiced syrup.

Max Otter Productions

10 p.m. Cake at Dessert Gallery

If dinner ends early enough, a visit to the Dessert Gallery is essential. The shop, which closes around 10 p.m. during the week and at midnight on the weekends, is a late-night draw for diners in search of cake, cookies, or caffeinated pick-me-ups. Crowd-pleasers include the brookie, a brownie-cookie dessert hybrid, and the decadent, multi-layered chocolate mousse cake.

Becca Wright

11 p.m. Late Night: Decisions, Decisions

End the night with a bang at Two Tones Dueling Piano Bar, which promises live music played by at least two artists on pianos, plus drinks and shots aplenty, or check out the swanky Como Social Club, which offers live music until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Those looking to do a little bar hopping should stay on Waterway Square, where people-watching and no-frills drinking experiences are a guarantee, particularly at Mahoney’s and Bar Louie.

Things to do

• See a movie at Reel Luxury Cinemas: Dine and catch a flick at one of the fanciest movie theaters in the Houston area. Reel Luxury is outfitted with its own restaurant, the Audrey, plus private booths in-theater that offer reclining seats, blankets, and full dinner, bar, and snack service with the press of a button.
• Kayak on The Woodlands Waterway: Riva Row Boat House rents out a bevy of individual and tandem watercrafts, including stand-up paddle boards, a variety of kayaks, water bikes, and swan boats for further exploration of the Waterway.

• Catch a concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. While planning your weekend in the Woodlands, check the lineup at this popular outdoor music venue and book your favorite artist. Pro-tip: Schedule dinner or drinks beforehand in Market Street at wine bar and restaurant Sixty Vines or Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen. The dining and retail district is just a four-minute walk from Cynthia Woods, which will help avoid the traffic that’s common before and after music performances.
• Test your limits at Texas Treeventures: This aerial treehouse adventure course in Rob Fleming Park will have you swinging from the trees, with three levels of challenging obstacles that participants can choose to match their comfort and skill levels. Admission is $40 to $45 per person.

Ted Washington

Lodging

If staying longer than 24 hours, choosing where to stay in The Woodlands is essential to building your ideal dining and drinking itinerary.

The Westin

Stay in the center of it all at the Westin on the Waterway, a walkable area that’s packed with various restaurants and bars. The hotel is just a stone’s throw from some of the area’s best restaurants, including Tris and Amrina, casual haunts like Grimaldi’s and Hearsay, and bars like Bar Louie, Texas-Irish bar Mahoney’s, and the chic Rose Rooftop. Acquaint yourself with the area by walking along the waterfront that leads to Riva Row Boat House, which rents out kayaks and paddleboards, or hop on The Woodlands’ trolley, which will take you to surrounding areas teeming with places to eat and drink. But if looking to stay central, the Westin offers its own pool, bar, and on-site Italian restaurant, Sorriso.

The Woodlands Resort

Those looking for a more all-in-one experience that feels like a true escape should consider The Woodlands Resort. Nestled in a wooded area, this family-friendly resort has its own impressive golf course, restaurant, bar, and a massive pool area with a lazy river, numerous waterslides, and poolside food and bar service with ice cream — meaning leaving is not necessary. The resort is, however, a short ride or drive from the city’s action and dining areas. Rent one of its bikes and cruise the surrounding miles of verdant trails leading to local neighborhoods and the long-running local farmers market, which runs weekly in the Grogan Mills’s shopping center on Saturday mornings. Or drive or take a rideshare service to one of The Woodlands’ many nearby restaurants or bars.

Getting Around

Visitors staying or dining near areas like The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, the Waterway, or Hughes Landing can take advantage of The Woodlands Town Center Trolley. The free trolley traverses a 4.1-mile route that connects all of The Woodlands’s main dining, retail, and hotel areas, which are largely walkable upon arrival. Wait times are usually under 10 minutes thanks to multiple trolleys in service. Otherwise, driving or rideshare is one of the easiest ways to get around the area.

Nick Wolda