10 Things to Do in Houston at Night

The nightlife in Houston is so varied that it ranges from music tours to ghost tours. You can take advantage of the night to get to know that side of the city you didn't know about, or to enjoy a good play. It's all possible when the sun goes down in this Texas city.

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

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

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

Places to see on this tour include: the theatre district, the Downtown Aquarium, Buffalo Bayou, among other great nightlife hotspots.

Interesting details

• Price: You can find this tour for an approximate price of 40 euros per person.
• Hours and duration: The timetable for this tour is usually arranged 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 transport: This tour is done by private bus.

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

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

Surely one of the things you'll enjoy most about this tour will be the live music shows and popular singers of the city. In addition, your tour guide will show you only the best 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't miss during the tour.

Interesting details

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

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 of today, but you will also be able to see some new performances of classic plays.

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

Interesting details

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

A plan that cannot be missed during a visit to Houston for at least one day is to go dancing in the nightclubs that are so popular in the city. With a myriad of musical and tropical rhythms that are heard and danced to in these places, you are sure to love the atmosphere that is enjoyed in each one of them.

It's a special thing to do in Houston because the city is popular for its strong Latin influence, so it's not uncommon to see a vibrant Latin vibe in the bars at night. In fact, you can take a guided tour of some of the most fun bars and nightclubs in the city centre.

There are bars to suit 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 amazing 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 an 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 time 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 venues, although my recommendation is to go by private car.

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 organises and presents are generally seasonal.

One of the best things you can take advantage of with Houston Ballet 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 theatre performances. Although they are evening performances, many of the works presented by the Houston Ballet are for children, 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 can vary in price according to the show being performed, although in most cases prices range from 40 to 149 euros. Also prices can vary according to the location of each seat within the theatre.
• Timetable and duration: Performance times vary according to each performance, although in most cases they might start around 17:00. The duration is strictly dependent on each performance.
• Means of transport: You must get to the theatre to see the performances on your own, using private car, public transport, taxi or any other means of transport.

Miller Outdoor Theatre is one of the most interesting, crowded and fun theatre nights in Houston, because it is a kind of amphitheatre 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 the 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 performances at The Miller, the first is to arrive early and sit on the front benches that belong to the amphitheatre structure, but you can also bring a blanket or lawn chairs and sit on the hill just 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.
• Opening hours and duration: The Miler is available from late afternoon to late evening hours. The duration of each show will depend on the set-up that is scheduled for each night.
• Means of transport: To go to these performances you have to get there on your own. You can get there by private car, public transport or taxi.

Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck is one of the best places to enjoy live music in Houston. It's a place where you can enjoy traditional southern food and drinks from a variety of national and international cocktail bars. It's a good option if you want a fun night of good music.

If you like to sing and put your talents to the test, you can also do so in this live music venue, since many nights there is an open microphone so that fans can take the microphone and make good performances.

Of course, to participate in the so-called open mic night you have to sign up in advance, with registration starting around 18:00. 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 the opportunity to participate in the open mic.

Details of interest

• Price: Prices may vary according to the type of show and the artists performing on stage. Some of the performances are free, while others you just 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.
• Timetable and duration: The schedules and duration of each show can be found on the official website, where they constantly post information about the performances.
• Means of transport: You have to get there on your own, and you can do it by private car, public transport or taxi. If you come by private car, you will be sure to have a place to park.

This is a party area par excellence, where you will be able to visit different bars and nightclubs to have a few drinks, dance and enjoy the best nightlife in Houston. If there's one thing you'll love about The Heights, it's that you can walk from one place to another to get to know every nightclub.

And you won't just be partying in each venue, you'll be partying in the street as you walk from one establishment to the next. Some venues have terraces to enjoy good music and also sell beers and other traditional liquors. This is a good place to even include among the best places to visit in Houston for Christmas, thanks to its special atmosphere.

Interesting details

• Price: Most of these music venues don't charge admission but you will have to consume inside to stay and enjoy the different performances and shows.
• Opening 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 transport: You have to get to The Heights on your own, either by public transport, private car or taxi.

If we're talking about a high-rise experience and going a little off the beaten track to enjoy the opulence, River Oaks and West University are definitely the place to be. 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 quintessential youthful atmosphere are also features that make this area stand out, as 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 visit are: Marquis II, The Volcano, Little Woodrow's, among others.

Interesting details

• Price: Prices may vary according to the policies of each venue. In some places you don't have to pay admission, but you must consume inside to be able to 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 a parking space nearby. You can also go by taxi or public transport.

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 to visit during the night. It's not only about music and drinks, but you will also have different entertainment options such as theatre plays.

You can go to some places to simply enjoy movies, videos and music. You can also enjoy inexpensive drinks and traditional Houston food 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 has its own specialities, so you can get different types of entertainment at each of these places.

Details of interest

• Price: Prices may vary according to the venue you enter, what you should 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 in this area starts at 19:00 and lasts until the wee hours of 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, or you can also go by public transport or taxi.