15 Things to Do at Night in Houston
- Enjoy a Night of Laughs at Houston Improv
- Take Pics of James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace
- Watch The Classics at The Rooftop Cinema Club
- Enjoy Live Music At The Axelrad Beer Garden
- Have Fun with Friends at the Escape Garden
- See Turtle Racing at Little Woodrow’s
- Learn More about Nature at Houston’s Arboretum at Night
- Roam Around Houston’s Chinatown
- Dance at The Houston Swing Dance Society
- Play Ball in Peggy Park
- Enjoy Drinks at The Sugar Room
- Rekindle Your Inner Child at Cidercade Houston
- Have a Drink at notsuoH
- See How The Stars Shine At The George Observatory
- Discover The Luck of The Irish at Shamrock Inn Pub
With areas like Washington Ave. and Montrose, Houston’s nightlife is ubiquitous for being as fun as it is sparkly. But what if we tell you that there’s a lot more you can do than just bar-hopping and dinner?
Much like any other city, Houston has lots of nighttime activities for you to discover. And much like any other hidden gems, you will need some good research to know what they have to offer.
And that’s exactly why we’re here – to provide you with a handy guide for the things to do at night in Houston!
1. Enjoy a Night of Laughs at Houston Improv
Address: Marq-E Entertainment Center, 7620 Katy Fwy #45, Houston, TX 77024
Phone Number: 713-333-8800
Hours: Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Sunday: 6:30 PM – 11:55 PM
Houston Improv is the de facto Houston comedy club that hosts a wealth of comedy icons for a show that will leave you in stitches! But if you’re confident in your comedy skills, you can also test out your comedy chops in their open mic nights.
With comedy icons like Gary Owen and Loni Love performing, Houston Improv has been at the forefront of the city’s comedy scene. If you ask us, it’s a great way to unwind after a long day at work!
Houston Improv’s roster is filled with comedy stars everywhere, plus their open mic nights will be sure to leave you in stitches, too!
You can drink and dine while enjoying a night of laughs, since they have a wide selection of beverages and food items to choose from. Plus they have a two-drink minimum so you can have a lot of fun there during showtime.
| Pro Tips: You can buy tickets to the events, but seats are still on a first come, first served basis, even for VIP ticket holders! We suggest going there at least an hour or 45 minutes earlier before the event to secure the seats you like! |
2. Take Pics of James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace
Address: Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion, Houston, TX 77005
Phone Number: 713-348-2787
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace is an autonomous, multipurpose light structure that has been a Houston staple since 2012. The best part is you can visit it for free – and take pictures with it, too!
The Twilight Epiphany’s night show is marvelous, but their morning show starts relatively early so you might catch it if you’ve just finished your night out.
The Twilight Epiphany is also acoustically engineered to give good music too. Its unorthodox glass, concrete, stone, and composite steel construction is unique compared to other musical structures since it conducts acoustics.
It also serves as the laboratory by the Shepherd School of Music’s laboratory too, so you can catch students performing there every now and again too.
| Pro Tips: James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace also hosts musical and live performances. And if you’re lucky enough then you might just catch an impromptu performance by a rising band! |
3. Watch The Classics at The Rooftop Cinema Club
Address: 1700 Post Oak Blvd 5th Level, Houston, TX 77056
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Rooftop Cinema Club is a unique nighttime movie experience in Houston since you’re not surrounded by speakers or walls. Instead, your backdrop will be Houston Galleria’s nighttime scenery!
Rooftop Cinema Club is located at the top of BLVD Place, and it has lots of movie screenings for you to check out.
As of the time of writing, they’re currently screening cult classics like Pulp Fiction and Grease. But if you’re into more modern films then they also screen box office hits like Barbie, too.
They also have a wide selection of food and alcoholic drink options to choose from other than the typical popcorn and soda you’d expect from a movie theatre! That means yes – you can pregame and be a bit on the tipsier side before watching a movie.
| Pro Tips: We’re sorry to all Indie film enthusiasts – Rooftop Cinema Club mainly caters to the mainstream crowd. You’re better off looking at other cinemas if you’re looking to discover good Indie films! |
4. Enjoy Live Music At The Axelrad Beer Garden
Address: 1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone Number: 713-597-8800
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 2 PM – 12 AM
Friday – Sunday: 12 PM – 2 AM
When it comes to bars in Houston, Axelrad Beer Garden is a staple for a reason! They have an extensive list of locally sourced craft beers that you can enjoy and live music to boot. And have we mentioned that they have hammocks, too?
Axelrad always has live performances from bands all year round, so every visit is sure to be different. Their wide space also means more room for anyone to enjoy and have fun, and the hammocks are a nice touch for you to relax in, too.
| Pro Tips: Axelrad doesn’t offer food, but they do have food trucks that change daily, which offers great variety. We recommend visiting every Monday for Umbrella Fellas’ $10 Monterey Dog! |
5.Have Fun with Friends at the Escape Garden
Address: 794 Sorella Ct #127, Houston, TX 77024
Phone Number: 713-999-1496
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8 AM – 12 AM
A nighttime escape room that you and your friends can have fun in, The Escape Garden should be your next go to! With 7 rooms that are catered to both first-timers and escape room aficionados alike,
The Escape Game has two branches in Houston, one in CityCentre and one in Galleria. Both venues have 4 rooms in common, but CityCentre has the more beginner-friendly options.
They open until midnight, so you and your friends can spend your life trying to escape their creative rooms. Plus, you can also ask your Game Guide as many hints without being penalized too which is a nice handicap.
| Pro Tips: The Gold Rush, The Depths, and Playground rooms in their CityCentre location share the same difficulty level. But if it’s your first time, we suggest trying out The Depths for a good challenge! |
6. See Turtle Racing at Little Woodrow’s
Address: 2306 Brazos St. Houston, TX 77006
Phone Number: 713-522-1041
Hours: Monday – Friday: 1 PM – 2 AM
Saturday – Sunday: 12 PM – 2 AM
A Houston restaurant with a unique twist, what makes Little Woodrow’s unique is the Turtle Races that they hold at 8 PM every Thursday from March – November!
The Turtle Racing is free too, so all you have to do is take your pick on the turtle and bet on it. It’s a slow race, but it’s fun and a different form of entertainment that you would never expect from a city like Houston.
But if you’re not into betting on turtles and just want to drink and have fun with your friends, then Little Woodrow also has 50+ options for beer alone for you to choose from, along with supersized lawn games too!
Yes, you read that right – supersized games! Think, a game of Jenga, Connect Four, Cornhole, and a lot more, but a lot bigger than you’re used to. It’
| Pro Tips: Little Woodrow’s also hosts Pay-Per-View sports events. However, the TV can get a little loud, so we suggest not to sit too close to it. |
7. Learn More about Nature at Houston’s Arboretum at Night
Address: 4501 Woodway Drive Houston, TX 77024
Phone Number: 713-681-8433
Hours: 7 PM – 9 PM
A non-profit organization that hosts plenty of events both during the day and the night, Houston’s Arboretum & Nature Center has plenty of day and night activities that you and your friends can do, like the Adult Owl Prowl and Meadow Happy Hour Trail!
The Adult Owl Prowl, taught by The Wildlife Center of Texas about owls, while letting you interact with some of them before going out on a trail to see them in their natural habitat. You also get free snacks and some Saint Arnold’s Beer, too!
The Meadow Happy Hour Trail meanwhile is more of a come-and-go event where you can do anything you want in their trail like making seed balls and sweeping nettings for insects. There are also no classes before too, so you can do things at your own pace.\
| Pro Tips: Tickets for these events are a hot commodity, and can be sold out faster than you think! We suggest buying tickets a month or two earlier on their website beforehand. |
8. Roam Around Houston’s Chinatown
Address: 11200 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072, USA
Hours: Open 24 hours
Although most Chinatown restaurants close in the evening, there are still some bars and KTVs that you can visit for a good night out! Several KTVs, like Cloud 9 No Stress and GiAu Bar n’ Bites can give you a good time.
KTV hopping is a good activity that most people do in Chinatown, with the aforementioned 2 KTV bars being some of the most prominent ones. But if you’re with a large party of friends, we suggest trying out Happy Zone KTV!
But if you’re more of a gamer, then the Black Ants Gaming Lab is a 24/7 gaming cafe that you can visit any time of the day if you want to game ‘til you drop! They also host tournaments for competitive League of Legends and Valorant players too.
You can also visit CLIMB 59 in Chinatown which is open until 1 AM every day if you’re an active person. It has both beginner-friendly courses and a 35 Ft. walls that can give thrill-seekers a rush of adrenaline!
| Pro Tips: Houston’s Chinatown is huge, and if you plan to do some KTV-hopping, then you’ll need to either have a car or Uber vouchers to save both time and money. |
9. Dance at The Houston Swing Dance Society
Address: Beltway 8 Medical Plaza, 6609 W Sam Houston Pkwy S #202, Houston, TX 77072
Hours: Monday – Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
A Sunday evening dance class for both beginners and professionals, the Houston Swing Dance Society is a volunteer-run organization that strives to teach and preserve the art of 20s jazz dances!
Their classes are only on the first two Sundays for the first three months of the year, but there will be more classes once April starts. The classes also last for an hour per group, depending on the class as well.
You can also apply to their classes no matter your current skill level too, since they have classes for both beginners and professionals alike! Their teachers also match your current skill level too, which is great especially to those that are just starting out.
| Pro Tips: If you’re struggling to learn a certain dance move, they have a one-on-one, personalized teaching session in the “teacher’s corner”! |
10. Play Ball in Peggy Park
Address: 4101 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004
Phone Number: 832-395-7000
Hours: Open 24 hours
Unlike other more famous Houston parks, Peggy Park is open 24/7 for anyone to visit and walk around in. It’s a lot smaller but there’s lots of space for you to walk around in!
What we like best about this park is that it has one of the few 24/7 basketball courts open to the public! There aren’t many open basketball parks that are open all day in Houston, which makes it more special.
| Pro Tips: Remember, Peggy Park is a community park. If you plan to play during the night, we suggest playing quieter to make sure you’re not disturbing the neighborhood. |
11. Enjoy Drinks at The Sugar Room
Address: 5120 Washington Ave Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 832-388-3288
Hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 5 PM- 2 AM
To the people who keep on saying “bring back the good old days,” then this one’s for you. The Sugar Room is a hush-hush speakeasy that gives you drinks reminiscent of the good old days, without the dangers of being arrested.
Like the good ‘ol 20s speakeasies, Sugar Room is significantly harder to find, compared to other bars. But unlike the traditional speakeasies, you won’t need a special password to enter, or to knock in a specific manner. All you have to do now is to find them!
Their artisanal drinks, much like the atmosphere, are reminiscent of the speakeasies of the past. The distinct flavor profile of their drinks, especially their Garnet Manhattan, is something to try out.
The Sugar Room also has an extensive spirits list if you’re not in the mood for cocktails. We do have to remind you that most of their spirits, especially their Tequilas, come from high-end brands.
| Pro Tips: The Sugar Room has a strict dress code before you enter! If you’re planning to visit them, do not wear flip-flops or Jordans, otherwise the bouncers will not let you enter. You’re also not allowed to wear ball caps and tennis shoes! |
12. Rekindle Your Inner Child at Cidercade Houston
Address: 2320 Canal St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77003
Phone Number: 281-787-2726
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10 AM – 12 AM
An arcade that’s open until late in the evening, Cidercade Houston has a good variety of games that you and your friends can enjoy! They have lots to choose from – like iconic fighting games like Tekken and Guilty Gear to party games like Mario Kart!
There are plenty of other games to choose from though, with the total number totaling to 275 – and still counting! All-day passes cost $12, while an all-month play will cost $20. This means that you won’t need to carry around loose change with you to the arcade!
| Pro Tips: Unlike other arcades, you can bring your food to Cidercade Houston. But if you’re not going to do that, then they have food trucks on their property! You can check out their website to learn more about the schedule ahead of time. |
13. Have a Drink at notsuoH
Address: 314 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
Phone Number: 713-321-0824
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 7 PM – 2 AM
Friday – Sunday: 2 PM – 2 AM
An underground dive-slash-art bar that’s essentially Houston spelled background, notsuoH can provide good drinks along with a beautiful view as well!
Think of notsuoH as an art gallery that you can drink in, and you’re right on the money. However, that’s just half of the story, since the chill atmosphere, plus a more relaxed crowd, and handcrafted, artisan drinks equals a more enjoyable experience.
Artist and owner Jim Pirtle built the place on top of a building built in 1893 on 314 St. (yes, that’s Pie backwards). Since then, both him and co-owner Missy Bosch has adorned the place with eccentric decor from Houston locals.
Although their drinks are on the more limited side, it still has a good flavor profile that we greatly appreciate and can really elevate the vibe, especially their Aperol Spritz.
| Pro Tips: notsuoH has 3 floors, with the 4th being the owner’s chamber. We recommend dropping by the 3rd floor and checking out the small planetarium |
14. See How The Stars Shine At The George Observatory
Address: 21901 FM 762 Rd, Needville, TX 77461
Phone Number: 281-242-3055
Hours: Sunday – Friday: Closed
Saturday: 9 PM – 11 PM
One of the few nighttime observatories in Houston, George Observatory lets you see the wonders of the galaxy from their stargazing dome!
George Observatory is located along Brazos Bend State Park’s open space, which is the ideal place for stargazing on a clear, summer night. They’re also open on Saturdays all-year round too, but you can’t stargaze if it’s raining or if it’s cloudy.
You can still visit them even when it’s cloudy out, since George Observatory also hosts a Milky Way Exhibit during their Saturday Stargazing! The museum lets you take a glimpse on what outer space is like, along with displays about the moon and meteorites!
| Pro Tips: Tickets sell very fast, and you need to book your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your desired date! You can still view them even on outcast weather since they will show projections of their previously-acquired images! |
15. Discover The Luck of The Irish at Shamrock Inn Pub
Address: 9161 S Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77074
Phone Number: 713-777-5700
Hours: 11 AM – 12 AM
If you’re looking for a true-blue (or in this case, green) Irish pub in Houston, then the iconic Shamrock Inn Pub should be your next go-to in the evenings! And with their good food, you will be enjoying your time in this authentic Irish experience!
They have daily specials too, with the Bacon Burger being the complete standout! Add that with good music from rock icons like Led Zeppelin and Guns N’ Roses, and you’re in for an Irish hello – and no, we don’t mean the Urban Dictionary kind!
| Pro Tips: Shamrock Inn Pub gets busy, so we suggest sending them a private message on Facebook to reserve seats! |
