There are loads of fun and exciting things to do in H-Town, and that’s no different when night falls. In fact, we’d say that the city comes alive more than ever after sunset. Music fans flock to live music venues, cinephiles fill up the nighttime screenings at movie theaters and trendy bars stay packed until the early hours of the morn. Even arcades fill up with night owls on the hunt for some late-night fun. So if you need some after-hours inspo, here’s our list of things to do in Houston at night.
1. See a show at the Theater District
Houston’s Theater District spans across 17 blocks and is home to legendary venues including Alley Theatre and Jones Hall. Famous productions including In The Heights, Mamma Mia! and The Book of Mormon have graced theaters in the area and fans can also catch independent shows performed by local actors. The area also hosts nine major professional performing arts organizations including Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Symphony, so there’s no shortage of ballet, opera and symphony shows here.
2. Watch a movie on the big screen
There’s plenty of movie theaters in Houston that open until late. River Oaks Theatre and AMC Houston 8 put on screenings as late as 11pm and Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown put on late-night viewings outdoors (and the views are spectacular). Known for their enormous screens and stadium-style seating, Regal Edwards Houston Marq’E shows 3D movies starting as late as 10:40pm, making it a go-to for blockbuster enthusiasts who love catching a movie late at night.
3. Grab a late-night drink
There’s a load of unbeatable bars in Houston that open ’till the early hours of the morning. Most bars in downtown Houston close at around 2am and serve beer, wine and liqueurs as well as delicious cocktails. Houston Watch Company and Reserve 101 have an impressive selection of whiskey cocktails that are particularly inviting. Classic cocktail lovers can head to cocktail spots like Dean’s Downtown for fan favorites like the Moscow Mule, Daiquiri and margarita (they also have a happy hour(s) from 5pm-8pm everyday).
4. Experience a Candlelight concert
Candlelight concerts in Houston are gorgeous live music shows that pay tribute to a range of artists and genres. Pop stars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift get their flowers alongside classical music legends like Vivaldi and Mozart. Surrounded by thousands of candles, audiences listen to classical renditions of iconic songs and compositions inside some of Houston’s most spectacular spaces, including Lone Star Flight Museum and Resurrection MCC.
🎟️Get your tickets to Candlelight concerts in Houston here.
5. Go star gazing
Located southwest of Houston, The George Observatory is Houston Museum of Natural Science’s satellite facility. There are three huge telescopes at the observatory that are available for public viewing on Saturday nights. The last entry is at 9:30pm, and aside from the Moon and stars, on super clear nights, you might even get to see Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s belts.
6. Enjoy a side-splitting show at Drunk Shakespeare
Shakespeare plus cocktails and a ton of comedy equals Drunk Shakespeare, an unforgettable theater show that puts a drunken twist on classic literature performances. Five talented actors take to the stage to perform scenes from timeless Shakespeare tragedies, but that’s not before one of them downs five shots. Hilarity and chaos ensue as the performers do their best to keep the show on track while one of them does their best to keep up right.
🎟️Get your tickets to Drunk Shakespeare here.
7. Check out what’s going down at Discovery Green
Discovery Green is one of our favorite parks in Houston. Take a stroll around the 12-acre urban greenery at night and you’re sure to find something fun to do. A wide range of events take place here throughout the year including Screen on the Green (outdoor movie screenings) and Jazzy Sundays featuring a groovy live jazz band. There are also public art installations and water features that are lit up until the park closes at 11pm, making a late-night stroll here a must.
8. Embark on a culinary adventure in the dark
Dining in the Dark is a unique gastronomical experience that puts your senses to the ultimate test. How? Well, diners are completely blindfolded which encourages their senses of smell, taste and touch to work overtime. In turn, the flavors, scents and textures of a delicious three-course meal are heightened, making for an unforgettable dining experience featuring top-class food, impeccable service and lots of fun.
🎟️Get your tickets to Dining in the Dark in Houston here.
9. Boogie at the club
There are as many clubs in Houston as there are steakhouses. In downtown Houston, there’s Numbers for alt music fans, Bauhaus for techno lovers and Stampede Houston for a little bit of everything (reggaeton especially). Grooves of Houston is another club favorite that also has a full kitchen that cooks up delicious Gulf Coast-inspired dishes — perfect for when those early morning tummy rumbles set in.
10. Play at an arcade
Open until 12am every day, Cidercade Houston is a super cool arcade with over 275 arcade games including air hockey, pinball and skee-ball. Basketball fans can spend hours shooting hoops and there’s an interactive game floor that lets you dodge lights and take on new challenges with friends. It’s $12 for a day pass, there’s a restaurant serving 12″ pizzas and a bar with 24 craft beers on tap.