Queer Houston Texas Guide From Will & James

The fifth stop as we “Get Back Out There” is the multicultural city of Houston, which happens to be the fourth largest in America and known as the “Energy Capital of the World.” It’s a bustling city full of art, science, food, and culture all with a unique Texas flare, providing a little bit of something for every type of traveler. We only scratched the surface of what this city has to offer but here’s a brief guide as to what we did during our trip!

Will & James between the sheets at the Royal Sonesta

Royal Sonesta

The Royal Sonesta at the Houston Galleria is centrally located for all the major activities you’d want to do while visiting the city. The rooms are incredibly comfortable and provide everything that you could need during your getaway, with amenities like an outdoor pool, business center, and on-site fine dining. If you’re looking for the best shopping, you can walk over to The Galleria, which is the largest mall in Texas with over 375 stores filling four floors. If you’re looking for delicious cuisine or the LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Houston, the Montrose District is located 4-miles from the property.

Some of the delicious offerings at the LGBTQ+ owned Koffeteria bakery

Koffeteria

Located in the heart of East Downtown, referred to as “EaDo,” is an inviting LGBTQ+ owned and family-run bakery, called Koffeteria, that “celebrates the flavors of Houston.” Their menu is filled with creative, delicious, and seasonal pastries that will be sure to satisfy any foodie. We loved meeting with pastry chef Owner, Vanarin Kuch, and front of house manager, Andreas Hager who also happens to be Van’s husband.

Will and James chatting with Koffeteria pastry chef Vanarin Kuch

During our visit with them, we jumped at the opportunity to ask what menu items they recommend. We tried a little bit of everything but to this day, can’t stop thinking about how flavorful the popular Pistachio Baklava is. It was definitely a highlight of our tasting experience! If you’re looking for the perfect place to gather with your travel companions or to reunite with old friends over coffee and a delicious pastry, we recommend visiting Koffeteria on your next trip to Houston!

Will and James discover Houston is a museum mecca

Museum of Fine Art, Q-Fest Houston

Houston’s Museum District is home to over 150 museums with focuses spanning from nature, art, science, history, and more. It’s a beautiful district of Houston that we really enjoyed walking around. We paid a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts and quickly lost track of time as we explored the wide variety of exhibitions and installations it had to offer. It also has a history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community of Houston as it hosts Houston’s Annual International LGBTQ Film Festival, Q-Fest. Unfortunately, after celebrating twenty-five incredible years, this was the last year for this premier event.

The Postino Montrose pays tribute to the gay history of the district.

Postino’s WineCafe (Montrose District)

We visited Houston at the perfect time because it was Pride weekend and ended our time in the Montrose District to take part in the celebratory festivities. Up until 2016, this area of town was home to the oldest gay bar known as The Montrose Mining Company, which operated from 1978 to 2016. It’s now a restaurant called Postino’s WineCafe, that continues to pay tribute to the gay bars that were previously housed in this space. Its history is proudly displayed on the walls throughout the restaurant in the form of photos and posters. Postino’s menu was incredible and we certainly enjoyed our fair share of wine. After enjoying our meal, we visited a few of the gay bars that line the streets of the Montrose District, all of which were proudly showcasing their Pride flags. The LGBTQ+ community of Houston is vibrant and ready to welcome you!

Will & James toast Postino’s WineCafe and Houston!

Watch the Houston episode of our series Get Back Out There below: