11 Best Hotels in Houston
Whether you find yourself in Houston for business or pleasure, the city serves its visitors a sophisticated selection of places to retreat after full day on the go. And if you find yourself flustered on where to even begin your search, might we suggest location as a tried-and-true starting point? Each pocket of The Space City has its own personality that has been shaped by these hotels—la of which offer experiences and amenities that can help boost your stay. From the hottest new properties in downtown Houston, to proximity to the home of the Astros, to hip areas like Montrose, read on for our list of where to stay in Houston.
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hotelThe Moran CityCentre
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Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019If you need a good place to stay in the Energy Corridor, you won't be let down by The Moran, which offers modern rooms in a buzzy location near shops, dining, and entertainment (it's right by Memorial City's CityCentre Plaza). We stayed in a Classic King room, which had views of the Energy Corridor. The Monnalisa bar has live music, and a third-floor floor is a nice little respite from the comings and goings at street level.
Courtesy The Houstonian Hotel, Club & SpahotelThe Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2021The Houstonian, a welcome reprieve from urban life, is not a place one stumbles upon just by happenstance; rather, you're probably here for a wedding or huge family event. The sprawling grounds, which are lush with beautiful botanicals, have amenities galore, including a number of pools—a sports pool, a resort pool, a garden pool—as well as a 175,000-square-foot health and fitness club offering everything from tennis to Pilates.
Don RiddlehotelFour Seasons Hotel Houston
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022Walking into the Four Seasons is like stepping into an exclusive club that has been around for ages. The interior—all marble and mahogany—manages to straddle the line between Texas traditional and contemporary. The newly renovated gym is open 24 hours a day, and the hotel is kid-friendly to the umpteenth degree, with activities like mommy-and-me yoga, movies by the pool, and pizza-making class. The hotel occupies a prime central location downtown, just steps from the convention center, which means it gets its fair of share of business travelers, and for good reason: With its stellar staff, amenities, and accommodations, the Four Seasons is second to none in the The Bayou City.
Terry Vine/Courtesy The Lancaster HotelhotelLancaster Hotel
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the multi-million dollar renovation of The Lancaster, a historic hotel that enjoys a great location in the heart of the Houston Theater District. Fresh off a renovation that ended in fall 2019, the 93 guest rooms and suites boast luxurious touches like Carrara marble and upscale finishes, along with Bulgari toiletries and Fretté linens. There's a new focus on contemporary art, with each room featuring a unique piece, as well as a new on-site restaurant.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
Julie Soefer/Courtesy Hotel ZaZa Museum DistricthotelHotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021Hotel ZaZa, which is around the corner from the Houston Museum of Fine Art, is a sophisticated, yet sexy, place where business and leisure coexist. The Houston We Have a Problem suite, one of ZaZa's so-called Concept Suites, goes all in on the theme with a moon-inspired couch and a life-size astronaut statue presiding over one corner. The space is huge—more than 1,000 square feet—with a large, executive-style table that seats as many as eight people. An extensive poolside menu offers adult popsicles and drinks by the pitcher; the fitness machines have individual TVs (hallelujah), and the Have No Mercy deep-tissue massage at ZaSpa is to die for. The restaurant, meanwhile, draws a mix of locals and hotel guests; its terrace has good views of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mecom Foundation.
Courtesy Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial CityhotelHotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020, 2021If you find the check-in process at the Memorial City location of Hotel ZaZa to be a blur, no one could possibly blame you; after all, who wouldn't want to rush to get upstairs to the posh pool? It's like a slice of Palm Springs in Houston. We splurged on the French Connection Suite, one of the themed Magnificent Seven Suites, which boasts sexy decor, marble accents in the bathroom, and a cozy balcony and sitting area. The poodle statue next to the toilet is a whimsical touch.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
Courtesy of St. Regis Hotels & ResortshotelThe St. Regis Houston
$$Located in between the prestigious River Oaks neighborhood and The Galleria, the luxurious St. Regis looks a bit like a glamorous high-rise condominium. Junior suites have a separate sleeping area and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the pool and River Oaks. The king-size beds have a pillow top, and the bathrooms are outfitted in granite and marble—another reminder that no, this isn't your typical Houston hotel. Note, also, that Afternoon Tea is a storied tradition at The St. Regis, no matter the location.
hotelHotel Granduca Houston
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018From the moment you step foot into the Granduca in Uptown Park, you'll feel like you're staying in an Italian villa. The decor feels like it's been lifted from a B&B in Tuscany; one junior suite had a spacious floor plan with a living room, dining room, bedroom, and bathroom with a very large walk-in shower. An enchanting pool is an ideal perch for happy hour (try The 1080, the hotel's signature cocktail), and there's also a great Afternoon Tea.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
Dan Ham/Courtesy JW Marriott Houston DowntownhotelJW Marriott Houston Downtown
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023Located in one of the buzziest business districts in Houston, the JW Marriott attracts an elite group of business travelers seeking top-notch service and amenities without the fuss that are sometimes associated with boutique hotels. Rooms are impressively sleek and spacious; amenities include free wifi, an iPad for ordering room service or book spa treatments, and Nespresso machines; and The Spa by JW offers an array of interesting treatments, including foot soaks, massages, and facials.
Courtesy The Post Oak HotelhotelThe Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023This is the most expensive hotel in Houston and that's something that you notice. The Post Oak's billionaire owner Tilman Fertitta spared nothing here. He believes, for example, that a great hotel needs great art, so he put large works on display throughout (he's particularly fond of the Frank Stella in the entry). But it's not luxury for luxury's sake. "Luxury equals convenience," says Fertitta. "The design [here] is for the customer." Whether you're considering shaving your legs in the bathtub, looking to workout in your room or just really in need of a comfortable seat for watching TV, it's all been considered. And the 20,000-square-foot urban spa on the hotel’s fifth floor is absolutely a thing of beauty.
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