Despite being the largest city in Texas and a whirring hub of America’s global economy (only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 companies), Houston is one of the country’s best-kept secrets, blending Southern hospitality with cutting-edge industry in a one-of-a-kind cultural enclave. Founded in 1836, just months after the Republic of Texas won its independence from Mexico, Houston is steeped in rich, fascinating history.
Embrace its heritage at Allen’s Landing, the city’s birthplace upon which the University of Houston now sits and which is often described as ‘Houston’s heart,’ before stepping into the past with an afternoon tour of Bayou Bend, a sprawling antebellum plantation whose 28 rooms — housing the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s (MFAH) Bayou Bend Collection — serve as the cultural centrifuge of Houston’s Memorial Park. There is plenty to see at the MFAH, including a stunning permanent collection of Van Goghs, O’Keeffes and Warhols, plus some exciting temporary exhibitions.
For a more energetic option, schedule a tee time at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, a short, 20-minute drive from Houston and home of the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open since its opening in 2003. The club’s Tournament Course will pose a challenge for even the most experienced golfer, and offers a fine taste of Houston heritage for the history-inclined, as an array of Atakapa Indian artifacts were unearthed during the course’s construction.
Where to sleep
Four Seasons set up shop in the heart of Houston’s downtown district with laid-back Texas charm and one of the most stunning suites below the Mason-Dixon line. The Penthouse Suite is the largest of Four Seasons Houston’s 12 specialty suites, filling nearly 2,000 sq ft of the hotel’s top floor. It comes with marble baths, a refrigerated bar and a spacious dining room, plus sweeping views of the city.
1300 Lamar Street, +1 713 650 1300, fourseasons.com/houston
Where to eat
Da Marco is unquestionably Houston’s premier food destination. It has a menu full of Italian classics with Lone Star State portions. The 48 oz La Fiorentina porterhouse steak is an undertaking fit for two. Yet it is the breadth of Da Marco’s wine list, culled from virtually every corner of Italy, that truly embodies the slogan ‘Everything Is Bigger in Texas’ — to put it mildly…
1520 Westheimer Road, +1 713 807 8857, damarcohouston.com
Where to fly
Helping to keep business jetting in and out of one of the most important economic centers in the US, Million Air Houston boasts quick turn times, Mercedes crew cars and an inviting hospitality bar, all within Houston’s Hobby Airport. Visiting CEOs can use the business center and on-site concierge service, which helps visitors pick the perfect restaurant for work, play and everything in between.
Million Air Houston (HOU), Hobby Airport 7555 Ipswich Road, Houston, TX 77061; info.hou@millionair.com, +1 713 640 4000, millionair.com
