It’s worth hunting out the best skyline scenic views in Houston. Whether you’re a longtime Houston resident and you want to make the most of the city, or you’re heading here for a vacation, and you want to take it all in while you can. There are, of course, some incredible places that you must visit.
Best Skyline Scenic Views in Houston
We’ve chosen a mixture of venues – parks, restaurants, bars, event spaces, art installations, and rooftop cinemas. They all have something unique to offer, with incredible views of the breathtaking Houston skyline.
We’ll give you the key details, including the address and website (if available), and we’ll let you know the kind of features you can expect to find there.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic restaurant for a date night or a beautiful trail to walk along after work, we’ve got you covered.
Without further ado, here are our top 10 best spots in Houston to enjoy the view!
1. Eleanor Tinsley Park
| Address: | 3600 Allen Pkwy Houston, TX 77019 |
| Website: | https://buffalobayou.org/ |
| Features: | Park, suitable for kids and dogs, street parking, wheelchair accessible |
Eleanor Tinsley Park offers a breathtaking scenic view of the city. Known as one of the best parks in Houston, it has paved trails for bikes and a separate path for walkers alongside the river.
It has a large green area with an incredible view of the city skyline, with a sand volleyball court. You can hang out here with friends and enjoy the view or walk to nearby bridges for a different perspective. Lock Bridge is worth a visit, partly for the views and partly to enjoy the sight of the padlocks previous visitors have left behind.
You can also enjoy the beautiful gardens, like the Eleanor Tinsley Garden (named after late civic activist and city council member Eleanor Tinsley) or the Jane Gregory Garden. You can also enjoy events in the open-air Nau Family Pavilion.
A trail connects you directly to the Sabine Promenade, another beautiful spot to explore.
2. Z on 23 Rooftop
| Address: | 1121 Walker St Fl 23 Zutro Restaurant Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website: | https://www.zutrorestaurant.com/ |
| Features: | Restaurant, bar, suitable for friends, good for date nights |
Z on 23 Rooftop has an incredible view of Houston. Head to the rooftop bar for some delicious cocktails and a gorgeous, sweeping view of the city. It’s a fantastic place to go with friends or on a date night to create special memories and get a different view of the city.
You can get some American comfort food in the bar, including chicken wings, burgers, sliders, and sweet and spicy shrimp. You can also grab some amazing cocktails, like the appropriately named Skyline Smash or the Z Old Fashioned.
There is a restaurant inside, which is slightly more formal. Dishes include bone-in ribeye steaks and Spanish chicken stew.
We’d recommend heading to Z on 23 for cocktails and a light bite to eat if you want to feel as though you’re right in the middle of the action of Houston.
Keep Reading: 6 Best Restaurants With a View in Houston
3. Rooftop Cinema Club Downtown
| Address: | 1700 Post Oak Blvd Fl 5 Houston, TX 77056 |
| Website: | https://rooftopcinemaclub.com/ |
| Features: | Cinema, popcorn, and snacks |
The Rooftop Cinema Club Downtown is an incredible experience to try something different. The doors open before the screening so that you can enjoy the gorgeous skyline around you. The movie will start after the sun goes down so that you can enjoy stargazing at the same time.
You’ll be given a pair of headphones to watch the movie, which means you’ll be able to enjoy the plot without being disturbed by the noise of the city. In addition, you may choose between a single deckchair, or a love seat for two, making it an ideal location for a date. The chairs are adjustable, so you can lean back and enjoy the views.
They offer some food here so that you can enjoy a bite to eat as you watch. Additionally, the box office contains candy and popcorn, and you can choose from cocktails, beers, and wine.
It’s a great place to go for families too. However, they recommend that guests only bring children aged five and over. This is because people over five can comfortably wear wireless headphones.
4. Twilight Epiphany Skyspace
| Address: | 6100 Main St Houston, TX 77005 |
| Website: | https://moody.rice.edu/james-turrell-twilight-epiphany-skyspace |
| Features: | Art installation |
The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace is a public art exhibition located near the School of Music on the campus of Rice University. It’s a short-but-sweet experience well worth visiting if you want a unique view of the city.
The downstairs area allows you to sit in the middle, gazing directly up at the sky. You can see far into the city skyline if you head up to the benches. The structure itself is beautiful, and it lights up as the sun begins to set. It’s a good idea to get in line about 30 minutes before the sunset to get a seat.
A volunteer will come out every night to explain the meaning of the art piece. It’s a great place to sit and meditate or get a fresh perspective of Houston.
5. Buffalo Bayou Park
| Address: | 105 Sabine St Houston, TX 77007 |
| Website: | https://buffalobayou.org/ |
| Features: | Park with walking and biking trails, suitable for families, good for date nights |
Buffalo Bayou Park is enormous, containing gardens with a gorgeous view of the skyline. The bayou winds through it, giving you some more incredible views, and it’s a great place to go walking or biking. There’s also a bat colony here, which is something to look out for!
It’s such a large park that it’s worth checking out the maps, which you’ll find in various spots on the footpaths, allowing you to figure out which direction you want to go in. There are pavilions here, with events taking place throughout the year.
There are food trucks here on rotation, so you’ll be able to pick up some food, too, including delicious ice cream in warmer weather.
The one thing to note is that parking can be difficult, so it’s worth researching where you might park your car beforehand.
You May Like: 7 Best Parks in Houston for Pictures and Picnics
6. Upstairs Bar and Lounge
| Address: | 2356 Rice Blvd Fl 2 Houston, TX 77005 |
| Website: | https://upstairsbarandlounge.com/ |
| Features: | Bar and restaurant, good for friends, good for date nights |
Upstairs Bar and Lounge is a busy restaurant and bar with an incredible view of the city. Choose to eat from the treetop terrace if you want the best possible view.
There’s some delicious food here, including the honey ginger salmon, salads, penne bolognese, pizzas, and burgers. The drinks are also great. You can get a craft beer or a glass of wine, scotch, bourbon, or you can choose from one of their cocktails. For example, the blackberry ginger margarita is excellent, or try the blueberry basil lemonade.
We’d recommend checking out Upstairs Bar and Lounge for date nights or evenings out with friends or to celebrate a special occasion.
7. We Love Houston Sign
| Address: | 2305 Polk St Houston, TX 77003 |
| Website: | N/A |
| Features: | Local landmark, suitable for tourists |
If you want to play tourist, or you are a tourist visiting Houston for the first time, we’d recommend checking out the We Love Houston sign. It’s a great place to go for a selfie. While there’s not much else to say about it, it does offer a great view of the city behind it, and it makes a great introduction to Houston!
8. White Oak Bayou Trail
| Address (for parking): | 3012 White Oak Dr 77007, 603 Rutland St Houston 77007, 2973-3199 Katy Freeway Service Road 77007 |
| Website: | N/A |
| Features: | Trail for biking and walking, water fountains |
The White Oak Bayou trail is 17 miles long, running alongside the bayou. It offers some gorgeous views of the city skyline and looks even more incredible at night. It’s a great place to go to switch up your exercise routine.
It’s pretty hilly, with a mixture of asphalt and concrete, but the paths are well maintained. It makes an excellent route for walkers, runners, and cyclists, with incredible views along the way. In addition, you’ll pass a series of parks, which are nice to stop and rest in.
The pedestrian areas get quite busy at certain times of the day. There are water fountains dotted around, but they’re spaced out fairly apart, so it’s a good idea to bring a water bottle with you.
9. The Houston Club
| Address: | 910 Louisiana St Ste 4900 Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website: | https://www.clubcorp.com/clubs/the-houston-club |
| Features: | Restaurant, bar |
The Houston Club is located atop One Shell Plaza, giving you a breathtaking view of the city skyline. In addition, it’s close to the theatre district, making it the perfect place to eat if you’re going to see a show.
The food is great. You can go for handheld food (sandwiches, burgers, sliders, etc.) or seafood, like blackened shrimp or five-spiced bay salmon. There are some vegan and vegetarian options too, and it has a full-stocked bar if you want a drink too.
We’d recommend going to The Houston Club for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion. The combination of great food and the gorgeous view makes for a unique experience.
10. The Raven Tower
| Address: | 310 N St Houston, TX 77009 |
| Website: | https://raventower.net/ |
| Features: | Restaurant, bar, music, events |
The Raven Tower has beautiful rooms with large windows, allowing you to gaze out onto the city skyline. You can grab a drink here (they have a selection of 24 draft beers, cans, bottles, spirits, and wine, as well as specialty cocktails and happy hour specials).
Local food truck Cosmo Flamingo is stationed here sometimes, usually Thursday until Saturday, offering fantastic street food. Burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and other light bites are available here.
Events are going on in The Raven Tower throughout the year, or you can just chill out in the large outdoor patio (it has over 3,000 square feet of patio space!). Of course, you can book a room here for parties and special occasions, too.
Summary
We hope this has helped you find the best-hidden gems in Houston to see the city. If you want to keep exploring, check out the rest of our guides, like the 10 Best Vintage Clothing Stores in Houston, Texas, or the 7 Best Christmas Lights in Houston Worth a Visit.