5 Must Do Things in EaDo

It may be tiny, but EaDo or East Downtown has affectionately been called the “Art and Soul of the City.” Once home to the Old Chinatown, the warehouse-heavy no man’s land is slowly transforming into the city’s next haute neighborhood. From top notch Houston breweries to an energetic art and music scene, check out our five EaDo must dos.

Note: Before you visit any of the spots below, be sure to check social distancing protocols and any changes to operating hours.

5 Must Do Things in EaDo

1. Suds up at some of Houston’s finest craft breweries – The funky 8th Wonder Brewery was the first in the area, offering a killer mix of seasonals and house favorites like a throwback cream ale dubbed “Dome Faux’m.” Click here for directions. Newer to the scene but equally awesome is True Anomaly Brewing, started by four NASA guys in early 2019. Here, you’ll find beers that’ll take you on a fermented exploration of the palate, with experimental batches on classics and one-of-a-kind barrel-aged numbers. Try the Small Giant, an easy-drinking grisette; or Ben’s House IPA, and East End IPA that’s equal parts rich, complex, and hop-forward. Click here for directions.
2. Go orange at BBVA Stadium – Complete with a beautiful backdrop of the Houston skyline, this awesome soccer stadium (which has been retrofitted with social distancing guidelines) is home to both the MLS’s Houston Dynamo and the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL’s) Houston Dash, who are fresh off their stunning 2020 Challenge Cup Championship win and top notch performance in the NWSL’s Fall Series. The games are always high energy, with fans dressed (some even painted) in orange. Click here for directions.
3. Eat around the globe – Tiny as it is, EaDo has no shortage of restaurants. There’s fantastic Vietnamese fare at cult favorites Café TH and Huynh; real deal breakfast and lunch tacos at Brothers Taco House; burgers galore at the new-school Rodeo Goat and old-school Sparkles Hamburger Spot; casual British and Indian pub fare at King’s Court; New York style pies and slices at Agricole Hospitality hole-in-the-wall Vinny’s (which rocks a not-so-hole-in-the-wall cocktail bar, Miss Carousel, and the New American restaurant, Indianola, next door); and fluffy croissants, a rainbow of macaron, and breakfast, lunch and dinner-stuffs at morning-to-night cafe, Tout Suite.
4. Dive into the vibrant music and art scene – The art deco-looking district is home to a ton of artsy types, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find fantastic live music and performance venues – including Warehouse Live and experimental performance space Super Happy Fun Land – along with some pretty rad art. Hit the quirky Texas Art Asylum for supplies, classes and special events. Or make an appointment to check out Aerosol Warfare, the graffiti and street art gallery from über talented urban artist Gonzo247 (you may know him from the bright, funky Houston Is Inspired mural in Downtown‘s Market Square Park). You can also check out the ever-changing and ever-visited artwork at Graffiti Park on Leeland and St. Emanuel; snap a pic in front of the We Love Houston sign behind 8th Wonder Brewery (or David Adickes’ 36-foot tall sculptures of the Beatles decked out in their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band finery inside its beer garden), or the now-more-faded Abstract Happy Beach Wall along the I-69 frontage road.
5. Hang out on a patio or yard – Even in our 100-degree summers and chilly winter fronts, it’s always patio season in Houston (plenty of misting fans and shaded seating, or portal heater units, help with that). Check out top outdoor hangouts like Truck Yard, breweries 8th Wonder and True Anomaly, and beer park Pitch 25 and the newly opened East End Backyard, both owned by Houston Dynamo legend Brian Ching; or check out smaller spots like the beautifully restored (and temporarily closed) bungalow Around the Corner, neighborhood patio brunch destination Leeland House, and beloved nerd dive, Neil’s Bahr.