Houston is a great place to unwind. In this series, we’ll hop from neighborhood to neighborhood, diving into the fun and tasty ways to join in on the time-honored tradition of Sunday Funday, from brunch to live music and more.
Bounded by Travis, Milam, Congress and Preston streets, Market Square Park is one of the historical and geographical cornerstones of Downtown Houston.
First donated to the city by one of Houston’s founders, Augustus Allen, in 1854, it was the epicenter of the city’s growing business district.
Today, you’ll find a thriving bar and restaurant scene, bustling arts and theater districts, and more surrounding the park.
Snap a photo in front of the super cool “Houston is Inspired” mural, then get your Sunday Funday goin’ with these fun offerings.
Sunday Funday at Market Square Park in Downtown
Enjoy a chandelier-lit brunch at Hearsay
Just off Market Square, Hearsay Gastro Lounge is a stunner of exposed brick, moody lighting, and an epic chandelier hanging from its soaring ceiling.
Sunday brunch runs from 11am to 3pm, playing to the local Houston palate with eats from chilaquiles verdes and short rib hash to candied pecan bread pudding French toast. Pair your plates with mimosas and let the good times roll.
Have a drink or two at one of Houston’s oldest bars
Donated to the city in 1854, the historic square is home to some of the oldest bars in Houston.
Along Congress, you can step back in time (and possibly hunt for ghosts) at the moody, candle-lit La Carafe, a wine bar set in the city’s second-oldest building.
Just across the corner along Travis, Char Bar and Warren’s Inn await. Though Char Bar itself is a bit younger, it sits inside a 1930s tailor shop, offering classic drinks and charm; and over at decades-old Warren’s, you’ll find a dated-in-a-good-way atmosphere, with a dark interior, wooden roundhouse booth, and vintage jukebox to go alongside stiff drinks.
Embark on the ultimate bar hop
Outside of some of Houston’s oldest haunts, Market Square is surrounded by an amazing bar scene.
Throwback cocktail spot Houston Watch Company serves up old-fashioned drinks the modern way; the fun-loving McIntyre’s is a multi-level sports bar where fun awaits; and the spunky One Armed Scissor and two-story lounge Kingsman Circle are must-hits.
Nearby, you can drink for a cause at charity bar Angel Share before hitting up the Main Street strip, with favorite bars including Latin ‘80s and ‘90s club La Diabla, music-loving neighborhood watering hole Little Dipper, excellent cocktail bar Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge, classic drink lounge Dean’s, and the ultimate dive bar experience, notsuoH.
Continue down to Prairie and finish with rooftop margs at easy-going tequila bar El Big Bad.
Sip & dine at a chef-led food hall
What may be the city’s best food halls sits just off the park in Aris Market Square.
Bravery Chef Hall offers a highly curated roster of chef-led kitchens, including masterful sushi, sashimi and yakitori bar Kokoro, Vietnamese noodle slinger Drunken Pho, Tex-Mex and Mexican taqueria Calavera, Roman-style pizza and pasta bar Figo Sugo, and French-influenced coastal seafood spot Margaux’s Oyster Bar. Plus, it’s got an in-house wine bar and an absolutely dreamy outdoor cocktail bar known as SOHO Garden HTX.
Keep the night going with some late-night grub
Open til 11pm on Sundays, Frank’s Pizza is a night owl favorite, offering New York–style pizza by the slice and pie along with wings, cheese sticks, and more.
And on the corner of Franklin and Travis, La Calle Tacos can satisfy your late-night taco cravings ‘til 2am. Hint: the birria will set you up for a seriously peaceful slumber.
Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long
You can find more fun in our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides.
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