Where to Celebrate Sunday Funday on Washington Avenue

A group of people cheer as drinks are brought to their table
Dine on American brunch dishes at the Sporting Club on Washington Avenue | Courtesy of the Sporting Club

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.

The strip along Washington Avenue stretching from Downtown through Memorial Park is a jungle of bars and restaurants, mixed-use developments, art studios, and shops, making it a fun and vibrant spot for Sunday Funday. 

Note: For purposes of this list, Washington Corridor and Memorial Park are defined by this map.

Sunday Funday on Washington Avenue

A plate of fried chicken with grits, dessert and a bottle of Champagne
Max’s Wine Dive serves up several styles of chicken & waffles for brunch | Courtesy of Max’s Wine Dive

Brunch on Fried Chicken & Champagne 

Wine and bubbly-fueled comfort food favorite Max’s Wine Dive is famous for pairing fried chicken and Champagne, which just about makes for the perfect Sunday brunch experience.

Pop a bottle for mimosas and get the jalapeño-buttermilk marinated fried chicken in classic breakfast plates, Nashville-style hot, atop honey butter biscuits with poached eggs and sausage gravy, or paired with a Belgian style waffle.

A bright, sunny patio with groups of people gathered and talking
Hit the sprawling outdoor patio at Memorial Trail Ice House for Sunday Funday | Courtesy of Memorial Trail Ice House

Embark on an epic bar hop

Looking for a low-key good time?

Unwind with a cold one at chill patios Memorial Trail Ice House, Little Woodrow’s Shepherd, FM Kitchen & Bar, and Porch Swing; grab cheesy bar pies and stiff cocktails at Betelgeuse Betelgeuse; or meet the locals at grungy dive bar Darkhorse Tavern and laidback sports bar Underdogs Pub.

If you want to totally pump things up, party bars include beer garden and nightlife spot Bottled Blonde, rowdy sports bar Clutch Bar, retro-themed bar and patio HandleBar Houston, arcade bar Kung Fu Saloon, DJ-fueled patio bar Lincoln Bar, Houston’s fun-loving lesbian bar Pearl Bar, scenester spot The Sporting Club, sweet late-night favorite Sugar Room, and neon-lit Todo Santos

A rooftop patio with diners and the Downtown skyline in the background
Take to the B&B Butcher’s rooftop for a Sunday dinner and a view | Courtesy of B&B Butcher’s

Enjoy a rooftop dining with a view

Bespoke butchery and New York–style steakhouse B&B Butchers & Restaurant boasts a rooftop dining space with views of the downtown skyline. That’s exactly where you’ll want to brunch, dining on items like fried oyster and filet mignon–loaded Carpet Bagger on the Half Shell, prime rib B&B Hash, and granny-style Monkey Bread.

For a more casual but equally pleasant feel, try the courtyard at all-American sibling establishment B.B. Lemon, where you can enjoy Corned Beef Benedict, Cornbread Waffles, and Crawfish Hash.

Two drinks sit on a bar with a pile of shaved ice and shelves of liquor behind them
Take to Southern hospitality and cocktails at Alba Huerta’s Julep | Courtesy of Julep

Get some Southern comfort via classic bourbon cocktails 

Alba Huerta’s James Beard Award–winning Southern cocktailery, Julep, is one of the city’s finest cocktail bars, hands down. Starting at 4pm on Sundays, you can head on over and see why.

Sip house cocktails like the Mission Julep hit with fig-infused bourbon, turbinado and mint, or the classic Cherry Bounce Sour kissed with bonded corn whiskey, house cherry bounce, turbinado, lemon, angostura bitters and frothy egg white.

A mural of colorful characters in profile that extends far down a walkway
The nearby Arts District offers a quick way to expand your Sunday Funday on Washington | Courtesy of Arts District Houston

Hit up Arts District Houston

There’s an entire roster of Sunday Funday shenanigans over in nearby Arts District Houston, which houses sprawling art complex Sawyer Yards and more just off Washington Ave.

Check it all out in our Sunday Funday Arts District Houston guide, highlighting awesome stuff like a climate-controlled golf arcade and bar, pop-up art markets, and a brewery hop. 

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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Brooke Viggiano
Brooke Viggiano is a food and lifestyle writer residing in Houston. When she's not contributing to publications like 365 Things to Do in Houston, Thrillist Houston and the Houston Press, she's on the hunt for the coolest happenings in the city. You can follow her musings on Twitter @BrookeViggiano .