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.
Boozy brunch. Breweries and distilleries. A bar with not one but three sand volleyball courts.
The once sleepy Garden Oaks/Oak Forest neighborhood now has it all. Consider a Sunday Funday experience there and you won’t be disappointed.
Where to Celebrate Sunday Funday in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest
Enjoy a boozy brunch at d’Alba
The neighborhood has a new favorite hangout, and that’s d’Alba craft kitchen & cocktails, which has been poppin’ since opening at the tail end of 2021. There, you’ll find a kid- and adult-friendly space with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a super cool birdcage bar out in the yard, and brunch offerings from English muffin brunch burgers with bacon, fontina, and an oozing farm egg to chicken confit and waffles. Don’t forget to build-your-own bloody or tack on mimosas by the glass and carafe.
Other great brunch options include Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails and the Union Kitchen.
Eat, drink & hit the sand volleyball court at Wakefield Crowbar
Wakefield Crowbar is fun. Period. Not only does the neighborhood hangout make a mean Bloody Mary and rock 30+ draft selections plus a full bar and kitchen, it also boasts three sand volleyball courts where you can get your spike on.
Reserve a court for $25 per hour.
Spend all day (and night) on the patio at Cottonwood
Sprawling patio bar Cottonwood has become a neighborhood go-to for good reason. There’s the 40+ taps of beers to start, then the fire pits, corn hole, live music, and full bar and kitchen, too. The dog (and kid) friendly spot is also known to host fun Sunday happenings from seasonal crawfish boils to Sunday brunch.
If you’re looking to catch a game (or some rays on the patio), newly-opened the Upside Pub is becoming a fast local favorite; and the divey Sassafras is as low-key as it gets.
Hop from brewery to distillery to winery
Two excellent craft breweries, Walking Stick Brewery (with easy drinkers like the Bierstadt Blonde Ale and Castle Pale Ale) and Great Heights Brewing Company (try the Dry Hopped Lager-ish or Blue Tile IPA) are just across the way from each other, so you can easily hit both in a one-two punch; and tack on some Texas spirits sippin’ at the nearby William Price Distilling Company and Avonak Distillery or some vino time at Decant Urban Winery.
Recharge with queso & margs at Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage
Want an incredible closer to your Sunday Funday? It’s queso…it’s always been queso. Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage has got three kinds (house, loaded, and fundido-style), plus Tex-Mex favorites from smothered enchiladas and skirt steak fajitas to fish tacos and big ol’ margs.
Po-boy slingin’ Houston mini-chain BB’s Tex-Orleans also hosts an outpost in the hood (and the Tex-Cajun fries pair mighty well with Abita, just saying).
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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