Houston’s brutal summer is finally over. Kiss it goodbye at these great bar and restaurant patios

Sep 29, 2022

After a long steamy slog of seemingly never-ending record heat, the weather is finally letting up. Released from its air conditioned clutches, Houstonians are ready to get outside for serious al fresco dining, drinking and socializing. It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are some best bets for patio pleasures:

For city that reaches for the stars, there aren’t a lot of places where you can feel one with the skyline. Z on 23 atop downtown’s Le Meridien Hotel bills itself as Houston’s highest open-air rooftop bar. With fantastic views in all directions, the bar has cemented its position as an Instagram-worthy star. The perch is a particularly fetching place for early evening drinking as day falls into night. Is the bar too small, the décor practically nonexistent, and the list of cocktails, beer, and OK wine too short? Sure. But Z’s shortcomings are outweighed by those views. And many obviously agree; the place is packed with people enjoying the Houston high life. 1121 Walker; zutrorestaurant.com