Chill and Enjoy In These Places Celebs Have Stayed In Houston
Did you know Houston is the home to many of Hollywood’s most prolific icons? Yes, ⅔ of Destiny’s Child (Beyonce, Kelly Rowland), old-time country singer Kenny Rogers, and Roadhouse star immortalized by Family Guy Patrick Swayze to name a few.
So, you’d expect Houston to have just as many luxurious places where celebrities stay and enjoy their time every time they visit the 713 – and you’d be right on the money!
Thus, here are some of the most notable places where celebrities hang out that you can visit that you can proudly say that you’ve been somewhere that A-list Hollywood celebs visit while they’re in town!
1. Post Oak Hotel
Address: 1600 W Loop S, Houston, TX 77027
Phone Number: 844-386-1600
Hours: Open 24 hours
Houston’s only 5-star hotel, Post Oak Hotel has seen the likes of Beyonce, iconic NFL quarterback Tom Brady Sr., Space Jam and NBA royalty Shaquille O’Neal, and Food Network star Guy Fieri just to name a few.
These celebs chose Post Oak specifically since it’s near the NRG Stadium, or one of Houston’s biggest stadiums yet. NRG has hosted plenty of concerts like the Houston leg of Beyonce’s Renaissance tour, along with hosting Superbowl games as well.
| Pro Tips: With Post Oak’s glitz and glamor also means that their rooms are consistently booked. Thus, if you want to stay in a place where Beyonce once stayed, then we suggest calling at least 3 months in advance before your stay! |
2. Xochi
Address: 1777 Walker Street, Suite A, Houston, TX 77010
Phone Number: 713-400-3330
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:30 AM– 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Xochi was started by award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and has been serving Houstonians quality Oaxacan food since it opened its doors. Celebrity chefs like Chef Joan Roca and Chef Charlie Palmer have visited here, just to name a few.
The chefs, much like the rest of the Houston crowd, liked Xochi’s unique approach when it comes to food. Since Oaxacan food uses moles and mezcals, Xochi makes every ingredient from scratch, which gives it that distinct flavor.
Xochi also has a good variety when it comes to their menu items, with the Mole Tasting Plate being the best compromise between flavor, variety, and price. Their in-house desserts are great too, with the vegan Pastel de Chocolate being a great choice.
| Pro Tips: As you’d expect from a restaurant with lots of accolades, some of Xochi’s menu items are expensive. Both the Mole Tasting Plate and Pastel de Chocolate will cost $20, but expect to spend more money if you want a filling meal! |
3. Villa Encantado
Credit: @ladygaga
Address: Pinewood Estates, Houston
Not much is known about Villa Encantado, apart from three things:
One, a single night at this luxurious AirBnB will cost you $10,000. Two, it’s 10 minutes away from the NRG Stadium. And three, it’s where Lady Gaga stayed in Houston when she did her iconic halftime performance.
You won’t find the listing on AirBnB’s website anymore, since it’s specially arranged by AirBnB for Gaga’ Super Bowl performance. And if you were lucky (and wealthy) enough to rent it, it also came with everything you’d expect, too.
From a fully functioning home gym, home theater, a wine cellar, and even a Burning Man-esque bonfire at the front. Villa Encantado is the dream for both Little Monsters and those who want to visit a different kind of AirBnB. In 2017.
| Pro Tips: Pinewood Estates is a gated community, so even if you just wanted to take a picture of Villa Encantado, you won’t be able to unless you have a valid reason to enter. |
4. Hank’s Ice Cream
Address: 9291 S Main St, Houston, TX 77025
Phone Number: 713-665-5103
Hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
If you’ve always wanted to go to a place where Beyonce and her friends used to hang out and sing when they were little, then we suggest visiting Hank’s Ice Cream at S. Main Street!
The business has been around for almost 40 years now, and they’re one of the few ice cream shops around in the United States that still make their ice cream by hand.
From Beyonce and her humble beginnings before her Destiny’s Child era to badass femme fatale Megan Thee Stallion, plenty of Houston icons have been through the doors of this humble ice cream shop.
And with flavors like Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers and Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream for as little as $7, we don’t exactly blame them for visiting the place often!
| Pro Tips: If you’re not lucky enough to get Beyonce’s autograph, then you can take a picture of the one on Hank’s Ice Cream’s Wall of Fame, along with many other celeb autographs in there as well! |
5. The Galleria Houston
Address: 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056
Phone Number: 713-622-0663
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Houston’s The Galleria has been the go-to mall for those looking for a more upscale shopping experience. And with celebs like Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and her husband Kanye each having their iconic moments there, it’s no surprise.
Tejano music sensation Selena Quintanilla also frequented The Galleria years before her untimely death.
Several people on Reddit have also seen Sana and Chaeyoung, two members of KPop sensation TWICE, at The Galleria during the Houston leg of their “Ready To Be” world tour in 2023.
| Pro Tips: The Galleria is one of Houston’s more famous spots – so you will see more than the celebrities that we’ve listed above! NBA legend Yao Ming used to live in Katy and was frequently spotted in The Galleria before he retired in 2012! |
6. Clé
Address: 2301 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
Phone Number: 713-955-2302
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: Closed
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM
One of Midtown Houston’s most well-known party spots, Clé has since revamped their service for 2024 and now has pool parties with icons like Steve Aoki, DJ Pauly D., and Black Coffee in the DJ Booth!
In the past, stars like Justin Bieber have been spotted partying at Clé after his sold-out show at the Toyota Center, one time in 2016 and another in 2022. YouTube siblings Jake and Logan Paul have been spotted there in early 2022 as well.
Several prolific sportsmen have been spotted at Clé too, with Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers, Jr., and former Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick being spotted at their doors on the season’s downtimes, too.
| Pro Tips: Hanging out at Clé will drain your wallet, especially if you’re not prepared. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit more cash then we suggest booking a VIP room ahead of time to not get smushed by the crowd during the party. |
7. B&B Butchers
Address: 1814 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 713-862-1814
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
B&B Butchers is a staple Houston steakhouse that has been visited not just by Beyonce, but also by Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke and That 70’s Show Wilmer Valderrama, too!
Beyonce has a profound fondness for B&B Butchers. In fact, shortly after a year of opening, both her and her husband Jay-Z used the restaurant’s back entrance on more than one occasion and have provided them a space to eat in private.
The hype is reasonable though – as B&B Butchers’ Filet Mignon and Steak à La Berg are all quality cuts of meat and are flavorfully tender as well. The rustic, brick wall decor also adds to the place’s charm as well.
| Pro Tips: Getting a reservation can be tricky. We suggest making a reservation at least a month or two early! |
8. TRIS
Address: 24 Waterway Ave #125, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Phone Number: 281-203-5641
Hours: Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Standup comedian and podcast mogul Joe Rogan has been in Houston lots of times over the years. But when he was in town for the Post Malone concert, he visited TRIS where he had “one of the best meals”.
Executive chef Austin Simmons seated Joe Rogan on a table for 3 where they ordered Wasabi and Miso Roasted Oysters, Kimchi Crab and a Steak Board. Chef Simmons went all out with the food – he’s serving a world-renowned, VIP client, after all.
Simmons also made sure to bring out quality meat too, since the majority of the beef that he used was quality tenderloin, strip, ribeye, and A5 Wagyu Beef straight from Japan. This gained the celebrity’s praise, and TRIS has seen an upward trend after!
| Pro Tips: Much like any restaurant advertised by an A-list celebrity, TRIS will have a long wait time when it comes to reservations. We recommend booking three weeks or a month earlier. |
9. Shipley’s Do-nuts
Address: 3932 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009
Phone Number: 713-862-4655
Hours: Open 24 hours
Singer-rapper-songwriter and Houston local Lizzo tweeted in 2022 naming some of her go-to places to eat whenever she visits her hometown. She named Shipley’s Do-nuts and Kolache Factory among some of these places!
Shipley’s Do-nuts has plenty of locations in Houston, so we don’t know which one Lizzo has specified. However, due to her hectic schedule as one of the world’s leading pop stars, we’re willing to bet that she meant the one on N. Main St. since it’s open 24/7.
We understand why Lizzo likes Shipley’s Do-nuts, especially when you consider that all of their donuts are handmade and have lots of different flavors! Though Lizzo hasn’t disclosed what her preferred flavor is, the donuts are good so it won’t matter!
| Pro Tips: If you want to try out their donuts, we suggest visiting them in the morning or the afternoon to make sure they’re fresh. |
10. Killen’s Barbecue
Address: 101 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 713-637-4664
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
With celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kam Franklin of the Suffers, J.J. Watt, and Drew Brees coming across their door, Killen’s Barbecue has seen plenty of celebrities walk through their doors and eat their delicious food.
It’s understandable, especially since Killen’s Barbecue is one of Houston’s staple barbecue restaurants! Founder Ronnie Killen has owned the business since he was 23, and has continued to provide Texans with quality barbecue that even celebs love!
Since then, Killen has grown his business to cater to more people in Texas, and not just Houston alone. So much so that even the entire crew of the Harlem Globetrotters have visited them and liked their food, too!
| Pro Tips: Though you can’t dictate how you want your barbecues to be cooked, you can do so when it comes to their burgers, and we recommend ordering medium rare on any of their burgers for a more enjoyable dining experience! |
