How to Houston: A comprehensive guide to Houston's booming hotel renaissance
- Hotel Daphne
- The Marlene
- The Sam Houston
- Hotel Saint Augustine
- Hotel Granduca
- Thompson Houston
- Coming soon:
- The Houston Grand Hotel (formerly the St. Regis Houston)
- The Greenleigh (formerly Hotel Derek)
- The Ritz Carlton
- The Riverside (formerly Hotel King David)
- Honorable mentions:
- La Colombe D'Or
- Post Oak Hotel at Uptown
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A guide to Houston's recent hotel renaissance. (Contributed photos/for the Chronicle)
Inquiring about a hotel recommendation in Houston just five years ago might have sent the respondent into a minor panic. The city has an abundance of corporate and convention-adjacent accommodations, sure. A glassy and carpeted 20-story tower from a global chain is a far cry from a boutique, cozy or local stay. No offense - not everything that's bigger is better in Texas when it comes to lodging.
The recent boom of Bayou City hotel options has changed all that. A certain billionaire may have kicked off the trend with the Post Oak at Uptown's glamorous campus in 2018; though to its credit, the sprawling property promptly racked up a slew of awards, including the prestigious Michelin Key. Perhaps the Post Oak strutted so others could sprint.
Today, fellow Houstonians have picked up the mantle, too. There's a charming inn, with a hopping bar program, opened by a 30-year-old antiques dealer in Montrose. An art collector developed a Heights hotspot managed by the Bunkhouse Hotel group's veteran hospitality team; they also operate a second location near the Menil Collection. In early 2026, news broke that a local family had purchased the St. Regis near River Oaks with plans for an "expansive, top-to-bottom renovation" under a new name: the Houston Grand Hotel.
Houstonians, ever a festive bunch, craved a third place for doing what we do best: hosting. There was a void of spaces to host weddings (of the non-ballroom variety), spaces with bed-and-breakfast vibes to host out-of-towners, spaces to grab a moody nightcap in a seductive lobby lounge, and spaces to check into for a staycation and out of concrete reality.
The growth of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo's popularity may have highlighted this gap in the hospitality market. The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 made addressing the void a necessity.
Without further ado, here's a comprehensive guide to all the Houston hotels that have opened or undergone significant renovation in the past two years, plus a short list of projects that are coming soon. Save it for the next time a visitor asks, "Where should I stay!"
Hotel Daphne
The lobby is seen inside Hotel Daphne in Houston, Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle)
Opened: December 2025
Neighborhood: The Heights, 347 W 20th
The vibe: Eclectic, artsy.
The stats: 49 bedrooms, all-day restaurant
Who it's for: Heights cool kids and their equally discerning parents.
Best for: A ‘neighborhood guest room.' Dinner, lunch or brunch at Hypsi. People-watching and appertivo on the patio. Hosting an intimate dinner party or gathering in the Library.
The bill: $349 and up
The Marlene
The exterior of The Marlene Inn, a bed and breakfast in Montrose, is seen in Houston, Monday, June 23, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle)
Opened: June 2025
Neighborhood: Montrose, 109 Stratford
The vibe: Nouveau New Orleans meets south of France chateau
The stats: Nine-bedroom main inn, private guest cottage, family-style accommodations above the garage. Bar Madonna and a leafy garden, both serving killer cocktails and French wine labels only.
Who it's for: Elder millennials and antique addicts
Best: Pre-dinner drinks, date night, a girls' trip, and the see-and-be-seen libation scene all day, every day.
The bill: $290 and up
The Sam Houston
The Sam Houston Hotel is seen in Houston, Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle)
Renovated: December 2025
Neighborhood: Downtown, 1117 Prairie
The vibe: Lounge-y with corporate-minded amenities and accessibility
The stats: 100 rooms and suites, all-day restaurant, public bar, event and meeting spaces.
Who it's for: Business travelers and sports fans who plan to make the most of downtown
Best for: Repeat stays, remote work, after-work drinks, closing deals over breakfast, watching the big game on discreet screens.
The bill: $159 and up
Hotel Saint Augustine
The Augustine Lounge of Hotel Saint Augustine is photographed Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Houston. (Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer)
Opened: December 2024
Neighborhood: Montrose, 4110 Loretto
The vibe: High-brow art compound with deep Menil ties
The stats: 71 rooms; award-winning restaurant Perseid; all-day bar, popular Listening Room lounge, event and meeting space, a circular, 60s-style pool
Who it's for: Your chicest solo and couple travelers who want to stay in Houston proper
Best for: Moody getaways and staycations, people watching in the Listening Lounge, pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap at the bar, fancy group dinners at Perseid
The bill: $429 and up
Hotel Granduca
Hotel Granduca (Julie Soefer Photography)
Renovated: early 2025
Neighborhood: Uptown Park, 1121 Uptown Park
The vibe: Rustic Tuscan charm with a Texas twist
The stats: 121 suites, all-day restaurant Remi, event and meeting spaces, pool
Who it's for: Inner-loopers, posh stay-at-home moms and content creators in search of well-lit backdrops
Best for: Ladies who lunch, high tea during the holidays, martini service, a pool day, and being ‘close enough' to the Galleria
The bill: $270 and up
Thompson Houston
The new Thompson Houston hotel by Hyatt, photographed on Friday, February 9, 2024 in Houston, TX. The 36-story building, overlooks Buffalo Bayou Park and the downtown skyline. It has 172 boutique hotel rooms, multiple restaurants, a spa and rooftop pool. The hotel opens to guests on February 14, 2024. (Meridith Kohut/Contributor)
Opened: February 2024
Neighborhood: Montrose, 1717 Allen Parkway
The vibe: A modern non-resort, mega-resort
The stats: 172 rooms, multiple restaurants, multiple meeting and event spaces, rooftop pool, spa services
Who it's for: Business travelers entertaining clients and clients who need to be near downtown, but don't wanna stay in downtown
Best for: Observing quirky Houston characters, sweeping views of bayou green space, elevator access to TikTok-friendly bars and restaurants.
The bill: $459 and up
Coming soon:
The Houston Grand Hotel (formerly the St. Regis Houston)
The St. Regis Houston offers traditional tea service Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. (St. Regis Houston)
Opens: end of 2027
Neighborhood: River Oaks, 1919 Briar Oaks
The stats: 232 rooms
The Greenleigh (formerly Hotel Derek)
Renderings of the valet entrance. (Courtesy of Makeready)
Opens: July 2026
Neighborhood: Between Uptown-Galleria and River Oaks, 2525 W. Loop South
The stats: 299 rooms, swim club, Oaxacan restaurant concept and rooftop bar
The Birdsall Auberge Collection
The entrance of the Birdsall Auberge Collection in the RO. (Courtesy of The Boundary)
Opens: 2027
Neighborhood: Upper Kirby
The stats: 105 rooms and 44 residences, private members club, spa and pool
The Ritz Carlton
A rendering of the planned Ritz-Carlton Houston project, at 2120 Post Oak in Uptown. (The Boundary)
Neighborhood: Uptown-Galleria, 2120 Post Oak Blvd.
The stats: 154 rooms, 114 residences
The Riverside (formerly Hotel King David)
The Riverside (Courtesy of the Riverside)
Neighborhood: Riverside Terrace, 2615 Riverside
The stats: 154 rooms, 114 residences
Honorable mentions:
It's only polite to give credit where credit is due. And while La Colombe D'Or in Montrose and the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown are no longer Houston's shiniest new toys, they are the OG's which ushered in the Bayou City hotel boom on the boutique and big-box scales, respectively.
La Colombe D'Or
The front lobby at the La Colombe d'Or Hotel. (La Colombe d'Or Hotel)
Renovated: March 2021
Neighborhood: Montrose, 3410 Montrose
The vibe: A historic home-turned-headqurters for creatives and discreet revelry
The stats: 32 suites and garden bungalows, restaurant and bar, multiple meeting and event spaces, rooftop pool
Who it's for: Artists and art aficianados who favor socializing in dark, moody corners with a strong coffee or stiff drink
Best for: Hosting lunches or dinners with a clever edge, romantic staycations, nightcaps, moonlight gatherings on the lawn
The bill: $430 and up
Post Oak Hotel at Uptown
The lobby of the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. (Fertitta Entertainment)
Opened: March 2018
Neighborhood: Uptown, 1600 W. Loop South
The vibe: Las Vegas-style entertainment, shopping and dining for patrons who love to peacock
The stats: 250 guest rooms and suites, 20 executive suites, restaurants and bars, multiple meeting and event spaces, pools, spa, private members club, helipad, luxury car dealership, clothing boutique
Who it's for: Hotel guests hoping to spot celebrities, night owls, executives in the market for mischief
Best for: Large-scale fundraisers and weddings, corporate retreats, group outings, a spa day, wowing out-of-towners
The bill: $480 and up
