What to do in Houston if you’re here on business (2026)

Houston, Texas, USA – September 10, 2018: The Marriott Marquis is a Four Diamond hotel located in downtown Houston that features a Texas-shaped pool, five restaurants and beautiful views from every angle.Joe Hendrickson

1777 Walker Street, (713) 654-1777

Adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center downtown, the Marriott Marquis has another 100,000 square feet of its own meeting space, including Houston’s largest ballroom. Often referred to as the best hotel in town, it caters to business travelers and leisure seekers alike, and is famous for having Texas’ largest lazy river on its roof. If you don’t think this is something anyone can brag about, then you haven’t spent enough time in the state.

1100 Texas Avenue, (713) 221-0011

This renovated downtown hotel, an affordable lodging option, is housed in the former Shell Oil headquarters and offers quick access to the convention center and Daikin Park, which the Astros call home. You may not be able to paddle in the rooftop pool like you can at the Marquis, but a quick, refreshing dip at the end of the day won’t disappoint, and neither will the complimentary muffin at bedtime.

Courtesy of Bunkhouse Hotels

4110 Loreto Dr, (832) 844-0057

This new, mid-century-inspired gem can be found in the Montrose neighborhood, just one block from the Menil Collection, arguably the best and most eclectic museum in the city. The boutique hotel has just 71 rooms and is designed to fit in with its surroundings, which are largely residential and very quiet compared to the more bustling city centre. Despite its small size, it still has a small event space, a private pool, and an elegant lobby lounge.

111 N Post Oak Lane, (713) 680-2626

The Houstonian occupies a massive 27 acres in Houston’s West Oaks neighborhood, just outside the Loop. Despite its central location, the hotel offers a level of seclusion you won’t find anywhere else in the city. This is probably why George H.W. Bush used the hotel as his official residence for years in the 1980s and spent time here for decades afterward. The 125,000-square-foot spa is the largest in the state.

2222W S-Ring, (713) 627-7600

Another hotel in the Galleria area, this is a good all-in-one option for business travelers who need executive amenities like access to a business center, 24-hour fitness, shuttle service, and meeting and event space (all 50,000 square feet). With 485 guest rooms across 23 floors, there’s likely room for your entire organization to find a place to stay for the week.

Where to work

Houston has hundreds of coworking spaces, so you’ll likely be able to find something close to where you live. As with most things in this city, travel time is a key consideration. These may be some of the best choices in town, but no sane Houstonian would advise you to spend an hour in traffic to get to one if there is another solid option closer.

Courtesy of Post

401 Franklin Street, (713) 999-2550

Named after the former post office that occupied this Museum District space (it was a railway depot before that), POST was redeveloped in 2019 as a cultural center that includes food hall-style dining, an art museum, a concert hall, and a rooftop garden. They also have plenty of workspace options ranging from single desks to full desks, with day tickets starting at $25.

4201 Main Street

Rice University helped develop the AEON District, which occupies 16 acres downtown and serves as a technology park and innovation hub for technology and energy equipment, and now houses the nation’s largest climate and sustainable energy incubator. Coworking tickets (starting at $60 per day) give you access to the venue’s abundant networking events as well as snacks and coffee.

1430 Yale Street, (832) 203-5115

This boutique office space is ideal for those doing business in the Heights area, with amenities including an on-site notary, conference room rentals, and virtual office options for those who need a physical address in the city. There are plenty of usage options available from $25 for a day to $359 for a monthly membership (which includes free meeting room access).

Where to get coffee

Yes, there are nearly 200 Starbucks in the greater Houston area, and while you’re welcome to visit them or any other corporate chain to enjoy your trip, these places offer a more refined (and independent) experience that, if nothing else, will help you impress your co-workers with your sophisticated taste.

3201 Allen Pkwy. St. 170
8410 Hwy. 90 Alt, Building. B, Sugar Land, (346) 368-2895

Blendin focuses on sourcing coffee from unique locations with a “tree to cup” philosophy, meaning your cup (or bag of beans) is likely to come from a single farm in Panama, Ethiopia, Burundi, or farther afield. Put yourself in the hands of a barista at one of our two locations to help you find the perfect base for your latte.

1018 Westheimer Rd.

At this beloved local café that serves a full menu, it’s best to pair your Vietnamese matcha or golden monkey tea with a delicious brunch, like smoked salmon shake or smoked bacon-topped biscuits. Skip lunch to make room.