The Houstonian is Houston's resort in the city: a wooded, garden-style hotel in Greater Uptown at 111 North Post Oak Lane, beside a golf course and about a ten-minute walk from Memorial Park. Where most Houston hotels are towers, this one feels like a retreat, with low buildings, trees and lawns. The pool scene is one of the biggest in the city, with three outdoor pools, a children's pool, a waterslide and a poolside bar. The Trellis Spa offers treatments, and the club side adds a gym with fitness and yoga classes, four indoor tennis courts, basketball and racquetball or squash. There are four on-site restaurants and two coffee shops, so you can eat in without repeating a venue. Supervised childcare, cooked-to-order breakfast and limo service are available at an extra charge. Self-parking is far cheaper than valet, which is unusual in Houston and a real saving. The hotel does not allow pets other than service animals. It is classed at four and a half stars and suits families, sports-minded guests and business travelers who want space and greenery near the Galleria.
The Houstonian rewards guests who plan to use it. A stay here can be built around the pools, the tennis courts and the spa, with the added convenience of several restaurants on site. Families with children are well served, since the waterslide and children's pool make the property a destination for kids, and supervised childcare is available for parents who want an evening out. The resort-style grounds are a relief in a city of concrete.
The location is quieter than the glassy towers of Uptown while still being close to them. Memorial Park, with its running trails, is a short walk, and the Galleria, River Oaks District and restaurants of Uptown are a short drive. As elsewhere in Houston, you will want a car or rideshare for the Museum District, Space Center Houston and the Gulf coast. Compare the cost of the extras, such as childcare and breakfast, when you check rates.
Choose the Houstonian for a family vacation, a sporty weekend or a business trip that benefits from a leafy setting. It is less suited to travelers who want to walk to museums or nightlife, and it is not the pick if you need to bring a pet.
Book ahead for summer weekends and holidays, when the pools are busiest. If you are bringing children, ask about the childcare schedule and pool hours in advance, and if you play tennis or squash, enquire about court bookings, since those facilities are part of what the hotel does best.
Why stay here
- ✓Three outdoor pools
- ✓Children pool and waterslide
- ✓Trellis Spa
- ✓Four indoor tennis courts
- ✓Fitness and yoga classes
- ✓Four on-site restaurants
- ✓Garden grounds beside a golf course
- ✓Self-parking and valet
Good questions
What makes The Houstonian different?+
It is a garden-style resort in the city, with three outdoor pools, a waterslide, indoor tennis courts, a spa and four restaurants on a wooded property in Greater Uptown.
Is parking expensive?+
Self-parking costs much less than valet, which is a useful saving in Houston.
Are pets allowed?+
No, only service animals are permitted.
