About Houston
Located at the southeast tip of the famous Texas Triangle – formed along with Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio – Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the country. The city prospered during the Texas oil boom and is now a thoroughly modern metropolis.
Houston is also one of the younger cities in both Texas and the US, with a median age of 33 and a tech-savvy population of young professionals. The city is a national leader in scientific research and healthcare, and is the home of the NASA shuttle program’s Mission Control.
Houston is also home to a thriving nightlife scene – the Midtown, Downtown and Montrose neighborhoods have numerous bars, dance clubs and entertainment venues to keep the party going long into the night.
Houston is a busy metro area with numerous indoor and outdoor venues – it’s easy to find the perfect meetup spot. Whether you’re making a transaction, getting together for happy hour or navigating a first date, you’ll find something that fits the bill.
Meetup Space Options in Houston
If you’re holding a business meeting or private function, there are many different types of meetup spaces in Houston to consider. Once you’ve selected your venue, there are many local businesses that can provide food, furniture and other services to assist you.
- Catering
Texas is famous for smoked brisket barbecue, but there are many restaurants around town that can provide everything from sushi to tacos to salads and sandwiches. Catering companies can provide meals for any time of day, including brunch or evening hors d’oeuvres, as well as desserts and beverage services. Most special dietary needs can be accommodated, including vegan, allergen-free and gluten-free options.
- Rental Agencies
Whether you choose an indoor out outdoor meetup space in Houston, you may need to acquire some essentials such as tables, chairs, dinnerware or even electricity. There are several rental agencies that can set your space up with furniture, decorative items and props, audiovisual equipment, generators and heating elements. If you’re conducting an outdoor meetup, you can also rent tents, gazebos and other types of shelters to keep the sun or rain at bay.
- Beverage Services
If you’re planning a casual, happy hour meetup, you may want to serve a few drinks while your guests are chatting or networking. There are a handful of mobile bar services that will come to your location with professional bar staff to serve you and your guests. Other services include custom cocktail menus, locally-brewed craft beers and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Meetup Space Companies in Houston
Life is busy, and you may not have enough time to focus on your work and home responsibilities while planning a local meetup. A professional event planner can take care of all the details with your approval, leaving you free to enjoy the evening and your guests.
- Epris Events
Founded in 2016, Epris Events is an award-winning planning and design firm serving the greater Houston area. The woman-owned and operated business focuses not only on the visual components of your event but works with you to tell a story through design. The firm provides full-service, partial and day-of coordination for both weddings and corporate or social gatherings. Some services include venue selection, vendor negotiations, concept and design, and logistics the day of the event.
- Planned With
After working in the special events industry in Los Angeles for more than a decade, Planned With founders Emily and Brian Rudelson opened the company together in 2018. The firm offers access to a large network of trusted vendors, ensuring quality services for your event, and provides everything you need to design your event from top to bottom. Instead of offering pre-set packages, designers will work with you to assess your needs and budget to give you the best possible value and a stylish event.
- A Touch of Elegance
For more than a decade, the team at A Touch of Elegance has specialized in stylish-yet-comfortable events with an eye towards making the planning process as easy and stress-free as possible. The firm offers full-service planning, including venue selection, vendor coordination, entertainment and catering, onsite management and more, and will work with you to create a custom package based on your budget. A Touch of Elegance also offers rentals, including setup essentials, décor and audiovisual equipment.
Pros and Cons of Meetup Spaces in Houston
Finding a Houston meetup space is easy in almost any neighborhood, depending on whether you’re looking for great food, nightlife or fun activities. There are some advantages and disadvantages you should take into consideration, though.
Advantages
- Food scene
Houston’s food scene is eclectic and widespread, with amazing dining opportunities around every corner. Having your meetup space catered is something to look forward to.
- Nightlife
Several Houston neighborhoods, including Midtown, Downtown, Montrose and the Washington St. corridor, are known for exciting nightspots, perfect for planning a get-together.
- Recreation opportunities
Not sure where in Houston to plan your gathering? Houston has something to do for everyone, and several outdoor recreation spots are just a short drive away on the Gulf of Mexico.
Disadvantages
- Expensive
Houston has a higher than average cost of living, so amenities will cost more than some other cities in the region.
- Heat
Summer in Houston is extremely humid and hot, with several days exceeding 100 degrees in July and August.
- Traffic
Traffic is often an issue in the city. Cars are necessary to get around Houston, making roadways congested and parking difficult.
Famous Locations in Houston
- Beer Can House
Part of the Houston Center for Visionary Art, the famous Beer Can House is a folk art installment built over the course of 20 years by owner John Milkosovitch. Built between 1968 and 1988, the Beer Can House contains more than 50,000 recycled beer cans, bottles and other beer paraphernalia and collectibles. Visitors can tour the installment on weekends.
- Sam Houston Park
Named after General Sam Houston of the Republic of Texas, the 20-acre park was first established in 1899 as the first city park in Houston. Today, it serves as an urban oasis in the midst of modern Houston’s towering skyline. The park features a number of historic structures, including the Kellum-Noble House, the oldest surviving original brick home in the city that once served as a school for Houston children.
- Cockrell Butterfly Center
Head to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. There, you will find The Cockrell Butterfly Center. Learn about native and exotic plants, butterflies and other arthropods from around the world. See the unique rain forest conservatory built around a 50-foot waterfall and visit the Brown Hall of Entomology. Imagine seeing up close, multiple species of butterflies, arachnids, scorpions, and even giant hissing cockroaches.