37 Houston Spots To Take Really Cool Instagram Photos
Houston wasn’t made for wallflowers — as the sheer kaleidoscope of graffiti-colored walls and colorful urban street art can easily attest.
But, it was made for Instagram’s highlight reel, where it’s none-too-difficult to strike the perfect pose at the endless stream of cool places around town.
The list of Insta hotspots in H-Town could on forever. But, with these 37, you’ll be plenty inspired for your next post. Get set for your followers to double-tap that.
The Glassell School of Art
Where: 5101 Montrose Blvd.
Find just the right angle at this impressive teaching institute of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The new campus just opened, and it’s basically everything.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston
Where: 1150 Brand Ln.
Dorothy, we’re not in Houston anymore. This traditional Hindu temple is a cinematic wonder — and it’s photo #goals all the way.
Sugar & Cloth Color Wall
Where: 1201 Fannin St.
An Instagrammer’s fantasy, this dreamy wall and staircase were created by local blogger Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth and serve as a built-in backdrop for surreally cheery, color-saturated photos — #nofilter required. It’s like a photo set right in the middle of GreenStreet, especially since the ground is painted, too, for extra emphasis.
The Menil Collection
Where: 1533 Sul Ross St.
A wonderland for artsy-cool captures, the museum is part of the Houston Museum District. What we really love, though, is the Dan Flavin neon installation in Richmond Hall. Oh, and admission is free.
Space Center Houston
Where: 1601 E. NASA Pkwy.
Houston, we have an out-of-this-world photo opp. The official visitor center of the NASA Johnson Space Center is the perfect place to play astronaut for the day. No moon suit required.
Planters & Stem
Where: 1001 Main St.
Channel your inner child at this whimsical maze-like sculpture by local artist Floyd Newsum that’s part of the Art Blocks Houston initiative downtown.
Biscuit Paint Wall
Where: 1435 Westheimer Rd.
A waterfall of dripping color, the Biscuit Paint Wall by Sebastien “Mr. D” Boileau is on the side of Biscuit Home’s building in Montrose — and is like an instant kaleidoscope for your page.
Main Street Square
Where: Between the 900-110 blocks of Main Street
It’s hip to be this square at this pedestrian plaza that includes a glossy water feature and lots of surrounding shops — and, yes, more art.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Where: 1800 Allen Pkwy. and Memorial Drive
Park it for the view — of downtown. And for Jaume Plensa’s “Tolerance” statues that are both meaningful and camera-friendly.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Where: 5555 Hermann Park Dr.
Nerd out at this museum, and document your adventures with the prehistoric creatures, Texas wildlife, butterflies, and so much more.
Art Blocks at Main Street Square
Where: Between the 900-110 blocks of Main Street
This swath of Main Street is filled with art, but even the buildings, sidewalk, planters, and trash cans get the Crayola treatment.
Houston Graffiti Building
Where: 1503 Chartres St.
We don’t have to tell you that street art is practically everywhere in Houston, but these walls really do talk with all sorts of colorful, crazy photo options.
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall
Where: 2800 Post Oak Blvd.
Go chasing waterfalls at this towering, 64-foot-tall urban wall of water that’s in the Uptown district; it’s nothing short of Insta magic.
Rothko Chapel
Where: 3900 Yupon St.
The sacred space inspires and provokes with octagonal architecture and interior walls clothed in 14 black-hued paintings by abstract artist Mark Rothko, making the chapel a major work of modern art. No photos are allowed inside, but outside are plenty of Insta-worthy spots on the grounds.
Discovery Green
Where: 1500 McKinney St.
This urban green space is pretty magical, what with canopies of trees, lush landscaping, Kinder Lake, abstract art (like the art boxes of the “Synchronicity of Color” installation), and lots of park events and activities to ’gram. The options are endless — literally.
Present Company
Where: 1318 Westheimer Rd.
Flirty, fabulous, and fun — this restaurant and bar is the coolest new kid on the Montrose block. It was practically designed for #InstaGood moments, too.
Retropolis
Where: 321 W. 19th St.
The groovy vintage shop is a time warp, in the best way. With the rainbow-stripe exterior, you don’t even have to go inside for a good photo.
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace
Where: Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion at Rice University
It may be a tourist hotspot, but the futuristic-looking light and sound installation, located adjacent to the Shepherd School of Music, is still a cool sight to see and shot to take.
“Houston Is Inspired” Mural
Where: 313 Travis St.
Created especially for H-Town by GONZO247, this wall art is thought to be one of the most posted photos on Instagram in Houston. So, if you haven’t posted it, you probably should. Sometimes, it’s good to join the crowd.
Smither Park
Where: 2441 Munger St.
Comprised of mosaic art made of reclaimed and recycled materials, this park’s both Insta-fabulous and eco-friendly.
Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden
Where: 900 Bissonnet St.
Boasting its own “Chicago bean” — sort of — this sculptural oasis on the campus of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston also has so many other cool works to capture.
Wings Over Water
Where: 1767 Avenida De Las Americas
It’s a bird; it’s a plane; it’s a bit of fantasy in the heart of the city. This 30-foot-tall kinetic sculpture is Insta-perfect, day or night.
Amorino
Where: 4444 Westheimer Rd.
Gelato that looks like a rose? We’ll have some of that.
Rosemont Bridge
Where: Buffalo Bayou
Houston has its own love lock bridge, and it’s sure to feel the Instagram love.
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
Where: 105 Sabine St.
With 221 25-foot-tall concrete columns, this former underground water reservoir, built in 1926, is now a public place where art and history collide. It’s trippy — and definitely will have your post trending. The current exhibit, Carlos Cruz-Diez at the Cistern: Spatial Chromointerference, is a dazzling projection that you won’t want to miss. It’s on view until January 13, 2019.
Sam Houston Park
Where: 1000 Bagby St.
Old and new collide at this park that offers up a compellingly juxtaposed shot with quaint historic buildings and glossy skyscrapers. The “Open House” installation that’s taken up residence there likewise offers a new hole-in-the-wall view of downtown.
Minute Maid Park
Where: 501 Crawford St.
Take yourself out to the ballgame, and snap a home-run pic at this iconic downtown ballpark that’s home to the Houston Astros.
Texas Shaped Lazy River
Where: 1777 Walker St.
Splurge on a stay-cation at the Marriott Marquis hotel to get access to the Texas-shaped pool that brings all new meaning to a room with a view. The pool scene’s not bad, either.
Bovine & Barley
Where: 416 S. Main St.
Let the letters speak for themselves — from the glowing H-T-X ode to the city, to the Edgar Allen Poe quote in neon. Oh, you will also want to ‘gram the decadent burger situation, too.
The Kitchen at The Dunlavy
Where: 3422 Allen Pkwy.
Not only do the chandeliers have star quality, but the glass treehouse dining room overlooking Buffalo Bayou Park is pure magic — which makes The Kitchen at The Dunlavy a delicious and Insta-friendly place to frequent for Sunday brunch.
Bebidas
Where: 2606 Edloe St.
Will toast ever not be trending? Likely not. But, you can still get it while it’s hot here, with the most beautiful avocado on bread that you ever did see. Lucky for you, this quirky place itself is pretty darn photogenic, too. There’s even a snowball stand.
Personage and Birds
Where: 600 Travis St.
Famous artist Joan Miró’s “Personage and Birds” sculpture is a larger-than-life oddity in front of the J.P. Morgan Chase Tower.
Trumpet Flower
Where: 1000 block of Main Street Square
A whimsical reprieve for your Instagram feed, this sculptural wonder in Main Street Square is slightly bewitching, too.
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
Where: 4310 Westheimer Rd., Ste. 150
Fruity Pebbles French Toast. Need we say more? Yeah, we didn’t think so. But, there are a lot of other decadent dishes for additional #foodporn — take, for example, the Donut Burger.
El Gato Coffeehouse
Where: 508 Pecore St., Ste. A
Crazy cat people: this is your cup of joe. The cheery cat café has your caffeine fix and adoptable felines, all housed in a bright bungalow. You will definitely leave with a cute photo —and possibly a new cat.
Truck Yard Houston
Where: 2118 S. Lamar St.
It’s an adult playground and a beer garden — with funky tree houses and a Ferris wheel, too. It’s a new-ish spot, so you can score early dibs on the best pics of the place.
Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu
Where: 1507 Delano St.
This contemplative and gorgeous temple in the downtown area is a great place to stop, take in the sights, and get in touch with your inner peace!
