As I shared last week, I recently moved back to the Montrose area and love it. This area has so much uniqueness and for someone who works in the creative field, I feel it has kept me motivated in that field.

It’s no secret (as in, not at all), that Montrose has some amazing little spots, and if there’s one word to describe this eclectic neighborhood, it’s laid-back, which is totally my speed. One of the things I love most about living at Encore Montrose is that every time I go for a walk or drive, I always find something new.

Here are my 5 picks for hidden gems in Montrose (the places themselves may not exactly be hidden gems, but some have cool features, menu items, etc. I wanted to share). Let me know if you have any favorite Montrose spots (especially happy hour recs!).

5 Montrose Houston Hidden Gems:

1. The Patio at The Pit Room – 1201 Richmond

This takes your friendly neighborhood bar to scary levels. It’s less than a block away and I absolutely love it for a few good reasons. For starters (and probably most importantly), they have canned rosé, which we all know I am a sucker for. They also made Texas Monthly’s Top 50 Barbeque Joints in Texas. They are dog-friendly (though admittedly I rarely take Denali anywhere, because he’s not a social dog), they make there own chicharrones (I had to google what these were, but once you taste them, you’ll instantly become a fan), they host LIVE music almost every Friday night, they are a HUGE college football spot (mostly Texas Tech, which doesn’t matter to me, but it’s a fun vibe), and on Wednesday nights on The Patio, they have fajitas for $15. And did I mention The Patio has happy hour every day from 11a-7p? Boom – could there possibly be more reasons to love this nearby spot? (If so, I want to know, so please comment!)

2. The Montrose Studios – 1604 West Alabama St. 

This creative indoor studio is just plain brilliant. Y’all already know I’m obsessed with good photo opps and this is the place in Montrose (or anywhere in Houston really). Ever see an Instagram photo and have major envy? This is your place – it’s a photography studio in Montrose that does all the hard work (the setup, the prop purchasing, the lighting, etc.) and you rent out time slots to use their backdrops (like my favorite Confetti Room, which is now back and pictured above). You bring your own camera gear (though they are friendly enough to loan out extra lights and stuff), photographer or of course you can use your iPhone, and you use their stellar setup (most of the doors close, so it’s private so you can act goofy). They setup, you show up. And bring on the Instagram likes. Follow them on Instagram to see all their new themes and book in advance as they do sell out!

3. Buffburger – 1540 W Alabama St.

This new burger concept is another spot almost walking distance from Encore Montrose, but it just opened and I absolutely love their vibe. They feature all natural ingredients supplied by local ranchers, farmers, and bakers, plus they have WiFi and breakfast from 7a-11a, 7 days a week. I definitely plan to make this a morning routine from time-to-time if anyone wants to join. Their egg sandwiches are messy AF, but worth every calorie and napkin. I’m a sucker for loyalty punch cards, so there’s another bonus. Word to the wise – they are CASHLESS, so bring plastic with you!

4. Velvet Taco – 907 Westheimer

The Montrose location is too cute for words. Neon signs are my love

language, seriously. And their tacos are mind-blowing delicious. Not that I need late night snacks because my bedtime is legitimately at 9p, but they are open really late (M-W 11a – 1a, Th 11a – 3a, F 11a – 4a, Sat 10a – 4a, Sun 10a – 1a) and they serve brunch all day! (Who stays up until 4a?!) Plus they have this incredibly novel “backdoor kitchen” concept where you knock/enter through the back door and get 1 whole rotisserie chicken, 2 sides ‘elote’ corn, 6 corn tortillas, roasted corn pico and heat sauce (for nights you don’t want to cook) for $20. And you can’t miss their “Kick Ass Margarita” for $6.50. Oh and the most massive and moist red velvet cake for only $3.50. Now do you see why I have to workout so much? They even have a mobile app to help you skip the line (but I don’t have it).

(If you’re looking for the best tacos in Houston, including Velvet Taco, be sure to check out this Houston taco post I worked on Carrie Colbert with!)

5. Bar Boheme – 307 Fairview 

This eclectic wine bar may be a Montrose hideaway since it’s kind of tucked off Fairview, but it isn’t really a hidden gem because most people already know it. What you need to know: the last Sunday of every month you can expect a scene fit for reality TV with all the excitement that comes with the Drag Queen Brunch. On any other day, the old world vibe is great to catch up with old friends, sip on a craft cocktail or beer or plan your weekends and post up Saturday and Sunday for all-day happy hour. Their pizzas are pretty fantastic, brunch is even better. I consider this one of the most laid-back, non-judgey bars in all of Houston.

“Indeed, when Austin was still a relatively straitlaced Southern college town, Montrose had already unfurled its freak flag. … Montrose, and not Austin, as the true birthplace of Texas counterculture.” — Texas Monthly

I mentioned Montrose was laid-back and all of those spots above are counter-service, which I love. Sure, there are some other fantastic spots worth visiting, but for now, those are 5 of my favorites.

This is part of a sponsored blog series with Encore Montrose. I am sharing what I love about living in Houston, and specifically Montrose, plus all the tips, tricks and amenities along the way. These luxury Montrose apartments are currently offering two months free and the best part is we get to be neighbors. Drop a comment or email if you’re interested in touring or stop by Encore Montrose and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Or give them a call at 281.843.1578.