What to Eat, What to Drink, Where to Stay and What to See in Houston

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Eat: Hugo’s

Go to this Mexican restaurant on Sunday morning for the brunch buffet — $33 gets you unlimited servings of favorites such as tomatillo chilaquiles and churros. hugosrestaurant.net

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Eat: Da Marco

This jacket-preferred trattoria has an extensive Italian wine list and an attentive waitstaff well trained at shaving truffles tableside. damarcohouston.com

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Eat: Nidda Thai Cuisine

Skip your usual pad thai and try something new, like avocado Massaman curry, or chu chee eggplant coated in red curry. niddathaicuisine.com

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Eat: Mala Sichuan Bistro

The xiao chi (small plates) section of this menu brings Sichuan-style street food inside. Try the chilled mung bean noodles and chili oil dumplings. 832-767-0911

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Eat: Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine

At this cafeteria-style spot, your main course comes with three sides. Locals love the chicken kebabs with tabouli — and the good value. aladdinshouston.com

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Eat: Uchi

This Japanese favorite is famous for its happy hour: $3 sake, and rolls and small plates made with fish flown in daily from Japan. uchirestaurants.com

Photo: Wolf

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Eat: Theo's Restaurant

All the delicious Greek classics are on the menu here, including keftedes (meatballs) and loukanika (pork sausage). theoshouston.com

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Eat: Indika

The menu at this bold Indian restaurant is not for the timid: Dishes include goat brain masala, seared foie gras and saffron-pistachio ice cream. indikausa.com

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Eat: L’Olivier

This French bistro turns out beloved dishes like chateaubriand (a center-cut filet of beef) and île flottante (an island of meringue floating in custard). lolivierhouston.com

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Eat: b10 Vietnamese Café

Banh mi sandwiches are ubiquitous in Houston, and when you mix one with an all-American sloppy joe at b10 Vietnamese Café, you get a sloppy beef bahn mi. b10vncafe.com

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Eat: Muiishi Makirritos

The pan-Asian food truck specializes in mac 'n' cheese egg rolls stuffed with bacon and mac and cheese. muiishimakirritos.com

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Eat: Wokker TX Ranger

At Wokker TX Ranger, mesquite-smoked brisket is the only (and unexpected) protein option for pad thai. wokkertxranger.com

Photo: Chris Brown

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Eat: Brothers Taco House

Tex-Mex isn’t a creation of the fast food industry: Tejanos, Texans from Mexico and Spain, invented the cuisine in the 1800s by riffing on their native recipes. Don’t leave Houston without trying the breakfast tacos. brotherstacohouse.com

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Eat: BCN Taste & Tradition

You can admire original artwork by Picasso and Miró while you enjoy the Spanish tapas here. bcnhouston.com

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Eat: Steak 48

This popular surf-and-turf joint is where Sandra Lee heads for a bowl of poke. steak48.com

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Eat: Christie’s Seafood & Steaks

At this family-run Houston fixture, Sandra’s favorite dish is the gumbo. It’s made from a century-old recipe. christies-restaurant.com

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Eat: Etoile Cuisine et Bar

Sandra loves chef Philippe Verpiand’s seasonal French fare — and the elegant setting. etoilecuisine.com

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Eat: Caracol

At chef Hugo Ortega’s new restaurant, the signature mole is an undisputed favorite. caracol.net

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Eat: Roegels Barbecue Co.

Every weekday, Russell and Mistry Roegels feature a different oak-smoked meat (pastrami on Thursday!). Don’t miss his wife Misty’s bourbon banana pudding. roegelsbarbecue.com

Photo: Chris Brown

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Eat: Papa Charlie's Barbecue

Wesley Jurena grew up trying all the city’s barbecue spots with his dad. His own spot is famous for not-so-traditional bites like masala-rubbed tri-tip. pappacharliesbbq.com

Photo: MauroLuna ©

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Eat: Midtown Barbecue

Brett Jackson churns out brisket and pulled pork, while his lifelong BFF Eric Aldis whips up sides like corn casserole and spicy slaw. midtownbbqhouston.com

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Eat: Ray's Real Pitt BBQ Shack

Rayford S. Busach is a retired sheriff’s deputy and barbecue pit veteran who is well known for his baby back ribs and fried corn on the cob. raysbbqshack.com

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Drink: Reserve 101

Sandra loves this whiskey bar for its huge selection (the largest in Texas!) and the intimate lounge upstairs. reserve101.com

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Drink: Bayou & Bottle

Sandra is a fan of The Four Seasons, home of this sleek new bar that specializes in top-shelf bourbon. fourseasons.com

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Drink: Eureka Heights Brew Co

The Moo Caliente is a milk stout with cinnamon and cayenne that's like Mexican hot chocolate in beer form. eurekaheights.com

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Drink: Platypus Brewing

Australian hops, mango and passion fruit go into Troppo, a wheat-based ale. platypusbrewing.com

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Drink: Bakfish Brewing Co.

The spicy aroma of I'll Tell You Wit, a Belgian-style beer, comes from coriander and fresh orange. bakfishbrewing.com

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Drink: Sigma Brewing Company

8/29/97 is a double IPA, made with an extra amount of hops, and has tones of lemon and dill. sigmabrewingcompany .com

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Stay: Hotel Zaza

The vibe here is more Sin City than Space City. There’s a dimly lit lobby, baroque furniture, a busy rooftop bar and plenty of rooms with dramatic views. From $329; hotelzaza.com

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Stay: The Whitehall

At this newly renovated hotel, all rooms come with a welcome treat (lemon sugar cookies), and guests have access to a new coffee shop, cocktail bar and art gallery. From $129; thewhitehallhouston.com

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Stay: The Houstonian

This lodge-like property, set in a secluded 18-acre forest in the middle of the city, has a spa, three pools and nine tennis courts. From $209; houstonian.com

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Stay: Marriott Marquis Houston

At this new downtown spot, you’ll find a Oaxacan restaurant, a sports bar curated by Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio and a Texas-shaped lazy river on the roof. From $249; marriott.com

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Do: Beer Can House

Beer-lover John Milkovisch decorated his iconic house with more than 50,000 aluminum cans. beercanhouse.org

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Do: Lunch at Johnson Space Center

The visitors center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center is a must-see, especially on Fridays, when you can have lunch with an astronaut and hear stories about living and working in space. The roster of astronauts and the menu rotate (alas, no Tang or freeze-dried ice cream!). Reservations recommended; spacecenter.org

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Do: Watch the Big Game

Although this is Houston’s third Super Bowl, it’s the first one taking place at NRG Stadium. Concessionaires will be cranking out Texas favorites like a brisket sandwich on jalapeno bread at Killen’s Barbecue, and a baked potato loaded with chili and cheese in sections 109 and 129.