This authentic Mexican panadería was founded in 1994 and now has six locations in the Houston area. The bakery’s Northside location is a great spot to pick up some conchas, empanadas, cookies, churros, or other sweet treats. The tamales also always hit the spot.

Known for its modern interpretation of traditional dishes, Asia Market has been dishing out some pretty great Thai food from its Northside digs for years now. Must-tries here include the tom kha soup, the pad kee mao noodles, and the panang curry.

If you can’t decide whether you want to satisfy your sweet tooth or go for something savory, you can satisfy both at the same time at Donut Delight 2. The Northside bakery offers an endless array of doughnut options as well as kolaches, breakfast croissants, burritos, and sandwiches.

Although tacos de barbacoa can be found on menus throughout town, the absolute best spot in Houston to eat them is Gerardo’s Drive-In. The restaurant, founded in 1977 by José Luis Lopez, cooks its barbacoa the traditional way—or at least as close as they can since the city of Houston doesn’t allow restaurants to have pit ovens. Note that Gerardo’s is only open Friday through Sunday.

On the hunt for some of the best gorditas in Houston? Gorditas Aguascalientes has you covered. The Mexican restaurant has 11 gordita toppings, offering everything from carne de puerco to chicharrón and nopales. The restaurant also cooks up some really great sopes, huaraches, and tacos.

This staple Northside bakery and café has everything from breakfast tacos and enchiladas to Mexican pan dulce, and has a small but cute patio to boot.

If you’re on the hunt for something in the Northside that will satisfy your sweet tooth, you can’t do better than this shop, which has everything from paletas to ice cream, mangonadas, and cups of elote.

Gorditas. Tamales. Tacos. Menudo. Fideo. Laredo Taqueria should be your go-to spot for all of those things. This Northside staple, famous for its long lines, is one of the best places in Houston for Mexican food. If you are here for tacos, have your pick of everything from chorizo and egg to nopales, fideo (yes, fideo tacos), picadillo, and chicken mole. You’ll also want to order a heaping bowl of menudo, which, unfortunately, is only available on the weekends.

For more than 60 years, this beloved burger joint, which started as a burger cart in the late 1950s, has been serving generations of Northside families. While the burgers here are super affordable, what we love most about Poppa Burger is that it’s open 24/7, making it a great spot to check out after a night of bar hopping or for folks who work night shifts.

While the streets of Houston are populated with fleets of taco food trucks, not all are created equal. If you’re looking for the real deal, head to El Taconazo. You’ll likely have to spend a bit of time in line, but it will be well worth it. The fajita tacos are some of our favorites, and El Taconazo offers meat options ranging from trompo to lengua.

This laidback spot just north of downtown features 36,000 square feet in which to mix and mingle while sipping on some great beer. Since the brewery is housed in an open-air warehouse, you get the best of both worlds here: access to the outdoors but also lots of shade and protection from any inclement weather. Bad Astronaut regularly hosts flea markets and popups on the weekend (our favorite is the monthly Punk Rock Garage Sale). Standout beers here include the Destroy All Humans stout, Fake Landing IPA, and the Cloud Punch pilsner. For food, have your pick of five different pizzas with names like Paranormal Pepperoni, In Cheesus We Trust, and Sauspiria.

Steak night. Drag shows. Really, really good beer. There’s a lot to love about Gristworkz, a Northside brewpub that also has a full kitchen and bar program. When it comes to the beer, opt for the Muy Vien, a Vienna lager, or the Lightwerk Kölsch. If beer isn’t your thing, there’s also wine and a classic cocktail menu featuring everything from moscow mules to suffering bastards and negronis. For food, there’s snacks like nachos and wings as well as pizzas, burgers, and a variety of sandwiches.

This colorful bar, located in Lindale Park, sports the laid-back vibe of your favorite neighborhood cantina while also boasting a craft cocktail program you would expect to find at a fancier spot. The drink menu here is tequila- and mezcal-heavy, which is just how we like them. There’s also a killer lineup of frozen cocktails, including a riff on a piña colada that is what dreams are made of. Equally compelling is the bar’s food menu, which includes everything from build-your-own pizzas to fajita tacos, wings, burgers, and aguachiles—enough variety to satisfy even the most eclectic of tastes.

You’d be forgiven for missing the entrance to this relaxed, Chicano-owned craft cocktail bar since its graffiti-painted doors have been made to look like an extension of the tire shop next door. Once inside, however, you’re in for a treat as its low-key, dive bar exterior gives way to a bright and colorful space perfect for enjoying the bar’s creative craft cocktails—all featuring housemade syrups, premium spirits, and freshly squeezed juices.

This sky-high bar adjacent to White Oak Music Hall, is one of the most unique spots in all of Houston. Built in the 1970s as a bachelor pad perched in a tower atop a fabrication shop, it’s now a choice Northside hangout with breathtaking views of downtown. The bar also sports a 3,000-square-foot patio on the ground level, including a covered warehouse portion with an indoor bar with 24 beers on tap and a wide selection of cocktails. Just make sure you do your sightseeing in the tower well before you start getting the spins.

As Texas’s oldest craft brewery, Saint Arnold has established itself as one of the state’s premier craft beer producers. Its digs in Northside aren’t that bad either. The facility includes a 25,000-square-foot beer garden and restaurant as well as an indoor beer hall and tasting room—making it the perfect space to stretch out while sipping signature brews like the Art Car IPA, Lawnmower, or H-Town Pils, with great pizza to pair.

As Houston’s only raccoon-themed cocktail bar (there can only be one), Trash Panda Drinking Club holds a special place in our hearts. The eclectic bar is decorated with paintings and murals that pay homage to its nocturnal namesake, including a giant light-up sign proclaiming “Death is coming. Eat trash, be free.” You can start your journey to freedom by checking out the bar’s stellar cocktail program, which includes options like a phở-inspired martini with rye, Thai chile, and star anise, and a purple-hued libation with bourbon and taro milk named after Barney, everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic T. rex. Trash Panda also has a full food menu available until 2am featuring everything from pizzas and burgers to churros and ramen, meaning there’s no need to go dumpster diving if you start feeling a bit peckish.

Located on the border of the Northside and downtown, this gallery and studio space boasts 15,000 square feet dedicated entirely to the visual and performing arts. It also hosts regular weekend art shows and markets, making it a great hangout spot.

This community center provides valuable services to local families in need, offering a variety of intergenerational and youth programs from fitness to crafting. In need of a cake decorating class or want to learn how to sew? Leonel Castillo Community Center has you covered.

Is there a better place to listen to music in Houston than White Oak Music Hall? Probably not. The 8,000-square-foot live venue regularly hosts top touring bands like the Lumineers and the Flaming Lips, as well as a bevy of local acts, making it a great option for date night or to hang out with friends.

This Northside park, open since 1925, has quite a history, including being the site of the infamous 1978 Moody Park riots. One of the best green spaces in the neighborhood, it includes a basketball pavilion, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and playground areas.