Food + Beverage

Where to Eat & Drink Now

Sharing Houston’s top spots to eat, drink, and enjoy. Article by Gabi De la Rosa Houston's dining scene never sits still, with new hot spots popping up at every turn. Right now is the perfect moment to mix things up and explore new dishes and restaurants worth adding to the rotation.   Belly of the Beast  Chef Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast in Old Town Spring was honored as Best Chef Texas at the 2025 James Beard Awards. He was the only Houston-area winner and shared the achievement...

Travel

Will Travel For Food

Dallas’s Travis Street Hospitality offers Michelin-recommended dining with French-inspired menus and community-focused values. Article by Gabi De la Rosa | Photography by Beckley Houston and Dallas might have an age-old rivalry, but there are a few lauded highlights about the Bayou City’s northern neighbor worth a visit, and one of those is Travis Street Hospitality. Founder Stephan Courseau and his wife, Daniele Garcia, sit at the helm of an award-winning coterie of must-try restaurants.    ...

Shopping

Cooking Essentials Made Easy

Discover six must-have kitchen tools designed to simplify cooking and streamline daily routines. Article by River Oaks Lifestyle Staff With so many kitchen gadgets on the market, it can be tough to separate what is useful from what will gather dust. While some tools are clearly essential, others serve only one purpose and take up valuable space. Instead of filling cabinets with items that rarely get used, it makes sense to focus on multipurpose tools that truly earn their keep. From baking...

Food + Beverage

Tasty Trends & Savory Secrets

Chefs and restaurateurs reveal their top picks for this season in this Houston dining guide. Article by Allyson Straczek MaKiin makiinthai.com MaKiin invites guests on a journey through Thai flavors and traditions, no passport required. Owner, Lukkaew Srasrisuwan, encourages first-time diners to begin with the Appetizer Symphony, a shareable starter and tasty way to start the meal. From there, the Tom Yum soup, with lemongrass, kaffir lime, and roasted Thai chili pepper, is flavorful...

Home + Design

Stylish Hospitality

Gin Braverman's innovative design taps into all of the senses. Article by Diane Cowen | Photography by Leonid Furmansky When upscale Asian steakhouse Haii Keii opened in the Upper Kirby District earlier this year, guests uttered fawned over its interior design before even sampling its luscious food and drinks. Those interiors are the work of hospitality visionary Gin Braverman, founder of Gin Design Group and the October honoree of the Houston Design District’s Leaders In Design program. ...

Food + Beverage

If You Eat One Thing

Succulent's handmade carrot‑gnocchi showcases balanced textures and vibrant flavors. Article by Gabi De la Rosa | Photography by Quit Nguyen River Oaks' burgeoning culinary scene recently expanded with the opening of Succulent Fine Dining. Founded by restaurateur Shawn Virene, known for a'Bouzy, the restaurant offers West Coast-inspired cuisine rooted in Napa Valley traditions. Executive Chef David Buckley leads the kitchen, bringing nationwide experience from Hawaii, San Diego, and The...

Food + Beverage

Socorro's Tequila Takeover

Socorro Tequila lands in top Houston spots and American Airlines with award-winning, additive-free flavor. Article by Gabi De la Rosa | Photography by Courtesy of I & A Agave Spirits Founded in 2020 by spirits industry pros Josh Irving and Pablo Antinori, Socorro Tequila is made in the highlands of Jalisco with 100% Blue Weber agave and zero additives. Antinori is hands-on from harvest to aging, making sure every bottle reflects their commitment to clean, traditional tequila. The name Socorro...

Home + Design

Beyond the Bottle

Vineyard Wine Cellars creates custom wine rooms that blend expert design, craftsmanship, and climate control. Article by River Oaks Lifestyle Staff | Photography by Courtesy of Vineyard Wine Cellars For more than two decades, Vineyard Wine Cellars has helped clients across the country transform their wine storage goals into custom, climate-controlled spaces. Long before glass-front wine rooms became showpieces in homes and restaurants, the company was already imagining the future of wine...

Arts + Culture

The Architecture of Insects

Cirque du Soleil’s OVO costumes transform insect inspiration into wearable art through pleats, structure, imagination. Article by River Oaks Lifestyle Staff | Photography by Marie-Andrée Lemire For OVO , Cirque du Soleil’s insect-inspired show running in Houston from October 2 to 5, costume designer Liz Vandal drew on a lifelong fascination with bugs. “I’ve always had a passion for them,” she says. “When I was just a kid, I put rocks down around the yard near the fruit trees, and I lifted...

Home + Design

Hallie Henley Sims’ well-planned path

Houston designer uses rich colors, lively patterns and interesting textures in home projects. Article by Diane Cowen | Photography by Jack Thompson Hallie Henley Sims’ mother was a teacher, but she loved home projects – her own as well as those of friends, and a young Hallie tagged along when she shopped for treasures for the home. It was inevitable that when Hallie was in fifth grade was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up she would write: interior designer. When she was a...