where to party on derby day

11 Houston restaurants and bars run for the roses with Kentucky Derby parties

Houston’s restaurants and bars are celebrating the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby in style. Held this Saturday, May 4, the events include a wine festival, costume contests, and the chance to take a picture with a horse.

Time to break out the seersucker and find the biggest, fanciest hat available. Here are the best derby happenings in Houston.

Backstreet Cafe
Pre-party for the race with a Derby-themed brunch at the River Oaks staple. Look for drink specials featuring Maker’s Mark and a special board that includes deviled eggs, pimento cheese, cucumber sandwiches, hot chicken biscuit sandwich, and fried green tomatoes with crab remoulade. A prize will be awarded for best hat.

Brasserie 19
At the restaurant’s annual hat party, the see-and-be-seen crowd will don their finest Derby wear in hopes of winning a champagne brunch for six. Call 713-524-1919 for reservations.

Brenner’s on the Bayou
Held from 2:30-5:30 pm, the restaurant’s annual Wine Fest features 18 wineries pouring more than 40 wines. The roster includes: Revana Family Vineyards, Copper Cane Wine & Provisions, Wagner Family Wines, Santa Margherita NA, Vineyard Brands. In between sips, attendees will find bites from eight Landry’s restaurants, including Grotto, King Ranch Texas Kitchen, and Willie G’s. Three people will prizes in the Derby Big Hat Contest. Tickets are priced at $150 for general admission or $250 for VIP that allows entry at 1:30 pm.

Daily Gather
For its celebration, the CityCentre restaurant will be serving Derby-themed cocktails alongside light bites and prizes for best outfit and best hat. Held from 4-7 pm, the restaurant will show the race on a big screen. Tickets cost $65.

Federal Grill
All five locations of the whiskey-fueled comfort food restaurant will celebrate with Woodford Reserve mint julep specials, live music, and a contest with prizes for the best dressed man, woman, couple, and best hat.

Heights Bier Garten
Beginning at 11:30 am, the popular patio bar will host an all-day bash with drink specials, themed photo booths, games, and live music. A best dressed contest takes place at 6:30 pm.

Julep
The award-winning, Southern-inspired cocktail bar goes all out for Derby Day. Held from 1-6 pm, its annual party features live music, multiple bars, and decorations that include 5,000 fresh cut flowers. Guest chef Michelle Wallace will serve bites throughout the day. $25.

Loch Bar
Customers who show up in Derby attire will receive a complimentary cocktail. All of the restaurant’s TVs will show the race.

Permission Whiskey
Owner Peter Nolan honors his Kentucky roots with one of Houston’s biggest Derby bashes. Held from 1 pm until 2 am, the party features live bluegrass, a DJ inside, and a jazz vocalist at James, the bar’s member’s only speakeasy. In addition, look for multiple ice sculptures, photo with an actual horse, and a cigar roller. Plus, the best dressed man and woman will win a fantastic prize.

Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House
Down in San Leon, the restaurant will have a rose wall for photos, a DJ, drink specials, and a wine basket prize for the best dressed. Attendees who pick the winning horse will also be entered into a raffle for a Pier 6 gift card. 4 pm.

Rockhouse Southern Kitchen
Billed as Houston’s largest Derby party, restaurateur Rob Wright celebrates the day with DJs, cocktails, and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest Derby attire. 3 pm.

Photo by Shannon O'Hara

Daily Gather's Derby party features light bites and cocktails.

cocktails kentucky derby news-you-can-eat

LRW 2025

Two week dining event celebrates Houston's Latin-owned restaurants

Photo by Dylan McEwan

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A two-week celebration of Latin food and culture has begun in Houston. Latin Restaurant Weeks has returned for its seventh year.

Held from Friday, July 11 until July 25, Latin Restaurant Weeks has more than 40 participants that showcase the diversity of Latin American cuisine. It includes everything from all four of James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega’s restaurants — Mexican staple Hugo’s, seafood restaurant Caracol, Oaxacan restaurant Xochi, and street food favorite Urbe — as well as Brazilian steakhouses, casual taquerias, and bakeries.

Unlike Houston Restaurant Weeks where restaurant serve prix fixe menus at set prices, each participating restaurant in Late Restaurant Weeks determines its own offer. For example, at The Lymbar, David Cordua’s Latin-Mediterranean fusion restaurant in Midtown, diners have the option of a two-course, $25 lunch or a three-course, $39 dinner. Next door at Late August, chef Chris Williams and Sergio Hidalgo’s Michelin-recommended restaurant, the options consist of a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner (pricing information wasn’t available at press time). In contrast, Urbe’s sole offering is a three crispy pork belly taco plate for $17.

Those looking for more of a bar experience should consider Botónica, the recently-opened, Latin-inspired cocktail bar near River Oaks District. Aye Candy, a speakeasy-style bar in Spring Branch, is serving a $35 margarita flight with four variations on the popular cocktail.

Married couple Karinn Chavarria-Luckett and Warren Luckett founded Latin Restaurant Weeks in 2019 to increase awareness of Latin-owned restaurants. Since then, the event has expanded from Houston to Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

“Latin Restaurant Weeks was created to spotlight the cultural richness woven into each dish and story,” said Karinn Chavarria-Luckett, co-founder of Latin Restaurant Weeks. “It’s a celebration of identity, of creativity, and of the people behind the flavors who make our communities vibrant and strong.”

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