7 New Venues in Houston/San Antonio for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events

In February, the Hilton University of Houston debuted a $30.4 million renovation—including the new Hilton Tower, a 64,000-square-foot, eight-story tower with 70 new guest rooms. Houston-based firm Kirksey Architecture handled the renovation, and the hotel now boasts twice the capacity, as well as a complete refresh of the hotel’s original 80 guest rooms and public spaces like the lobby and courtyard. This unique hotel, located on the UH campus, supports the University of Houston Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, founded by Conrad N. Hilton in 1969. The hotel offers 25,000 square feet of flexible event space, including nine meeting rooms and three ballrooms: the 6,327-square-foot Conrad Hilton Grand Ballroom (pictured), which can accommodate up to 625 standing guests; the 5,400-square-foot Waldorf Astoria Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 460 standing guests; and the 4,264-square-foot Shamrock Ballroom, which can host as many as 270 standing guests. For more intimate events, the Fred Parks Boardroom offers customized menus with wine pairings for up to 14 people.

Steakhouse Georgia James recently added an expansive rooftop boasting a great view of Houston's downtown skyline. The restaurant from Underbelly Hospitality, known for its cast iron-seared steak, debuted the 11,000-square-foot rooftop lounge in September 2022. The space offers a 4,000-square-foot lounge for indoor dining with a sleek bar and modern seating. And outside, the patio spans 7,000 square feet and is decorated with fire pits, string lighting, umbrellas, and lounge seating. Here, rooftop diners can order Georgia James favorites like wagyu and strip steak, along with the full dining room menu. For event buyouts, Georgia James's rooftop lounge can accommodate 150 seated or 200 standing guests.

Element San Antonio Riverwalk joined sister property AC by Marriott when it opened in December 2022 overlooking the famed San Antonio River Walk. Each of the hotel's bright and modern 162 rooms includes a kitchen with all the essentials (think: a fridge, cooktop, and microwave). The wellness-focused Element property offers guests perks like the "Bikes to Borrow" program, plus dog beds for visiting furry friends. The two hotels share nearly 4,000 square feet of meeting and event space, as well as rooftop bar and lounge 1Watson, which serves smoked brisket tacos and fajita shrimp and grits alongside craft cocktails. The event spaces include the 2,374-square-foot Rio Vista meeting room, an 880-square-foot prefunction space, and the 187-square-foot Media Salon (pictured).

A hand-painted statue of the Greek god Zeus is the focal point in the flashy dining room at Ciel, a restaurant and lounge that opened in December 2022 in between Houston's River Oaks and Uptown neighborhoods. Inspired by the French Riviera, the 8,000-square-foot Ciel embraces a blue and white color scheme with deep-blue velvet booths in the 240-seat main dining room, plus Italian-style porcelain floors. The dining room is accented by a 35-foot marble bar and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. Here, a menu combines French and Japanese influences, offering eye-catching dishes like smoked beef tartare, sweet chili oysters, and sushi rolls. Ciel also offers a private dining room that seats 40.

The beachfront Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Crystal Beach opened in November 2022 near Galveston, in the former location of Bolivar Beach Club. The new resort boasts the largest pool at any RV park in the country, complete with a swim-up bar, poolside lounge chairs, and private cabanas. There are many options for group events, including VIP pool suites that come equipped with AC, private restrooms, and lounge furniture. For gatherings with live performances, the resort's stage at Paradise Park includes a state-of-the-art audio system, including a microphone, speakers, music, and projector screen. Also notable—there's a private meeting room with Gulf of Mexico views that can accommodate 60-80 seated or standing guests. The space comes equipped with a private bar, and opens up to an expansive wrap-around porch. Meanwhile, a private dining room boasting a television accommodates up to 10, and the event lawn stretches the length of half a football field. An outdoor event tent with a capacity for up to 150 is available for rent. Catering options include boxed lunches, elevated plated meals, buffet-style options, and more.

Money Cat, a restaurant from chef-owner Sherman Yeung, opened in January 2023 in Houston's Inner Loop. Its menu consists of "new Japanese cuisine"—as in twists on Japanese dishes influenced by regional American foods. Highlights include honey vanilla milk buns with cultured butter and trout roe, maitake karaage inspired by Buffalo wings, and a dessert topped with a chocolate bonsai tree. The 4,200-square-foot space is minimalist in its designed, and is decorated with black marble, neutral tones, and emerald-green tiles. Money Cat's semi-private dining room seats 30, and is mostly walled off from the rest of the open-format dining room. The space is notable for its eye-catching wallpaper, which is decorated with gingko leaves (a tree symbolizing longevity and endurance in Japanese decorative art).

Camp Hot Wells opened in January 2023 at the site of the historic Hot Wells Hotel, a healing retreat for stars in the late 19th century. Sulfuric water flows here near the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk, and this new business offers hot mineral soaks and a bar serving local craft beers, natural wine, and snacks. Groups looking for some R&R can choose between the Clawfoot Suite, with two antique tubs; or the Cedar Suite, with a cedar tub for two. Camp Hot Wells is available for buyouts or semi-private rentals alike. For intimate events of 10, book the private garden and both soaking suites for $300 for two hours.