This restaurant marks chef Manabu Horiuchi’s latest gift to the city, so why not pay it a visit this season? Get your sushi fix in with the restaurant’s pristine offerings of nigiri, seasonal fish, and an omakase. If fish isn’t your vibe, you’re in luck—Katami also features some of the best wagyu in the world, slurpworthy soba noodles, and a PB&J foie gras dish that is the perfect transition into dessert. —Sofia Gonzalez, food and travel editor 

There’s something so wonderful about restaurants that relish in the holiday season, and this year, Traveler’s Table is rolling out a new dinner menu to kickstart the festivities. Fill up on the blue crab carbonara, Mediterranean branzino, or the Japanese-style Texas wagyu with purple potato-nori puree, demigurasu sauce, and roasted Parmesan oyster mushrooms. —SG

It’s finally the season for unwrapping your favorite gift: a warm tamale. Find the classics at Picos (a place we aren’t ready to say goodbye to), Cajun takes at BB’s Tex-Orleans, and plenty of other local Houston spots dishing out tamales by the dozens. Use Houstonia’s guide to find which restaurants are worth ordering from this year. —SG 

Local watering holes have once again transformed themselves to brighten your spirits. Frosty’s Christmas Bar returns to EaDo with an interior that will make you want to strike a pose for the ’Gram. Houstonians can find plenty of photo ops across two levels, which include a cozy fireplace, Santa’s chair, a sleigh, and life-size buttons and ornaments. The drinks are worth sticking around for. Sip on the Naughty and Spice margarita, a Polar Espresso martini, or a candy cane shot for a creamy vanilla treat. Feeling up to a holiday bar crawl? Check out our list of promising places with more themed cocktails and festive photo opportunities. —SG

As a certified tea fanatic, I consider it imperative to try every new boba chain that opens in town. Enter Taiwan’s He Cha Lou. Established in 2020, this tea franchise has quickly expanded, debuting its first Houston-area location in Katy Asian Town in October. The fairly new outpost comes complete with a drive-thru, a neighboring claw machine arcade, and a high-quality tea selection not often seen in Houston’s boba market. Flavors include magnolia-infused jasmine tea and a golden buckwheat version, served with He Cha Lou’s tea-infused jelly in flavors such as signature black tea, osmanthus oolong, and even Thai tea. Last weekend, I was shocked to find that a simple magnolia tea with black tea jelly satisfied my caffeine kick. Flower haters, shoot for milk teas with brown sugar boba and fruit offerings. —Erica Cheng, news and city life editor 

It’s not officially Christmas season until Houston Ballet starts up its Nutcracker performances. Tchaikovsky’s iconic holiday classic transports audiences to a magical land of rat kings, living toys, and fairies (at least one of the Sugar Plum variety). If you want to get your kiddos interested in dance, The Nutcracker makes for a wonderful introduction to the art. —Meredith Nudo, senior culture editor

We loved the world premiere of The Night Shift Before Christmas when it first hit the Alley Theatre stage last year, so it’s great to see it returning again for 2025. But if you’re looking for something a little more family-friendly, their annual performance of A Christmas Carol is just as much a hallmark of the Houston holiday season as Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker. —MN

With a cold snap and holiday shopping on the way, Houston is really settling into the Christmas spirit. Luckily, the city has unleashed a ton of festive light displays to really set the mood. Take a trip down to the Space Center and snap pics of its Galaxy Lights display, complete with space shuttles and astronauts. For a truly special staycation, head to Downtown’s Marriott Marquis and check out the Texas Winter Lights display on hotel's famous rooftop. (Hot tip: Hotel guests get free access to the holiday lights display.) Want to enjoy the outdoors? Head to Memorial Park for the free display, which runs through January and features a glittering promenade of cheer. —EC