I hadn’t been to Houston proper in a decade, so when I checked into The Post Oak Hotel, opened by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta in 2018, I was a bit disoriented in terms of where I was in the city. But it didn’t matter much. Once inside the lobby, I knew I’d been found — The Post Oak is Houston’s most luxurious hotel.
A Suite With a View — and Club Access
My suite came with access to the Concierge Club Lounge on the 21st floor, and I was greeted at the entrance by concierge staff, who whisked away my bags and expedited my check-in process (it took about 90 seconds). After an in-room orientation to the hotel’s considerable food and beverage offerings and a walk-through of the (blessedly simple) technology that controls the floor-to-ceiling shades in both rooms of the suite, I took a quick shower and unpacked.
The view from the Concierge Club Lounge at The Post Oak Hotel in Houston's River Oaks District.
Kim Westerman
I headed up to the Club Lounge for a bite to eat, where I was greeted by a concierge who offered intel on museums, shopping, restaurants, and more — but first, lunch. From that 21st-floor perch, I was able to see the lay of the land and get my bearings somewhat. The lounge has a flexible approach to serving guests throughout the day, starting with a full breakfast laid out each morning, with items ranging from eggs and bacon to bagels and smoked salmon to prosciutto and cheese. Lunch is a menu situation, which is wonderfully unusual. Guests have access to certain items off the main restaurant menu downstairs, with the privacy and quiet of the club dining space — best of both worlds, for sure. There are heavy enough appetizers at night to serve as dinner, should you wish. But if you know what awaits you downstairs at the hotel’s Bloom & Bee restaurant, you’ll be careful not to fill up at the club.
Bloom & Bee, The Post Oak’s Main Restaurant
Bloom & Bee is The Post Oak Hotel's restaurant on the first floor.
Kim Westerman
While you’re surrounded by seemingly infinite dining choices here, there’s really no need to leave the building, especially on your first night when you’ve just arrived. Bloom & Bee serves Gerardo Camacho’s envelope-pushing creative dishes in colorful garden-themed space. Of course, I over-ordered because it’s impossible to narrow down the choices. The lump crab cake with remoulade and the risotto with beef cheeks and squid are two dishes not to miss.
The destination crab cake with remoulade at Houston's Bloom & Bee restaurant at The Post Oak Hotel.
Kim
I’m not a big sugar person, but Oralia Perez’s desserts are of the worth-a-diet-detour variety.
Bloom & Bee's pastry chef, Oralia Perez, is a dessert genius in our midst.
Kim Westerman
The Post Oaks Hotel’s Art Collection
It’s an amazing feeling to be in the presence of work by Frank Stella, Robert Motherwell and Alex Katz, among others. Book a tour of the in-house art collection with the concierge desk. It’s all accessible to guests, even in the main lobby, but a tour gives you a much better sense of the collection and its evolution.
The River Oaks District & the Rothko Chapel
From my own 17th-floor executive suite, I could see the nearby Galleria, but I had my sights set on accomplishing two things during my 48-hour whirlwind twirl about Houston: shopping at the River Oaks District and seeing the Rothko Chapel, both of which I accomplished in one afternoon, courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel’s Bentley service.
My view from the 17th floor of The Post Oak Hotel in Houston.
Kim Westerman
I nailed the lunch choice with Bari Ristorante, a pan-Italian hotspot with indoor-outdoor dining and a menu that is simultaneously elegant and divinely simple, from the pasta alla vongole to the San Daniele prosciutto with fior di latte and fresh figs.
I spent nearly an hour perusing the gallery at Laura Rathe Fine Art, where I got excited to see new work by Gil Bruvel and other artists whose work has found a home with one of the most highly regarded galleries in the U.S.
Gil Bruvel's work on exhibit at Laura Rathe Fine Art in Houston's River Oaks District.
Kim Westerman
Sitting for a centering moment at the Rothko Chapel was the perfect way to reflect on my day and regroup for the evening — in the presence of 14 murals created by American artist Mark Rothko.
Outside Houston's Rothko Chapel, now more than 50 years old.
Kim Westerman
When I got back to The Post Oak for my spa treatment, I was primed for relaxation. I was tempted by the spa’s signature biohacking skincare services, but I was in the mood for a ritual — specifically, the Polynesian Floral Ritual, a 90-minute treatment, including a hot stone massage and sugar exfoliation, that left me feeling like I’d been lovingly swaddled. And I smelled like jasmine!
The 20,000-square-foot Post Oak Spa is a destination unto itself.
Kim Westerman
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the care that has gone into every aspect of The Post Oak Hotel, from the service to the design and the dining to the spa. It’s a world-class operation in the heart of Houston. Make your reservations here.
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