Cathy's Guidebook
Food scene-Neighborhood Spots listed first
Iconic local neighborhood restaurant that people drive from Houston to enjoy! You can order off of their fresh seafood menu or take your own catch with you which they will cook and serve you along with all of the fixings! One of a kind gliders available for outdoor seating, with unmatched views of Galveston Bay. In addition to the delicious food, the beer is cold and the mixed drinks are tasty, touting one of the liveliest bars in the area complete with big screen TVs. In our studio, our studio book describes our favorite menu items.
75 locals recommend
Topwater Grill
815 Avenue OIconic local neighborhood restaurant that people drive from Houston to enjoy! You can order off of their fresh seafood menu or take your own catch with you which they will cook and serve you along with all of the fixings! One of a kind gliders available for outdoor seating, with unmatched views of Galveston Bay. In addition to the delicious food, the beer is cold and the mixed drinks are tasty, touting one of the liveliest bars in the area complete with big screen TVs. In our studio, our studio book describes our favorite menu items.
Simply the best oysters anywhere, ever! Several of the local neighborhood restaurants include oysters on their menu but none of them beat those offered at this dive bar restaurant in San Leon. If you want the local flavor this is the place to go. Outdoor seating and indoor seating but this is landlocked. Seriously it’s kind of a dump but the fire grilled oysters are Unparalleled. Even though it’s located an hour outside of Houston it has been voted by the Houston press as the best oysters several years in a row. The address is included in our in-house studio book, which is helpful because I don’t even think they have a sign advertising this place! When you pull into an oyster shell covered parking area with cars lining the lot and spilling out onto the road, you will know you were there!
57 locals recommend
Gilhooley's Restaurant and Oyster Bar 18+
222 9th StSimply the best oysters anywhere, ever! Several of the local neighborhood restaurants include oysters on their menu but none of them beat those offered at this dive bar restaurant in San Leon. If you want the local flavor this is the place to go. Outdoor seating and indoor seating but this is landlocked. Seriously it’s kind of a dump but the fire grilled oysters are Unparalleled. Even though it’s located an hour outside of Houston it has been voted by the Houston press as the best oysters several years in a row. The address is included in our in-house studio book, which is helpful because I don’t even think they have a sign advertising this place! When you pull into an oyster shell covered parking area with cars lining the lot and spilling out onto the road, you will know you were there!
Brand new seafood restaurant in the neighborhood, opened October, 2020. We have not personally experienced this place yet but the neighbors report the food is delicious and the chef is well respected and well known. Probably a little pricier than some of our local restaurants. Located smack dab on the water with views of Galveston Bay and Houston ship channel traffic in the distance.
44 locals recommend
Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House
113 6th StBrand new seafood restaurant in the neighborhood, opened October, 2020. We have not personally experienced this place yet but the neighbors report the food is delicious and the chef is well respected and well known. Probably a little pricier than some of our local restaurants. Located smack dab on the water with views of Galveston Bay and Houston ship channel traffic in the distance.
Galveston
This is an all time favorite restaurant for both locals and visitors. It has the best carrot cake! The Spot features Fresh seafood, dress your own burgers served on homemade rolls with both inside and out door seating with killer views, as it is located smack dab on the seawall.There are two cool bar options included in this restaurant each having their separate entrances. You stand in line to place your order and then grab a seat. Very casual as is most island dining. This has been our families long time favorite, a definite post surfing event!
327 locals recommend
The Spot
3204 Seawall BlvdThis is an all time favorite restaurant for both locals and visitors. It has the best carrot cake! The Spot features Fresh seafood, dress your own burgers served on homemade rolls with both inside and out door seating with killer views, as it is located smack dab on the seawall.There are two cool bar options included in this restaurant each having their separate entrances. You stand in line to place your order and then grab a seat. Very casual as is most island dining. This has been our families long time favorite, a definite post surfing event!
Studio Owner sculptor/artist Dwight Brown created several pieces of sculpture in this iconic island restaurant including the large hanging bass fishing lure in the restaurant Courtyard and the large aluminum fish hanging on the exterior of the restaurant. Artist/Studio owner Cathy Brown Created the hand cut copper foiled stained glass lamps and sconces on the second floor restaurant seating area.
83 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf
2200 Harborside DrStudio Owner sculptor/artist Dwight Brown created several pieces of sculpture in this iconic island restaurant including the large hanging bass fishing lure in the restaurant Courtyard and the large aluminum fish hanging on the exterior of the restaurant. Artist/Studio owner Cathy Brown Created the hand cut copper foiled stained glass lamps and sconces on the second floor restaurant seating area.
Very busy area on the seawall with pleasure pier located directly across the street on the beach. Good food! Artist/studio owner Dwight Brown created created the large fishbone sculpture on the outside of the restaurant as well as the rotating fish tail wind sculpture on top of the restaurant.
64 locals recommend
Fish Tales
2502 Seawall BlvdVery busy area on the seawall with pleasure pier located directly across the street on the beach. Good food! Artist/studio owner Dwight Brown created created the large fishbone sculpture on the outside of the restaurant as well as the rotating fish tail wind sculpture on top of the restaurant.
Off of the beaten path this is where the locals go for a delicious breakfast and in-house baked cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and pastries. Indoor and outdoor seating available. The food is delicious!
271 locals recommend
The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe
512 14th StOff of the beaten path this is where the locals go for a delicious breakfast and in-house baked cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and pastries. Indoor and outdoor seating available. The food is delicious!
Sightseeing-Neighborhood Spots listed first
Right here in sunny San Leon we have the first women’s owned distillery in the United States. This is a must see and it’s in the neighborhood! You can take a tour, taste the goodies, and leave with a souvenir shot glass. No food just snacks so you want to catch dinner at one of the other local restaurants before or after this event.
21 locals recommend
Railean Rum Distillery
341 5th StreetRight here in sunny San Leon we have the first women’s owned distillery in the United States. This is a must see and it’s in the neighborhood! You can take a tour, taste the goodies, and leave with a souvenir shot glass. No food just snacks so you want to catch dinner at one of the other local restaurants before or after this event.
Now talk about a place to sit, enjoy a cold beverage and watch the sunset over the bay, this neighborhood favorite meet all those requirements. You can also access their fishing pier for mere five dollars! This is a local, colorful place so be prepared to sit back, enjoy, and take in the local scene.Not sure but you may even be able to take in your own bottle and buy set ups… But not sure...
8 locals recommend
Sunset Lounge
1222 11th StNow talk about a place to sit, enjoy a cold beverage and watch the sunset over the bay, this neighborhood favorite meet all those requirements. You can also access their fishing pier for mere five dollars! This is a local, colorful place so be prepared to sit back, enjoy, and take in the local scene.Not sure but you may even be able to take in your own bottle and buy set ups… But not sure...
Honestly, this photo is a little grandiose as in none of the sand on any of the beaches in this area is pristine white! This is a little, very little strip of free, accessible shell covered sandy beach area local to our studio. It’s a good place to shell hunt with a long established dive bar located directly across the street. It used to be a good birdwatching area but since It has morphed into a beach of sorts, not so much. You’ll enjoy better birdwatching from our water front yard. Nonetheless it’s a spot to walk on a strip of bay front and hunt for shells.
12 locals recommend
Mooner Beach
218 1st StHonestly, this photo is a little grandiose as in none of the sand on any of the beaches in this area is pristine white! This is a little, very little strip of free, accessible shell covered sandy beach area local to our studio. It’s a good place to shell hunt with a long established dive bar located directly across the street. It used to be a good birdwatching area but since It has morphed into a beach of sorts, not so much. You’ll enjoy better birdwatching from our water front yard. Nonetheless it’s a spot to walk on a strip of bay front and hunt for shells.
A neighborhood place to buy fresh bait And all things related to fishing supplies. They also offer a place to launch your boat or a kayak. No fishing pier though…We do have a two person kayak with paddles and lifejackets so contact us if interested.
Eagle Point Fishing Camp Inc
101 1st StA neighborhood place to buy fresh bait And all things related to fishing supplies. They also offer a place to launch your boat or a kayak. No fishing pier though…We do have a two person kayak with paddles and lifejackets so contact us if interested.
There are an unlimited amount of beautiful historical homes on Galveston Island, this is just one of them.
180 locals recommend
Moody Mansion
2618 Broadway Avenue JThere are an unlimited amount of beautiful historical homes on Galveston Island, this is just one of them.
This is a free ferry ride accessed from Galveston Island that Transports you across the ocean to Bolivar peninsula. You can drive your car ride onto the ferry or you can park your car and walk onto the ferry. You can pretty much count on seeing dolphins during this short 20 minute one-way ride and then hop right back on for a return 20 minute ride. Really a unique experience Complete with views of the bolivar peninsula lighthouse!
35 locals recommend
Galveston - Bolivar Ferry
Galveston - Bolivar FerryThis is a free ferry ride accessed from Galveston Island that Transports you across the ocean to Bolivar peninsula. You can drive your car ride onto the ferry or you can park your car and walk onto the ferry. You can pretty much count on seeing dolphins during this short 20 minute one-way ride and then hop right back on for a return 20 minute ride. Really a unique experience Complete with views of the bolivar peninsula lighthouse!
Galveston Historical Foundation
2002 Strand StBeautiful historical buildings line both sides of this street in the Strand district on the island. Tons of shops, many choices of restaurants....you can even take a ride in a horse drawn carriage! This is a must see!
73 locals recommend
Strand Historic District
2100 The StrandBeautiful historical buildings line both sides of this street in the Strand district on the island. Tons of shops, many choices of restaurants....you can even take a ride in a horse drawn carriage! This is a must see!
Kemah Boardwalk
215 Kipp AveSpace Center Houston
1601 E NASA PkwyMaas Nursery
5511 Todville Rd