Guidebook for Galveston
Food Scene
Must visit this local favorite for some of the best food on the island. Great place to shop for spices too!
Great lunch place with different kind of menu. Good if you are looking for something besides typical fried seafood fare. Paninis are great, as are the salads.
33 locals recommend
Eatcetera
408 25th StGreat lunch place with different kind of menu. Good if you are looking for something besides typical fried seafood fare. Paninis are great, as are the salads.
Great brunch place. Also good for lunch and dinner. Everything is good, including the wonderful desserts.
213 locals recommend
Mosquito Cafe
628 14th StGreat brunch place. Also good for lunch and dinner. Everything is good, including the wonderful desserts.
Great place for coffee in the historic downtown area. Their blueberry muffins are so yummy too!
139 locals recommend
MOD Coffeehouse
2126 Postoffice StGreat place for coffee in the historic downtown area. Their blueberry muffins are so yummy too!
Great lunch spot. Good desserts and great bread, of course.
271 locals recommend
The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe
512 14th StGreat lunch spot. Good desserts and great bread, of course.
Some of the best food on the island! Also wonderful spice store where you can find most anything, but with a strong Italian influence. Ronnie Maceo is an amazing chef. Everything is good! Try the muffaletta, shrimp salad, roast. On weekends he has beignets. This is one of those places where the locals go. You will notice that everyone knows each other.
(Sadly, Ronnie Maceo passed November 2022, however, his daughter, Connie, continues to run this island treasure. It remains our favorite spot for all things yummy!)
56 locals recommend
Maceo Spice & Import Company
2706 Market StSome of the best food on the island! Also wonderful spice store where you can find most anything, but with a strong Italian influence. Ronnie Maceo is an amazing chef. Everything is good! Try the muffaletta, shrimp salad, roast. On weekends he has beignets. This is one of those places where the locals go. You will notice that everyone knows each other.
(Sadly, Ronnie Maceo passed November 2022, however, his daughter, Connie, continues to run this island treasure. It remains our favorite spot for all things yummy!)
Great all around restaurant. We particularly enjoy breakfast here. You can have a great view of the ocean while you dine.
198 locals recommend
Miller's Seawall Grill
1824 Seawall BoulevardGreat all around restaurant. We particularly enjoy breakfast here. You can have a great view of the ocean while you dine.
Great local roasters. You can sample their coffees, plus purchase beans to take with you. Friendly staff and owners
10 locals recommend
Galveston Coffee Roasters
532 23rd StGreat local roasters. You can sample their coffees, plus purchase beans to take with you. Friendly staff and owners
This place is walking distance from our house. They have very good Mexican breakfasts and also serve lunch.
24 locals recommend
Bambú
1220 23rd StThis place is walking distance from our house. They have very good Mexican breakfasts and also serve lunch.
Some of the best casual seafood, and you can watch ships, and sometimes even dolphins go by from the porch, overlooking the gulf
27 locals recommend
Benno's Cajun Seafood Restaurant
1212 Seawall BlvdSome of the best casual seafood, and you can watch ships, and sometimes even dolphins go by from the porch, overlooking the gulf
Katie's Seafood House
This has become our favorite for local seafood. The gumbo is especially good.
Nice upscale restaurant on the Seawall - walking distance from the house (under a mile).
111 locals recommend
BLVD Seafood
2804 Avenue R 1/2Nice upscale restaurant on the Seawall - walking distance from the house (under a mile).
If you are looking for an upscale restaurant for a special occasion, this is the place. Reservations are recommended.
151 locals recommend
Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar
2028 Postoffice StIf you are looking for an upscale restaurant for a special occasion, this is the place. Reservations are recommended.
Interestingly, good Tex Mex is hard to come by on the island. This is one that we have found to be better than most. Good enchiladas, chips, margaritas - what more could you ask for?
46 locals recommend
Taquilo's Tex-Mex Cantina
2101 Postoffice StInterestingly, good Tex Mex is hard to come by on the island. This is one that we have found to be better than most. Good enchiladas, chips, margaritas - what more could you ask for?
Shucks Tavern & Oyster Bar
Easy to miss this small restaurant, but highly recommended! All good!
The pizza here is so good. Plus, you can watch them hand toss the crusts! Other Italian dishes are also quite good. Great atmosphere, in the middle of the Strand
99 locals recommend
Mama Teresa's Flying Pizza
416 21st StThe pizza here is so good. Plus, you can watch them hand toss the crusts! Other Italian dishes are also quite good. Great atmosphere, in the middle of the Strand
Sonny's Place
1206 19th StGreat diner, frequented by locals (you know it's good then!)
Shopping
We love shopping here. They have lots of unique things, including an extensive collection of nativity scenes from around the world. Only open on weekends.
10 locals recommend
Hendley Market
2010 Strand StWe love shopping here. They have lots of unique things, including an extensive collection of nativity scenes from around the world. Only open on weekends.
I put this place in Arts & Culture category instead of shops because it is the home of one of Galveston's infamous brothels. Scotty (owner) is a character who loves to tell stories of the place. There are wonderful antiques and collectibles to sort through as well.
23 locals recommend
Antique Warehouse
423 25th StI put this place in Arts & Culture category instead of shops because it is the home of one of Galveston's infamous brothels. Scotty (owner) is a character who loves to tell stories of the place. There are wonderful antiques and collectibles to sort through as well.
Sightseeing
The ferry ride is free and you can usually see dolphins on the trip.
24 locals recommend
Galveston - Bolivar Ferry
Galveston - Bolivar FerryThe ferry ride is free and you can usually see dolphins on the trip.
Tour the old train station and climb aboard the trains to see how people traveled back in the day
140 locals recommend
Galveston Railroad Museum
2602 Santa Fe PlTour the old train station and climb aboard the trains to see how people traveled back in the day
Incredible ship that you can tour. Sometimes they take it out for a spin!
121 locals recommend
Galveston Historic Seaport - Home of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA
8Incredible ship that you can tour. Sometimes they take it out for a spin!
Drinks & Nightlife
When the weather is good, head to the rooftop bar at the Tremont House hotel. Great views, and a fun place to relax. You can also have cocktails in the first floor (haunted) bar where they have live jazz trios and free nibbles during happy hour.
82 locals recommend
The Tremont House
2300 Ship Mechanic Row StWhen the weather is good, head to the rooftop bar at the Tremont House hotel. Great views, and a fun place to relax. You can also have cocktails in the first floor (haunted) bar where they have live jazz trios and free nibbles during happy hour.
Arts & Culture
A great museum located in the historic Galveston Orphans Home, has one of the world's largest collections of historical artifacts, documents, and artwork relating to Texas and the American West. The building itself is beautiful, along with the wonderful grounds.
116 locals recommend
The Bryan Museum
1315 21st StA great museum located in the historic Galveston Orphans Home, has one of the world's largest collections of historical artifacts, documents, and artwork relating to Texas and the American West. The building itself is beautiful, along with the wonderful grounds.
Everything Else
Open Sundays at 3304 Market Street. Find local produce, honey, baked good, cheese and more.
19 locals recommend
Galveston's Own Farmers Market
3304 Market StOpen Sundays at 3304 Market Street. Find local produce, honey, baked good, cheese and more.