Guide: The 9 best places in Houston to have a girl dinner (or brunch)

Advocate for style over substance? We could never, outside of secretly binging . Luckily these concepts aren't mutually exclusive, as a spate of stunning Houston-area dining rooms reminds us.

Various masculine aesthetics have long been represented at wood-paneled steakhouses, Western-inflected 'cue joints, and carefully minimalist watering holes around town, and now the pendulum has seemingly swung the other way. These gathering spaces are unabashedly feminine , not to mention chic, and drop-dead gorgeous.

Whether your clique is getting together for girl dinner, girl brunch , or girl drinks, these spots elevate their plates with beautiful backdrops.

Little Hen

This brunch spot inside River Oaks District is literally blooming, from the (faux) wisteria tumbling down from the exterior eaves to toile-patterned plates, floral textiles and garden rose arrangements adorning the tables and bar. Tasteful Hollywood Regency details—swirling chandeliers, coupés for days—add an air of stylish sophistication. The pink rose petal pancakes are worth ordering even beyond the obvious 'gram factor.

Annabelle Brasserie

When TikTok said "tell me you're a French brasserie without telling me you're a French brasserie," the Berg Hospitality team behind Annabelle understood the assignment. Think bentwood bistro chairs, a classic checkerboard tile floor, picture windows, and paneled walls painted in a classic French blue, plus a statue of a semi-naked lady and a canopy of flowers thrown in for good measure. When you're ready to order, the most popular dishes are the tried-and-true French classics: French onion soup, steak frites, and the baguette with jamon and raclette

Take the clean girl aesthetic and turn it into a café and you'd have Vibrant, a modern, minimalist and yet subtly feminine space in Montrose that perfectly suits its organic, gluten-free, dairy-free menu. No floral walls here; instead the low-key patio is lined with native plants, while inside sleek bleached wood banquettes, mid-century-inspired cantilevered chairs and a hint of millennial pink keep things interesting.

Tiny Boxwoods

Short of being invited to brunch al fresco at Ina Garten's house, Tiny Boxwoods is pretty much as picturesque as meals get, cited in tranquil yet sophisticated greenspace on the premises of Thompson + Hansen nursery in River Oaks. A curated menu of café classics can be paired with lattes or cocktails, and should certainly be accompanied by one of the famed chocolate chip cookies, which always arrive warm and perfectly gooey.

Bloom & Bee

The feminine cues inside Bloom & Bee, one of nine dining and drinking spots inside the Post Oak Hotel, are about as subtle as the Barbie-pink hue of the dining chairs. An extravagant array of florals on textiles, tables, and walls compete under canopy of pink organic glass forms overhead as queen bees nosh on salads, sandwiches and a surprisingly large sushi menu. Be warned: you may feel a sting when the bill arrives.

Sunday Press

The vintage brass fixtures and curved lines featured throughout Garden Oaks' Sunday Press are reminiscent of an art nouveau train station in some European capital, softened by textiles in shades of pale pink and maroon and some faux greenery overhead. The open floorplan is casual enough for a daytime work session fuled by a salad or acai bowl, yet stylish enough to serve as the backdrop for a date or group hang—as evidenced by the café's recent expansion into evening hours as Sunday Social, a cocktail and wine bar.

The barrel-vaulted ceiling, watercolor murals and statement chandeliers at Duchess set an appropriately luxe tone, but it's the stylish banquette seating throughout the restaurant in peacock green and cobalt blue that earns a round of applause, creating comfortable nooks for groups to explore the rangy but seafood-focused menu.

The Audrey

With Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's as inspiration, the second-floor fine dining room of The Audrey drips with vintage glamour. Think enormous, opera-worthy chandeliers, delicately beaded placemats, English florals on the dining chairs and brass lining every arched doorway, with crisp white walls keeping everything very demure, very mindful that the eye needs a place to rest. The menu is similarly vintage, full of classic American dishes like wedge salad, lobster rolls, eggs benedict and authentic Parker House rolls.

Matcha Mia

Why add a pop of pink when you can color-drench your café in the prettiest pastel? We have to admit, the pink walls at Matcha Mia are the perfect backdrop for the verdant green of the matcha lattes, and the tropical touches, including lei flowers as garnishes on the loaded toasts and paninis, keep things fun and fresh.