The arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston is causing loads of excitement for soccer fans, but it is also igniting hometown pride across the city. Restaurants and local businesses are taking advantage of the influx of international visitors and sports enthusiasts by showcasing the city’s diverse culinary scene and creative cocktail culture with unique dishes and spectacular mixed drinks, inspired by World Cup energy.
Locals will want to take advantage of the vibe, too, with deals and delights meant to impress visitors, but also remind Houstonians just how great we have it.
No matter what team you’re rooting for, or which army you belong to, Houston welcomes everyone with hospitality that is almost as warm as the temperature outside. This guide will help visitors and residents alike discover great places to celebrate a global experience.
Chardon
For those who like to cheer “Allez Les Bleus!”, Chardon is rolling out themed cocktails, broadcasting the daily matches, and hosting a couple of Les Bleus watch parties on Tuesday, June 16 and Friday, June 26. For the parties, general manager Max Labesse, a French native, has curated some special culinary offerings including a crepe station, house-made baguettes, imported French beer, and charcuterie boards. The “Starting XI” lineup of cocktails includes a rotating selection of World Cup-inspired cocktails like the Black Forest Smash (Germany) and the Blue Island Breeze (Curacao). 1711 Allen Pkwy., Houston, chardonhouston.com
J-Bar-M Barbecue
The smoked meats at this barbecue restaurant are Michelin-recommended, and the World Cup drink specials are just as exciting. The restaurant’s location near the FIFA Fan Festival makes it an easy stop for $5 margaritas, $16 mimosa buckets, and BBQ grazing boards for large groups. There are numerous XXL screens for game viewing, plus an H-Town vendor market to explore. 2201 Leeland St., Houston, jbarmbbq.com
Kirkwood
Throughout the tournament, Kirkwood is hosting a weekday happy hour from 1 to 6 p.m. in the bar and lounge—both of which will be broadcasting daily matches. Happy hour deals include $10 classic margaritas, Old Fashioneds, and lemon drop martinis, along with $6 draft beers, and discounted wines by the glass. Happy hour bar bites like fried oysters, crispy Buffalo wings, and chateaubriand sliders will be available, too. 11720 Katy Frwy., Houston, kirkwoodrestaurant.com
Mi Luna Tapas Restaurant & Bar
Mi Luna owner, Youssef Nafaanative, is a native of Morocco and is planning watch parties for matches with Morocco, Spain, USA, and other top teams. Happy hour will run all day throughout the tournament, plus a special World Cup tapas menu, offered through Sunday, July 19. The menu features two dozen little plates at $10 or less, like $5 patatas bravas and $6 empanadas. There will also be $25 pitchers of sangria, $8 frozen margaritas, and $5 Clara beer. 888 Westheimer Rd., Houston, milunatapasbar.com
Trill Burgers
Local rap legend Bun B is collaborating with National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Andruw Jones, for a Trill Burgers combo meal that celebrates Jones’ native Curacao and its historic debut at this year’s World Cup. The combo meal includes a burger and fries, served in a commemorative box featuring Jones as the Curacao Kid, and is paired with a “Blue Wave” Trill lemonade. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Jones’ AJ25 Foundation, which supports youth baseball and education for underserved children. Multiple locations, trill-burgers.com
Cyclone Anaya’s
This restaurant may have been named for a famous Mexican wrestler, but it’s showing some love for the game of futbol with a limited-time margarita called Margarita Del Mundo. Made with Lalo tequila, Melon Pucker, Blue Curacao, and fresh lime juice, it’s a refreshing tipple to sip while watching one of the matches that will be aired at each location. Multiple locations, cycloneanaya.com
Craft Pita
For those who are hosting their own watch parties, Craft Pita is offering a limited-time deal of 25% off of takeout mezze platters, with customizable options like tabbouleh, spicy hummus, babaganoush, and labneh. Each platter comes with baked pita chips. Multiple locations, craftpita.com
Late August
Chef Chris Williams is welcoming visitors into Late August with specials like $10 Centenario margaritas and ranch waters, as well as $8 select cocktails on game days (except during Houston-hosted matches.) The $25 power lunch is a perfect mid-day fuel up for pre-gaming. Guests can park in the restaurant’s lot at the Ion, then take the nearby METRORail directly to the Houston Stadium. 4201 Main St., Houston, lateaugusthtx.com
Barbacana
Chef Christian Hernandez’s menu at this Downtown restaurant draws on Houston’s diversity, but his new summer dishes are inspired by the global multiculturalism of the World Cup. The items can be ordered a la carte, or enjoyed as a chef’s tasting, for both lunch and dinner. The Germany dish is a hearty plate of Munster cheese bratwurst with beer onions and Jager sauce, while the Sweden offering is a refined laxpudding of Glencairn salmon and new potatoes. Curacao is represented by a keshi yena dumpling. Portugal has inspired two dishes: piri piri braised octopus and a chicken piri piri sandwich. 907 Franklin St., Houston, barbacanatx.com
Pok Pok Po
Chef Jassi Bindra’s Indian-inspired fried chicken shines at this Midtown restaurant from Kahani Social Group, and in honor of the World Cup, guests can take advantage of a $15 limited-time combo deal. The meal includes a chicken slider, two PokPok wings, four chicken bites, a kathi roll, two chicken strips, Balle Balle fries, and a can of soda. Also included is several of the signature sauces. 3201 Louisiana St., Houston, pokpokpo.com
Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette
Liberty Kitchen is offering all day happy hour deals, exclusively in the bar, through Sunday, July 19. Guests can watch the game while sipping on a signature cocktail and munching on sinful nosh like the J n’ B fried tacos, which are reminiscent of a certain fast food favorite. Other happy hour bar bites include truffle fries and chicken Caprese sliders. Multiple locations, libertykitchenoysterette.com
Shipley Do-Nuts
Founded in Houston in 1936, this Texas institution is known for its fresh-out-of-the fryer doughnuts. To celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026, more than 40 Houston area locations will offer summer soccer-themed doughnut boxes through Sunday, July 19. The doughnuts, available by the half-dozen or dozen, will feature soccer-inspired designs and various team colors. Multiple locations, shipleydonuts.com
Snooze Eatery
Open for breakfast and brunch, this daytime cafe is kicking off the World Cup summer with a limited-time menu called Brunch Goals, available through Sunday, July 19. Taking inspiration from the wide range of international teams, Snooze is offering dishes like pear strudel pancakes, inspired by Germany; and honey cake pancakes that pay tribute to the nation of Uzbekistan. Drink specials include caipirinha (Brazil), Kokada latte (Curacao), and Congo dirty soda, finished with vanilla cream. Multiple locations, snoozeeatery.com
Escalante’s
With five participating locations in the Greater Houston area, this beloved local Tex-Mex chain is creating fun with all kinds of food and beverage incentives for the international tournament, starting with its Big Game menu that will be served exclusively in the bar area where matches are aired. Guests will find munchies like spicy chicken nachos, chicken tikka masala tacos, and crispy eggplant and sausage skewers. Specialty cocktails like the Viva Margarita with kiwi and strawberry puree will be available, and if a guest’s designated team scores a goal, they can order a second Viva rita for half off. Tables sporting their team’s jersey will receive a free queso on game days. Multiple locations, escalantes.net
State Fare
The last remaining location of this popular comfort food concept is rolling out an all-day happy hour and game day menu for the World Cup. Fans can nosh on $1 hot honey chicken wings and Gulf oysters, plus $5 smoked chicken nachos, as well as specially-priced cocktails. All-day happy hour will continue through Sunday, July 19. 1900 Hughes Landing Blvd., The Woodlands, statefaretx.com
Long Weekend
This newly-opened family-friendly restaurant in the Heights has ample indoor and outdoor spaces for parents and children to leisurely enjoy. There are more than 20 televisions for watching the games, plus an outdoor playground where kiddos can work off their energy. Make sure to check out the soccer kick challenge. On match days only, the restaurant will be serving Match Day burgers on custom-made soccer ball buns, while the Long Weekend cafe will offer soccer ball pastries and soccer-themed coffee drinks. 2044 E. TC Jester Blvd., Houston, longweekendtx.com
Zanti Cucina Italiana
This elegant River Oaks restaurant serves stunning dishes like braised lamb ossobuco and sea salt-baked branzino. Its limited-time soccer-inspired dessert is just as magnificent. A twist on its signature dessert sphere, the World Cup version is a golden chocolate sphere filled with dulce de leche cake, caramelized pecans, and house-made fiordilatte gelato. The dish is served tableside with a finishing touch of warm dulce de leche sauce, which melts the ball revealing the deliciousness inside. The $31 dessert is so decadent, it’s wise to share with a tablemate. 1958 W. Gray St., Houston, zanticucina.com/river-oaks/home
Heights Bier Garten
Heights Bier Garten has more than 20 televisions screens spread around the space, along with a massive screen for big matches. Just as large are its game day boards, loaded with carnitas tacos, margarita flatbread, wings, buffalo tenders, burger sliders, and queso. The large version feeds six for $75, and there’s a half version for $40. Throughout the season, there will be jersey giveaways, and weekday happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. with half off select beer, wine, and cocktails. 1433 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, heightsbiergarten.com
Bayou Heights Bier Garten
The sister concept to the Heights Bier Garten, the multi-level BHBG has multiple large screen televisions for game days, plus comfortable seating indoors and plenty of picnic tables peppered across the outdoor patio. It too offers game day board specials, along with $5 lagers and late-night eats for later kick-offs. 3905 Washington Ave., Houston, bayouheightsbiergarten.com
Azumi
If beer gardens aren’t your jam, this modern sushi restaurant in River Oaks District can provide a more elegant World Cup experience. Azumi is showcasing its soccer match set allows guests to choose three hand rolls that have been inspired by the different nations competing, like Japan with a selection of toro, negi, and shiso; Mexico with yellowtail, serrano salsa, and cilantro; and France with salmon, creme fraiche, and caviar. During the World Cup, there will also be the “We are the Champions” combo with five pieces of premium nigiri and a premium roll, chosen by the chef. 4444 Westheimer Rd. Houston, azumirestaurant.com/houston
Le Jardinier
Located at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, this Michelin-starred restaurant is celebrating the international spirit of the World Cup with spirits of its own. Through Sunday, July 5, Le Jardinier will offer a curated collection of cocktails inspired by competing countries, including the Black Forest Highball (Germany), Desert Rose (Saudi Arabia), and Apricot Season (Uzbekistan). Portugal will be part of the lineup in the O Navegador, a bold concoction of Aguardente and white port, with a twist of honey-lemon and an olive garnish. 5500 Main St., Houston, lejardinier-houston.com
The Union Kitchen and Jax Grille
These sister concepts from Gr8 Plate Hospitality are both offering limited-time sangria cocktails, made with Casillero del Diablo wines, which happens to be an official sponsor of the Mexico National Team. For a little kick, try the strawberry jalapeno version, and for those who prefer fruity flavors can sip on the black & blueberry sangria. Or, try them both, because they’re only $6 each. The restaurants are also selling $20 World Cup-branded collectible cups with either a sangria or margarita. Multiple locations, theunionkitchen.com
Jo’s Coffee
Jo’s Coffee will be offering three limited-time beverages through Thursday, July 4, taking inspo from the upcoming soccer-palooza. First up is the decadent Black Forest cold brew, with mocha, cherry, and chocolate cold foam. There’s also the pastel de nata latte with vanilla and cinnamon cold foam. You won’t have to take a flight to get your stroopwafel fix, because Jo’s stroopwafel caramel latte has all the buttery flavors of the much-loved Dutch cookie. Take advantage of its punch card promotion to land a free drink. 1023 Studewood St., Houston, joscofee.com/houston-heights
RESET Rooftop Lounge
This Midtown-area rooftop bar has partnered with Diaego, the official liquor sponsor of the FIFA World Cup. Throughout the tournament, there will be official merch for sale, plus on-site pours from Don Julio 1942, Casamigos, and Buchanan’s. Guests can admire the views of Houston’s Downtown skyline while rooting for their team. Score happy hour deals Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., including $6 shots, $8 cocktails, and $25 beer buckets. During select match windows, there will be a one hour open bar. Check out RESET’s website for more details. 606 Dennis St., Houston, resethtx.com
Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe
This cafe is oh-so-French, and it is paying homage to France and the USA every time either team takes the pitch, with limited-time specials on match day. Wine, beer, frozen mimosas, and French Riviera cocktails will be $2 off during the matches. The cafe is also offering two specialty crepes through Friday, July 31. A special sweet crepe, Le Champion, is a light crepe filled with a rich filling of Nutella mousse, topped with dulce de leche, whipped cream, and dark chocolate shavings. An edible, gold chocolate soccer ball adds a kick of whimsy. Multiple locations, sweetparis.com
Lankford’s The Woodlands
Famous for its burgers and comfort food, the Lankford’s outpost in the Woodlands is airing the World Cup matches on every television throughout the restaurant. It is also featuring two special cocktails: the FIFA Freeze, a tropical blue tequila drink; and Field Fresh, a blend of vodka, cucumber, citrus, and mint. 24 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands, woodlands.lankfordsburgers.com
Starduster Lounge
This hip cocktail bar is showing all of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, and during the games, anyone wearing a soccer team jersey will receive half off ranch waters. For small groups, the Boiler Maker Buckets will feature five beers, along with a complimentary round of select shots. 3921 Main St., Houston, stardusterheights.com
