After helping shape Houston’s dining scene with restaurants like Canopy and Alice Blue, chef Claire Smith is back with her latest project—an all-day café at the Menil Collection.
Smith has officially debuted chrôma, a new all-day café at 1512 Sul Ross Street, steps from the Menil Collection. Taking over the space formerly housed by Bistro Menil, the restaurant brings breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and weekend brunch to the serene pocket of Montrose beloved by so many.
The concept marks a homecoming of sorts for Smith, whose former Montrose restaurant, Canopy and WoodBar, built a loyal following before closing in 2019. She also previously owned the Heights favorite Alice Blue before its closure, making chrôma her welcome return to Houston’s dining scene.
“I’m honored by the trust the Menil Foundation has placed in me,” said Smith in a statement. “chrôma will be a space that reflects the creativity and warmth of the Menil community—a place where visitors, neighbors, and art lovers can gather, dine, and connect.”
Designed by Houston architect Dillon Kyle, the 2,900-square-foot restaurant draws inspiration from the Menil campus itself. Guests are welcomed by a dramatic 30-foot marble bar crafted from seven varieties of stone before stepping into a light-filled dining room framed by oversized windows and a sculptural wood ceiling adorned with hundreds of bright orange felt leaves. A smaller dining room and a 500-square-foot patio overlook Jim Love’s iconic Jack sculpture, reinforcing the café’s connection to the museum’s celebrated grounds.
The menu reflects Smith’s signature approach to globally inspired comfort food, beginning each morning with Cruiser coffee and fresh pastries before transitioning into lunch and dinner. Dishes include shrimp and crab campechana with summer gazpacho, Alice Blue’s chicken flautas with black beans, green rice, and salsa ranchero; crispy polenta with ratatouille; and pan-seared red snapper served in a coconut lemongrass Thai red curry. Salads, shareable plates, desserts, and a full cocktail program round out the all-day offerings.
Chrôma is now open daily, beginning at 7 a.m., serving guests Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday until 10 p.m. Nestled among the oak-lined paths and world-class art of the Menil campus, the restaurant feels like a natural extension of its surroundings—thoughtful, inviting, and distinctly Houston.
chrôma, 1512 Sul Ross St., Houston chromahtx.com
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