Julie’s Galveston guidebook
Food scene
Great breakfast, brunch, lunch- desserts that are amazing!
271 locals recommend
The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe
512 14th StGreat breakfast, brunch, lunch- desserts that are amazing!
An easy walk in our neighborhood serving 8:00- 2:00 every day!
Free WiFI
Woman owned
Dogs allowed
Vegan options
129 locals recommend
Shykatz Cafe & Bakery
1528 Avenue LAn easy walk in our neighborhood serving 8:00- 2:00 every day!
Free WiFI
Woman owned
Dogs allowed
Vegan options
Great fresh fish restaurant that catches their own fish. Located downtown on the water. Nice outside seating on the bayside.
174 locals recommend
Katie's Seafood Market
1902 Wharf RdGreat fresh fish restaurant that catches their own fish. Located downtown on the water. Nice outside seating on the bayside.
This is wonderful Mexican food since 1916! - close by in the Historic District. Open everyday until 9:00 or 9:30pm and can handle larger groups.
88 locals recommend
The Original Mexican Cafe
1401 Market StThis is wonderful Mexican food since 1916! - close by in the Historic District. Open everyday until 9:00 or 9:30pm and can handle larger groups.
Affordable seafood dinners, po-boys, gumbos and salads. Two locations.
30 locals recommend
Shrimp 'N Stuff Downtown
2506 Avenue HAffordable seafood dinners, po-boys, gumbos and salads. Two locations.
Affordable seafood dinners, po-boys, gumbos and salads. Two locations.
162 locals recommend
Shrimp N Stuff
3901 Avenue OAffordable seafood dinners, po-boys, gumbos and salads. Two locations.
Authentic Sicilian Italian food. Casual towards the higher end. Local owner family that manage and prepare delicious food.
29 locals recommend
Trattoria La Vigna
412 20th StAuthentic Sicilian Italian food. Casual towards the higher end. Local owner family that manage and prepare delicious food.
A Galveston tradition for great seafood since 1911. Run by the Gaido family, right on the seawall. Large restaurant with white table cloths and a traditional nice restaurant feel. Fresh caught fish is their specialty! Lots of old historic photos to browse on the walls.
183 locals recommend
Gaidos Seafood Restaurant
3828 Seawall BoulevardA Galveston tradition for great seafood since 1911. Run by the Gaido family, right on the seawall. Large restaurant with white table cloths and a traditional nice restaurant feel. Fresh caught fish is their specialty! Lots of old historic photos to browse on the walls.
You can walk here for a casual meal, right on the seawall you can sit outside and watch the waves.
27 locals recommend
Benno's Cajun Seafood Restaurant
1212 Seawall BlvdYou can walk here for a casual meal, right on the seawall you can sit outside and watch the waves.
Delicious Vietnamese restaurant close by with dine in or convenient take out.
19 locals recommend
Pho 20
2101 Broadway Avenue JDelicious Vietnamese restaurant close by with dine in or convenient take out.
Big craft beer selection and wine, artistic vibe, board games, coffee bar and pizza. Local artist exhibit here.
22 locals recommend
The Proletariat Gallery & Public House
2221 Market StBig craft beer selection and wine, artistic vibe, board games, coffee bar and pizza. Local artist exhibit here.
Best Pizza in all of Galveston. Authentic with fresh ingredients.
Located next door to Old Galveston Club.
99 locals recommend
Mama Teresa's Flying Pizza
416 21st StBest Pizza in all of Galveston. Authentic with fresh ingredients.
Located next door to Old Galveston Club.
A Galveston old fashioned restaurant and bar. Great burgers! Family owned and run.
25 locals recommend
Sonny's Place
1206 19th StA Galveston old fashioned restaurant and bar. Great burgers! Family owned and run.
Very high end local classic downtown establishment. Need reservations, but can sometimes get in to eat at the bar. Great for a special night!
151 locals recommend
Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar
2028 Postoffice StVery high end local classic downtown establishment. Need reservations, but can sometimes get in to eat at the bar. Great for a special night!
Sightseeing
Historic building which was once an orphanage and survived the 1900 Hurricane. Wonderful museum of Texas history, weapons, saddles, spurs, and art collection. Many special events depending on the weekend, including Farmer's markets on some Saturdays. Thursday nights at the Bryan-live music and wine to purchase in the courtyard ( starts at 4:00-until 7:00).
116 locals recommend
The Bryan Museum
1315 21st StHistoric building which was once an orphanage and survived the 1900 Hurricane. Wonderful museum of Texas history, weapons, saddles, spurs, and art collection. Many special events depending on the weekend, including Farmer's markets on some Saturdays. Thursday nights at the Bryan-live music and wine to purchase in the courtyard ( starts at 4:00-until 7:00).
This is a free ferry that goes to Bolivar Peninsula and back every 15 minutes. You drive your car on or you can walk on if you don't care to explore Bolivar Peninsula. (more beaches) It's such fun to get a closer look at all the ocean liners and you may get lucky and see dolphins.
35 locals recommend
Galveston - Bolivar Ferry
Galveston - Bolivar FerryThis is a free ferry that goes to Bolivar Peninsula and back every 15 minutes. You drive your car on or you can walk on if you don't care to explore Bolivar Peninsula. (more beaches) It's such fun to get a closer look at all the ocean liners and you may get lucky and see dolphins.
Beautiful bayside park in the marsh. See many birds as you hike on different length trails and go to the observation platforms. Anyone can fish in the state park without a license needed. Wonderful kayak trails. Kayaks are available to rent in Jamaica Beach and other spots.
104 locals recommend
Galveston Island State Park
14901 FM3005Beautiful bayside park in the marsh. See many birds as you hike on different length trails and go to the observation platforms. Anyone can fish in the state park without a license needed. Wonderful kayak trails. Kayaks are available to rent in Jamaica Beach and other spots.
I love to take guests here at sunset! Follow Seawall blvd. east until it ends at a parking lot. It is the remnants of a gun battery and a historical marker. A great place to watch the ships go by at the Far East end. You can also walk down the road leading to the East end beach. Many people fish off the bank here or go crabbing.
6 locals recommend
Fort San Jacinto Historic Point
Seawall BoulevardI love to take guests here at sunset! Follow Seawall blvd. east until it ends at a parking lot. It is the remnants of a gun battery and a historical marker. A great place to watch the ships go by at the Far East end. You can also walk down the road leading to the East end beach. Many people fish off the bank here or go crabbing.
My favorite beach at the Far East end of the island. Pay to park but it is convenient and has snack bar facilities and toilets at the location. Horseback rides are available.
14 locals recommend
R.A. Apffel East Beach Park
1923 Boddeker RdMy favorite beach at the Far East end of the island. Pay to park but it is convenient and has snack bar facilities and toilets at the location. Horseback rides are available.
Bishops Palace
1402 Broadway Avenue JBeautiful mansion to tour.
Aquarium, rainforest, discovery museum, 3-D and 4-D theaters, Paddlewheel boat rides, Palm Beach water park, Full size dinosaur exhibit, ropes course and zip line... the list goes on. Family fun!
620 locals recommend
Moody Gardens
1 Hope BlvdAquarium, rainforest, discovery museum, 3-D and 4-D theaters, Paddlewheel boat rides, Palm Beach water park, Full size dinosaur exhibit, ropes course and zip line... the list goes on. Family fun!
Moody Mansion
2618 Broadway Avenue JThe Galveston Children's Museum
2618 Broadway Avenue JGrocery store
Grocery store that is closest to home. All grocery items plus household items, beer and wine. A deli with rotisserie chicken.
50 locals recommend
Arlan's Market
513 Market StGrocery store that is closest to home. All grocery items plus household items, beer and wine. A deli with rotisserie chicken.
A full size grocery store with hot food items as well as a deli and bakery. On Seawall Blvd to the west.
135 locals recommend
Kroger
5730 Seawall BlvdA full size grocery store with hot food items as well as a deli and bakery. On Seawall Blvd to the west.
Pharmacy
Walgreens
308 Seawall BlvdClosest pharmacy- located on Seawall Blvd to the east.
Souvenir shop and beachside balcony lookout
Great souvenir shop across from the Grand Galvez. Between the two shops of shells, wind chimes and T-shirts is an open balcony over looking the water. Great spot to sit in the rockers and have a beverage in the shade.
79 locals recommend
Murdochs
2215 Seawall BlvdGreat souvenir shop across from the Grand Galvez. Between the two shops of shells, wind chimes and T-shirts is an open balcony over looking the water. Great spot to sit in the rockers and have a beverage in the shade.
Cocktails or Bar
Great place to have drinks if you are feeling fancy. Piano on some nights.
46 locals recommend
Hotel Galvez and Spa
2024 Seawall BlvdGreat place to have drinks if you are feeling fancy. Piano on some nights.
In the downtown Strand Historic District this rooftop bar is at the top of the Tremont hotel. It boasts exceptional views from high up and cocktails and light food. Reservations recommended.
28 locals recommend
The Sound Bar
2411 Mechanic StIn the downtown Strand Historic District this rooftop bar is at the top of the Tremont hotel. It boasts exceptional views from high up and cocktails and light food. Reservations recommended.
Downtown popular hangout. Local favorite for burgers, margaritas and such.
43 locals recommend
Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill
2402 Strand StDowntown popular hangout. Local favorite for burgers, margaritas and such.
Old Galveston Club
418 21st StreetDowntown bar- wine, margaritas and tasteful decor.
Birding locations
Laffite's cove is a residential area that has an excellent nature trail for birding or just for a stroll. Easy paved pathway by a pond with waterfowl and then a cool shady path through a wooded area popular for birdwatching in spring and fall especially.
Laffite's Cove Nature Society
3503 Eckert DrLaffite's cove is a residential area that has an excellent nature trail for birding or just for a stroll. Easy paved pathway by a pond with waterfowl and then a cool shady path through a wooded area popular for birdwatching in spring and fall especially.
Corp Woods Nature Sanctuary
Ferry RoadRemote spot for birding on TX 168 off Ferry Road.
Dos Vacas Muertas Bird Sanctuary
Seabird DriveAnother remote bird sanctuary
Galveston Island State Park
14901 FM3005Great birding trails
Many bird sanctuaries in this area. Take the free ferry across and drive to the far west end of the Bolivar Peninsula. Check out Smith Oaks Sanctuary and Rookery- year round is amazing! Boy Scout Woods and others several others maintained by the Houston Audubon Society. A day trip- Great just walking in the cool woods!
High Island
Many bird sanctuaries in this area. Take the free ferry across and drive to the far west end of the Bolivar Peninsula. Check out Smith Oaks Sanctuary and Rookery- year round is amazing! Boy Scout Woods and others several others maintained by the Houston Audubon Society. A day trip- Great just walking in the cool woods!