Recording studios, fried chicken, and childhood homes—here’s your guide to visiting all the Houston spots made famous by Queen Bey.
There’s no better time than Women’s History Month to talk about a woman who has “run the world” for decades. And that woman—Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter—is known by her first name only, which tells you something about her level of fame worldwide.
One of the things people love about Beyoncé, or Queen Bey as she’s become known since soaring to royalty status, is that, as famous as she becomes, she sticks close to her roots. And those roots were planted right here in Houston, Texas, where her mother still lives and enjoys frequent visits from her loving superstar daughter.
Bey sightings aren’t fleeting. Beyoncé remains deeply connected to Houston, through her history, philanthropy, music, and regular visits to the city she still calls home (Take that, Los Angeles!).
If you’re a fan or just have mad respect for this musical icon, you can pay homage to her while touring her hometown and learning about her meteoric rise to fame. We’re here with all the spots to visit in Houston where you can walk in the steps of the one-and-only Beyoncé.
Beyoncé’s history in Houston
Beyoncé grew up in Third Ward, now home to Houston’s annual Juneteenth Celebrate Freedom Fest. She spent her entire childhood with her parents, Matthew and Tina Knowles, right here in H-Town.
In Third Ward, the family frequently grabbed a meal at Frenchy’s Chicken, which Beyoncé has referenced more than once in songs and music videos. You can visit the flagship location to discover for yourself why Beyoncé gives it so many shout-outs.
Growing up, the singer attended St. Mary’s Montessori, Parker Elementary School, Welch Middle School (where fellow Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland was a classmate!), and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA). After her parents’ divorce, she transferred to Elsik High School to finish her education. Most of these schools still operate today, so you can see firsthand where she developed her talent.
Beyoncé went on to form Destiny’s Child, which took on various iterations before evolving into the trio that included Rowland and Michelle Williams. In 2003, she struck out on her own with her first album and has since sold over 100 million records as one of the greatest solo artists of all time.
Beyonce may have moved to Los Angeles and joined the ranks of the rich and famous, but her most recent album, Cowboy Carter, is proof that you can take the girl out of Texas, but you’ll never take the Texas out of the girl.
Cowboy Carter became the third most Grammy-nominated album in history and took home the Grammy for Best Country Album, as well as Album of the Year. The promotional tour included a partnership with the Houston Rodeo, where Beyoncé had performed four times in her years with Destiny’s Child. She created a special Rodeo Collection through her Ivy Park clothing line, and multiple events were held during rodeo month, where her songs “Texas Hold ‘Em” (from Cowboy Carter) and “Blow” (from her 2013 self-titled album) could be heard on repeat.
How to find Beyoncé’s Houston
Interested in your own self-guided tour of Beyoncé’s Houston? You’ll have your pick of locations, from landmarks where Beyoncé spent her childhood to places she and her family frequent when they’re home to Houston.
Beyonce’s Parkwood Drive childhood home
The Knowles family made their home at 3346 Parkwood Drive in Third Ward. Don’t go knockin’ on the door, though—it’s under new ownership. But you can certainly do a slow drive past and imagine Baby Bey toddling through the front yard.
When you do, the home might look familiar. It was featured in the documentary Beyonce: Life is But a Dream and also served as the muse for the naming of Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Beyoncé grew up in a church-going family, and her dedication to St. John’s United Methodist Church, where she delivered her very first solo performance at just nine years old, is still apparent after all these years.
The singer considers St. John’s her home church, and her close relationship with Pastor Rudy Rasmus keeps her grounded. He’s been a constant in her life, even officiating her wedding to Jay-Z in 2008.
Beyoncé has been spotted at St. John’s countless times and has supported its significant philanthropic projects. If you visit, you’ll discover Beyoncé’s influence everywhere, like the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments, and Bread of Life, a St. John’s outreach organization.
Plus, Beyoncé is considered a hometown hero here. She distributed food, supplies, and mattresses to Houstonians after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, all in partnership with this church.
SugarHill Studios
The recording studio located at 5626 Brock St. has hosted a variety of artists, but arguably none has reached the stratospheric level of Beyoncé.
Beyoncé got her professional start here at SugarHill Studios, where she recorded with Destiny’s Child and produced some of her first hits. The studio itself is almost as legendary as Queen Bey—it claims to be the oldest continually operating studio in the U.S. at 85 years old.
If you’re a budding artist, you can book a studio and cut some tracks in the same space once filled by the legend that is Beyoncé. If not, hope is not lost. SugarHill Studios occasionally throws open its doors and welcomes the public to tour the spaces where Destiny’s Child found their harmony.
B&B Butchers & Restaurant
When Beyoncé, her husband Jay-Z, and her kids Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir are in town, they make it a habit to get at least one meal at B&B Butchers on Washington Ave.
For the uninitiated, no, the Carter family won’t be standing at the deli getting some great cuts of beef to go—well, at least not on the regular. Instead, they’re dining fine in the restaurant, usually in a privately reserved room accessed by another private rear entrance.
Word on the street is that in 2019, after attending a Houston Rockets game, Bey ordered a cornucopia of crab cakes, king crab, calamari, brisket ravioli, and lamb bacon to-go from B&B. Where was the family headed? Just to their private jet, where they obviously dined in style on their way back home to Los Angeles.
BB’s Café Upper Kirby
There must be something about those B names because Beyoncé definitely seems to favor them when she returns to her hometown.
Beyonce and her family also know when the best time is to chow down at BB’s Café, and it’s during the height of crawfish season in Houston.
After a bring-down-the-house performance at the Toyota Center in May 2016, Beyonce rewarded herself with the Gulf Coast and New Orleans fare so popular with Houstonians at BB’s on Upper Kirby. Hey, if it’s good enough for The Hive Queen, it’s good enough for the rest of us.
The Menil Collection
After Beyoncé’s May performance and refueling at BB’s, she didn’t immediately hop on her private jet. The singer loves to spend time in Houston, and that includes taking in all the spring activities H-Town has to offer.
In 2016, that meant attending a new exhibit entitled “William N. Copley: The World According to CPLY.” It was displayed at Houston’s premier contemporary art museum, The Menil Collection, where Beyoncé decompressed and took in some fellow artistry.
The Menil has a strict “no photos” policy, but royalty like Queen Bey can sometimes bend the rules. A search on Instagram will reward you with a photo of Beyoncé standing among the works of Copley. You can follow in her footsteps by visiting the Menil Collection, which might even spark your own creativity.
Beyoncé really does run the world, and her influence in Houston continues to be far-reaching. In honor of Women’s History Month, enjoy a tour that takes you through the life of a woman who is making history, one killer song after another.
