An absolutely special place in Houston for Art and Meditation lovers. During the pandemic, you need to make a (free) reservation to get in, but it’s definitely worth it. If you are inclined to meditate there, come with your own cushion. They organize pan-religious prayer/meditation events as well, reflecting Houston’s extraordinary diversity (currently virtually only).

Interesting Chapel. A friend of mine is a big Rothko fan, so we were lucky it was close to the place we stayed at. Got free tickets and only had to wait 5 minutes. You need to stare at the canvasses for a while, but its definitely worth checking it out.

I have been here once before and it was breathtaking for me. It’s a wonderful place to visit. Very tranquil and peaceful. However I have to say my visit today wasn’t as tranquil and peaceful as my first visit. It was way too much talking inside. That should not be. If there aren’t signs up for quiet inside they need to put them up. There were both children and adults talking inside. Why???? It’s a chapel of peace. For this I must rate it 4 stars. The upgrades outside is very nice. Money well spent. I will be back but at a different day and time possibly when less people are around.

The access into the Chapel space has changed due to Covid. You must schedule a time to go and get a free ticket on line, then go to the annex building across the street to pick up your ticket. Time allowed in the chapel is in 30min increments, then they clean the chapel between time slots.Theyve opened the sky light to allow in more light and improved the A/C.I was surprised at the depth of colors I saw within the black paintings upon reflection. I think everyone will see something different depending on imagination, meditation, and mood. If you can stand to be quiet and still, you will enjoy the peace and meditative quality of this space.

A place of complete peace, whether it is in the Rothko itself, or on the beautiful grounds around the chapel. I have spent many days here, collecting my thoughts, grieving. I am so grateful Mrs. Menil and Mr Rothko created such an amazing space. It will be here 500 years from now.

Great place in the city. Always something new. I really enjoy this place

A beautiful space in the museum district near the calm Menil Park. A space to experience a unique place.

Such a great place for quiet contemplation. Thank you!

This was a really nice stop on a warm winter’s day. The grounds were great, and it was well worth coming. But, I also didn’t totally get it. I know about Rothko’s work academically, but I can’t get it to speak to me. We decided not to stay inside long so we could leave the space for people who did get it.

This chapel and the garden surrounding it are the closest thing to a holy place I have been to in the US.Meditative, somber, elegant and moving, I try to go here as soon after I land in Houston as possible.I dare say it is even worth a flight to Houston.Sit, breathe and think in front of one of the most wonderful modern explorations of holiness I have seen.And they have cool events.PS this is a spiritual rather than specifically religious place. They provide every holy book, and places to worship or meditate however you like.

The Rothko Chapel serves as a meditative non-denominational Chapel. It is also a major work of modern art by American artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) .In front the Broken Obelisk Obelisk a sculpture by Barnett (1905-1970). This was his best known sculpture dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King.

Love the concept, nice to sit in quiet. I would rather stare at Rothko’s better color pieces than the grey ones and the experience would be better without employees watching your every move inside.

The most tranquil and serine places in all of Houston. A true spiritual experience that comes effortlessly. A true gem in the heart of a busy city, an oasis of calm and relaxation. A truly beautiful experience.

Chapel is a bit misleading as this is not a religious place but a a place of quit contemplation. The building is fairly plain but the surrounding park is beautiful with an incredible reflecting pool.Photography isnt allowed inside which is great. It keeps it quiet and peaceful.

Very peaceful and serene, clean and a great space to get into zen mode, but the building and art are overrated, the simple, square brick building doesnt bring anything to any type of architecture, its a box, and the art....well its Rothko, not exactly very inventive besides mixing colors, which kind of works for this minimalist place. The broken obelisk sculpture and the reflective pool outside are fantastic.

Calm space. A separate space for moving beyond the obvious. The blank canvases help me think and move past the surface to other ideas and places in my thoughts and in my spirit. The reflection pool and sculpture outside is a nice spot as well.

Nice quiet air-conditioned space to contemplate and meditate, for anyone from various religious backgrounds. No photos allowed inside the chapel though. If you are trigger-happy, the sculpture and reflecting pool outside the chapel are extremely photogenic.

Im actually working on this job site we are doing the concrete around the pool I cant wait till its done

Stunning Atmosphere, Period!

There are pews inside and a few cushions in front to sit on. Good space to meditate

Wonderful meditative and peaceful space, both within the chapel and the surrounding landscape.

Nice place for a walk and some quiet reflection to clear your head.

Nondenominational meditative space in the heart of the museum district.

Peaceful place to meditate

It’s currently closed for renovations after the flood. When opened, this is an amazing place. It is quiet and serene and allows for meditation. The openness to all beliefs is what is most beautiful.

A serene place for reflection. The sculptures and design of the landscape lends itself toward peaceful sentiments. The events vary from performance to presentation. Very progressive. Cant wait for the re-opening to make it even better.

A very nice place to go, relax, pray, think about important things, and forget about the world for a while. Thats it.

Breath taking

You have no idea what you’re in for from the outside. It’s a truly amazing experience. Plan to spend at least 30 minutes sitting with the paintings. The longer you spend with them, the more you will appreciate them and the space.

I know some people love it here, and I have tried to, but I just cant. I am a person of faith but this just doesnt do anything for me; it seems dull and dreary and I have never been able to capture the wonder and awe that some people find, though not for want of trying. Im glad that this space exists and I think its always valuable to have quiet spaces in our lives. For those for whom this is meaningful - Im so glad :)

Rothko is one of my favorite artists, and this is truly a must-see for any fan of Rothko, Newman, or abstract expressionism in general. Aside from the art part of it, the chapel itself is a welcoming, calming place with a great energy inside. I think anybody could gain something by sitting in it for awhile.

Lovely space to connect with the divine, find silence, and experience the works of Rothko.

The Rothko Chapel was worth the visit. An interesting experience.

Timed entrance for the Chapel

A wonderful place to sit and enjoy the silence. One of my favorite spaces in Houston. I tell everyone who visits to come here. Come clear your head.

Unassuming yet intimidating in its blonde brick, octagonal-ish exterior, the Rothko Chapel is both tomblike and transcendent. Sitting on a round pillow in the exact center of the space facing the triptych hanging in the recess opposite the entrance, I watched the canvases shift from black to purple as the quality of the light changed in response to the clouds passing overhead. The muted canvases draw attention to the atmosphere itself rather than the paintings hanging on the walls. It’s a solitary place where one can go to be with others, where stillness and light combine in a shared solemnity.

This place is very peaceful. They have an outdoor pond with a neat statue. The inside is very massive and extremely silent and peaceful. They have religious and art books for you to read inside the chapel. They have a small store area to buy souvenirs related to this place. The place is free but accepts donations.

Absolutely beautiful, very refreshing, and a place to clear your head.

The chapel is amazing, one of the most peaceful places Ive been in ever.

A beautiful, sacred space for people to share from all walks of life. A place of true serenity and peace. A wonderful reminder that were all here for a short time and that what bonds us is our humanity so we must lead with love and good intentions. The few short minutes spent in solitude in the chapel brought me a deep sense of connection to myself that I havent experienced before. Dont miss this if youre visiting Austin!

Good place to listen a concert

Life-changing experience. Please be respectful and silent. The paintings on the walls speak to you. Meditation is what it is all about.

Although theres not much to look at art wise, looking at the paintings isnt really the point. A beautiful and quiet space meant for worshipping for all religions, meditating, or just simply taking time out of your day to pause and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

While I, myself, find the place to be just fine, Ive found that with architects, graphic artists, writers and creatives in general, its a great date spot and you can get credit just for knowing it exists and having the right opinion about it.Dont get me wrong - I love the Rothko Chapel, and it would be a 4-star experience at least, even if no one had heard of it. But architects have heard of it, and youll get some kudos for bringing one here and gushing about the space and talking about moments.

The art and thought behind it deserves 5/5* but the management of this installation ruins the experience! What’s up with the ladies standing in each corner (the front desk staff was nice)!? Them doing so makes it look like a creepy prison and gives the visitor no chance to enjoy the art, peace, and original thought behind all of this. Defeats the purpose!!!

A peaceful place to rest your mind. Quite atmosphere, interesting architecture style and most importantly, respectful people. I did a meditation session over there and it feels great! Id totally go there again if possible!

A unique place, partially designed by Mark Rothko and featuring sixteen (?) panels painted by the artist. Its billed as a non-denominational chapel, but its more of a space for meditation and deep reflection. The acoustics in the chapel are amazing. You can hear the echo of a pin drop. Most of what light there is inside comes from a window in the ceiling, so you get a different mood depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Silence is a must here, as there are docents that wander around ready to shush anyone who makes a peep. While Im glad they strictly enforce the no-talking policy, it can be a little bit distracting having people walk around and staring at you when you are trying to meditate, which is why I deducted a star. Oh, and its always funny to see some unsuspecting group come in and immediately walk out when they realize its not an art museum.

The geometry of the space matched with the texture of the floors makes you feel as if you are in caught between a classic age and today. The colors of Rothkos paintings which really blend with the architecture start to speak to you in form and shape when your eyes adjust with the days movement.

Best and only cultural spot in Houston. Do not miss it if you are in town.

Ultimately a little disappointing.The paintings in the chapel are definitely not Rothko’s best works and you are not allowed to take photographs inside.Nonetheless, it is a beautiful space. I would just prefer some of Rothko’s other works in the space.

This place is interesting to check out, but Im not really sure why so many people are so excited about it. Its one of those places that people talk about having to see, and I imagine it could be a cool event space, but the idea of just sitting there and meditating or relaxing or what not just doesnt resonate with me.

Beautiful work of art, lovely spot for contemplation/meditation.

My favorite part of Rothko is actually the sculpture outside. Read the plaque - fascinating. Also, make sure to go to the red swing on the really large and old tree on the grounds between Rothko and Menil!

The chapel is beautiful. It’s a fantastic place to go and calm down for a bit.

Amazing experience. Very peaceful and heartwarming. Learned a lot about myself in the first 10 minutes. Its so quiet in there, but not in the same sense as a library. More of a spiritual quietness and that makes soul hungry for what really matters in life. Will be going back. Free entry and nice design inside with plenty of benches.

Beautiful place to visit that is completely unassuming from the outside. It is a welcoming, non-denominational chapel founded by John and Dominique de Menil. Come visit at different times of the day to see the subtle changes in the Rothko paintings.Make sure to take a glance at the books inside, especially about the history and design of the place. Interesting details about the creation of the artwork, architecture, and logistics of making it all happen.Just outside of the chapel is the sculpture “Broken Obelisk” by Barnett Newman that sits in a reflecting pool designed by Philip Johnson, dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.

First was introduced to the Rothko and this chapel back in high school in 1988, we used to love going down there and introducing new friends to it to act like we were all hip and in the know. Been back many times since, and seen many Rothko works since, and its still to me a deeply spiritual and sometimes dark place. Well worth visiting.

Nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle for a little while

Probably one of the most peaceful and tranquil places in Houston. The art is amazing. I love going there in evening when I have things on my mind I need to clear. I highly recommend it.

Interesting place. Wish they had more information but its good to go and experience it yourself.

The atmosphere is relaxing but the art is very overrated. I dont understand what is so interesting about being surrounded by off purple paintings. The display outside is much more interesting than the inside.

Not really my thing but people seem to enjoy it. Too dark to really appreciate the art. Probably fun on a head full.

Im so sorry I waited so long to come here. Its a great place to come in to find a little bit of peace in a bustling city.The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that when you first come in you are stopped by the people welcome desk and it makes it feel less...peaceful? Or not as free to come and go like at other places of worship.

Amazing space. Excellent for deep-thought and meditation. Also for Rothko interpretation.

Simple, evocative and oddly powerful. Sacred place in a secular world. Thank you.

The Rothko Chapel is a beautiful, moving space if you allow it to be. Spend some time with the silence and your own thoughts.Contrary to what other reviewers have said, this space was always meant as a chapel/ sacred space and Rothko painted the works and designed the space with that in mind. The chapel was consecrated by the three Abrahamic faiths and therefore constitutes a sacred space.This place is amazing for Rothko enthusiasts and people looking for quiet contemplation.

Beautiful space which grows on you the longer you stay. Darkness loses out to the persistent glow of light and allows the details of the room to emerge. Bring yourself.

Very, very, peaceful. Dont come to experience Rothko paintings. Come to experience what if feels like to look in the face of God while simultaneously looking in a mirror at your true self. Breathtaking and serene.

A place to just STOP all the outside noise and deeply reflect. To meditate and rejuvenate the soul!

Interesting concept and history at this place, though it is pretty much just a quiet place of reflection. Pleasant, though Id probably appreciate this place more as a city resident to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Finally.... This is worth the trip. You might have learned about this in art class. Visiting, however, is very different.

This is a very peaceful place. I wanted to stay for hours.

I love the idea of providing a public place to meditate but wish they enforced the rules of being silent within the chapel. Too many people show up and feel the need/desire to talk inside the chapel (whispering is not silence people!).It boggles my mind how many people feel the need to blabber even in a place that promotes a silent atmosphere.I understand a lot of people dont understand meditation or concept of absolute silence, I just wish they would respect others who do and be silent for the 5 mins they are inside.

This was a wonderful surprise, now my favorite thing in Houston.

I go here often on the weekends. Best place to escape for a quick meditation when youve been shopping all day and dont wanna drive home an hour away.

Unique Rothko viewing experience, very meditative.

This is a place that you really cant explain in a review. You HAVE to go to understand why this place is so incredible. It is absolutely serene and the Rothko paintings are just the icing on the cake. Let your mind wander in this space and you could get lost in there for hours.

Good place to start your day with a meditation!

Nice space to sit and just... Be

Its hard to put my experience here into words. You have to come in with an open mind and desire to be alone with your thoughts. Its a place that welcomes anyone and everyone- thats the beauty of it. Its simple yet so wonderfully thought out and planned. I highly recommend this place to those that are looking for a place to sit in silence. It doesnt matter what troubles you carry with you, you can be as lost in your thoughts as you please. Its a great opportunity to sit in a room with strangers and say absolutely nothing. Its not for everyone but I truly appreciate my experience here.

I have always loved this place.it is an unfortunate thing that it was closed due to vandalism.

The hype of this chapel is more impressive than the chapel itself. The famous paintings by Mark Rothko are little more than fourteen dark canvases circling the remarkably small space.On the plus side, the atmosphere was very good and the sentiment behind it was very admirable. The Broken Obelisk sculpture outside the chapel is quite impressive and the park grounds surrounding it are pleasant. If it wasnt hyped for the paintings inside it would be a beautiful place of worship that I would heartily recommend.

Beautiful artwork, natural lighting which changes the nature of the colors day by day. Love it.

Excellent place to be calm and meditate. Very peaceful.

Wonderful! Luckily art is for everyone pleased or not. Beautifully thought out gallery of light! Thank you-

Beautiful and serene, minimalist architecture meets omni-denominational spirituality

A superb meditative experience. No distractions and a recommended experience.

Meditation pillows! One can sit and meditate or contemplate in an austere yet stimulating chapel. The Chapel is an 8 sided concrete room with austere muted abstract paintings hung almost floor to ceiling. There is a muted though ample center light. Airconditioning is comfortable if somewhat noisy. The primary seating in the Chapel are backless wood benches facing each wall with paintings. I will be back when I am ready to sit for a lengthy period. Houston, well done.

Beautiful chapel, the surrounding area is amazing, great experience. Loved having the chance to visit.

Pretty place, but I thought it was intended for quiet reflection and meditation. The worker who paced back and forth staring at us made that impossible. I felt very uncomfortable and left.

I absolutely fell in love the minute I walked. The Rothko chapel is great place to meditate - the ambience of the large room paired with the art pieces on the wall couldnt be any better. I only wish we had something along the lines of the chapel in Los Angeles!

Good experience

Very quiet space in Houston. Big Rothko field paintings.

Beautiful place. Will be closed for renovation soon.

Meditative Place. Very calm

Love it. Go sit a spell and contemplate your surroundings.

Interesting place to visit. different kind of chapel.

Beautiful place of quiet reflection and powerful atmosphere

The Rothko paintings get minus five stars. I am giving two stars to the chapel overall, because I was free to leave. Last week a Rothko painting just like the ones we made in juvenile detention and also like those pieces of non-art at the chapel sold for $46.5 million dollars. So you could build 92 $500,000 homes or you can have one of the things with paint applied by a schizophrenic, who must have been sharing his special kool-aid to get anyone, to think what he did was more than playing around wasting expensive materials.

Calm place. Definitely worth a visit, but keep an open mind