Cool shops / restaurants in Houston ? (Kirby, White Oak: sale, neighborhoods, buy)

[retromodernjeff]

Where are the cool shops and restaurants in Houston? We went downtown already, and well that was pretty lame. We are from Toronto and for anyone who has been to Toronto as an example it has many areas but an example would be Queen or King streets. There you can park and walk for blocks in any direction and find neat shops and places to eat, no chain anything.

Where can we find that in Houston ??

[EasilyAmused]

Downtown is a little stark at night I agree. It's nothing like Toronto, but IMHO..thank goodness. Houston is really a bunch of pockets of activity. Lower Westhiemer, Montrose, Kirby, Post Oak, Heights and Rice Village.HOpefully soon we can add City Centre to that list. You can walk a few blocks and get that feel, but you can't walk for blocks and blocks. The reality is that it's hot here 7-8 months of the year, so everyone prefers to drive.

You have to understand that the massive development of burbs killed the possibility of a major downtown. People work and then jump in their cars to cram onto the freeways to make an hour long drive. Kinda kills the whole after work drinks and wind down scene. The fact that they won't come back down town later at night kills the whole 10pm and later scene.

The areas I mentioned above are in central neighborhoods, that's why they developed. They are fun and quirky. Give them a chance...and bring a car. Just have cash for valets.

[nyc2va76]

Originally Posted by retromodernjeff

Where are the cool shops and restaurants in Houston? We went downtown already, and well that was pretty lame. We are from Toronto and for anyone who has been to Toronto as an example it has many areas but an example would be Queen or King streets. There you can park and walk for blocks in any direction and find neat shops and places to eat, no chain anything.

Where can we find that in Houston ??

I feel sorry for you guys. Wrong Town you have to drive everywhere and that sucks. There's only 1 light rail line and Houston does not seem to be a pedestrian friendly atmosphere. Save that for the New York City's, Chi-Town, Boston Philly, T-Dot, Montreal, Etc.

[texas7]

Rice Village would be a fun place for you (but there are chain stores there as well) and has some unique restaurants and nightclubs. The Houston Pavilions (downtown) is new and still gaining occupancy and hopefully will be a nice place for residents and tourists alike but for now it is too new and place are just starting to open in there so not enough there yet to be a draw.

[John Wise]

You would probably like the Montrose area which is predominately gay and young urban located about 1-2 miles south of downtown on Westheimer. There are many great small restaurants and shops, rangeing from Antiques to retro clothing stores and tatoo parlors. I hope you have a great stay here in Houston.

[bostoner]

Everyone has given great suggestions. I just wanted to add that in the Heights the concentration of activity is mostly on West 19th. Good restaurants like Shade, some antique and vintage clothing shops, art galleries, and other specialty mom-and-pop shops, plus Big Star Bar opened there not too long ago. There are also some cool shops, bars, and restaurants on Studewood and White Oak/Sixth Street, and scattered throughout the Heights as well. Waldo's is a coffeehouse located in a bungalow and there's an antique shop/rare bookshop, both on Heights Blvd., for example. Washington Avenue south of the Heights has some neat stuff. It caters mostly to the nightlife crowd, but the Broken Spoke Cafe is a new bicycle-themed cafe that's opened where Little Hip's Diner used to be. MTV was there filming yesterday. The burgers are GREAT, and the delivery guy is actually a bike messenger if you're local! There's also a skate shop and some great bars and restaurants nearby like Darkhorse Tavern, the Corkscrew, and Beaver's. Further up the road is Max's Wine Dive and a bunch of other bars and restaurants.

[bostoner]

Oh, and if you're here around the first of the month, check out Historic Heights First Saturday Sale - Houston Texas. It's almost December so the next go-round will be Heights Mistletoe Madness, Saturday, December 6, and Norhill and Woodland Heights residents host a Christmas block party called Lights in the Heights 2008 you won't want to miss!

[coog78]

Lower Westheimer between Mandell and Montrose is a very walkable area with clothing stores, cafes, restaurants, antique shops, tattoo parlors, bars. The entire Montrose neighborhood is the most walkable and urban part of Houston. Somebody that mentioned a bunch of northern cities doesn't tell you that 0% of those cities are walkable in the winter. Have fun!!

[ZeroTX]

Just go to Montrose/Lower Westheimer. It's the only thing anything like what you're describing here. People drive here, so having blocks and blocks of the stuff together isn't terribly relevant or interesting. We'd rather drive to the next place.

Come here in late July and try that walking for blocks and blocks thing and you'll see why. We also don't buy cars without A/C.

[retromodernjeff]

Appreciate all your responses. We really like Houston so far and its real easy to get around.