Houston/West Inner Loop

The West Inner Loop encompasses many of the poshest, most upscale neighborhoods and business areas in Houston.

Understand

Long known as Houston's most exclusive neighborhood, River Oaks is home to a large collection of eye-popping mansions.

Get in

This affluent neighborhood is easily accessible from Kirby, Willowick, Inwood, and River Oaks Blvd.

See

• 1 Bayou Bend, 6003 Memorial Drive, ☏ +1 713-639-7750, bayoubend@mfah.org. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM, M closed (except holidays). A branch of MFAH (Museum of Fine Arts Houston), housing American art, in a 14-acre landscaped garden.  
• 2 Memorial Park, 6501 Memorial Dr. 6AM-11PM. Memorial Park is Houston's premier urban park. The park's 2.88-mile jogging trail is very popular with runners and walkers year-round. The park also has miles of mountain bike trails, several tennis courts, and other options for outdoor recreation. There's an arboretum, a nature center, picnic areas, and sports fields. Located just inside the I-610 Loop along Memorial Drive. Free. (updated Jan 2023)

Do

• 1 River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W Gray St, ☏ +1 713-524-2175. Houston historical landmark theatre.  
• 2 River Oaks Country Club, 1800 River Oaks Blvd, ☏ +1 713-529-4321. Very, very exclusive club. If you can meet and resident that is willing to take you, there is golf, tennis, fine dining, and swimming. You cannot get in alone. You either have to be a member or have someone who lives in River Oaks sponsor you for membership.  
• 3 Running Complex. South of the Memorial Park. Trail runs, track, 4.7km running loop. Possibility to shower, rent towels and sports drinks. (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 Picnic Loop and North Picnic Area. American style Picnic Area. (updated Jan 2024)

Buy

• 1 River Oaks Shopping Center, W Gray St & Shepherd Drive, Texas. One of America's first suburban shopping districts and a great display of Art Deco architecture. IPIC Houston movie complex. (updated Jan 2024)
• 2 Highland Village Shopping District. Upscale shops and restaurants. 

Eat

Budget

• 1 100% Taquito, 3245 IH-59 (Southwest Fwy. at Buffalo Spwy.), ☏ +1 713-665-2900. Trendy, authentic Mexico City-type taco joint. 
• 2 Goode Company Barbeque, 5109 Kirby Dr. One of the city's most reputed barbeque restaurants. $5-10. 
• 3 House of Pies, 3112 Kirby. 24 hours. The best diner in town. Always open, it is a great option for late night eats serving delicious breakfast, hot coffee, and of course a vast array of pies. 
• Ragin' Cajun, 4302 Richmond Ave, ☏ +1 713 623-6321. 11am-9pm, Sun 12-9. A slice of Louisiana for the Bayou City. Authentic down-home Cajun cooking. Order a bucket of crawfish and get messy at one of the many picnic tables, indoors or out. Gumbo, etouffee, boudain, hush puppies and dirty rice round out the menu. Awesomely funky dining room where there's always zydeco on the juke. (updated Jul 2022)

Mid-range

• 4 Chuy's, 2706 Westheimer Rd. Tex-Mex with flair. 
• 5 Epicure Cafe, 2005 W Gray St # C. Tasty European food in a small European like cafe. 
• 6 Mission Burritos, 2245 West Alabama. A few (two?) locations, but 2245 West Alabama has more charm. Biggest, best burritos in town; they always have a 'Burrito of the Month' that is a sure bet. 
• The Original Ninfa's Uptown. Tex-Mex restaurant, which claims to have invented fajitas in the 1970s. (updated Feb 2023)

Splurge

• 7 Churrasco's, 2055 Westheimer Rd. Expensive and delicious South American and Brazilian food. 
• 8 La Griglia, 2002 W Gray St. River Oak's favorite place to eat lunch and have a fine dinner. 
• Smith & Wollensky, 4007 Westheimer Rd. Some of Houston's best steaks. Extremely fine dining. 

Drink

• McGonigal's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk (Near Shepherd and US-59), ☏ +1 713-528-5999, theduck@mcgonigels.com. Local bar, probably the best bet to find a variety of special and cask ales. $4/pt. 

Sleep

Splurge

• 1 The St. Regis Houston, 1919 Briar Oaks Ln, ☏ +1 713-840-7600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.