Get to Know West University Place

West University Place might seem like just another nabe in the Inner Loop, but it’s actually its own little city within Houston, thus earning the nickname “The Neighborhood City.” As suggested by its name, the city sits just west of Rice University and there’s a distinct college town–vibe here — albeit a much more upscale version than usual. The local hangout for students and non-students alike is Rice Village, a dense shopping district that boasts a mix of chain and independent restaurants and boutiques; here, you’ll find a mystery bookstore just down the street from the Kolache Factory. Thanks to a Rice University English major, who was friends with the city planner’s daughter, West U’s street names all nod to the academic life: They’re named after either colleges or poets, giving residents the possibility of an address on Tennyson Street, Coleridge Street, or Browning Street.

Nearby Neighborhoods:

Living in Houston

Houston is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and the high level of happiness of Houstonians — whether they’re born-and-bred natives or recent transplants — makes it clear why H-Town has become so hot. Over the years, Houston’s sprawl has incorporated most of the surrounding region into Greater Houston, but the Inner Loop of Houston is still the heart of the city. The Inner Loop neighborhoods are a marvel of urban cool, with walkability scores that defy the stereotype of Texas gridlock. In 1998, Houston shrank the minimum lot size from 5,000 square feet to 1,400 square feet, starting a new era of townhouse development that changed the density of the city. With each successive wave of population growth, Houston keeps evolving, and gradually, a superlative food scene has blossomed. Locals know that the best way to live is one bite at a time, and there’s no shortage of great eateries in this food-obsessed town.