3302 Amherst Street Houston, TX 77005

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.