Rice Village Houston Texas is located in the quiet community of West University Place that is west of the Rice University main campus. It is southwest of Downtown Houston, and less than a mile west of the city’s prestigious Museum District. Also known simply as The Village, Rice Village shopping has been popular with bargain hunters since the 1930s. This is primarily a residential and commercial area, with numerous Rice Village restaurants and bars that provide nightlife both for the local residents who are usually connected with the universities and colleges here, as well as visitors on shopping excursions.

For lodging, most visitors to Rice Village Houston Texas look to hotels in the nearby Museum District or to the Galleria hotels a bit further west of the downtown area. Because of many colleges and universities, there are a number of apartments that can be leased as vacation rentals.

Rice Village shopping gives you access to more than 300 stores, boutiques, and galleries within a sixteen block area. The Village is known for its many eclectic small shops and boutiques, but there are also a number of national brand stores. You can find art galleries, baby clothes, designer clothing shops, and jewelry stores. There are toy stores, furniture stores, and antique shops. At Rice Village Houston Texas you can have your hair done, your clothes tailored, and play video games. There are even travel agents who can help you book tours of the area.

Houston Map

A variety of Rice Village restaurants number in the dozens and feature cuisine from around the world. You can enjoy sushi from Japan, spicy curry from India, or delicate fare from Vietnam and Thailand. There are French, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and Spanish restaurants, as well as traditional North American eateries. There are some microbrewery restaurants, and even Cajun cuisine evoking the traditions of New Orleans. Cajun food is quite popular in Houston, as many of the French speaking exiles from Canada emigrated as far west as the bayous and marshlands found around Galveston Bay. Rice Village restaurants also include several delicatessens and specialty food shops. Additionally, there are many bars and nightclubs. You can bend your elbow with a pint and a game of darts while enjoying traditional pub grub from England, Scotland, and Ireland, enjoy jazz clubs, and even a dance club.

If you’re doing your Rice Village shopping using car rentals, it is best to check out the parking situation. This is a pedestrian friendly area, and parking spaces are at a premium. You may want to consider a taxi or the metro. Once you’re done shopping, it’s easy to get to some of the finest museums in the city, including Hermann Park with its fine Houston Zoo and the Museum of Natural Science. There are sixteen other museums in this nearby district, many of which are some of the finest in the United States, some of which have free admission, and all of which have certain free days and hours.