If Houston isn’t on your list of U.S. cities to visit, it should be. Not only does it boast a renowned art and museum scene, one that rivals New York City’s, but its lively residents make even the lesser-known neighborhoods worth visiting. West University Place, or West U, as it’s known to some, is a haven that boasts the perks of city-living, such as convenient public transportation, and the warmth of a tight-knit community.
West University Place’s biggest draw is a 300,000-plus square foot shopping and dining complex — that’s a lot of ground to cover. A regular farmers’ market gives city dwellers the chance to check in with producers and stock up on local produce. More impressive is that the neighborhood ranked third in GoBankingRates’ wealthiest U.S. suburbs list in 2025, and is the wealthiest in the state of Texas.
West U owes its name to the nearby Rice University, which is listed among the top 20 universities in the U.S. in 2025. Pay extra close attention to street names when you walk around the neighborhood, as many are named after English authors. Houston lore has it that, back in the 1920s, a Rice University student and her friend, whose father was a city planner, were tasked with naming the streets of what would later become West University Place. The girls selected names right out of their English literature books, including Shakespeare and Chaucer.
West University Place offers big-city dining and shopping with small-city charm
Rice Village is the go-to hangout for those looking to splurge on new clothes or interior decor, or catch up with friends over cocktails or coffee. With 41 retailers and 20 restaurants, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Established in 1938, Rice Village originally was a cluster of independent businesses like barber shops, beauty salons, and delis. Today, big-name tenants like West Elm and multinational brands like Lululemon and Sephora have opened locations here, but Rice Village also kept its original charm while also keeping locally owned stores, like Dallas-based boutique The Impeccable Pig, Houston-born Parker Joe, and lifestyle boutique Lily Rain…