While Houstonians definitely love their cars, there are nooks and crannies of the city that are best explored by foot. In our Walkable Houston series, we traverse those districts to find the prettiest parks, hottest restaurants and bars, coolest local art and shops, and most visit-worthy hidden gems.
Open since the end of 2017, Heights Mercantile is a chic, urban market district located on 7th between Heights Boulevard and Yale. The area offers plenty in the way of shopping, eating, and exploring, making it a choice spot for an afternoon stroll.
Play & Explore
- Special Events at Heights Mercantile – Check out the Heights Mercantile Facebook page to follow along with its lineup of special events, including holiday pop-up markets and block parties.
- MFA Contemporary at Heights Mercantile – The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Heights Mercantile have teamed up to create a museum-curated gallery space, showcasing a rotation of works from the Museum’s permanent collection, plus monthly free art-making activities.
- Define body & mind – Take care of your health and wellbeing by booking a barre, cycle or yoga class at this popular studio.
- Paloma Beauty – This beauty destination offers services like facials, hydrating treatments, and manis and pedis.
- Heights Boulevard – Take a stroll along the historic Heights Boulevard, which is lined with Victorian-style homes and craftsman bungalows, pop-up art sculptures and miniature parks, including Donovan Park located across the street from the Mercantile.
Eat & Drink
- Cloud 10 Creamery – Looking for something sweet? Local ice cream shop Cloud 10 offers handcrafted ice cream and sorbets in flavors that wow, from café sua da and toasted rice to peanut butter & jelly and seasonals like pineapple-chili sorbet.
- Local Foods – Houston’s favorite salad and sandwich purveyor has a Heights Mercantile locale, offering all-day menu items like truffled egg salad and “crunchy” chicken sandwiches, seasonal harvest and taco salads, and avocado toast. On weekends, get brunch in the form of four cheese frittata, breakfast plates, and Bloody Marys.
- Melange Creperie – Get delicate, made-to-order crepes filled with everything from Szechuan chicken and jalapeño jelly to mango y crema.
- Postino Wine Cafe – Your favorite new happy hour spot has arrived. Postino Wine Cafe offers $5 glasses of wine and pitchers until 5pm every day. Pair your reds, whites, and roses with bruschetta topped with things like brie and apples and prosciutto and fig, plus cheese and charcuterie, soups, salads, and panini.
- Better Luck Tomorrow – On West 6th and Yale, this hot cocktail bar stirs up some of the best drinks in the city. Chill out with a “cold-fashioned” or Japanese highball and pub grub that goes above and beyond—think crunchy fried lamb belly, chilled seafood, and “the party melt” burger.
- Lee’s Fried Chicken & Donuts – Head south down Heights Boulevard to fill up on crispy fried chicken (available in bone-in pieces, tenders, sandwiches, and tacos) and donuts in flavors like Mexican Chocolate and Blueberry Cake.
- Revival Market – On the corner of Heights Boulevard and White Oak, Revival Market is a part butcher shop, part café that serves up breakfast and lunch daily. Get seasonally-inspired and locally-sourced eats, from corned beef hash and hot honey butter chicken biscuits to beet burgers and hanger steak salads.
Shop & Support Local
- Aesop – This apothecary brand offers a range of high-quality skin, hair, and body care formulations, from facial cleansers and toners to body scrubs and balms.
- August Antiques –Just north of the Mercantile on 8th and Heights, this family-run antique shop offers unique finds, from primitive furniture and period lighting to pottery and rare books.
- Bespoke HTX by Forth and Nomad – This bespoke boutique brings together local brands and makers to offer a wide variety of products, including leather bags, handcrafted home goods, artisan jewelry, oils, apparel, one-of-a-kind instruments and more.
- Chubbie’s – Stop by this fun and funky swimwear shop to pick up board shorts, one-piece swimsuits, shirts, tees and more.
- Favor the Kind – This Dallas-based boutique carries homemade, sustainably produced apparel, gifts, and quality home items.
- The Impeccable Pig – Hit this stylish boutique to find a mix of jewelry, dresses, rompers, tops and more.
- Lululemon – The Heights outpost of this luxe athletic brand offers yoga pants, joggers, shorts, tees, and tanks for both women and men.
- Marine Layer – This unique brand is known for selling tees that are “so soft it’s absurd.”
- Rye 51 – This small batch American luxury brand offers a well-curated customer service shopping experience. Shop for casual menswear, from knits and polos to denim and accessories.
- Saint Lo Boutique – This upscale contemporary women’s boutique offers a wide selection of handpicked clothing lines and accessories.
- Warby Parker – This popular online eyeglasses retailer has a brick-and-mortar outpost at Heights Mercantile. Stop by to shop for and try on framed glasses and sunglasses, with prescription eyewear starting at $95.
- Will Leather Goods – This family-owned company creates inspired leather bags and accessories, including briefcases, backpacks, crossbody bags, wallets, belts, travel kits and more.
