5 Must Do Things in Cypress

In our Must Do Things Around Greater Houston series, we take a look at Houston’s vast array of communities, neighborhoods and destinations to bring you five fun, tasty, surprising and enticing reasons you should give each one a visit.

About 25 miles northwest of Downtown, Cypress was once a rural area, with most of its residents in the rice and dairy farming industry. Today, it has blossomed into one of Houston’s largest suburbs. The neighborhood has both Atakapan Indian and German heritage, the latter of which can be seen in some of the street and school names—like Huffmeister Road Matzke Elementary.

Check out the Cypress Creek Greenway Hike and Bike Trails, a major parks project that provides recreational opportunities and preserves natural habitat across the Cypress Creek watershed; and, of course, these other fun things to do:

5 Must Do Things in Cypress

Take a stroll on the Boardwalk at Towne Lake

The Boardwalk at Towne Lake offers restaurants, shops and a roster of special events along Towne Lake’s sparkling shores. Relax with spa treatments, including Dead Sea pedicures at LUX NOA Nail Spa, hot stone treatments at Massage Heights, and cryotherapy at Reserve Salon and Spa. Work up a sweat at Club Pilates before treating yourself to fresh roasts and espresso-topped chocolate bark at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co or crepes and cappuccinos at Coco Crepes & Coffee.

Dining options range from New York strip or Piccata di Vitello at Passerella and MOD Pizza‘s made-to-order pizzas to Gulf Coast seafood and ice cold beer at Sam’s Boat, with a plethora of other concepts joining the fun.

Get your shopping on at the Houston Premium Outlets

If your idea of an amazing shopping experience is one where you can get deals, deals, deals, the Houston Premium Outlets are for you.

Hit the Nike Factory, Lululemon, and Under Armour stores to gear up for your next run; suit up for the work week at Banana Republic Factory, J.Crew Factory, and Brooks Brothers Factory Store; and get gussied up at Swarovski, Tory Burch, and Saks off Fifth. You’ll also find luxury bath and beauty stores, home furnishing outlets, kid’s stores, shoe shops and more.

Date night, Italian-style at Mezzanotte

Popular homegrown establishment Mezzanotte—run by husband-and-wife team Gerry and Adriana Sarmiento—is the definition of a hidden gem (it’s hiding in a Cypress strip center, after all). You can feel the love upon first glance—its comforting, red-toned dining room warmly lit, and then further through the elegant Italian entrees and tapas.

Dine on housemade pappardelle bolognese, fall-apart tender osso bucco and delicate sole picatta, and decadent crème brulee alongside a fine selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Those looking for a deal should come for Thursday’s prix fixe menu, when you can get three courses for $23.

Sip craft suds at Misfit Outpost

Taking over the the Shack Burger Resort digs, Misfit Outpost brings excellent craft beers to the Cypress community. The project comes from Fortress BeerWorks owner John O’Hara and local homebrewer Juan Sanchez of Misfit BeerWorks.

The brewery currently is open for to-go only while working on permitting issues, but soon, you’ll be able to bring yourself, your friends, your family, and your dog to enjoy an afternoon of burgers, beers, and good times in the expansive yard.

Catch a show at the Berry Center

Cypress plays home to $80-million multi-use complex the Berry Center, complete with an 11,000 seat football stadium for the Cy-Fair Independent School District, a 456-seat theater and a multi-purpose arena with a capacity for 9,500.

Here, you’ll find a lineup of family-friendly productions, from Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships to The Nutcracker.

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