Fashion / Shopping

An Insider’s Guide to Houston’s Mall Life: Seven Upscale Shopping Centers that Make for the Perfect Luxury Hang

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A bevy of brands converge via Houston’s best malls and shopping centers, where fashion juggernauts and culinary hotspots collide. From luxury boutiques and casual shops to upscale dining and burger joints, here are the retail havens providing some of the city’s best shopping and dining in one convenient location.

THE GALLERIA, 5085 Westheimer Road, simon.com/mall/the-galleriaSpanning more than million square feet, The Galleria is home to nearly 500 boutiques and restaurants, as well as an ice rink. One of the largest shopping destinations in the nation, The Galleria houses tony retailers Neiman Marcus, an all-new Saks Fifth Avenue with an amazing shoe department, Miami-based boutique The Webster, Christian Louboutin, Céline, Chanel, La Perla, Miu Miu, Max Mara, Jimmy Choo, Christofle, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Burberry, Bulgari, Prada, David Yurman, Rolex, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, De Beers, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, Trina Turk, Valentino, Versace, Tory Burch, John Varvatos, Tourbillon, Tourneau, Hublot, Omega, and Saint Laurent, alongside contemporary offerings H&M, Zara, and Topshop.

Dining destinations include Hakkasan Groups’ Michelin-starred Chinese dim sum concept Yauatcha (the second in the United States., opening this month), Houston’s first Shake Shack, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Peli Peli, and The Oceanaire. Two Westin hotels also call The Galleria home.

RIVER OAKS DISTRICT, 4444 Westheimer Road, riveroaksdistrict.comHouston’s new luxury development — 14 acres, with 250,000 square feet of retail and dining space — has its own urban grid, with chic matte-black stop signs to match. When it debuted, iconic Houston socialite Lynn Wyatt proclaimed, “Now there’s even more reason to visit our cosmopolitan, welcoming city. Are you hearing me, world?”

Thousands of twinkling lights, outdoor seating areas, and piazzas are cheek-to-cheek with Hermès, Tom Ford, Cartier, Harry Winston, Forty Five Ten, Roberto Cavalli, Etro, Bonpoint, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana, John Lobb, Diptyque, Jo Malone, Vilebrequin, Nars, Dior, Akris, Moncler, John Hardy, Baanou, Eres, Bonobos, Brunello Cucinelli, Chopard, Van Cleef & Arpels, de Boulle Jewelers + Patek Phillippe, Alice & Olivia, Guiseppe Zanotti, Kiton, Roberta Roller Rabbit, Equinox, an iPic movie theater, and restaurants Le Colonial, Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria, Toulouse Café & Bar, Steak 48 — and the luxe list goes on.

How chic is it? NBA star James Harden was seen donning a cowboy hat in his Rolls convertible on a recent spin through River Oaks District.

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HIGHLAND VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER, 4055 Westheimer Road, shophighlandvillage.comOne of Houston’s oldest shopping centers, Highland Village Shopping Center is open air and situated on two sides of Westheimer Road, bordered by towering iconic palm trees.

Go-to shops include a three-story RH flagship, cowboy-boot royalty Lucchese, children’s shops Baby and Child and Janie and Jack, and Maison Jolie lingerie, as well as prep bastions Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade and Tommy Bahama, Sprinkles cupcakes, Valobra Jewelers, home stores Mecox, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and restaurants galore. Up with a beautiful view overlooking River Oaks, Tex-Mex at Escalante’s, Smith & Wollensky steak house, and an easy-in Apple store complete the scene.

WEST AVE, 2800 Kirby Drive, westaveriveroaks.com. Still one of Houston’s newer live, work, and play centers, West Ave is centrally located at the corner of Westheimer Road and Kirby Drive and houses the flagship Tootsies womenswear emporium, as well as home design shops Jonathan Adler, Moroso, Ann Sacks Tile and Stone, Poliform and Ligne Roset, as well as Milk + Honey Spa, menswear shops Rye 51, Q Clothier and Suitsupply, and restaurants Pondicheri, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Del Friscos Grille, and Cru Wine Bar.

RIVER OAKS SHOPPING CENTER, 1964 W. Gray, riveroaksshoppingcenter.comThis palm-lined Deco-era landmark center is punctuated by the historic marquee of the River Oaks Theatre. This is the home of eateries La Griglia and hot-spot Brasserie 19 (aka B 19), Latin-infused Américas, and watering hole Local Pour, as well as important fashion, art, design, and lifestyle destinations Atrium Ready to Wear and sister store Casa di Novia Bridal Couture, Carleen Ligozio for polished global glamour, the innovatively American J. McLaughlin, Brooke Feather for West Coast simplicity, boutiques Nina McLemore, Hemline, and Em & Lee, as well as blue-chip art at Texas Gallery, the state’s first flagship Kartell store, gift-haven Events, the sublime Araya Artisan Chocolate, and Macaron by Patisse.

UPTOWN PARK, 1101 Uptown Park Blvd., uptownparkhouston.comUptown Park is an open-air shopping center that meanders along Loop 610 near The Galleria, but it has its own Italianate air, with a chic Longoria Collection home design emporium; Elizabeth Anthony women’s designer goods; Top Drawer Lingerie; BBI women’s boutique; Lewis Jewelers; menswear meccas M Penner, Bill Walker, and Lucho; legendary hairstylist Ceron; Araya Artisan Chocolate; Crave Cupcakes; and restaurants Etoile, Songkran, Uptown Sushi, and The Tasting Room Wine Café, as well as University Co–Op to get your UT on.

CITYCENTRE, 800 Town & Country Blvd., citycentrehouston.comLocated a little further west down Interstate 10, CityCentre encompasses nearly 50 shops and restaurants and two hotels (luxury destination Hotel Sorella and a Four Points by Sheraton) in an open-air setting. Pass the time at Houston-based accessories designer Elaine Turner, H&M, J. Crew, Texas-based Kendra Scott jewelry, Sephora, Urban Outfitter, Anthropologie, Bevello and West Elm.

Stop for lunch or dinner at BRIO Tuscan Grille, Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican food, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Fellini Gelato & Caffé, Radio Milano, Ruggles Green, The Tasting Room and Yardhouse, or catch a movie (and dinner) at Studio Movie Grill and bowl off any shopping anxiety at luxe bowling alley and restaurant Bowl & Barrel.

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