This list is noncomprehensive. To have a business considered for addition to the list, please email [email protected].
Food and drink
Dodie's Beer + Wine ShoppeDodie Wilson has been a resident of Houston for 35 years and opened Dodie's Beer + Wine Shoppe in the Heights—next to her daughter Rebecca Masson's Fluff Bake Bar—in October 2021. Dodie's features rare wine brands and, starting March 8, is hosting a quarterly series to highlight women-owned wine brands.
1701 W. 15th St., Houston. www.drinkwithdodie.com
Hours: Wednesday-Friday 1-7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday.
El Gato Coffeehouse
At El Gato Coffeehouse—which brands itself as Houston’s first and only cat cafe and rescue—patrons can make reservations to dine in and hang out with adoptable cats. El Gato was founded in July 2020 and is in the process of becoming fully operational as a nonprofit.
508 Pecore St., Ste. A, Houston. 832-968-3006. www.elgatocoffeehouse.com
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday-Friday 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday noon-4 p.m.; closed Monday and Wednesday.
Fluff Bake Bar
Rebecca Masson, who appeared on "Top Chef: Just Desserts" in 2011, operates Fluff Bake Bar in the Heights, next to her mother Dodie Wilson's concept Dodie's Beer + Wine Shoppe. Fluff Bake Bar offers classic cookies, bars and other sweets, such as lemon pound cake and financiers.
1701 W. 15th St., Houston. 713-522-1900. www.fluffbakebar.com
Hours: Sunday noon-6 p.m.; Wednesdsay-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday.
Fat Cat Creamery
At Fat Cat Creamery’s two Inner Loop locations, everything on the menu is made in-house, except for the rainbow sprinkles, according to owner Sarah Johnston. Johnston, a resident of the Heights for over 15 years, has been selling ice cream since 2011.
1901 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston. 1225 W. 34th St., Houston. 713-869-1080. www.fatcatcreamery.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday noon-10 p.m.; Friday noon-11 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Tea Sip
Jessica Boyd, Tea Sip’s founder and CEO, opened the combination tea shop, brew bar and blend lab in 2017 after her love of tea encouraged her to learn more about it and the industry. The shop sells teas, tisanes and teawares, among other items.
321 W. 19th St., Unit A, Houston. 346-701-8662. https://teasip.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Honeychild’s Sweet Creams
Located at M-K-T in the Heights, Honeychild’s Sweet Creams brick-and-mortar opened in November 2021 and provides handmade frozen custards with natural and locally-sourced ingredients. Some flavors include Black Chocolate and Texas Sheet Cake.
600 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston. 832-280-7854. www.honeychildssweetcreams.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday noon-10 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m.; closed Monday
Blonde Biscotti
Owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Toni Richardson and Lisa Richardson, Blonde Biscotti is a carryout-only bakery where customers place orders online and pick them up at the store’s window. Blonde Biscotti also has two interior spaces that can be reserved for meetings and events.
1000 W. Gray St., Ste. 100, Houston. 713-955-2952. www.blondebiscotti.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Monday.
Around the Corner
Located in east downtown, Around the Corner is a patio bar with skyline views of downtown Houston. Around the Corner offers different daily specials, including all-day happy hour Wednesdays.
1510 Hutchins St., Houston. 281-888-9806. www.aroundthecornerhouston.com
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 2-10 p.m.; Friday noon-10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday.
Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food
Owned by Esther Bernard, Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food has been serving up soul food since 2008.
5204 Yale St., Houston. 713-699-1212. www.estherscajunsoul.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Avonak Distillery
Woman-owned and family operated, Avonak Distillery makes small-batch spirits—including gin, whiskey and vodka—from its location in the Heights. Avonak also has event space that can be booked.
3831 Golf Drive, Houston. 832-583-6935. www.avonak.com
Hours: Thursday 4-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 2-10 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m.; closed Monday-Wednesday.
Brass Tacks
Named after the phrase “let’s get down to brass tacks,” Brass Tacks is a cafe and bar built around the idea of a work-life balance. The space has over 1,000 square feet of patio space in east downtown and serves an all-day food menu as well as a coffee bar menu.
612 Live Oak St., Houston. 713-352-7626. www.brasstackshouston.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 7 a.m.-midnight
Art and home
Dirt BagOwned and operated by Jessica Cohen out of a Montrose home built in 1919, Dirt Bag offers an indie alternative to big-box plant stores. Dirt Bag, which opened in August 2020, also offers soil made in-house.
701 W. Gray St., Houston. 713-485-0380. https://dirtbagsfromtx.com
Hours: Monday- Friday noon-7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Honey Art Cafe
Honey Art Cafe offers classes for all ages and private lessons, such as sketching and watercolor. It also has a cafe which features desserts, such as cakes and macarons.
3516 S. Shepherd Drive, Houston. 832-582-0672. www.honeyartcafe.com
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 1-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed on Monday.
Amano
Amano—which means “by hand” in Spanish—is a shop in Montrose Collective featuring owner Myrna Hagelsieb’s handcrafted goods. Items include dishes and incense burners, most of which are made out of all-natural concrete. Customers can also book time at the shop to make their own incense with a private lesson.
888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 156, Houston. 316-761-8013. www.amanonbyh.com
Hours: Tuesday- Friday noon-6 p.m.; Saturday noon-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed on Monday.
Marcel Market
A retailer of French brands and goods, Marcel Market sells items ranging from clothing to fragrances to fine groceries from its Montrose Collective location. The shop also has a location in Austin.
888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 101, Houston. www.marcel-market.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday noon-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon-7 p.m.
Fitness and lifestyle
The Studio BEWith virtual and in-person classes in the Heights and in Montrose, Studio BE offers classes in pilates, yoga, aerial and strength training, among other options. Studio Be also offers 200-hour and 300-hour classes for yoga teaching certifications.
714 Yale St., Ste. 2A, Houston. 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 209, Houston. 832-767-4542. https://thestudiobe.com
Hours: Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 5:45 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Essential Body Bar
Essential Body Bar is an organic day spa founded by Letrice Mason, which has services such as skin care, massage and waxing.
1622 W. Alabama St., Houston. 832-808-0903. www.essentialbodybar.com
Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Monday.
Fourth & Nomad
Founded by Morgan Sommer in 2017, Fourth & Nomad is a lifestyle brand offering sustainable products and contemporary fashion. The Heights brick-and-mortar is not only a shop but also has a coffee bar and a candle bar.
731 Yale St., Houston. 713-814-8198. https://forthandnomad.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m -7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Sunless Chateau
Bree Wilson started tanning brand The Sunless Chateau when she was 23 years old. The shop, located at Montrose Collective, offers tanning services and sells a variety of body care items.
888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 211, Houston. 888-897-1441. https://thesunlesschateau.com
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Hue Salon
Hue Salon operates out of the Montrose Collective and offers luxury hair care products, such as Kérastase and Shu Uemura.
888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 210, Houston. 832-331-1119. www.hue-salon.com
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Wednesday 1-8:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed Sunday.
