Houston Neighborhoods – River Oaks & Upper Kirby

River Oaks  is one of Houston’s more affluent areas with The River Oaks Country Club and multi-million dollar mansions on expansive acres. Just across Westheimer is the neighborhood of Upper Kirby with slightly more affordable housing options and a bit of a more laid back vibe. Both areas complement each other, provide services to each other’s residents and as such are often lumped together. The area covers quite a bit of space at approximately 8 square miles and is a bit of a zig-zag bounded by Buffalo Bayou to the North and 59 to the South. Neighbors include Greenway Plaza to the West, Montrose to the East, and Washington Corridor to the North. The Museum District and West University areas are located on the Southern border. Perks to living in this area include convenient access to 59 and 45, an easy commute to the Texas Medical Center, and high end shopping such as West Ave and Highland Village. It’s easy to see why River Oaks & Upper Kirby are two of Houston’s most desirable neighborhoods.

Walkability ★★★★★
Upper Kirby offers plenty of walkability with restaurants, shops and nightlife along Kirby Drive. West Ave River Oaks offers dining and shopping without having to go any farther than downstairs for some residents of the area. Shops include the popular women’s boutique, Tootsies and Jonathan Adler for the more discerning shopper, and restaurants are on the higher end too, with stops such as Eddie V’s and Del Friscos Grille. Personally though, my favorite restaurant in the center is Pondicheri: a more Western take on Indian cuisine and more casual sister to Indika in Montrose. Additionally, there is a Whole Foods and Trader Joes, plus a selection of local chain restaurants and so much else to choose from. Not far away, is the River Oaks Shopping Center is anchored with staples like the Gap and Luke’s Locker and the famed River Oaks Theater which features independent films. You’ll also find restaurants, bars, shopping and everything else you need. Just down the block is the greatest TJ Maxx & Marshall’s Home Goods a girl could ever dream of. You want high end designer clothes at a discount? Head to the River Oaks TJ Maxx! Nearly any direction you turn, you will find something to entertain you and you won’t be disappointed.

Transportation ★☆☆☆☆
River Oaks & Upper Kirby are lacking in transportation, but honestly, if you can afford the housing prices, you probably own a car. There are bus stops for the METRO bus along Westheimer and Richmond, but that’s it. The good news is that taxis are inexpensive and you can always catch an Uber ride.

Dining ★★★★
The River Oaks and Upper Kirby areas, like the rest of Houston are no strangers to great food! Houston has a reputation for the restaurants being a bit incestuous which comes as no surprise really. Local restauranteurs pass along their successes to their children who marry into the families of other great restauranteurs, and from that union, a new chain is born. One example that you can find in the area is Carrabbas, an Italian restaurant owned by Johnny Carrabba. You may have this chain in your neck of the woods, but Johnny maintained sole ownership of this location, and frankly…the other’s simply don’t offer the same quality or consistency. However, owning one restaurant wasn’t enough for Johnny, in the past two years, he has taken over Kirby Drive and opened up two new restaurants; Grace’s and Mia’s. He’s not the only local chain in the area, though. Pappas Restaurants, Pappadeaux and Pappasitos are right around the corner serving up some serious competition. Pappadeaux offers the best Cajun seafood this side of the Mississippi. Seriously, despite the Pappas family being of Greek descent, they do Cajun better than most of Louisiana. Another local chain can be found over in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Brasserie 19 features French cuisine, and some of the best Moules Marinières I have ever had. A local favorite of mine is AKA Sushi House with reverse happy hour every day, and all day happy hour on Saturday and Sunday. I can’t claim they offer California quality sushi, but a local chef I know and trust once told me she loved their cut rolls, and…well, I’ve been going ever since.

Nightlife ★★★☆☆
Well, this area once had some of the hippest clubs in town, but we needed to make way for more residential and bulldozed them down. The area still offers some bars with great history. Kenneally’s Irish Pub recently celebrated their 30 year anniversary and still has the most amazing Corned Beef Pizza ever. If that’s a bit adventurous for you, there’s always their version of a meat-lovers type option. Their popular St. Patrick’s Day celebration is less than a month away! Also, in the River Oaks Shopping Center, is Marfreless, a place for lovers and late night trysts. Well, that’s what it was back in its heyday. People really did find love here before it closed down. About a year ago though, the place was remodeled and reopened with a slight homage to its past, but catering to a new generation with craft cocktails and half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesday. Odds are though, if you stop in for a drink, you’ll meet a couple that will tell you their love story and how it began at Marfreless. There are a couple of trendy spots in West Ave River Oaks, and if you’re up for it, Midtown, Washington, Rice Village & Downtown are just 5 minutes away.

Pet Friendly ★★★★☆
This are doesn’t have any big parks that cater to our furry friends, but it is mostly houses with yards. That in itself makes it pet friendly. Plus, the streets are tree-lined and the local pubs have great patios welcoming friendly dogs. If you find yourself in an apartment, the newer ones all have on-site dog parks or dog runs. My favorite apartment community, La Maison, even offers units with private yards! To make it better, they accept up to 3 pets (the norm is 2) and of any size (many communities cap weight at 50-100 lbs.)
Average Home Purchase Price: $967,146*
Average One Bedroom Rental Rate – Privately Owned: $1708**
Average One Bedroom Rental Rate – Class A Apartment: $1645***

*data calculated on January 4, 2015 from HAR.com using houses, townhouses & condominiums sold in the “River Oaks and River Oaks Shopping Area & Upper Kirby” market areas in the previous 90 days with at least 1 bedroom and an average square footage of 2983 square feet. This average rate does not take into account studio or efficiency condominiums.
** data calculated on January 4, 2015 from HAR.com using one bedroom condominiums and apartments leased in the “River Oaks and River Oaks Shopping Area & Upper Kirby” market areas in the previous 90 days ranging in size, quality and condition. This average rate does not take into account studio or efficiency lease options.
*** data calculated on January 4, 2015 using the most recent “best rate available within 60 days” published on UrbanLeasing.com for traditional one bedroom one bathroom apartments at Class A apartment communities in the “River Oaks and River Oaks Shopping Area & Upper Kirby” market areas. A “Class A” apartment is new or recently updated, well maintained and offers luxury finishes, gated access, on-site parking, washer and dryer, and amenities include at minimum a pool, fitness center and cyber café. This average rate does not take into consideration studio or efficiency apartment homes. The team at UrbanLeasing.com updates rates on a daily basis as market data becomes available.
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