A Good Start For fresh Food Hall Politan Row

Hosting someone this weekend? Maybe it’s a Rice University parent in town for a game, out-of-town friends passing through, or family visiting for the holidays. Whoever it is, Rice Village is one of the better places to find things to do near Rice University, with shopping, dining, and (if the timing lines up) a Farmers Market all within walking distance of campus.

Here’s a Rice Village itinerary that works as a half day if you’re tight on time, or a full day if you’re not.

If you’re at Rice University or touring campus with someone who might be soon, you don’t have to wander far to find a good coffee shop near Rice University.

Rice Village sits right up against campus, and three cafes within a few blocks of each other cover just about every kind of coffee run: a quick pastry snack, a long study session, or an early fix before class. Here’s how Bluestone Lane, Bādolina Bakery & Café, and Starbucks compare, plus a few tips for finding a seat.

Rice Village has turned into one of the better happy hour crawls in Houston, and you don’t have to wander far to find it. Within a few blocks, you’ve got wine deals, oyster specials, and half-price cocktails running on overlapping weekday windows, which makes it easy to build a whole afternoon around Rice Village happy hour without ever moving your car.

Here’s where to go, what to order, and when to show up for the best happy hour in Rice Village, whether you’re leaving the office or just wrapping up a class near Rice University.