Washington Ave

Things to do on Washington Avenue used to mean bar hopping, and that is still part of it, but the corridor and the Rice Military neighborhood next to it have a lot more going on. Washington runs west from downtown just south of the Heights, inside the 610 Loop, lined with bars, restaurants, townhomes and old warehouses. Rice Military, a grid of streets south of Washington toward Memorial Drive, grew out of an old Army camp site and is now packed with townhomes.

The Vibe in Washington Ave

Washington Avenue is busy, young and a little bit bro on weekend nights, with bars, patios and a lot of rideshares double-parked. During the day it is a different place: barbecue lines, studio visits at Sawyer Yards, people heading to Memorial Park and townhome dwellers walking dogs. Rice Military is a canyon of new townhomes with a few older houses holding out.

The area sits in a sweet spot geographically. Memorial Park is right to the west, Buffalo Bayou Park is just to the south and the Heights is right up the road. That makes it a perfect base for outdoor days, especially in fall and spring. The old warehouses along the railroad tracks, many now full of artists, are a reminder that this used to be an industrial edge of town.

Washington Ave Munchies

Truth BBQ, at Washington and Heights Boulevard, is one of the best barbecue restaurants in Texas, ranked at the top of Houston lists by people who take barbecue very seriously. Brisket, ribs, sausage, sides and cakes. Go early, expect a line and do not complain about it.

Velvet Taco has a Washington location for creative tacos late. The Heights, with Chilosos, Kolache Shoppe and more, is just north. See the munchies guide and the late-night guide.

Things to Do on Washington Ave and in Rice Military

• Sawyer Yards. A huge complex of artist studios in converted warehouses, including Silver Street Studios. Hundreds of artists work here, and the open studio days are a perfect wander.
• The Beer Can House. Just south off Memorial Drive, a house covered in flattened beer cans, pull tabs and can garlands by John Milkovisch. It jingles in the wind. Open on weekends, so check before you go.
• Memorial Park. One of the largest urban parks in the country, right across the 610 Loop. See below.
• Buffalo Bayou Park. The trails along the bayou are just south. See the Downtown guide.

Music, Art and Movies Near Washington Ave

Sawyer Yards is the art heart of the area. White Oak Music Hall, one of Houston's best concert venues, is a short drive northeast in the Near Northside. The River Oaks Theatre is a few minutes south down Shepherd for art films and late shows. See our movie theaters guide and things to do in Houston.

Chill Outdoor Spot: Memorial Park

Memorial Park is Houston's big wild backyard, with a famous running loop, miles of wooded trails, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, golf, sports fields and a huge land bridge that carries trails and prairie over Memorial Drive. It is the closest thing to a forest inside the Loop. Go early in summer, or any time in fall.

A Perfect Day in Washington Ave

Here is how we would spend a full day around Washington Ave, start to finish. Check hours before you go, and keep a sober driver in the plan.

1. A morning run or walk in Memorial Park.
2. Barbecue at Truth BBQ before the line peaks.
3. Open studios at Sawyer Yards.
4. The Beer Can House on a weekend afternoon.
5. Sunset on Buffalo Bayou.
6. Late tacos, then home.

The Good and the Annoying

Nearby Neighborhoods

Washington Avenue connects the west side to the core. The Heights is just north, downtown is east, Montrose is south across the bayou and the Galleria is a short drive west past Memorial Park.

• the Heights neighborhood guide
• Downtown Houston guide
• Montrose neighborhood guide
• Galleria and Uptown guide