The Best Houston Neighborhoods to Meet New People
As the fourth-largest city in the country with a population of 2.3 million and rising, Houston is packed with people from all walks of life. However, those new to the city or locals who want to broaden their horizons might not know where to start when seeking new friends, romantic partners, or family playdates.
Luckily, Houston’s various neighborhoods have flourishing social scenes with community activities that encourage residents to meet new people. Here are some of the best Houston neighborhoods to get social.
Active Types and Sports Fans
Memorial Park/Washington Corridor
Memorial Park/Washington Corridor, home to both Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park, is one of Houston’s best neighborhoods for fitness-lovers. Joggers, sports lovers, and other active residents can meet like-minded people in the area.
Find a training partner at Baby Bull Boxing, join a group workout class at the Houston Gym, or play in a flag football or soccer league with the Houston Sports and Social Club. HSSC frequently holds games and tournaments at Memorial Park followed by happy hour meet-ups with the team.
River Oaks
River Oaks is an opulent community accommodating those seeking a luxury fitness lifestyle. Invite your Pilates and hot yoga partners to a post-workout spa treatment, boozy brunch, or retail therapy in the neighborhood’s chic shopping district.
The neighborhood is also home to River Oaks Country Club, an exclusive members-only club with nationally recognized tennis and golf programs. Though there’s currently a waitlist, those who join the club can get to know their neighbors in a pristine fitness facility.
EaDo
Sports connect people and create immediate kinship. EaDo has many venues for fans to gather and share their love of the game.
Watch a major league soccer game at BBVA Compass Stadium; bond over the World Cup at Pitch 25 (a soccer-themed beer park), mourn the fallen Astrodome at 8th Wonder, a brewery modeled after the beloved landmark, or head to Sports Creek for community grub and gameplay like volleyball, soccer, and dodgeball.
Night Owls
Midtown
Midtown’s nightlife scene is unrivaled. Houston’s party playground lined with bustling bars and nightclubs frequently hosts pub crawls, block parties, and after-work happy hours.
Midtown has all the trappings for an unforgettable night on the town; all you need to do is show up. Invite a friend to drinks, embark on a bar crawl, ask a stranger to dance, or network with other urban professionals.
Family Focused
Greater Heights
The Heights is very attractive to Houston families due to its desirable inner-loop location, spacious backyards, and modern parks.
Like BYM, the Heights Kids Group is a local organization with over 1,000 members. The active group hosts age-based playgroups, community potlucks, book clubs, nights out, and even has a babysitter co-op providing peace of mind childcare.
Bellaire
As a suburban residential area with highly ranked schools, Bellaire attracts families. The 1,000 member Bellaire Young Mothers Club is a great way to connect with other mothers in the neighborhood, share parenting tips, and schedule playdates. Annual events like the Halloween Party and Family Picnic as well as volunteer and service opportunities foster a strong sense of community.
BYM also provides social opportunities in the form of book clubs hosted at members’ homes, a foodie club where participants take cooking classes together and try new restaurants, monthly mom’s nights out for shopping, live theater, or painting. And, during the weeks after childbirth, BYM members provide meals to tired new moms.
Dog-Lovers
Montrose
Dogs offer an easy excuse to break the ice, and Montrose with its wide, walkable streets and dog-friendly restaurants is one of the best Houston neighborhoods for dog-lovers.
Bring your four-legged friend to Ervan Chew Dog Park or Johnny Steele Dog Park along Buffalo Bayou and let them sniff out potential playmates while you get to know fellow pet-lovers. Or head to Alabama Ice House or Piggy’s Kitchen. Both are popular neighborhood hangouts with dog-friendly patios.
Lifelong Learners
University Place
University Place, home to Rice University, is a neighborhood brimming with professors, students, bibliophiles, and intellectuals. Rice offers leisure learning courses to community members. Take a foreign language, photography, or writing class and meet others who value educational enrichment and artistic stimulation.
The neighborhood also has a buzzing literary scene. Since books are a great conversation starter, attend a reading or author signing at Murder By the Book or Brazos, two local bookstores. Aside from readings, both shops host literary events throughout the year including children’s storytimes for families and community book clubs.