16. The Monogram Shop of Houston
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (832) 251-8771
Address: 5860 San Felipe St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Houston has many monogram stores, but this is one of the very best. From towel wraps to duffle bags to coolers, the Monogram Shop of Houston sells plenty of gifts ready to be monogrammed. The store also sells a wide selection of personalized sorority and college gear, as well as seasonal gifts, baby and children’s gifts, jewelry, hand lotions, and Vera Bradley bags. Added bonus: the saleswomen will gift wrap your purchases for free. Closed Sun.
17. Out of the Box
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (832) 252-6222
Address: 5709 Woodway Dr.
Description: Out of the Box isn’t a big store, but it makes up for its size with an enormous array of gifts. The selection here includes bath and body products, stationery, flip-flops, kitchen decor, decorated aprons, jewelry, toys, home gifts, and baby blankets. Many of these gifts can be monogrammed. Closed Sun.
18. Initials Gifts and Monogramming
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 465-3700
Address: 12454 Memorial Dr.
Insider Pick:
Description: Whether you’re looking for a special baby gift or a graduation present, you’ll find lots of options here—most available with a monogram. That includes everything from Gund lovies to blankets to robes to luggage tags. The prices may seem a little high, but that’s because the price of the monogram is included.
19. The Villager
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 461-2022
Address: 9311 Katy Fwy.
Description: Looking for a gift? If you’re not sure exactly what you want, The Villager just might have the answer. The selection here includes a little of everything—stationery, jewelry, bath scents, serving dishes, mosaic picture frames, and Christian-inspired gifts. This popular Memorial gift shop also sells cards, women’s clothing, Vera Bradley bags, unique seasonal decor and gifts, children’s toys, and baby gifts. The saleswomen will wrap your gifts for free. Closed Sun.
20. La Taste
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 520-0027
Address: 2417 Rice Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Prepare to be soothed by lavender and other scents inside La Taste, where you’ll find bath soaps, gels, lotions, and even bath confetti. The French-inspired shop sells well-known brands like L’Occitane, as well as scents from less familiar brands. La Taste also sells colorful—if pricey—French pottery for the kitchen and bathroom, unique candies, and dried flowers and potpourri. Free gift wrap is available.
21. Olivine
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 622-7776
Address: 2405 Rice Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: This French-inspired store offers a variety of beautiful lifestyle items—beaded jewelry, bedding, furniture, glasses for the bathroom or bedside, candles and body scents, baby clothes, and even unique dog leashes. You may have to sift through the linens in this cozy store to find exactly what you want, but the salespeople are very helpful.
22. PH Design Shop
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 522-8861
Address: 2414 Rice Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Got a stationery, greeting card, or journal addiction? Get giddy at the sight of all things letterpress? Head directly to PH Design Shop. This small shop sells letterpress cards and stationery, notebooks, desk products, gifts, and other paper products with funky designs. The shop also has a full-service graphic-design studio that will custom design invitations and announcements for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, holidays, births, and other special events.
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Address: 1710 Sunset Blvd.
24. The Village Firefly
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 522-2808
Address: 2422 Rice Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Artsy and unique gifts abound at The Village Firefly, where you’ll find an affordable and frequently changing selection of wall art, jewelry, Texana, seasonal decor, and home gifts ranging from glass cutting boards to painted gourds to papier-mâché dogs. Everything sold here is made by artists from the US, many hailing from the Gulf Coast region. The shop owner knows about each piece and artist, and she’ll gladly tell you all about them.
25. Indulge
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 888-0181
Address: 2903 Saint St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Pamper someone special with a gift from Indulge. This shop, which makes its home in a French garden, sells unique jewelry, linens, soaps and scents, baby gifts, children’s toys, furniture, glassware, home decor, and garden gifts that owner Cynthia Davis carefully selects during her trips to New York and France. Even if you don’t buy anything, the beautifully decorated shop is worthy of a look. Just watch where you step; the owner’s dogs often roam around or nap on the floor. Closed Sun.
26. Paula Fridkin Designs
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 490-1070
Address: 2022 W. Gray
Description: Costume jewelry and relatively inexpensive yet chic handbags are among the biggest sellers at Paula Fridkin Designs. The shop also sells a hodgepodge of gifts, ranging from candles and notepads to the latest in flip-flop fashion. New products arrive every day.
27. Revival Market
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 880-8463
Address: 550 Heights Blvd. at White Oak
Insider Pick:
Description: Talk to meat-a-tarians, and they’ll probably tell you they love Revival for its incredible meats—all-natural, locally sourced ones at that. But you don’t have to be a carnivore to love this little specialty food store. That’s because Revival sells all sorts of irresistible produce and homemade cheeses, pickles, and jams from local farmers and food artisans. You can also grab a good cup of coffee—or a delicious sandwich made with locally sourced products. No matter what you buy, Revival hopes you’ll leave with a better understanding of where your food came from and why local is best.
28. Super H-Mart
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 468-0606
Address: 1302 Blalock Rd.
Description: One of the best Pan-Asian groceries in town, Super H-Mart has a huge selection of Asian foods and spices. The large assortment of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese food products include everything from Korean pickles to garlic-infused Chinese cabbage to sushi-grade fish, as well as deliciously prepared Asian dishes. Super H-Mart is very clean and well arranged and the prices are very reasonable.
29. Zadok Jewelers
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 960-8950
Address: 1749 Post Oak Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: For seven generations, the Zadok family has been in the fine jewelery business, which means you get some serious expertise—not to mention great service—at this family-owned jewelry shop. Zadok’s has an extensive collection of everything from platinum and gold wedding and engagement rings to Swiss watches by more obscure and creative designers like Gregg Ruth, Roberto Coin, and Yvel, as well as familiar names like Bulgari, Ebel, Montblanc, Baccarat, and Lalique. Closed Sun.
30. Mint Baby
City: Houston, TX
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (713) 622-3580
Description: From taffeta dresses to tutu skirts and cute shorts and shirts, Mint Baby sells children’s couture fit for a portrait session or special event. And new parents—as well as gift givers—can find everything they need for their little ones, from hip diaper bags to beautiful bedding. Service here is great, but that’s to be expected, given how pricey most of the merchandise is. After shopping for baby, head next door to Mint to find clothes for Mom. Closed Sun.