Fall Patio Update

10 best new restaurant patios for enjoying fall in Houston

The first whiff of fall’s cooler temps has sent Houstonians flocking to outdoor spaces. Thankfully, several recently-opened restaurants have created patios that are perfect for lingering over one last bite.

Let’s take a brief look at some of the city’s most-intriguing new arrivals and what makes each patio so special.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Houston’s oldest craft brewery now features one of its most spectacular patios. As part of its recently-opened restaurant and beer garden, the expansive outdoor space offers a spectacular views of the downtown skyline. Chef Ryan Savoie has created an eclectic menu with a number of compelling options, and a full lineup of Saint Arnold’s well-crafted brews are on tap to satisfy any craving.

Eunice
An office building wouldn’t seem to provide an ideal setting for outdoor dining, but the Eunice patio is special. Set far enough away from the street that the noise fades and covered by large oak trees, Eunice’s patio provides a highly pleasant setting to feast on oysters and other bites from chef Drake Leonards. The well-priced wine list offers a broad selection of Old World vintages.

Pizza Motus
This restaurant’s location in the heart of West U gives it a small town feel that’s only enhanced by being across the street from the town’s Little League fields. The umbrella-covered picnic tables are an ideal spot for enjoying a couple of slices of Roman-style pizza al’taglio, especially when diners take advantage of the no-cost BYOB policy.

Poitín
This restaurant in Sawyer Yards features an eclectic menu from rising star chef Dominick Lee and creative cocktails from beverage director Sarah Cuneo. Located in the rear of the restaurant, the spacious patio (1,200 square feet) offers an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline — save for when the occasional train rolls by.

Calle Onze
Even though it opened in the middle of the summer, so many diners flocked to Calle Onze’s expansive patio that the restaurant added a cover to give it more all-weather utility. Not that anyone should be surprised; the success of sister concept Edison & Patton shows that the owners know how to create compelling outdoor spaces. Now that the weather has cooled, the patio becomes an even more compelling option for enjoying the restaurant’s creative spin on Tex-Mex classics and extensive selection of agave spirits.

Vibrant
Not only does this healthy-eating concept in Montrose serve a menu that’s entirely gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO, it also features a partially-covered covered patio that enhances the space’s clean, modern look Already open for breakfast and lunch, the imminent arrival of dinner service will give the space an all-day utility that’s rare among Houston restaurants.

Superica/La Lucha
State of Grace owner Ford Fry performed a comprehensive renovation on the building at 1801 N. Shepherd, but he left the patios mostly intact. For La Lucha, that means diners can still enjoy the large oak tree that provides lots of shade. At Superica, margaritas and fajitas just taste better when eaten outdoors.

Miss Carousel
Agricole Hospitality’s new bar may not open for a few more days, but the bar’s outdoor space is too good not to share. It’s an interior courtyard that’s set away from the entrance, and it feels miles away from the suddenly booming EaDo nightlife scene. Expect it be a prime spot for enjoying the 40 or so cocktails on the bar’s menu. (Update: The courtyard will open a few weeks after Miss Carousel does.)

Flower Child
This healthy-eating concept from Arizona-based Fox Restaurant Concepts has been a hit in Uptown Park. The space features a wrap around patio that’s large enough to accommodate almost 50 diners. With a wide of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, it’s the perfect spot to feed a group.

A large oak tree shades La Lucha's patio.

Photo by Ralph Smith

A large oak tree shades La Lucha's patio.

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Slowpokes is coming

Sawyer Yards cafe closes as Astro-owned Houston coffee brand pivots

Photo by Becca Wright

Maven Coffee's interior will be renovated to reflect Slowpokes' style.

A Houston hospitality group is shifting from operating cafes to selling coffee products to as many people as possible. Rex Hospitality’s decision to focus on products such as cold brew concentrate means that Maven Coffee in Sawyer Yards has closed, but the space will soon reopen as the newest outpost of a growing Houston coffee shop.

Rex partner Juan Carlos de Aldecoa tells CultureMap that he and his business partners, attorney Jimmy Doan and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., have turned over the property to Slowpokes, the growing Houston coffee shop with locations in Garden Oaks, the East End, Levy Park, and more. While Rex is still operating Maven Coffee’s shop at the Thompson Hotel, the company is actively searching for a new operator who would keep the location open as Maven but free it from day-to-day oversight. The future of Maven’s coffee and cocktail stands at Toyota Center and Daikin Park has yet to be decided.

“The cafes are brand plays for us,” de Aldecoa says. “We’re shifting that a bit. We still have more locations coming, but they won’t be operated by us. They’ll be licensing deals in different developments. That’s our new model.”

Instead, the company will focus on growing Maven Coffee Company, which sells cold brew concentrate and other coffee products to both restaurants and directly to consumers. “We’ve had a record month-over-month. If we put the right amount of time and effort into this project, we can make a big impact. I feel that’s where our resources are best utilized,” de Aldecoa says.

Later, he adds, “We’re in 14 different metros. We’d like to increase that to about 50 through our concentrate and having different sorts of products such as RTDs.”

Rex opened Maven at Sawyer Yards in October 2024. Intended to be an all-day cafe, it served coffee and breakfast in the morning as well as a sophisticated dinner menu that included everything from roast chicken and spicy rigatoni to steak and octopus.

Coming Soon to Sawyer Yards

Slowpokes owner Mazen Baltagi tells CultureMap that, after building a friendship with de Aldecoa, he welcomed the opportunity to bring his coffee shop to Sawyer Yards. Having assumed control of the space on January 1, he’s optimistic that the new Slowpokes will open in March. Plans call for replacing the current interior with more homey fabrics and installing vintage speakers that are more in line with Slowpokes’ other shops. He thinks the location is ideal for Slowpokes, which has built a devoted following by selling coffee, beer, and wine that are paired with a diverse food menu built around sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, and breakfast items.

“If you look at all of our locations, most of them aren’t necessarily in high-traffic areas. They’re in underserved areas — besides [nearby] Catalina Coffee, which we’re huge fans of, but they don’t have food [other than pastries] or Wi-Fi,” Baltagi says.

In particular, Baltagi thinks Slowpokes will appeal both to area residents looking for a coffee shop where they can get a little work done and to people exercising at nearby gyms such as Orange Theory and Momentum Climbing Gym. Slowpokes will also build on some of Maven’s existing events, such as the monthly Cars & Coffee gathering and a weekly run club.

“I think it’s a phenomenal brand that can get to 25-plus locations in the Houston area and throughout the state,” de Aldecoa says about Slowpokes. “I think they do a great job. They’ve figured out how to do it at scale. I’m excited for them, and they have a great model.”

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