There are so many great places to live in Houston that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.
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Upscale and lush — and lined with decades-old live oaks — the Tanglewood area has something of a timeless feel. It was first developed in the late 1940s and named after Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the favorite book of the developer’s daughter.

Just outside the loop and inside Beltway 8 in Uptown, the area boasts close proximity to upscale shopping, dining, and amenities with convenient freeway access to all the major hot spots in the city.

“Even though it’s in the middle of it all, Tanglewood boasts pockets of secluded luxury and comfort with gorgeous, quiet, and winding streets,” says Bobby Yazdani, who has lived there for three years.

He started his real estate career with his first listing in Tanglewood’s gated subdivision of West Oaks, which is best known as the longtime residence of the late President George H.W. and Barbara Bush.

“I fell in love with the charm and timeless character of this well-known subdivision,” says Yazdani, who was recently named one of the "20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate" by the Houston Association of Realtors. “It is nestled just outside the vibrant Uptown/Galleria area, yet once you pass through the security gates you are transported to an idyllic escape of winding roads with towering oaks.”

Yazdani offered up a few of his personal favorites about life in Tanglewood. Here's his guide:

Where to eat & drink
With Uptown mere minutes away, the dining options are endless. Here’s Yazdani’s shortlist to fit any possible craving or mood:

• American: The Annie Cafe & Bar
• Thai: Trinity Street Food and Songkran Thai Kitchen
• French: Etoile
• Tex-Mex: Ninfa's Uptown
• Sushi: Uchiko and Uptown Sushi
• Italian: il Bracco and North Italia
• Local cafe and smoothies: Island Grill
• Drinks and live music: The Rustic
• Wine: Stella's in The Post Oak Hotel
• Indian: Musaafer
• Steakhouse: Mastro's and Steak 48
• Deli: Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen
• Desserts: Crave Cupcakes and Amorino Gelato

Where to play
Many residents are members of the storied Houston Country Club and The Houstonian Club & Spa, says Yazdani.

“You’re close to Tanglewood Park and Grady Park as well as the Tanglewood hike and bike trails, where you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll along a mile-long stretch of gravel path with benches scattered throughout — just in case you want to unwind and enjoy the surrounding beauty,” he adds.

Yazdani also recommends a picnic at Memorial Park (and teeing off at the park’s PGA-certified golf course), shopping the designer boutiques (Champagne included!) in the Galleria and River Oaks District, or catching a movie at IPIC or at the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown when the weather cools.

Oh, and if you’re looking to relax with a cup of coffee, don’t miss Bouchée Patisserie. “It’s a hidden gem," says Yazdani, "a wonderful, Parisian-inspired coffee shop that transports you to France, tucked inside the five-star Post Oak Hotel & Spa.”

Where to live
The Tanglewood area is comprised of numerous subdivisions, including Broad Oaks, West Oaks, Bayou Glen, Briar Manor, Huisache Acres, Pine Shadow, Wynden Court, Wynden Oaks, and Tangle Lane Estates.

The area attracts the leisure and business traveler with its lock-and-leave lifestyle and numerous upscale, gated subdivisions. “Peace of mind abounds with security gates and private patrols,” says Yazdani.

Architecturally, he highlights some of the styles in the area, including Georgian Revivals with symmetrical, classical details; Mediterranean residences with stucco walls and tile, slate, or metal roofs; and French eclectic homes with tall, steeply pitched roofs and brick, stone, or stucco cladding.

A “petit chateau” at 5518 Sauve Lane in Broad Oaks’ unique Ville Franche development reflects the sophistication of the Tanglewood area — and the rustic elegance of rural France, too. Yazdani represented the seller of this 6,095-square-foot home.

"Bobby did a terrific job,” says the seller. “Really appreciate all the thorough, preemptive efforts — white glove all the way! Thank you for your perseverance, professionalism, and kindness throughout the process. Can't put a price on that.”

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Bobby Yazdani works and plays in Tanglewood. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email bobby.yazdani@sir.com, or call 832-577-7764.

Photo courtesy of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Agent Bobby Yazdani.