The Audrey, 1616 Post Oak Boulevard, opens August 5 at Aspire Post Oak. The elegant bar and restaurant from Culinary Khancepts first opened in The Woodlands in July 2023. Inspired by the elegant ingenue, actress Audrey Hepburn, it echoes the timeless elegance and sophistication of the movie star, with Tiffany-inspired hues, floral upholstery and feminine touches throughout.
The new location carries on the theme in its 5,840 square-foot space. Which houses a beautiful dining room, plus a vibrant bar and semi-private lounge. There’s a lush outdoor patio as well as a private dining room called The Secret Garden. Owner Omar Khan and wife Denise collaborated with Laura Loreman Interior Design Studio to bring the vision to life at the luxury high rise. Crystal chandeliers sparkle overhead like the champagne Hepburn’s iconic Holly Golightly sipped while looking tres chic in a little black dress.
Hepburn’s name shows up on the menu as well, with the Hepburn Grand Plateau, a three-tiered seafood tower, and Audrey’s chocolate cake. Pasta and seafood dishes round out the menu along with premium steaks and raw bar offerings. Renowned pastry chef Luis Robledo Richards (Mayahuel) has created a dessert menu of rich treats like coconut panna cotta and mascarpone cheesecake.
As for cocktails, there are quaffs like Rose Water Lemon Drop, WhistlePig Old Fashioned, and Two for the Road, a mezcal concoction named after Hepburn’s romantic comedy with Albert Finney.
The restaurant will serve a weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus offer happy hour drinks and bites, Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Otium, 5020 Kirby, opens July 31. The upscale cocktail lounge is Italian-inspired, blending Old World philosophies with modern sensibilities. The name comes from the Latin word for leisure, but a type of leisure that is purposeful and intentional. As described in the writings of Marcus Tullius Cicero, before he was assassinated by Mark Antony, leisure time was not for being idle, but for pursuing culture and honor.
At this immersive cocktail venue, that ideology is executed with refined cocktails, delicious bites and modern music. Italy reigns supreme on the cocktail list as well as the wine list. Regional liqueurs and rare spirits have been imported from Italy to showcase the country’s diverse flavors and traditions. Of course, one of the most trendy imports has been the Spritz, with every bar in town creating their own version. Here, the Otium Spritz uses Select Aperitivo, white peach puree, prosecco and soda. Its Sbagliato Rosata uses the more bitter Campari, mixed with sweet vermouth and rose wine for a gorgeous crimson cocktail. Other drinks include the Giardino Verde with gin, basil, lemon, bianco vermouth and soda.
Guests can also indulge in the Diadema martini service, tableside. An olive oil fat-washed martini is presented in a frozen bottle, inside a custom wooden presentation box, nestled in dry ice.
The luxury doesn’t end there. The interior is full of custom furnishings, natural woods and lush greenery, with soft lighting setting the mood for savoring cocktails and conversation with friends, or discovering more about your romantic partner. For more sharing, there are bruschetta and charcuterie boards, along with a selection of flatbreads.
The new venture comes from Josh Reiner and Mikael Aldine, known for another Houston hotspot, Pour Behavior. Both venues encourage guests to dress appropriately in business casual or cocktail attire, befitting the upscale atmosphere. Otium also has a strict policy of allowing only guests who are 25 and up.
Relish, 2810 Westheimer, will operate through the end of 2026 at its current location before reopening in a new space at The RO, a mixed use development currently under construction at 3433 Westheimer. Relish also has a location at Town and Country Village.
Though the PR company intended to issue a formal release at a later date, per an email, details about Island Grill opening a sixth location in the current Relish spot were already circulating online. The new Island Grill will open in spring 2027.
According to the email, additional details regarding timing and opening plans for the Relish at The RO will be shared at a later date.
Pour Decisions Craft, 555 W. 19th, will celebrate its grand opening August 8. The first 100 guests will receive swag bags and other merch giveaways, beginning at 10 a.m.
Part coffee shop, part craft beer spot, the new gathering space is both family and pet-friendly. Guests can linger over a phin-dripped Vietnamese coffee, munch on a tasty pastry or connect with friends over one of the craft beers on tap.
The relaxed environment makes it a perfect spot to grab a quick breakfast burrito or enjoy a banh mi or croissant sandwich for lunch. The coffee menu is extensive with a variety of phin-brewed coffees, lattes, matcha and jasmine teas.
Co-owner Vince Cao says that the vision was to build a coffee shop that belongs to the neighborhood. “We’re family first. You’ll see kids enjoying our Strawberry Lychee Lemonade while parents have coffee, friends meet over matcha and others stop in to discover a craft beer they’ve never tried before.” Cao added, “ We want everyone to feel like this is their place, whether they’re here for five minutes or five hours.”
Messina Hof Harvest Green Winery, 8921 Harlem, has made some major renovations to its wine and dining destination in Richmond. Its dining room is now brighter and more spacious with a divider of wine lockers and display racks separating the kitchen from the dining area and a stack of wine barrels creating a central focal point.
The private event room has now been turned into a lounge open to all guests, with green velvet sofas and comfortable chairs for settling in for a glass of wine and charcuterie. There’s also a new, intimate library space with two-person tables and a quieter setting.
The wine on tap selection has also expanded to include 12 rotating varietals.
ZOA Eateries, 9807 Katy Freeway, opens July 23 in Memorial City. It’s part of the evolution of Bella Restaurants Group’s ZOA Moroccan Kitchen, which offers Moroccan and Mediterranean fare in a fast casual atmosphere that is trendy and fresh. The customizable bowls and sandwiches use halal meats, high-quality produce and house-made sauces.
For the grand opening day, guests will receive a free bowl or sandwich from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be free merch giveaways while supplies last. From July 24 through July 31, guests can challenge owner and CEO Youssef Nafaa to a game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” for the chance to win a free bowl, from 11 a.m. to noon. One try per customer.
Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk, announced a number of new dining and retail businesses that are joining the lineup at the mixed-use development which is overseen by real estate company Rebees. Here is a list of several new food and dining establishments.
Insomnia Cookies, 2270 Lone Star, officially opened July 11, though it’s been softly serving the community since the beginning of the month. It’s the 33rd Texas location for the cookie brand which began in 2003 as a cookie delivery service from Seth Berkowitz’s dorm room. It has expanded to more than 350 locations across the country, plus stores in Canada and the UK.
The cookies are available by delivery or pick-up. There are classic flavors such as chocolate chunk and snickerdoodle, plus deluxe cookies such as s’mores and chocolate peanut butter cup. There are vegan options, too, including vegan birthday cake and vegan chocolate chunk.
The menu also features ice cream, brownies and cookie cakes.
Majestic Kitchen, 10619 City Walk, will open in the former home of Mahesh’s Kitchen, which closed in December 2025. The independent, family-driven restaurant comes from Santosh and Supraja Cividi, the founders of Majestic Developers. Though the lease has been signed, an opening date has yet to be announced.
Levant BBQ, 15903 City Walk, is shooting to open in late 2026 or early 2027. It’s the third location of the halal barbecue concept from owner Mohamad Kharboutli. The first restaurant opened on Westheimer in November 2024, followed by a very recent spot in Dallas this past May.
Born in Aleppo, Syria, Kharboutli has operated restaurants in Moscow, Jordan and here in Houston. Mediterranean flavors like cardamom and Aleppo mingle with Texas techniques, with the meats smoked over post oak. Brisket can be ordered by the pound or as a sandwich, but for a truly unique bite, there’s the brisket shawarma. There are also meats like smoked chicken and lamb’s neck, plus sides like quinoa cowboy caviar, fried okra and mac and cheese.
