Bellaire at a Glance:
The City of Bellaire, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008, originally encompassed a two-square-mile parcel bounded by Palmetto, Jessamine, First and Sixth Streets. The once rural community experienced its first major growth spurt in the 1940s and by 1950. (It was home to 3,000 residences, with that number doubling over the next decade.)
The city boasts 15,000+ residents and 6,300 homes, which are a mixture of post-World War II bungalows, 1960s ranch-style brick homes and newer multi-million dollar houses on estate lots.
Bellaire on the Map:
Bellaire is carved out of a section of Southwest Houston. Its boundaries are Beechnut to the south, Glenmont to the north, Mulberry/railroad tracks to the east, and Renwick at Bissonnet to the west. It is easily accessible thanks to Loop 610, which creates an east/west division of the city.
Bellaire Real Estate:
Bellaire is a close-in community that boasts quiet neighborhoods and excellent amenities, including libraries, parks and recreational facilities, award-winning schools, and city services, such as curbside recycling of all recyclable materials.
Its new multi-million-dollar Bellaire Aquatic Center and Bellaire Recreation Center with gym and fitness room are home to state-of-the-art swimming and health and fitness programs.
Compared to other close-in neighborhoods, Bellaire offers exceptional values. Homes can range from a newly remodeled older home for $369,000 (a starter Bellaire home) to a $3,675,000 showcase. Thanks to its location and amenities and services, Bellaire real estate holds its value.
Bellaire Nightlife:
“Bellaire nightlife” is a contradiction in terms. The closest thing to nightlife would be Chanterelle Bistro & Wine bar, a cozy French restaurant in a strip center (5115 Bellaire Boulevard), or Tio Pepe’s Spanish restaurant, (5213 Cedar Street), which offers live flamenco guitar music on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Bellaire Restaurants:
Bellaire attracts mainly family-oriented, casual restaurants. There’s Bellaire Broiler Burger, (5216 Bellaire Boulevard), which makes you feel as if you’ve entered a time warp as soon as you cross the threshold thanks to the familiar diner furnishings and wallet-friendly menu. Other longtime Bellaire traditions are the Bellaire Coffee Shop (5422 Bissonnet St.) and Charlie's Bar-B-Q & Hamburgers (4803 Bissonnet St #3), which have been around for 30 years or more.
Favorite spots for family dinners out in the middle of the week are Auntie Pasto's (5101 Bellaire Boulevard), an Italian restaurant that overlooks Bellaire’s Paseo Park, and JAX Grill. (6510 South Rice Avenue) JAX is famous for its grilled over mesquite menu items.
One of Bellaire’s most unique establishments is the Roadster Grill, which is made noteworthy by its eclectic menu of gyros, Greek salad, and other delicious Mediterranean Food. (Which complements their hamburgers, french fries and milk shakes nicely.) To satisfy a yearning for Asian cuisine, try the Thai Cottage.
Many Bellaire residents head to Pico’s (5941 Bellaire Boulevard) for their Mexican food and margarita fix. Relatively new on the scene is Maria’s All Natural Yogurt (5716 Bellaire Boulevard), an authentic Mexican yogurt drink store where the yogurt is freshly made on the premises daily and customers may select whichever fresh fruit they would like to mix with it - strawberries, bananas, guava, papaya, delicioso!
Another name that always pops up in the Best Restaurant in Bellaire discussion is Lemongrass Café (5109 Bellaire Boulevard). Praised by food critics citywide, Lemongrass Café offers fine Asian fusion cuisine in a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. During the day you’ll find the tables filled with the business lunch crowd as well as the ladies-who-lunch crowd. (Evenings you’ll find intimate diners.)
The highly acclaimed Chef Fah successfully marries the intense exotic flavors of Asian cuisine with the robust qualities of Western fare. Try the Curry Crab Firecrackers accompanied by a cilantro-Jalapeño dipping sauce, or a juicy tender rib eye steak marinated and grilled Korean style and you’ll see exactly what we’re talking about.
Bellaire Shopping:
Several one-of-a-kind retail jewels are located within Bellaire. In no particular order, they are: Modern Worth (5113 Bellaire Boulevard), a chic home/interior design and gift shop is great; the family-owned Teas Nursery (4400 Bellaire Boulevard), a legendary garden center and landscape firm founded in 1843; Bellaire Shoe Repair (5204 Bellaire Boulevard); the nationally recognized Bellaire Bead Shop (5208 Bellaire Boulevard); and Mr. C Watch & Clock Repair (5210 Bellaire Boulevard).
Bellaire Events:
The Fall Arts Festival and the Spring Fair in Bellaire are free, family-oriented arts and crafts fairs that draw nearly 5,000 visitors each April and October. More than 200 artists and artisans display their handmade items near the trolley in the tree-laden median of the 5000 block of Bellaire Boulevard.
Santa’s official arrival in Bellaire is the highlight of Holiday in the Park, a celebration sponsored by the Bellaire Parks and Recreation Department. On the first Thursday in December, Bellaire Park, the property at 7008 South Rice (behind City Hall), is converted into a winter wonderland. Children can give Santa their wish lists and have their pictures made with him.
Bellaire Schools:
Bellaire, served by Houston Independent School District, boasts public schools that are highly ranked in the district, as well as in the state and the country. They include Condit Elementary, Horn Academy, Pin Oak Middle School and Bellaire High School.
Bellaire Post Office:
Bellaire has its own zip code (77401) and its own post office, located at 5350 Bellaire Boulevard. The post office has a passport office as well.
Bellaire Website:
