Situated just 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas. The former sugar plantation is centered around the junction of Texas State Highway 6 and US Route 59. The area is known for its welcoming neighborhoods, and close proximity to Houston’s best neighborhoods, and abundance of master-planned communities, including First Colony, Sugar Creek, and Imperial. Many of the communities feature golf courses, country clubs, and lakes, too. Here’s what else you need to know if you’re considering a move to Houston’s neighbor, Sugar Land.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
1. Commuting
Dubbed the “Sweetest City in Texas,” Sugar Land is part of the greater Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. Two waterways run through the city: the Brazos River and Oyster Creek. You won’t be using those waterways for commuting, though.
Fort Bend County Public Transit provides commuter buses from Sugar Land to Houston, with Park and Ride locations at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, the University of Houston Sugar Land, and the AMC Theaters at First Colony. In a car, it takes about half an hour to drive to downtown Houston via I-69. Hit the beach for a weekend getaway; Galveston Beach, on the gulf coast, is only an hour’s drive from Sugar Land.
2. Where to eat in Sugar Land
Where locals eat brunch on Sundays
Guru Burgers & Crepes
2268 Texas Dr.
via Guru Burgers & Crepes 
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Guru Burgers & Crepes has so much more than their name implies. For brunch, try their avocado toast or breakfast taco. Of course, there’s a plethora of sweet and savory crepes, as well as vegetarian options. For a little more meat, try the PB & J wings or order a JJ-Watt-a-Burger. Named after the footballer and popular Texan burger chain, the Angus beef patty is topped with two kinds of cheese, ham and bacon, plus a fried egg and guru sauce.
The best coffee shop to work remotely
Blendin Coffee Club
8410 US-90 ALT
Housed in a former bank building, this neighborhood coffee shop is conveniently located on Highway 90A. The sleek, contemporary cafe serves espresso drinks, cold brew, tea, and single-origin drip coffees, plus seasonal pastry selections. Each little nook by the window has its own outlet, so there are plenty of places to plug in.
The best take-out spot
Live Oak Grill
12935 Dairy Ashford Rd.
When you don’t feel like cooking, let the fine folks at Live Oak Grill fix you a plate of southern comfort foods. This laid-back counter-service joint is a great choice if no one can decide what they want to eat. The menu has it all: soup, salad, award-winning burgers, sandwiches, tacos, steak, chicken, pork chops, seafood, fried food, and all the fixin’s. Plus, there’s dessert, including buttermilk pie and Mexican chocolate cake!
Late-night eats for when you’ve had one too many
Japaneiro’s
2168 Texas Dr.
For inventive Japanese-Latin fusion cuisine, look no further than Japaneiro’s. While the combination sounds unorthodox, at best, it works. Order a sushi roll and a margarita until 11pm.
3. Where to drink in Sugar Land
If the bars in Houston don’t quite do it for you, Sugar Land’s offerings might just be the way to go. Here’s where to get a drink in town.
The dive bar where everyone knows your name
Pennison’s Sports Pub
2446 Settlers Way Blvd.
Play darts and pool at the city’s oldest bar, Pennison’s Sports Pub. The neighborhood hangout has 20 TVs so no one misses a game, but they also host poker, karaoke, bingo, trivia, and live music every week.
Where to drink mimosas outside
Jupiter Pizza & Waffle Co
16135 City Walk
Look out over City Hall’s grassy expanse as you enjoy circular carbs and mimosas on Jupiter Pizza & Waffle Co.’s cozy patio. In addition to stone-baked pizzas and sweet and savory Belgian waffles, Jupiter serves skillets, French toast, omelets, and salads. The Morning Belle adds even more chicken to the classic chicken and waffle combo with two poached eggs on top. The Wake & Bake puts a breakfast spin on pizza, with sausage, bacon, and fried eggs. There are Nutella and fruit, s’mores, and dulce de leche waffles for dessert, which we recommend even though Ben & Jerry’s is right next door.
Where to go on date night
Vino & Vinyl
15977 City Walk
Vino & Vinyl was made for melomaniacs and oenophiles. The locally-owned lounge is also a record store and bistro, decorated with local art. The West Coast-driven wine bar specializes in small production and artisan Californian wines, with 150 bottles of reds and whites, 20 wines by-the-glass, a weekly wine flight, and a small list of craft beers, all of which pair perfectly with vinyl albums. While this makes a great date-night spot, they also have a good happy hour and brunch, complete with mimosa flights.
4. Things to do in Sugar Land
Shopping
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and at over one-million-square-feet, Sugar Land’s First Colony Mall is no exception. After all, you’re only half an hour from the fashion capital of the South. The shopping center sits to the south of the busiest intersection in town, Interstate 69/U.S. 59 and State Highway 6. Two Dillard’s stores, Macy’s, JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Barnes & Noble anchor the complex, while brands like Coach, Fossil, Apple, and Michael Kors are among its 130 stores. There are also plenty of places to eat and a huge AMC movie theater complex. The nearby Market at Town Center has outlets like Saks OFF 5th, Nordstrom Rack, DSW, and Home Goods, and Houston’s shopping destinations are just a 20-minute drive.
Next door to First Colony Mall, Sugar Land Town Square serves as the city’s sprawling retail and entertainment district. This one-stop shopping center lets you do yoga, get your nails done, and grab a bite to eat all in one fell swoop. While you’re at it, find a new outfit at Altar’d State ou Wearhouse.
Theaters
Located off U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard, Smart Financial Centre is the only indoor live performance venue of its kind in the Greater Houston area. See big-name acts on stage at this performing arts theater. Adjacent to the concert hall sits an outdoor arts plaza that features an interactive water fountain, public art sculptures, a place for food trucks to line up, and a large lawn.
Farmer’s Markets
Snack on kettle corn and enjoy live music by local artists as you stock up on freshly made tamales at the Imperial Farmers Market. Shop fresh, local, seasonal produce; grass-fed meats; free-range chickens and eggs; local honey; and baked goods on Saturday mornings, year round at Imperial Park Recreation Center.
Parks
This masterly planned city is blessed with a variety of verdant parks. See the stunning sunset, birdwatch, and hike the trails at Cullinan Park. With 750 acres of prairie and woods, the preserve is one of the Houston area’s largest nature parks.
One of the city’s more scenic areas, Oyster Creek Park boasts a rock-lined pond and water feature, a rose garden, and a bridge overlooking Oyster Creek. Bike or jog the Oyster Creek Trail, which runs few miles along the creek bank to the adjacent Lost Creek Park. This 21-acre recreational park features soccer fields, a BMX track, and a playground.
Imperial Park has a nine-hole disc golf course, while City Park has a pool and a skate park. In addition to its nine baseball fields, First Colony Park also has batting cages, a pavilion, picnic areas, and a playground.
In the south, Sugar Land Memorial Park takes up 150 acres along the Brazos River. The riverfront green space features 2.5 miles granite-gravel pathways for walking and biking, The Justin P. Brindley Trail is great for mountain biking or running. Named for the on-premise Veterans Memorial, Memorial Park also has a lake, where visitors can fish, kayak, or canoe.
Part of the Atlantic League, The Sugar Land Skeeters play at Constellation Field.
Adjacent to Memorial Park, Pawm Springs Dog Park has six acres for Fido to run free. There’s a pond, plus agility equipment, and even a smaller enclosure for more petite pups.
5. Top-rated places in Sugar Land
Technically the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is in neighboring Stafford, but the majestic Hindu temple is still a must-see.
Located at the historical Imperial Sugar refinery site, the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center offers interactive exhibits, like Kidtropolis, USA, a pint-sized city built for kids.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is home to a 2,000-gallon salt-water aquarium, a planetarium, amazing geodes, massive dinosaur bones, ancient fossils, and more. It’s also one of Houston’s top attractions.
Learn all about this sweet city’s history at the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and Museum. Plus, you can get your photo taken in front of the giant blue neon Sugar Land sign from the former Imperial Sugar factory.
Ready to enjoy life in the sweetest city in Texas? Search thousands of Sugar Land apartments for rent on Zumper and find your place.
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