Retail Roundup: Bee Cave Woods Area Shopping, Dining and Entertainment

Several grocery stores are convenient to Bee Cave Woods, including HEB, Sprouts, and Randalls. In addition, Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading upscale natural grocer, has their world headquarters and international flagship store on the west end of downtown, less than ten minutes from the neighborhood.

For locally owned retail businesses, the fashionable 2nd Street shopping district and Warehouse dining and entertainment district are about ten minutes away on the south end of downtown. 2nd Street has a fine selection of home furnishings from design-forward firms like BoConcept and Design Within Reach, as well as boutiques and spas. The Warehouse District has many popular cafes, restaurants, and bars, many of which feature live music. Just a few of the places include Fado, The Ginger Man, Second Bar + Kitchen, and Cedar Street.

Convenient and Plentiful Shopping Destinations

For a luxurious shopping experience, Barton Creek Square Mall is only five minutes from home, where shoppers can enjoy 180 retailers and restaurants. Department stores such as Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Macy’s anchor the mall, which also hosts popular retailers Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Apple, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Chico’s, Gap, Nine West, and Old Navy.

When it’s time to refuel between stores, shoppers grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen. Insiders swear by quality of the Nordstrom Bistro Café, nestled just inside Nordstrom. Families love enjoying the latest movies together at the 14-screen AMC Theater with IMAX.

Eightother major shopping centers are within a 15-minute drive of Bee Cave Woods, including the Arboretum at Great Hills, Gateway, Village at Westlake, Arbor Walk, Southpark Meadows, Escarpment Village, Arbor Trails, and Sunset Valley Market Fair. Together, these eight shopping centers host more than 400 other fine department stores, movie theaters, local merchants, boutiques, and restaurants.

Authentic Interior Mexican Cuisine

Local foodies enjoy the inspired interior Mexican fare that Las Palomas has been serving in West Lake since 1983. While there are updates and additions, much of the menu retains the same great flavors that the family of owners brought from the Yucatán, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Puebla. Many frequent diners recommend the posole — a hearty soup filled with hominy and tender chicken spiced with garlic and onion, and topped with shredded lettuce and sliced radish.

Another popular dish is the enchiladas mole; the mole is a highly complex nutty, spicy sauce with hints of cocoa. For diners exploring the menu, the Las Palomas combination plate is a great place to start – one delicious mole enchilada, a portion of the highly praised and delectable conchinitapibil, and one enchilada with verde sauce.

Sizzling Shrimp and Scallops

Lotus Hunan Chinese restaurant is also very popular with those from the neighborhood. At first, the menu reads a lot like other Chinese restaurants around town and across the country. But a few key elements have helped the restaurant develop its loyal clientele — notably great service, freshness, and care in preparation. Dishes such as the popular and delicious Neptune Platter — a combination of shrimp and scallops served with baby corn, snow peas, carrots, and black mushroom in a light white sauce, all served on a sizzling platter — could not be prepared without a skilled and attentive brigade in the kitchen.