Things To Do

Things to Do in Greenway Plaza, Houston: Summit History to Levy Park

Date Published

Illustration of things to do in Greenway Plaza Houston: Summit arena, towers, Levy Park at night

At a glance

  • Where: Greenway Plaza on US-59 inside the 610 Loop, plus Upper Kirby south of Richmond Avenue to Bissonnet Street
  • Hours: Levy Park amenities typically 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; restaurant hours vary, so check official sites
  • Cost: Levy Park and walking the area are free; restaurants and venues vary
  • Parking: Free Greenway Plaza garages for Lakewood events; lots by Levy Park, plus paid Kirby Grove garage
  • Time needed: Half a day to a full day

Most Houstonians know Greenway Plaza as the cluster of towers they pass on US-59 between Montrose and the Galleria. Pull off the freeway, though, and this pocket packs in an arena with nearly three decades of pro sports and concert history, a six-acre park that runs a dog costume parade, an Italian dining room that has been feeding Houston for six decades, and the original Goode Co. barbecue joint that started a Kirby Drive mini-empire in 1977.

Here's the one-liner to send a friend: the arena that hosted four NBA Finals and whose first big rock show was The Who now holds Sunday church services.

How we define the area

For this guide, Greenway Plaza means the office campus on the north side of US-59 just west of Buffalo Speedway, plus Lakewood Church on its freeway frontage. Upper Kirby's southern edge means the slice of that district south of Richmond Avenue, down Kirby Drive to Bissonnet Street, between Buffalo Speedway and Shepherd Drive. That puts Levy Park, the Goode Co. stretch of Kirby and the restaurants around Kirby and Richmond inside the lines. For everything north of Richmond, see our Upper Kirby guide and the Upper Kirby area page.

Five things even locals don't know

  • Greenway Plaza is a pioneering example of mixed-use development. Developer Kenneth Schnitzer's Century Development opened it in 1973, and its ten office towers are still connected by skyways and tunnels.
  • The Who played the first major rock concert at The Summit on November 20, 1975, less than three weeks after the arena opened. ZZ Top closed it out with the last concert in November 2003.
  • The first WWE Royal Rumble shown on pay-per-view was held at The Summit on January 15, 1989.
  • Lakewood Church bought the arena from the city in 2010 for $7.5 million, years after a roughly $95 million renovation that turned it into a church. The building cost $27 million to build in 1975.
  • Levy Park dates to a 1941 bequest from the estate of Leon Levy. It reopened in February 2017 after a $15 million, two-year renovation.

Things to do in Greenway Plaza and southern Upper Kirby

1. See the old Summit, now Lakewood Church

The round building at 3700 Southwest Freeway opened as The Summit on November 1, 1975, later became the Compaq Center, and since July 2005 has been the central campus of Lakewood Church. The Rockets played here from 1975 to 2003, and the arena hosted the NBA Finals in 1981, 1986, 1994 and 1995. The WNBA's Houston Comets played here too. Today the Rockets play downtown; see our Houston Rockets page.

Even if you're not attending, it's worth a look from Edloe Street for the sheer scale of it. Visitors are welcome at services, which the church lists as Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m. All services offer live Spanish translation, and the 11 a.m. service has ASL interpreters. Expect walk-through security screening at every entrance.

2. Browse the Lakewood bookstore

The church bookstore is open on weekdays and Sundays, and on weekdays you can park on the West Circle Drive off Timmons Lane. The church lists it as typically open Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Mondays and Saturdays. Check the official site before you go.

3. Spend an afternoon at Levy Park

Levy Park at 3801 Eastside Street is six acres of genuinely clever design: a 22,000-square-foot Activity Lawn, an Event Lawn ringed by live oaks, a Children's Park with climbing structures and water features, and a Reading Room. There are ping pong and foosball tables, putting greens, an Art & Game Cart and free Wi-Fi. Many amenities are typically open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, weather permitting. It's a free, easy win with kids.

4. Let the dog loose

Levy Park's Dog Park has separate sections for large and small dogs, which makes it an easy place to let a smaller or nervous dog off leash. For more green space, see our guide to the best parks in Houston.

5. Eat in the park

You don't have to leave Levy Park to eat. The park lists three on-site options: Hearsay, a sit-down restaurant; Gaspachos Mexican Bites; and the Kind Ice Cream truck. Vendors change, so check the park's visit page. Grab a table outside and the kids can play while you finish.

6. Play Sunset Bingo

Levy Park runs Sunset Bingo on the second Friday of each month at 5 p.m., with prizes and a DJ. It's a low-key way to start a weekend evening. Check the park calendar before you go.

7. Dress the dog up for Howl-o-ween

Every October, Levy Park hosts its Howl-o-ween Dog Parade and Costume Contest. It's the park's signature event and pure joy to watch even without a dog. Dates are posted on the park's featured events page.

8. Catch the Levy Park Holiday Festival

In December the park holds an annual Holiday Festival, a family weekend on the lawn. Pair it with our Christmas lights guide.

9. Book a table at Tony's

Tony's at 3755 Richmond Avenue is a Houston fine-dining institution, a classic Italian dining room the restaurant describes as "inspired by Naples, influenced by Milan." It sits right on the edge of Greenway Plaza, which makes it the obvious anniversary or client-dinner move in this part of town. Reserve ahead.

10. Go for sushi at Kata Robata

Kata Robata at 3600 Kirby Drive serves sushi and Japanese grilled dishes, with specials that change daily. It's a sister restaurant to Katami, also from chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi. It serves lunch and dinner daily; check the site for current hours.

11. Eat brisket where Goode Co. started

Goode Co. Barbeque opened at 5109 Kirby Drive in 1977, smoking over mesquite. This is the original. Order a sandwich on jalapeño cheese bread and finish with a slice of the Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie, the family's signature dessert. Our best BBQ in Houston guide has more.

12. Try mesquite fajitas at Goode Co. Taqueria

Across Kirby at 4902 Kirby Drive, Goode Co. Taqueria says it was the first in Houston to grill fajitas over mesquite. It opens early with a breakfast menu, so it works for a morning start too.

13. Order the campechana at Goode Co. Seafood

Goode Co. Seafood at 2621 Westpark Drive, just off Kirby, has been serving Gulf seafood since 1986. The signature is the campechana, a shrimp and crab cocktail with pico de gallo, fire-roasted Anaheim peppers and avocado.

14. Two-step at the Armadillo Palace

Goode Co. Armadillo Palace at 5015 Kirby Drive is a dance hall with two bars and three stages, indoor and outdoor. Look down as you walk in: a Walk of Fame in the floor honors Texas-born music legends. The Orange Blossom Bar is named for local music figure Leon "Pappy" Selph. It's typically closed Sundays and Mondays.

Tips and best time to visit

  • Weekdays vs. weekends. Greenway Plaza is an office district, so weekday lunch is busy and evenings are quiet. Levy Park and the Kirby restaurants pick up on weekends.
  • Sunday mornings are Lakewood time. The church closes the Norfolk and Edloe intersection at its entrance to cars before, during and after services, and adds driveway closures in the garages. Plan around it unless you're going.
  • Spring and fall are best for Levy Park. In summer, come early or near sunset and let the kids use the water features.
  • Check the calendars. Levy Park's events are posted on its site, and restaurant hours change. Confirm before you drive over.

Getting there and parking

Greenway Plaza sits on US-59 (I-69) inside the 610 Loop, about five miles west of downtown and three miles east of Uptown.

For Lakewood, the church says parking is free in the Greenway Plaza garages next to the building. Garages open at 6 p.m. on weekdays, out of courtesy to office tenants, and all day on weekends. Don't leave a car overnight; it may be towed. Rideshare drop-off is the West Circle Drive off Timmons Lane, not the 59 feeder. METRO buses stop on Edloe and Richmond, within walking distance; plan your ride on METRO's site.

For Levy Park, there's parking next to the park and along Eastside Street and Wakeforest Avenue, plus paid parking in the Kirby Grove garage.

Food nearby

You're surrounded by good options. Start with our best restaurants in Upper Kirby guide, then head south to Rice Village and West U, just across the freeway.

Nearby attractions

Save this: a Greenway Plaza afternoon

  1. Breakfast at Goode Co. Taqueria on Kirby.
  2. Drive past the old Summit, now Lakewood Church, on Edloe and picture The Who opening the place in 1975.
  3. Lawn games, the Children's Park and the dog park at Levy Park.
  4. Lunch at the park, then ice cream from the Kind truck.
  5. Early dinner at Goode Co. Seafood: order the campechana.
  6. Finish with live music at the Armadillo Palace, or dress up for Tony's.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is Greenway Plaza in Houston?

A 52-acre office campus on US-59 inside the 610 Loop, opened in 1973. Its ten towers are linked by skyways and tunnels, and Lakewood Church occupies the former Summit arena next door.

Is Lakewood Church the old Compaq Center?

Yes. It opened as The Summit in 1975, was renamed the Compaq Center, and became Lakewood Church's central campus in 2005. The Rockets played there until 2003.

Is parking free at Lakewood Church?

For services, yes. The church directs visitors to free Greenway Plaza garages next to the building, open from 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Where is Levy Park and is it free?

Levy Park is at 3801 Eastside Street in Upper Kirby and is free to visit. It has a dog park, a children's park, lawns and on-site food.

What is there to eat near Greenway Plaza?

Tony's on Richmond Avenue, Kata Robata on Kirby, and the Goode Co. restaurants south of the freeway on Kirby and Westpark are all close by.