In this time, the days of playscapes housed inside restaurants, eateries, and the like are slowly fading away. While there are plenty of playgrounds, patios, and (for our purposes) kid-friendly bars in the city the newly-announce Recess takes the concept to another level. Coming to Montrose/River Oaks, Recess is described a two-story family retreat complete with a full-service bistro and bar and professionally-supervised indoor play spaces.
Slated to open in early 2026, Recess is a 12,500-square-foot, two-story bistro and bar designed for parents in mind. Coming to 1500 Waugh Drive, Suite 150 in the River Oaks area of Houston, the new bar features a whimsical 9,000-square-foot playspace for kiddos.
The first floor space will not only be under professional supervision of staff and feature wristband access and staff-controlled gates, but also be in site of the second floor – where parents can keep an eye on the kiddos while enjoying their food and drinks.
Recess will feature two primary play areas designated by age-appropriate, potty-trained children and not potty-trained children. The former applies to the above space, supervised by Recess staff. The younger, not-potty-trained will have their own play place in a parent-supervised area.
Once in operation, Recess will be available for events – featuring party rooms for private and community events.
As far as the venue’s bar and bistro, details are still limited. Described as a fine-casual restaurant, Recess’ bistro will feature an array of healthy and shareable options. The bar will feature an array of cocktails, wines, beers, and coffee options.
“As parents, we know how hard it can be to find balance — to stay connected to your spouse, your friends, or even just yourself while raising young kids,” said co-founder Jonathan Davy, in a statement. “Recess was born from that everyday reality. We wanted to create a space that makes that truly possible — a secure environment where kids can play freely while adults can genuinely breathe for a minute without feeling like they’re on duty.”
Recess is planning to open at 1500 Waugh Drive in Montrose/River Oaks in early 2026.