Phoenicia

Originally a Middle Eastern mega-mart in far-flung West Houston, Phoenicia has since moved into downtown, offering a truncated but no less intriguing selection of grocery and food options. Browse upstairs among the spices, grains and sundries. Back downstairs, grab a tub of hummus and some pita bread, still puffed and steaming and delivered on a twisting conveyor that snakes through the store. Halal meats are over in the corner, and an intriguing array of cured meats and cheeses sit smack dab in the middle. If you're there in the evening, you can catch a set from a rotating cast of local minor music celebs, spinning their favorites in the adjacent MKT Bar, which also boasts a small but smart menu.