Best of University Park
A local's guide to the restaurants, services, schools, and community favorites in the family-friendly heart of the Park Cities
University Park pulses with family energy—kids on bikes, parents at coffee shops, neighbors gathering at Snider Plaza. Here's your insider guide to the places and services that make UP such a special place to call home.
Dining
Snider Plaza
- Peggy Sue BBQ — Texas BBQ, family favorite
- Bubba's Cooks Country — Fried chicken, comfort food
- Café Brazil — Coffee and breakfast anytime
- Jimmy John's — Quick sandwiches
- Kuby's Sausage House — German deli, nearby
Casual & Family
- Bubba's Cooks Country — Comfort food institution
- Original Pancake House — Weekend brunch lines
- Lover's Pizza — Local favorite
- Gloria's — Salvadoran-Mexican, great patio
- Kenny's Wood Fired Grill — Steaks and seafood
Coffee & Quick Bites
- Starbucks — Snider Plaza location, the social hub
- Toasted Coffee + Kitchen — Local roaster
- Detour Doughnuts — Worth the drive to Frisco
- Nothing Bundt Cakes — Party favorites
Mexican & Tex-Mex
- Mi Cocina — HP Village and Preston Center
- Taco Diner — Knox-Henderson nearby
- Meso Maya — Interior Mexican
- Gloria's — Salvadoran-Mexican fusion
- El Fenix — Classic Tex-Mex
Date Night
- Hillstone — Consistently excellent
- R+D Kitchen — HP Village
- Al Biernat's — Power dining, steaks
- Taverna — Italian, intimate
- Le Bilboquet — French, social scene
Asian
- Royal China — Preston Center stalwart
- Uchi — Japanese omakase, special occasions
- Nori Handroll Bar — Quick, fresh sushi
- Pei Wei — Fast casual Asian
Schools
Highland Park ISD (Public)
University Park students attend Highland Park ISD, one of Texas's top districts.
- University Park Elementary — K-4
- Bradfield Elementary — K-4
- Hyer Elementary — K-4
- Armstrong Elementary — K-4
- Highland Park Middle School — 5-8
- Highland Park High School — 9-12
Elementary zoning depends on your address. I can help you understand boundaries.
Private Schools
Many families choose private options, particularly for specific educational approaches.
- The Hockaday School — All-girls, PreK-12
- St. Mark's School of Texas — All-boys, 1-12
- Episcopal School of Dallas — Co-ed, PreK-12
- Greenhill School — Co-ed, PreK-12
- Ursuline Academy — All-girls Catholic, 9-12
- Jesuit College Prep — All-boys Catholic, 9-12
Pre-K & Mother's Day Out
Preschools
- The Lamplighter School — Inquiry-based, through 4th grade
- SMU Child Development — University-based program
- Highland Park Presbyterian — Weekday school
- Highland Park United Methodist — Strong early childhood
- Temple Emanu-El Preschool — Inclusive, top-rated
- Park Cities Baptist — Faith-based excellence
Mother's Day Out Programs
- Highland Park United Methodist — Highly sought-after
- Highland Park Presbyterian — Established program
- Park Cities Baptist — Strong MDO
- St. Michael and All Angels — Episcopal, nurturing
- University Park United Methodist — Local favorite
Pro tip: Get on waitlists during pregnancy. Popular programs fill immediately.
Houses of Worship
Methodist
- Highland Park United Methodist — Landmark church, excellent programming
- University Park United Methodist — Growing congregation
- Lovers Lane United Methodist — Strong outreach
Presbyterian
- Highland Park Presbyterian — Historic, strong youth
- Park Cities Presbyterian — PCA, biblical teaching
- Preston Hollow Presbyterian — Nearby, welcoming
Baptist
- Park Cities Baptist — Large, family programs
- First Baptist Dallas — Historic downtown
- Watermark Community Church — Contemporary
Episcopal
- St. Michael and All Angels — Beautiful, strong school
- Church of the Incarnation — Traditional liturgy
- Good Shepherd Episcopal — Warm community
Catholic
- Holy Trinity Catholic — Strong school and parish
- St. Rita Catholic — Community-focused
- Christ the King — Historic church
Jewish
- Temple Emanu-El — Reform, largest in Southwest
- Congregation Shearith Israel — Conservative
- Tiferet Israel — Modern Orthodox
Local Services
Dry Cleaners
- Bibbentuckers — Premium, pickup available
- Parkway Cleaners — Park Cities institution
- Greener Cleaner — Eco-friendly
- Tide Cleaners — Preston Center
Fitness & Activities
- The Katy Trail — Right in the neighborhood
- SMU Recreation — Community memberships
- Dallas Country Club — Tennis, swimming, golf
- Orange Theory — HP Village location
- Pure Barre — Preston Center
- ClassPass — Access to various studios
Kids Activities
- Burleson Park — Youth sports hub
- Curtis Park — Playground, tennis
- SMU Mustang Sports — Family entertainment
- UP Pool — Summer swimming
- Little Gym — Classes for toddlers
Insurance Agents
- Swantner & Gordon — Independent, local
- Frost Insurance — Regional expertise
- State Farm — Multiple local agents
- Allstate — Snider Plaza area
Pediatric Care
- Park Cities Pediatrics — The go-to practice
- Children's Health — Multiple locations
- Pediatric Associates — Long-established
- UT Southwestern Pediatrics — Academic medicine
Pet Services
- Petropolitan — Daycare and grooming
- Barking Hound Village — Premium boarding
- Hollywood Feed — Quality pet food
- Snider Plaza Veterinary — Local care
Snider Plaza
The heart of University Park. Saturday mornings here are a neighborhood institution.
Restaurants
- Peggy Sue BBQ
- Bubba's Cooks Country
- Café Brazil
- Mia's Tex-Mex
Services
- UP Postal Center
- Snider Plaza Barber
- Various salons
- Banks and ATMs
Shops
- Tom Thumb (nearby)
- Boutiques
- Children's shops
- Gifts and cards
Moving to University Park?
I'll help you find the right street, the right school zone, and introduce you to the community.
Let's Talk