Grand Lux Café Is Closing at the Galleria After 21 Years: Here’s What Comes Next

by Katie Day

If you’ve spent any time at The Galleria over the past two decades, chances are you’ve eaten at Grand Lux Café at least once... or dozens of times. For many Houstonians, it wasn’t just another mall restaurant. It was the reliable choice: the place everyone could agree on, no matter the craving.
That era is officially coming to an end.

Grand Lux Café will close on January 24, 2026, wrapping up a 21-year run inside Houston’s most iconic shopping destination. Known for its encyclopedic menu and over-the-top desserts, the restaurant has been a fixture for families, tourists, business lunches, and late-night diners since the early 2000s.

Why Grand Lux Became a Galleria Staple

Grand Lux Café thrived because it understood Houston diners. The menu was massive, unapologetically indulgent, and designed to please everyone at the table—from comfort-food lovers to more adventurous eaters.

For locals, it became synonymous with:

Post-shopping meals that turned into long conversations
Birthday dinners and casual celebrations
Late-night cake orders that felt like an event on their own

In a city known for culinary diversity, Grand Lux stood out by offering everything and doing it consistently.

What’s Replacing It: Eataly Is Headed to the Galleria

While the closure may feel bittersweet, the space won’t stay empty for long. Eataly is set to take over the former Grand Lux Café location, bringing a completely different dining experience to the Galleria. Unlike a traditional sit-down restaurant, Eataly blends Italian restaurants, cafés, and specialty markets into one immersive food hall. Its arrival signals a broader shift at the Galleria toward destination dining—places that draw visitors specifically for the food, not just the shopping.

For Houston, this marks another moment in the ongoing evolution of the city’s dining scene, especially within major retail hubs. As Houston continues to grow and change, moments like this remind us how quickly familiar places can become memories—and how new ones are always on the horizon.

For more updates on Houston restaurants, openings, and local development, follow @houston.unlocked and stay tapped into what’s shaping the city next.