Valeria Delgado
Discover Odessa Intern | Student at The University of the Permian Basin | UTPB Soccer Team
Welcome to UTPB
When I first arrived in Odessa, I pictured a city straight out of a cowboy movie: bright sunshine, big pickup trucks, and the occasional tumbleweed rolling by.
But since arriving at UTPB as a 17 year old freshman, I have discovered there is much more to Odessa than I expected. From coffee shops perfect for studying to late night food, weekend activities, outdoor adventures, and places that have become part of some of my favorite memories, there is plenty to explore beyond campus.
Whether you are new to UTPB, visiting a student, or simply looking for something different to do around Odessa, consider this your student guide to getting out and experiencing the city.
Best Coffee Shops & Study Spots Near UTPB
☕ The Human Bean
📍 4950 A E. University Blvd.
About five minutes from campus
Those 8 a.m. lectures are way too early, and sometimes even eight hours of sleep does not feel like enough. The Human Bean opens as early as 5 a.m., making it an easy stop before class for everything from lattes and shaken espressos to energy drinks or a simple espresso shot.
Best For: Before Class • Grab & Go • Early Mornings
☕ Café De Luna
📍 3952 E. 42nd St.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight
Café De Luna brings Korean inspired flavors to Odessa with dishes ranging from comforting chicken curry to spicy tteokbokki. The colorful café, late hours, and waffle and ice cream combo make it an especially fun stop for a late night study session or a night out with friends.
The first time I visited with my friends, we enjoyed the food and atmosphere so much that we completely lost track of time. Instead of rushing us out at closing, the owner stayed to talk with us and shared how he and his wife moved from a larger city but chose Odessa as the place to continue sharing their culture through the Korean flavors they serve.
By the end of the night, it was not just the food that made the experience memorable. It was the warm welcome too.
Best For: Late Night Study Sessions • Friends • Korean Inspired Food
☕ Press Cafe
📍 4400 Parks Legado Rd.
Open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Press Café is a bright, comfortable place to grab coffee, breakfast, or lunch when you need a break from class. Settle in indoors with the air conditioning, work outside on the patio, or bring your pet along to the outdoor area while you study and recharge.
Best For: Studying • Remote Work • Breakfast • Lunch • Patio
Best Places to Eat
El Taco Loco Birrieria
📍 323 W. 2nd St.
El Taco Loco is one of those places you go when you want great Mexican food without making a whole evening out of it. The service is quick, the birria is full of flavor, and whether you stop by between classes or after a long day, it is an easy student favorite.
If you are craving tacos, this is one to add to your list.
Best For: Birria • Quick Bites • Casual Meals
Texas Roadhouse
📍 4221 N. Grandview Ave.
Texas Roadhouse may be a familiar name, but it still delivers a classic Texas style dining experience. Between the warm rolls, generous portions, steaks, and lively atmosphere, it is the kind of place where you leave completely satisfied and probably carrying leftovers.
Best For: Groups • Hearty Meals • Casual Dinner
Things to Do in Odessa on the Weekend
When the weekend rolls around, there are plenty of ways to get out of your room and do something fun. Whether you want to shop, get competitive with friends, spend time with family, or catch a movie, you can easily fill a Saturday without leaving Odessa.
Music City Mall
📍 4101 E. 42nd St.
Music City Mall can turn into much more than a quick shopping trip. Browse stores like Burlington, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Tall City Sneakers, and At Home, grab something to eat, and spend the afternoon walking around with friends.
There is plenty to do beyond shopping too. Urban Air gives the active people in your group a chance to jump on trampolines, race go karts, and try different attractions, while Rink N Roll is perfect for roller skating with friends or family.
Whether you are actually good at skating or holding onto the wall and hoping for the best, everyone usually ends up having fun.
Best For: Shopping • Groups • Family Fun • Indoor Activities
Cinergy
📍 8250 TX 191
Cinergy makes planning a weekend with friends easy because everyone can find something they enjoy. Catch one of the latest movies from a reclining seat, spend way too much time trying to beat each other’s arcade scores, or head to the bowling alley and turn the night into a competition.
A simple movie plan can quickly turn into a full evening here.
Best For: Movies • Bowling • Arcade • Groups
Outdoor Adventures Around Odessa
When you need to stop doomscrolling, step away from your screen, and get some fresh air, Odessa and the surrounding area have several outdoor spots worth exploring.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
📍 2500 E. Interstate 20, Monahans
Just a short drive from Odessa, Monahans Sandhills State Park feels like stepping into a completely different landscape. Rent a sand disc and slide down the dunes, take photos, or stick around to catch the sunset.
Just remember that climbing back up the dunes is part of the experience.
Best For: Day Trips • Outdoors • Photos • Sunsets
McKinney Park
📍 625 W. Pool Rd.
McKinney Park is a great option for a relaxed afternoon outside, especially during warmer weather. Its water attractions give you a place to cool off, while the park offers plenty of room to walk around, relax, and spend time with friends or family.
Best For: Summer • Families • Outdoor Time
Memorial Gardens Park
📍 4730 E. 42nd St.
Also known by many locals as Buffalo Wallow Park, Memorial Gardens Park offers a quieter outdoor escape right in Odessa. A 0.6 mile trail circles the pond, where you can spot ducks and turtles while enjoying the water, sculptures, and open space.
It is an especially nice spot for a morning walk, sunset stroll, or some time outside with your pet.
Best For: Walking • Pets • Sunsets • Quiet Time
Local Running Clubs
If you prefer staying active with a group, Odessa also has local running communities such as The Desert Run Collective and 432 Run Crew.
Running with a group is a great way to exercise, meet new people, and explore more of the city without having to log every mile alone.
Best For: Fitness • Meeting People • Group Activities
Odessa Attractions You Shouldn't Miss
Odessa has landmarks, arts experiences, and cultural attractions that give the city plenty of personality. Whether you are interested in art, live entertainment, or simply need a good picture for your camera roll, these are worth adding to your list.
Ellen Noël Art Museum
📍 4909 E. University Blvd.
Located right next to UTPB, the Ellen Noël Art Museum is an easy place to explore between classes or during a quiet weekend. Admission is free, and its galleries, changing exhibitions, creative programs, and renovated spaces give you a chance to experience art without traveling far from campus.
Best For: Art • Free Activities • Between Classes
UTPB Stonehenge Replica
📍 UTPB Campus, outside the Charles A. Sorber Visual Arts Studios
You do not have to fly to England to take a picture with Stonehenge because UTPB has its own replica right on campus.
Created by members of the university’s Art Department, the replica matches the original monument’s horizontal dimensions and has become a favorite backdrop for graduation pictures, sunsets, and showing visitors one of the more unexpected sides of Odessa.
Best For: Photos • Campus Visitors • Sunsets
Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
📍 1310 N. FM 1788
Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center is the place to check when you feel like dressing up and doing something different from the usual college weekend. Its calendar includes concerts, comedy, Broadway productions, ballet, symphony performances, student programs, and more throughout the year.
Check the schedule before your weekend because you never know who might be coming to West Texas.
Best For: Concerts • Performing Arts • Date Night
Jackrabbit Jamboree
One eight foot tall jackrabbit would already be hard to miss, but Odessa has turned the idea into a citywide adventure.
The Jackrabbit Jamboree features 31 uniquely decorated jackrabbits placed throughout Odessa, including around parks, businesses, community spaces, and UTPB.
Download the passport and turn it into a scavenger hunt with friends. Find 16 jackrabbits and stop by Discover Odessa to claim a prize while discovering parts of the city you may not normally explore.
Best For: Exploring Odessa • Photos • Groups • Free Activities
What Makes Odessa Feel Like Home
As I continued asking students what they loved most about Odessa, I expected them to name a restaurant, a park, or maybe even a favorite place to go out.
Instead, they talked about sunset walks, sports, new hobbies, favorite local spots, and the places they discovered simply because they were willing to explore.
Different memories. Different places. But they all came back to the same thing.
It was never only about where they were. It was about who was beside them.
When I asked Natalia Salas, a Business Management graduate and UTPB alumna, what she would recommend to a new student, her answer was simple:
“The community.”
Deborah Okeowo, a senior accounting student, shared a similar perspective:
“It’s really the people who make Odessa. There are so many kinds of people here; you just need to find the ones for you.”
Maybe that is what makes Odessa memorable. It is not one place on a map, but the people who can make unfamiliar streets begin to feel like home.
Three years ago, I left my home country without even knowing where Odessa, Texas, was, betting on a future that felt completely uncertain.
Today, after meeting my best friends, finding some of the best mentors I have ever had, and becoming part of a community that welcomed me, I cannot imagine my story unfolding any other way.
Start Exploring Odessa
Now that you have heard our stories, it is your turn to start creating your own.
Get out there, explore a new coffee shop, try a restaurant you have never visited, catch a show, meet new people, and discover more of the community beyond campus.
Discover Odessa has everything you need to start planning your time around the city. Browse upcoming events, find local restaurants and attractions, and discover even more ways to make Odessa part of your story.
Explore the Best of Odessa #DiscoverOdessa
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