• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Houston First
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    hip to be square

    Houston snubbed on ridiculous list of America's coolest cities

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 30, 2025 | 3:52 pm
    Houston skyline

    Apparently Houston isn't as cool as Dallas or Austin.

    Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

    A new study ranking the coolest cities in America has revealed Houston was entirely snubbed on the list, while two other Texas cities made the cut.

    The survey by British gambling company Betway.com ranked 50 most populated cities across the U.S. and Canada, ranking them on factors associated with "being cool."

    Though Houston was nowhere to be found, Austin faded into the background by landing in the No. 11 spot. Dallas came in at No. 14 on the list — not even the top 10, but nonetheless one of only two cities in Texas to make the list at all.

    Boston, Massachusetts claimed the title as the coolest city in America, followed by Las Vegas, Nevada (No. 2), and Portland, Oregon (No. 3).

    The rankings were determined based on seven "coolness" factors including the median age of residents, the number of tattoo parlors, record stores, upcoming music events, street art murals, and vegan/vegetarian restaurants each city has.

    The report specifically called out the two Texas cities' "energy and culture" and gave nods to their respective culinary scenes.

    "What makes a city cool often goes beyond its reputation or famous landmarks – it’s the unique blend of culture that provides the energy," the report's author wrote. "From thriving music scenes and vibrant street art to foodie hotspots and inclusive, laid-back vibes, the coolest cities offer something authentic, exciting, and effortlessly memorable."

    In defense of H-Town
    Channeling CultureMap's late columnist Ken Hoffman, who has criticized similar studies in the past: There is so much that makes Houston cool that this silly study doesn't appear to take into account.

    This city treasures its numerous music and cultural icons, and we aren't just talking about Beyoncé. Houston's top-tier universities are shining beacons in the education field, and its nearby suburbs are among the best places to live in the nation.

    Houston's food scene is unmatched with several new bars and restaurants opening up all over the city, offering affordable lunch specials, trendy meals, and cocktails galore.

    Plus, the city's fashionistas are pioneering sustainable clothing swaps to keep perfectly good pieces out of landfills and promote slow fashion practices. And don't even get us started on the city's colorful and thought provoking art scene. It's not like Boston has a Meow Wolf or a citywide event like the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. If that's not cool, we don't know what is.

    The top 15 coolest American cities are:

    • No. 1 – Boston, Massachusetts
    • No. 2 – Las Vegas, Nevada
    • No. 3 – Portland, Oregon
    • No. 4 – San Francisco, California
    • No. 5 – Seattle, Washington
    • No. 6 – Denver, Colorado
    • No. 7 – Nashville, Tennessee
    • No. 8 – Washington, D.C.
    • No. 9 – Detroit, Michigan
    • No. 10 – Los Angeles, California
    • No. 11 – Austin, Texas
    • No. 12 – San Diego, California
    • No. 13 – Phoenix, Arizona
    • No. 14 – Dallas, Texas
    • No. 15 – Columbus, Ohio
    listsrankings
    news/city-life
    popular

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston bar owner speaks out after surprise arrest and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    May 16, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Chris Cusack
    Photo by Sergio Trevino
    Chris Cusack owns two locations of Betelgeuse Betelgeuse.

    Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from an unusual bar interaction to a new pizzeria and a neighborhood restaurant's goodbye. Read on for our most popular stories, then find the best things to do this weekend right here.

    1. Houston bar owner speaks out about surprise arrest for health code violations. One of the most unusual interactions between a restaurant and City of Houston officials took place on May 6 when Betelgeuse Betelgeuse owner Chris Cusack was arrested for health code violations at his location on Washington Avenue. Cusack told CultureMap his side of the story.

    2. Prolific Houston pizza chef fires up a new Italian restaurant in River Oaks. One of Houston’s most prolific pizzaiolos has quietly opened a new restaurant in River Oaks. Anthony Russo, founder of Russo’s New York Pizzeria, opened Anthony’s New York Italian in the former Pie Tap Pizza space at 3748 Westheimer.

    Anthony's New York Italian interior Anthony's New York Italian is now open near Central Market. Courtesy of Anthony's New York Italian

    3. Eclectic Houston neighborhood restaurant will shutter Bellaire store. A Houston neighborhood restaurant is saying goodbye to Bellaire after two years. KP’s Kitchen will close its location at 5427 Bissonnet on Sunday, May 31.

    4. Houston hospitality 'dream team' saddles up for World Cup pop-up restaurant. Two Houston hospitality veterans are teaming up with one of the city’s soccer legends to throw an epic party during the FIFA World Cup. The Ranch Presents Pitch Live will be a 35,000-square-foot pop-up venue that mixes Texas hospitality with top-notch food, drinks, and entertainment.

    5. Chef of Michelin-starred Texas BBQ joint pops up at Houston crawfish favorite. Evan LeRoy, chef and co-owner of Austin’s LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, will be at Josephine’s this Sunday, May 17 from 2-6 pm.

    most popular storiesclosingsopeningsbarshot-headlines
    news/city-life
    popular

    most read posts

    Exclusive: Houston pizza legend to open new neighborhood joint in Spring

    Remarkable Texas museum declared most beautiful in the world

    Houston hospitality 'dream team' saddles up for World Cup pop-up restaurant

    Loading...