This Week's Hot Headlines

Houston restaurants on New York Times list lead our top 5 stories

Aga and Ema had some of the Times' favorite dishes of the year.

Aga's Restaurant and Catering/Facebook

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the most popular stories of the week. Two Houston restaurants and a Texas bourbon find the spotlight, plus a long-awaited boutique hotel opens its doors. Get the scoop on our hottest headlines below, and then discover the best things to do this weekend here.

1. 2 Houston restaurants make New York Times best dishes of 2024 list. Two of Houston's most-well regarded eateries made the Times' list, with only one other Texas restaurant in the mix.

2. Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies. A Texas-based bourbon brand is pouring one of the world's best whiskies, according to Whisky Advocate.

3. First look at new boutique hotel now welcoming guests in Montrose. Montrose has gained a new saint. The posh new Hotel Saint Augustine from Austin's Bunkhouse Group is now open for reservations.

Hotel Saint Augustine entrance The Hotel Saint Augustine has checked into Montrose. Photo by Julie Soefer

4. Texas Roadhouse plans first Houston-area outpost of its casual burger spot. Jaggers, the popular chain's fast-casual sister concept, will open at Katy's Grand Morton Town Center.

5. Houston smash burger pop-up finds permanent home on East End esplanade. One of Houston’s favorite burger pop-ups is making it permanent with a brick-and-mortar location opening early 2025.

new york times texas roadhouse hotel saint augustine openings most popular stories

This Week's Hot Headlines

Austin restaurant chain bowls over River Oaks and more popular stories

Photo by Becca Wright

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including restaurant openings and a major acquisition for MFAH. Plus, where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Houston. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then visit this guide to the best Christmas weekend events.

1. Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

2. Houston's only Michelin-recognized Tex-Mex restaurant now open in Bellaire. It didn’t take Sambrooks Hospitality Group long to turn Mandito’s into Candente. First announced in September, the restaurant’s second location officially opened December 22.

3. 25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more. Houston restaurants are ringing in the new year with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly.

4. Houston museum acquires historic Masonic lodge property for new greenspace. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has acquired a prime parcel to expand its campus in the Museum District.

Holland Lodge masonic building The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace. Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook

5. Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025. As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. These are the City Life stories that captured Houston's attention.