The Michelin Guide is coming back to Texas
Why it matters: It's a moment of recognition, honor and prestige for both the restaurants and the cities where they are located.
The latest: The awards will be announced on Oct. 28 in Houston.
Flashback: It's the second time the revered guide is visiting Texas. Last year, 15 restaurants across Texas earned a star, including six in the Houston area.
Houston also had more than a dozen other spots featured in the guide, including many on the Bib Gourmand list, which highlights "good food at moderate prices."
How it works: A group of anonymous inspectors from across the world judge restaurants on the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, chef's vision, consistency and value.
The guide includes a full list of Michelin recommendations, Bib Gourmand awards, specialty awards, star winners and honorable mentions.
What they're saying: "Texas' culinary scene boasts a rich heritage, defined by its diverse flavors, unique cuisines, and remarkable talent — qualities that make it distinctly Texan," Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement.
"It offers something for every kind of traveler, and we look forward to unveiling our inspectors' findings in the coming months."
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Condé Nast Traveler
3 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
What It's Like to Fly 13 Hours in Cathay Pacific's New Business Class
In 1983, Cathay Pacific was among the first commercial airlines to introduce a business class cabin, coddling 35 passengers onboard Boeing 747s fitted with widened seats sporting up-to-the-minute leg rests, plus the now obligatory cascades of Champagne. Forty-two years later, the Hong Kong flagship carrier may have just perfected the concept with the introduction of its luxury hotel-level Aria Suites, which come with privacy doors, fully flat beds, cutting-edge tech, Michelin-star meals, and the ambience of a design hotel. It's a new look which has bagged the airline a slew of awards since its recent launch, including a win in the Passenger Comfort category at the Crystal Cabin Awards and a bump from fifth to third place in the 2025 SkyTrax World Airline Awards. To get the lowdown I took to the skies flying from my home in Hong Kong to London Heathrow. The new Aria Suites have chic design details akin to a boutique hotel. Courtesy Cathay Pacific Pre-boarding The ease of traveling with Cathay Pacific is apparent before you reach the airport. The app is a dream—clear, intuitive, and without glitches. Passengers can pick their seats weeks in advance and check in online 48 hours before departure, as opposed to the usual 24 hours. Thanks to an in-town, self-service, check-in desk travelers are able to drop their luggage at Hong Kong Station in the heart of Central anytime between 24 hours to 90 minutes before their scheduled time of take-off—a boon if you have to leave your hotel at midday. From here, it's a breezy 24 minutes on the spotlessly clean, Wi-Fi-enabled Airport Express train and a business class fast-track through HKG's e-channels and CT scanners, which negate the need to remove liquids and laptops. I'm greeted by staff, immaculately attired in red jackets with standing collars, at the lounge within an hour of leaving home. Airport lounge My flight coincided with the reopening of Cathay Pacific's flagship airport lounge, The Bridge. Positioned at the end of the main walkway, it unfolds across two enormous wings: one specializing in Chinese food, the other with a Western menu. British designer Ilse Crawford is behind the design, a soft blur of warm woods, muted browns, mossy velvets, cognac-colored sofas, and tweed swivel chairs. Transit passengers are made comfortable with showers and quiet zones, and the food and drink on offer is always worth checking in early for. I skip my usual wontons at The Noodle Bar to try some new dishes at The Nook: perfectly crisp scallion pancakes, volcanic-spicy lamb bao (buns), and sweet barbecue pork rice rolls. It's all as delicious as anything you would find at Hong Kong's top restaurants. Elsewhere, there are two bountiful hot and cold buffets (both with plenty of vegetarian options), help-yourself ice buckets of wine and Champagne, and a long bar for all your coffee and cocktail needs.
Eater
4 hours ago
- Eater
How to Plan the Ultimate Staycation in Montrose
From the famed Space Center Houston to the expansive Museum District, Houston has its share of top-notch tourist attractions, but thanks to sheer size and the need for a car, it can be hard to navigate Houston on vacation without a local to show you the way. That's why, whether you're a native or out-of-towner looking for a low-key getaway, Montrose is one of the best neighborhoods in Houston to book a hotel room and treat yourself to a foodie staycation. In just under 8 square miles, Montrose is a haven for Houston's Michelin- and James Beard-award winning restaurants, world-class art, and historic gay nightlife. It's impossible to visit every restaurant, bar, and attraction in Montrose in just 24 hours, but this guide will walk you through some of the best the neighborhood — and Houston in general — has to offer. By the way — for Houston's standards, Montrose is almost (almost!) walkable. While you can drive to all the locations listed in this guide, you can also wiggle into one of the many free street parking spots nearby and take the opportunity to explore Montrose by foot. The Mecom Fountain in the intersection of Main and Montrose. Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Start your day with tamales and thrift shopping Montrose is an ever-changing, living organism, with new restaurants and shops and bars cycling in and out constantly. But Brasil may outlive us all. The mainstay restaurant on Dunlavy Street and Westheimer Road offers a robust menu of breakfast classics, plus some more unique offerings like a morning grain bowl, as well as bean and braised greens tamales. If the weather is cooperating, eat outside on Brasil's vibrant green patio, and don't forget to order a coffee or tea to start your day off right. After breakfast, head east on Westheimer to window shop at one of the many chic thrift shops along the street. Leopard Lounge, City Vintage and Pavement are all popular, but Out of the Closet at Mulberry Street and Westheimer is also a great choice for its LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS advocacy. Other ideas: If you're not the type to get super hungry in the morning, grab a cold brew/pastry combo from Siphon and enjoy your morning from its cozy dining room. Or, if you don't feel like straying far from Westheimer, consider an espresso and one of the breakfast focaccias from La Sicilia. (Treat yourself to a monkey bread croissant.) 12 p.m.: Lunch at ChopnBlok Hearty West African bowls for lunch. ChopnBlok There's a lot of local places you can choose from along Westheimer for lunch, but ChopnBlok is more than worth your time. Head further east on Westheimer and grab a seat inside in the bright, colorfully decorated living room that celebrates West African art and aesthetics. The Motherland — with steamed rice, curry, yaji-spiced vegetables and sweet plantains — is a warmly spiced, ultra-filling standout here. So's the Trad, with jollof-style jambalaya, halal chicken and more yaji-spiced veggies, and stewed plantains. (You can order the plantains as an appetizer on the side, and they're almost impossible to pass up.) Cap off your meal with one of the classic cocktails, or if it's still a little too early to dive into alcohol, check out the refreshers, like the Cape Town Cooler, with guava, lemon, grapefruit and sparkling water. Other ideas: If you like to sleep in and are feeling something more brunch-y, consider the cheeky (and Guy Fieri-approved) tiki bar The Toasted Coconut, directly south on Richmond and Mandell. The all-day menu offers both breakfast and dinner options, like the honey butter biscuit, with fried chicken, a black pepper biscuit, chili crisp, and cheese. Or, load up on the house dumplings with housemade chili oil, sweet soy sauce, and crispy garlic. For slightly lighter fare, Handies Douzo, a little farther east and a stone's throw from the University of St. Thomas, has a unique and ultra-fresh sushi menu. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Spend an afternoon surrounded by art at The Menil Collection The Menil Collection isn't exactly a hidden secret — it's perhaps the most well-known attraction in Montrose — but it's still criminal that it isn't more famous outside of Houston. Head south on Yoakum, taking a detour around the University of St. Thomas' gorgeous tree-lined campus if you like, then go west on Branard Street to hit up The Menil. It's free, so stroll right in, and take in the little museum's tens of thousands of pieces of art, from modern abstract sculptures to prehistoric relics. If the weather's nice, you can order your lunch to go and eat on the Menil's shady campus, but also make sure to take a quiet moment for yourself at the Rothko Chapel, a nondenominational art piece/chapel that has to be seen to be believed. Other ideas: The Houston Center for Photography is another museum right across the street from The Menil. Its collection is smaller, but it's also free and offers a diverse, rotating selection of exhibitions. Get lost in the galleries at The Menil Collection. The Menil Collection 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Shop the rest of your day away at the Montrose Collective After a long day of staycationing, you deserve to treat yourself. Head north back to Westheimer and you'll find the Montrose Collective, a new-ish, mixed-use development that offers more than you could visit in a single afternoon. But why not try anyway? Schedule a facial with Hi, Skin or Skin Laundry, or window shop at one of the many boutique clothing and jewelry stores on site. Paddywax Candle Bar, where you can make custom candles with your own fragrance blend, is a highlight, as is the secondhand luxury goods from The Real Real's Houston storefront. If you get hungry and simply can't wait for dinner, there are plenty of options here, like toast and a matcha latte from La La Land and happy hour wine-by-the-glass and sandwiches from Fiora's Bottle Shop. Other ideas: Not much of a shopper? Go upstairs at the Montrose Collective and spend some time at the Freed-Montrose Library, a unique two-story library with lots of light and plenty of space for kiddos. Grab a book and pull up a chair on the greenery-filled outdoor terrace, but if the weather's too hot, there are plenty of seats inside with gorgeous views of the neighborhood. Just be sure to check the hours on the day you go, because they can be sporadic. La La Land Kind Cafe 7 p.m. to late: Grab dinner and a drink (or two) You have a few options for dinner, depending on who's with you and your mood for the night. If you're with family or plan to join friends for dinner, head one block west on Westheimer and grab a table at Mala Sichuan Bistro. This Sichuan restaurant has a hefty menu of family-style meals, both traditional and more Americanized. The savory eggplant in spicy garlic sauce is a standout here, as is the generously sized red oil dumplings. Of course, it's not a Sichuan restaurant without mapo tofu, and Mala Sichuan serves up one of the best versions in the city. After Mala Sichuan, you're not far from Anvil, one of Montrose's most notable cocktail bars. Grab a seat at the bar or in one of the booths and ask the bartender about the seasonal cocktails — you can order almost anything here, including non-alcoholic cocktails, beer, and wine. A soupy chicken dish. Mala Sichuan Bistro Barbecue Tex-Mex tacos. Candente Not feeling Sichuan? You can head south towards Richmond Avenue instead, and hit up Candente, a Tex-Mex favorite with barbecue bona fides. (Owner Sambrooks Management also operates The Pit Room next door.) The brisket nachos are a must-order, as are the brisket enchiladas and beef fajitas — that may seem like a lot of meat, but hey, it's Texas. After, you'd be remiss not to check out gay piano bar Michael's Outpost, just a short walk west from Candente. Catch a drag show if you come on the right day, but even if you miss it, you'll get to order cocktails and unwind to the sounds of live piano. Other ideas: If it fits in your budget (and you're able to get a reservation), consider March, the fine dining destination that won a Michelin Star last year. The menu here, from chef Felipe Riccio, is available as a six- or nine-course tasting menu, which changes seasonally. Its newest season, which starts August 14, will be inspired by the Levant, a region that includes present-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and part of Turkey. If you drink, be sure to try the wine pairing menu from award-winning sommelier June Rodil. Late night: Keep the party going with retro hangs and pizza, pizza, pizza If you're not full yet (and not dead on your feet), there are still a few places you can hit up before collapsing in your hotel room. 93' Til, a late-night restaurant/record bar, plays '90s hip-hop on vinyl and serves a thoughtfully crafted list of cocktails and wine by the bottle. Try the Japanese highball, with Hibiki Harmony whiskey, or the '93 Old Fashion, with Bonded Kentucky bourbon, Japanese brown sugar, and bitters. If that sounds a little low-energy for you, consider Beetlegeuse Beetlegeuse's Montrose location, instead. You'll find creative pizzas and cocktails, like the Pickletini, with vodka and pickle juice, and the Black Lemon Drop Cocktail, with vodka, lemon vodka, limoncello, lemon, activated charcoal, edible glitter, and black sugar. Inside Beetlegeuse Beetlegeuse is a hidden surprise, Endless Bummer Tiki Bar, a small but outrageously decorated tiki bar with flaming Mai Tais and light-up cocktails. (You'll need to book a reservation on Resy for the code, though.) Betelgeuse Betelgeuse's neon sign and a glimpse of its back room. Becca Wright Where to stay Montrose has very few hotels, so your options are limited to boutique picks if you want to stay in the neighborhood. La Maison in Midtown, a stately bed and breakfast, is, like the name suggests, technically in Midtown, but it's so close to Montrose proper that you should easily be able to walk or drive to your destinations. For a luxury experience (at luxury prices) closer to the action, you can book a room at La Colombe d'Or. The hotel offers three room types: smaller suites in a 1920s-style at The Mansion, modern aesthetics with a seating area at The Tower, and spacious apartment-sized suites at The Garden Bungalows. Eater Houston All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Miami Herald
This year has been tough on Miami restaurants. Here's what closed in 2025 so far
The year 2025 has been a rough year — particularly in the late spring and early summer — for Miami-area restaurants. With so many new restaurants opening in the past several years, a large number closings are almost certainly an inevitability. Many restauranteurs and chefs admit they're hurting. The high prices of food, rent and insurance weigh heavy on them and their customers — especially the locals who can't flee for cooler climates for the entire slow season. Here are some of the notable closings around Miami this year. Some say they'll return, while others vanished quietly. Long-time spots thanked their customers and strode into the sunset with more than a little pride, knowing that 10 years or more is an eternity in restaurant terms. Especially in Miami. EntreNos: This Michelin-starred gem, which focused on Florida ingredients from its fish to its pork to its produce, shared space with Tinta y Cafe in Miami Shores. After two years, when the lease was up, chefs Evan Burgess and Osmel Gonzalez moved on. Should we mention they claim they are reopening at some point? Erba: Nobody involved seems to want to talk about the closing of this fine Italian restaurant in Coral Gables, owned by Nolan Reynolds International and showcasing the culinary talents of Chef Niven Patel (who also is the creative force behind Paya in Miami Beach; Ghee Indian Kitchen in Kendall and Wynwood; and NiMo in Tequesta). All we know is you can't make a reservation any more. Maty's: James Beard Award-winning Chef Val Chang's love letter to her Peruvian grandmother closed in Midtown Miami. The shutdown was a double whammy: It also signaled the impending closure of her brother Nando's exquisite omakase space Itamae Ao, as the restaurants shared a space. Byblos: This Mediterranean gem is closed while its home at the Royal Palm South Beach Miami hotel is undergoing a $100 million renovation project. Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat: The Asian-inspired restaurant located in the South of Fifth neighborhood of Miami Beach says it plans to only close for the season. There's no reopening date. Itamae Ao: If we hadn't heard that Chef Nando Chang was seeking a home for his amazing Michelin-starred omakase counter, we'd have filed this under 'huge losses.' But Chang has said he is searching for a new spot. Fingers crossed. Kush Wynwood and Stephen's by Kush: These local favorites from Matt Kuscher's hospitality group are expected to reopen. La Mar by Gastón Acurio: The Peruvian-style restaurant on the water lost its home when it was decided the Mandarin Oriental would be demolished, but there are plans to reopen in Brickell. Piegari: This Italian restaurant, one of many in Wynwood, closed after only a year but reports that it plans to reopen with 'necessary changes and improvements.' Will it? Stay tuned. Torno Subito: The Italian restaurant atop Julia & Henry's food hall insists it will reopen in the fall, despite the fact that development in that part of downtown Miami hasn't quite caught up to it yet. Belmont Spanish Restaurant: Twelve years of Spanish cuisine and culture ended in January when Belmont left Miracle Mile. Le Zoo: Stephen Starr's French brasserie closed after 10 years at the luxurious Bal Harbour Shops. Ms Cheezious: The food truck still exists, but the brick-and-mortar spot in MiMo, conceived in 2010, is no longer in business Red South Beach: When its owners were unable to reach an agreement with the landlord, the luxury steakhouse closed after 17 years. Sugarcane: The influential OG of Midtown Miami announced early in 2025 that it was ending its run after 15 years. Villa Azur: The Mediterranean restaurant and party spot closed after 13 years in Miami Beach. Caffe Vialetto: This beloved Italian spot for celebrating milestones in Coral Gables shut down after 26 years. Osteria del Teatro: This Italian spot on 79th Street Causeway almost made it to 40 years in business. Instead, it closed after 37. Sardinia: After just shy of 20 years, this Italian restaurant in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood of Miami Beach known for its wood-burning oven and robust wine list, said goodbye. Ensenada: The coastal Mexican spot from Brooklyn left its Vagabond Hotel space in the MiMo neighborhood after only six months. RedFarm: The Chinese dim sum giant from New York shut down operations in Coconut Grove a year after its opening. Sereia: This elegant Portuguese restaurant from Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa shut down after a year. Velvet Taco: The brand from Dallas still operates a location in Fort Lauderdale, but its time in Wynwood ended after less than a year. Fiola: The glamorous Italian restaurant in Coral Gables closed but only to make way for Gioia Hospitality's new venture, the upscale Daniel's Steakhouse, which has been a big hit in Fort Lauderdale. Ostrow Brasserie: Chef Olivia Ostrow's kosher French restaurant shut down in the Buena Vista neighborhood, with Ostrow moving on with Maison Ostrow in a bigger space (the former Osteria del Teatro) in North Bay Village. Wabi Sabi: The MiMo location is gone, but in its place is Midorie, one of the other Japanese concepts from restaurateur Alvaro Perez-Miranda (also the force behind the Michelin-starred Ogawa in Little River). Aba: This Mediterranean spot from Chicago moved on from its space in Bal Harbour Shops after two and a half years. Chica: The Latin restaurant from Venezuelan-born celebrity chef Lorena Garcia, located in the old Soyka space in Miami, announced its closing on OpenTable. Harry's Pizzeria: The South Beach and the Coconut Grove locations of the pizza spot from Chef Michael Schwartz quietly shut down. Like Mike: The Italian restaurant in Coconut is now the home of its Italian neighbor restaurant, Sapore di Mare. Planta Queen: The Coconut Grove and Fort Lauderdale locations of this vegan spot are both closed. Tablé by Bachour: You might never have known this French spot from Antonio Bachour had closed if you didn't drive past it in the Design District and notice the windows papered over.
