The 2025 winners’ atlas

Every market. One bar.

52 American cities, from the five boroughs to the high desert — each evaluated against the same five published criteria. 253 winners verified so far, and counting. Find your town and see who cleared the bar.

Markets

Find your city.

Every market below runs on the same methodology — no regional favorites, no pay-to-enter, no rankings. Just the verified best of each town.

Arizona

Historic downtown Flagstaff during the First Friday Art Walk

Best of Flagstaff

Arizona 7 verified winners →

Main Street in downtown Mesa

Best of Mesa

Arizona · 38th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The downtown Phoenix skyline lit up at dusk

Best of Phoenix

Arizona · 5th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Yavapai County Courthouse on Prescott's plaza

Best of Prescott

Arizona 1 verified winner →

The Tucson skyline with the Santa Catalina Mountains behind it

Best of Tucson

Arizona · 34th-largest U.S. city 7 verified winners →

California

The neon Bakersfield arch sign

Best of Bakersfield

California · 47th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The downtown Fresno skyline

Best of Fresno

California · 33rd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Long Beach skyline and harbor at dusk

Best of Long Beach

California · 44th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The downtown Los Angeles skyline with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond

Best of Los Angeles

California · 2nd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Oakland skyline at night with the Bay Bridge

Best of Oakland

California · 45th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The gold Tower Bridge and the Sacramento skyline

Best of Sacramento

California · 35th-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The San Diego skyline from the waterfront

Best of San Diego

California · 8th-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline at blue hour

Best of San Francisco

California · 17th-largest U.S. city 6 verified winners →

The downtown San Jose skyline

Best of San Jose

California · 13th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Colorado

The Aurora Municipal Center with the Front Range beyond

Best of Aurora

Colorado · 50th-largest U.S. city 3 verified winners →

Pikes Peak rising over Colorado Springs

Best of Colorado Springs

Colorado · 40th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Denver skyline with the Front Range rising behind it

Best of Denver

Colorado · 19th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

District of Columbia

Aerial view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the Washington Monument

Best of Washington

District of Columbia · 22nd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Florida

The Jacksonville skyline reflected in the St. Johns River at night

Best of Jacksonville

Florida · 11th-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The Miami skyline across Biscayne Bay

Best of Miami

Florida · 41st-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Downtown Tampa across the Hillsborough River

Best of Tampa

Florida · 49th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Georgia

The Atlanta skyline from the Jackson Street Bridge

Best of Atlanta

Georgia · 36th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Illinois

The Chicago skyline along the Lake Michigan shoreline

Best of Chicago

Illinois · 3rd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Indiana

The Indianapolis skyline from White River State Park

Best of Indianapolis

Indiana · 16th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Kentucky

The Louisville skyline at night on the Ohio River

Best of Louisville

Kentucky · 27th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Maryland

The Baltimore Inner Harbor from Federal Hill

Best of Baltimore

Maryland · 30th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Massachusetts

The Boston skyline over the Charles River from the Longfellow Bridge

Best of Boston

Massachusetts · 25th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Michigan

The Detroit skyline across the Detroit River

Best of Detroit

Michigan · 26th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Minnesota

The downtown Minneapolis skyline above St. Anthony Falls

Best of Minneapolis

Minnesota · 46th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Missouri

The Kansas City skyline at night

Best of Kansas City

Missouri · 37th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Nebraska

The Omaha skyline across the Missouri River

Best of Omaha

Nebraska · 42nd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Nevada

The Las Vegas Strip at night

Best of Las Vegas

Nevada · 24th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

New Mexico

Albuquerque and the Rio Grande valley from the Sandia Peak Tramway

Best of Albuquerque

New Mexico · 32nd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

New York

The Lower Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River

Best of New York

New York · 1st-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

North Carolina

The Uptown Charlotte skyline from the air

Best of Charlotte

North Carolina · 14th-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The downtown Raleigh skyline from Boylan Avenue

Best of Raleigh

North Carolina · 39th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Ohio

The downtown Columbus skyline from the Main Street bridge over the Scioto River

Best of Columbus

Ohio · 15th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Oklahoma

The downtown Oklahoma City skyline from above

Best of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma · 21st-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The Tulsa skyline from the air

Best of Tulsa

Oklahoma · 48th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Oregon

The Portland skyline with Mount Hood on the horizon

Best of Portland

Oregon · 28th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Pennsylvania

The Center City Philadelphia skyline over the Schuylkill River

Best of Philadelphia

Pennsylvania · 6th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Tennessee

The Memphis skyline along the Mississippi River

Best of Memphis

Tennessee · 29th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Nashville skyline from Fort Negley

Best of Nashville

Tennessee · 20th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Texas

The Austin skyline above Lady Bird Lake in the evening

Best of Austin

Texas · 12th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The Dallas skyline at dusk

Best of Dallas

Texas · 9th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The El Paso skyline with the Franklin Mountains

Best of El Paso

Texas · 23rd-largest U.S. city 4 verified winners →

The downtown Fort Worth skyline

Best of Fort Worth

Texas · 10th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The downtown Houston skyline

Best of Houston

Texas · 4th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

The San Antonio River Walk with the Tower Life Building above

Best of San Antonio

Texas · 7th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Virginia

The Virginia Beach oceanfront

Best of Virginia Beach

Virginia · 43rd-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Washington

A Washington State Ferry with the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier behind it

Best of Seattle

Washington · 18th-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Wisconsin

The Milwaukee skyline from the harbor pierhead

Best of Milwaukee

Wisconsin · 31st-largest U.S. city 5 verified winners →

Don’t see your favorite yet?

Winners are published as they clear the bar, market by market. Nominate a business — yours or one you love — and it goes into the next evaluation. Free, and nothing publishes unless it clears.

Nominate a business Read the methodology