Dozens of Houston hospitality companies were voted the best of the best in the inaugural VisitHouston.com Locals’ Choice Awards.
The awards covered categories including the arts, nightlife, leisure activities, hotels and dining. In late April, users of VisitHouston.com were asked to write-in their favorite places in more than sixty specific areas, from favorite sports bar to favorite Italian restaurant. After one week of write-in votes, the top write-ins in each category were included in the multiple choice portion of the contest for another week. Overall, more than 2,800 votes were cast over the two week period.
“Houstonians 
know what a wonderful, diverse and unique place we live in,” says Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We also know that locals are our own best advocates for getting more people to come to Houston. What we sought to do with the Locals’ Choice Awards was to showcase and honor the restaurants, nightlife, museums and other places that Houstonians love. We’re proud to promote these favorites—and we hope the businesses, and those who voted for them, spread the word and encourage friends and family to head to H-Town and experience it for themselves.”
Winners in multiple categories included Hotel Zaza, which took six awards including favorite hotel restaurant, happy hour and pool. Kemah Boardwalk won awards for favorite place to take a visitor and favorite Houston attraction and Miller Outdoor Theatre won for favorite cultural attraction and favorite free thing to do. The Breakfast Klub and House of Pies both took multiple awards as well.
Here’s the full rundown:
| ARTS |
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Favorite Museum |
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Favorite Art Gallery |
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Favorite Cultural Experience |
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Favorite Performing Arts Group |
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Favorite Houston Public Art |
| NIGHTLIFE |
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Favorite Draft Beer Selection |
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Favorite Spot for Live Music |
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Favorite Wine Selection |
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Favorite Dive Bar |
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Favorite Coffee Spot |
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Favorite Houston Patio |
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Favorite LGBT Bar |
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Favorite Sports Bar |
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Favorite Girls Night Out Activity |
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Favorite Date Night Activity |
Alamo Drafthouse |
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Favorite New Houston Bar |
| LEISURE |
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Favorite Houston Attraction |
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Favorite Houston Brewery Tour |
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Favorite Houston Golf Course |
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Favorite Historic Site |
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Favorite Houston Spa |
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Favorite Sports Team |
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Favorite Annual Event in Houston |
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Favorite Kids Activity |
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Favorite Hiking Trail |
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Favorite Place to take a Visitor |
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Favorite Event or Festival |
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Favorite Free Thing to do in Houston |
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Favorite Place to take a Photo |
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Favorite Houston Souvenir |
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Favorite Houston Boutique Store |
| HOTEL |
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Favorite Hotel Restaurant |
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Favorite Hotel for Families |
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Favorite Hotel Happy Hour |
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Favorite Hotel Spa |
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Favorite Hotel Pool |
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Favorite Green Hotel |
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Favorite Pet-Friendly Hotel |
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Favorite Hotel Concierge |
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Favorite Bed and Breakfast |
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Favorite Historic Houston hotel |
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Favorite Luxury Hotel |
| FOOD |
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Favorite Ice Cream or Gelato restaurant |
Amy's Ice Cream |
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Favorite Pet-friendly restaurant |
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Favorite Burger restaurant |
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Favorite Food Truck |
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Favorite Italian restaurant |
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Favorite restaurant for Cooking Classes |
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Favorite Kid-friendly restaurant |
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Favorite Barbecue restaurant |
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Favorite Dessert restaurant |
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Favorite 24-hour Dining restaurant |
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Favorite Deli |
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Favorite Indian restaurant |
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Favorite Power Lunch restaurant |
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Favorite Vietnamese restaurant |
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Favorite Sushi restaurant |
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Favorite Ethnic restaurant |
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Favorite Seafood restaurant |
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Favorite Mexican restaurant |
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