Best of the City: The 11 best things our Time Out Texas editor saw, ate and visited in 2024

Isidore may be the new culinary kid on the block, but its dishes are already making a bold statement. Take their oysters, for example—they’re anything but shy, lounging in a bold strawberry cocktail sauce and tangy blackberry vinegar mignonette, making a statement from the very first bite. The oysters lay atop a bed of subdued rocks, creative courtesy of chef de cuisine Ian Lanphear, who honed his craft at Restaurant Gwendolyn before joining Isidore. The menu, changing based on seasonality, embodies the diverse bounty of Texas. Expect to find cuts of Wagyu beef and whipped buttermilk shrimp toast. 

If the Southwest met a European-inspired cocktail bar, it would be Heydey Social Club. The space—which is adorned with retro furniture, vintage accents and a striking floor-to-ceiling cowboy painting—is the perfect spot for after-work hangouts or meetups with friends. Friendly staff and bartenders greet you with a drink menu, featuring an impressive selection of cocktails, wines and packaged and draft beers. First-timers should try the bartender-recommended Ki-Oui, a well-balanced concoction of Ketel One vodka, cucumber kiwi, yuzu lime soda and lime. 

Of all the things I ate this year, Craft Omakase’s tasting menu continues to live rent-free in my head. Helmed by Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen—who received a Michelin star this past November—the restaurant delivers 22 exquisite courses, from perfectly sliced nigiri to small plates and dessert. My favorite dish was the oyster offered at the beginning of the meal. Bathed in a mint mignonette sauce, it was a bright and vibrant bite that set the tone for the entire culinary journey. 

Chef Simone Tong and pit master Jonathan Lagos are reimagining Texas BBQ through their pop-up concept Sí Baby Q, which invites guests to experience the fusion of barbecue and Asian flavor profiles. November’s pop-up featured New York’s C as in Charlie, a restaurant founded by three besties looking to pay tribute to their upbringings as Korean immigrants in the South. Their Seoulsbury burger—a Galbi short rib patty nestled between crispy Gruyère grits, thick cuts of pickled green tomatoes and a soft sesame bun—is a fun play to their signature Seoulsbury steak. 

Arlington residents should consider themselves lucky to be in such close proximity to Arlington’s Museum of Art, which is now home to Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibit. Showcasing more than 300 pieces spanning 65 years, this collection immerses visitors through Disney’s most iconic hero and villain costumes, from Angelina Jolie’s black christening dress from Maleficent to Cinderella’s shimmering ball gown worn by Lily James. 

What was once a 1959 grain silo has transformed into one of Dallas’ hottest nightclubs: Silo. Farmers from decades past wouldn’t recognize the space now, with its LED video walls, CO2 jets, lasers and a cutting-edge sound system that delivers electronic dance music and rock from your favorite artists. 

Asia Society celebrated Houston’s growing and vibrant AAPI community with its 2024 Night Market, supported by American First National Bank. The event attracted 5,500 guests and featured over 70 vendors, artisans and musicians alongside a K-pop performance by Royal Aces. Additional highlights included a Chinese lantern installation, Radiant Nature, by the Houston Botanic Garden and family-friendly programming such as Diwali arts and crafts. 

There’s a hidden depth to Anthony Suber’s Canopy sculpture, a mixed metal and dichroic glass sculpture located in Hermann Park. After losing his father last year, Suber created Canopy to represent the cycle of joy and grief. The sculpture features two leaves: the taller leaf symbolizes reflection, while the angular one honors ancestors that have passed on. It’s Suber’s way of showcasing the past, present and future all in one masterpiece. 

While F1 hasn’t had a consistent American home base since the 1950 inaugural season, Austin proudly hosted the three-day event this year. More than 400,000 racing fans gathered at the Circuit of Americas to watch drivers battle for the trophy, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari taking the win. Casual fans had plenty to enjoy as well, with performances by Sting, Eminem, Diplo and other music artists adding to the excitement. 

What started as a small collective of artists in 2008 has grown into the immersive multimedia experience known today as Meow Wolf. The company opened its Houston location this past October, bringing multi–sensory, immersive exhibits connected through an interdimensional radio station storyline. Representing more than 100 artists—half of whom hail from the Lone Star State—Meow Wolf invites visitors to start their journey at the ETNL radio station and discover a new dimension. After exploring every nook and cranny, guests can head to beloved spot Cowboix Hevven, Meow Wolf’s first functioning honky-tonk dive bar, for a drink and casual bite. 

It didn’t take long for the Timothee Chalamet look-alike contest to go viral. Cities quickly launched their own iterations—Chicago’s Jeremy Allen White contest to London’s Harry Styles competition among them. Austin wasn’t one to miss out on the fun, with event organizer Kate Carpenter choosing Austin native Glen Powell as the inspiration. The winner, a Glen Powell doppelganger dressed as the actor’s Top Gun character, walked away with a cowboy hat, some cash and a Torchy’s gold card for a year’s worth of free queso.