A new list by Esquire magazine bypasses most of Texas, with one exception. It's their annual list of the Best New Hotels in the World 2025., and it features only one property in Texas: Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston.
The list includes 42 hotels, culled from more than 6,000 projects in development across the globe, which the magazine calls "a record high." The reason for the boom: "Travel has never been hotter," the magazine says.
At the top of the list for the "Hotel of the Year" is the Populus, a "curvy, revolutionary property" that opened in Denver in May as the nation's first carbon-positive property, where rooms start at a relatively reasonable $299 per night.
The majority of the U.S. hotels included are in California and New York. The rest of the list extends from Paris to Dubai, from Barcelona to Budapest.
Hotel Saint Augustine opened in Houston's artistic Montrose neighborhood in December 2024, presenting a sophisticated-yet-approachable atmosphere to locals and visitors alike. It boasts 71 boutique guest rooms and suites across five, two-story buildings, and more than half of the rooms have their own balconies or terraces. Most of the rooms also have a stunning view of the courtyard. Nightly rates begin at $429.
A view of the courtyard lounge seating and Perseid's patio.
Photo by Julie Soefer
"Each room [is] decorated in an archly mid-century fashion inspired by the private quarters of the August family," Esquire contributor Joshua David Stein wrote. "Colors are sage, mustard, and siena; the print on the couch is inspired by Charles James, the couturier who designed the de Menils’ home."
The publication also praised the French and Gulf Coast-inspired cuisine at Perseid, the hotel's signature restaurant led by iconic Houston chef Aaron Bludorn. Notable dishes included the crawfish sausage and the classic St. Augustine Burger topped with a duck-liver mousse.
Other must-try amenities highlighted in the review include the temperature-controlled pool – an absolute necessity during Houston's brutal summers — and a listening room at the Augustine Lounge with reel-to-reel tape player and plush geometric couches.
The Augustine Lounge is open to the public, so visitors don't need to book a room to pop in and visit. The lounge is designed as a "third space" for travelers, featuring multiple seated gathering areas, a walk-up bar, and a laid-back feel that's perfect for hanging out with friends.
