San Francisco tops list of U.S. cities with most snob appeal

NEW YORK, July 3 (UPI) -- San Francisco tops the list of the 20 snobbiest U.S. cities, followed by New York, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul, a travel industry publication said.

Travel + Leisure asked readers in its annual America's Favorite Cities survey to rank metropolitan areas for amenities including trendy food trucks or attractive people.

Santa Fe, N.M., Seattle, Chicago, Providence, R.I., Washington and Charleston, S.C., finished out the top 10, followed by Portland, Ore.; Savannah, Ga.; Nashville; Kansas City, Mo.; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Houston; Portland, Maine; and Austin, Texas.

Criteria for judging a city's snootiness included "a reputation for aloof and smarty-pants residents, along with high-end shopping and highbrow cultural offerings like classical music and theater," as well as "tech-savviness, artisanal coffeehouses, and a conspicuous eco-consciousness [say, the kind of city where you get a dirty look for throwing your coffee cup in the wrong bin]."

The magazine said San Francisco got snob points for its reputation as "a serious foodie city," but also scored high for its "welcoming attitude." New York's snob appeal was boosted by its theater and arts, and for its residents' preference for the latest fashions.