Travel+Leisure has given San Francisco top billing in its list of America's Snobbiest Cities, based on a variety of factors such as propensity for recycling, culture and other markers of "elitism".
To determine which city has the biggest nose in the air, we factored in some traditional staples of snobbery: a reputation for aloof and smarty-pants residents, along with high-end shopping and highbrow cultural offerings like classical music and theater.But we also considered 21st-century definitions of elitism: 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 cited S.F.'s "reputation as a serious foodie city" for its top spot, along with other considerations like its many know-it-alls and holier-than-thous (we assume). But although we'd don't necessarily agree with T+L's definition of snobbery (conspicuous eco-consciousness? C'mon), we have to agree that S.F.ers tend to know they've got it good.
There are multiple definitions of a "snob", which include someone who looks down on others an inferior (don't even pretend you don't see some other cities as "inferior" in some way). And as for a general air of superiority, insufferable as it may something be, San Francisco can be guilty of that. Most people love this city (almost as much as they love bitching about it). So why shouldn't they feel extra good about it?
Yes, S.F. is the snobbiest city around. But that's only because we've got a good thing going, and we know it.
Travel+Leisure based its list on reader rankings, which rated New York, Boston and Minneapolis/St. Paul as the runners-up.
