The 15 Best Bravo Reality Shows, Ranked

Bravo is known for creating some of the most binge-worthy reality television shows out there. These programs are sometimes like a trainwreck in that fans literally can’t look away even as the drama gets more and more ridiculous. In many ways, Bravo has perfected a certain kind of reality show and the hits just keep coming.

After starting The Real Housewives franchise in 2006, Bravo has made a big name for itself and is continuing to come up with dramatic reality television that viewers all can’t get enough of. From shows that revolve around best friends in the workplace to competition shows to prove who the best cook or designer is, Bravo has some amazing shows for all kinds of fans.

Updated on December 10th, 2021, by Lynn Gibbs: Once Bravo released The Real Housewives of Orange County, the network solidified itself as one of the greats. This is because the network didn’t limit itself to just one city, it created an entire franchise around the premise. From there, other reality shows in the same style followed and Bravo’s fandom grew bigger and bigger. Now, the network has award-winning reality shows mixed with shows that are fun to binge on. Either way, there’s something for everyone on Bravo. 

15 The Real Housewives Of New York City (2008– )

• Available on Peacock and Hulu

TheReal Housewives of New York was the second city to be added to the franchise, and it’s extremely hard not to get sucked into. This show was the jump-off point for the careers of people such as Bethenny Frankel. The location of this series makes it so good because there’s always something happening in the Big Apple.

Sadly, the series took a major dip in ratings and viewers in season 13, making it one of the least likable cities in the franchise. However, the fandom is still obsessed with the cast — just not the direction the show took in later seasons. After all, RHONY has some amazing episodes. There’s a possibility season 14 can redeem the city but until then, it’s falling flat in comparison to other shows.

14 Million Dollar Listing New York (2012– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Now that Netflix has Selling Sunset, Bravo fans are leaning towards the new style of real estate instead of Million Dollar Listing. Million Dollar Listing has two cities in the franchise: Los Angeles and New York.

It’s wild to watch real estate agents in Manhattan as they sell some incredibly expensive real estate in one of the most competitive areas in the country. Fans are amazed by how much things cost and also intrigued by all the drama these real estate agents are living in.

13 Project Runway (2004– )

• Available on Tubi, Peacock, and Fubo TV

Project Runway is another one of the channel’s most successful television shows. This reality competition follows a group of aspiring designers as they compete in challenges and get eliminated one by one. The series won a Peabody Award in 2008 and has had multiple spinoffs over the years.

Host Tim Gunn was a part of Project Runway’s best seasons, but that doesn’t mean the show isn’t still strong today. Its 19th season just finished in 2021 and continues to engage with those who adore fashion.

12 Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen (2009– )

• Available on Fubo TV

Watch What Happens Live is Bravo’s late-night talk show starring Andy Cohen. While the talk show isn’t a reality show, Andy does interview Bravo’s reality stars and talks about the shows that fans love. Andy has had a ton of celebrities on his show — some have even made repeated visits.

Andy Cohen is never afraid to go there with celebrities and asks his guests the questions that fans want to know. To lighten the mood, drinks are typically involved, and he has guests from the audiences (and on social media) chime in with their own questions.

11 The Real Housewives Of Potomac (2016– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

The Real Housewives Of Potomac is one of Bravo’s newer cities in The Real Housewives franchise and fans can’t get enough of it. Some hilarious one-liners and dramas cannot be replicated. Unlike a few of the other cities in the franchise, the husbands of Potomac are very involved, which creates even more outlandish storylines and issues.

With the series wrapping up its sixth season in 2021, there is a multitude of scenes that RHOP fans love to rewatch while waiting for the next season.

10 Vanderpump Rules (2013– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Vanderpump Rules started as a spinoff to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but quickly separated itself from the franchise and became a star show on its own. The series follows the waitstaff at SUR, the restaurant owned by Lisa Vanderpump, as they aspire to become actors and models.

Their dramatic antics and all of their romantic entanglements make this show a must-watch. And while the series ninth season could be Vanderpump Rules’ last season, it’s still one of the best shows on Bravo. Seeing Lisa Vanderpump deal with these young people and stir up their drama is highly entertaining.

9 Summer House (2017– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Summer House kicked off on Bravo in 2017 and made the careers of many of its stars. The series followed a group of friends who rented a house in Montauk, New York for the summer. With most of the cast living in New York City, cameras rolled as they left their city lives for weekends by the pool and beach.

What makes Summer House great is that it’s not as produced as shows like Vanderpump Rules. These are longtime friends who continue to show up and put up with each other despite hookups, breakups, fights, and everything in between. The show was so juicy that a spinoff called Winter House was released in 2021.

8 The Real Housewives Of New Jersey (2009– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

The Real Housewives has had shows in many different cities with unique characters from each. The New Jersey show is one of the most memorable and has some pretty famous faces viewers might recognize even if they’ve never watched it.

These women are focused on family, and fans love the particular Jersey flair that the women have. Compared to other cities in the franchise, there’s no dynamic quite like New Jersey’s. While these Housewives might not be quite as opulent as some from other cities, they are definitely highly entertaining to watch.

7 Southern Charm (2013– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Southern Charm is one of many Bravo shows that puts a group of people in one city together and watches their drama play out. In some ways, it is similar to Vanderpump Rules in that it’s a group of friends who aren’t always well-off and go through the ups and downs of work, love, and friendships.

The show takes place in Charleston, South Carolina. Watching these young singles try to deal with love and life with a backdrop of Southern culture is fascinating. The show definitely has had a lot of controversies and unpopular opinions, but what reality TV show hasn’t?

6 Shahs Of Sunset (2012– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Shahs of Sunset is another TV show that follows a tight-knit group of friends and the complexities of their lives but what set this series apart from other shows on the network was the cultural aspect. These Persian-Americans introduced their family backgrounds, religious beliefs, and cultural standards in a way that was endearing and inspiring.

The group was originally seen as BFF goals in the Bravo world. On top of that, the dynamic among the group was incredibly rocky. Lies are told, fights break out, life-long friends go without speaking… It has all the makings of a great reality show.

5 The Real Housewives Of Atlanta (2008– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

The Real Housewives of Atlanta is another successful show in the franchise that takes place in Georgia. This particular city gave pop culture some memorable characters such as NeNe Leakes and Kenya Moore. If Bravo fans are looking for a Real Housewives show that has a bit of a Southern flair, then The Real Housewives of Atlanta is a good option.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta has likable characters as well as controversial Housewives who only add more drama to the mix. Similar to New Jersey, Atlanta is different than the other cities and is one of the best for how authentic the women are.

4 Below Deck (2013– )

• Available on Peacock, Apple TV, and Fubo TV

While many Bravo shows are focused on the lives of the wealthy, not all of them are. Below Deck is about a group of young adults who work on multi-million dollar yachts. The show follows the crew as they deal with their demanding clientele while getting the luxury of visiting gorgeous places around the world.

The series does a phenomenal job of showing an industry that isn’t shown often. And it doesn’t hurt that the show has some of the worst guests that make tremendous TV. The jobs they do, the everyday issues they face on the boat, and the problems that arise are unlike any reality show on Bravo.

3 The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills (2010– )

• Available on Peacock, Hulu, and Fubo TV

Of all of The Real Housewives shows to be made so far, RHOBH has got to be one of the most iconic. Every Housewife in the current seasons is memorable in their own way and has been a part of monument arguments that add to the show’s drama.

The outrageous moments on RHOBH seem to outdo themselves every season. Season 11’s storyline revolving around Erika Jayne, in particular, was one of the most thrilling.

2 Married To Medicine (2013– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Married to Medicine is a criminally underrated series on Bravo, but it’s beloved by viewers who get sucked in. One can view it as a cross between The Real Housewives and Vanderpump Rules, but it’s smarter and more thought-provoking.

The series follows different women and their families who are in the medical profession in Atlanta, Georgia. Some women are doctors while others are the wives of doctors. Either way, viewers get to see how these professionals balance work and play. There are hopeful moments along with complicated family dynamics. Married to Medicine is truly unlike any reality show on Bravo and is one of the best.

1 Top Chef (2006– )

• Available on Peacock and Fubo TV

Many of the shows on this list are focused more on relationships and interpersonal drama, but Top Chef is competition-based. If Bravo viewers love cooking shows with a lot of intensity, Top Chef is a good option.

This series puts its contestants through a series of cooking challenges as they compete for the title of Top Chef. Even though this series isn’t Bravo’s usual programming, it’s one of Bravo’s most well-known and successful. There are multiple spinoffs, adaptations, and the series even won two Emmy awards!

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