The often-imitated but never duplicated Best of the Triangle awards are back. For two decades, readers have relied on the INDY’s Best of the Triangle readers’ poll to help them navigate important decisions about how to spend their time, where they spend their money, and—perhaps most importantly—what to eat and drink. 

Here we’re sharing the winners in Orange and Chatham counties—a who’s who of the area’s best restaurants, pet care businesses, shops, recreational activities, and more. Whether you’re trying to find the best wings, a new dentist, your next art gallery visit, or a local cause you can get behind, we’ve got you covered with our readers’ top picks. We hope you’ll take a look and check out some of the places, people, and activities that make the community unique.

In the meantime, thank you to our readers for nominating your favorites—we couldn’t pull off Best of the Triangle without you! And congratulations to all of the finalists in Orange and Chatham, who will receive our coveted star decal and a poster to display.

Stay tuned for Durham and Wake county winners throughout the year and, in December, a special print edition rounding up the best of the best across the Triangle.

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Best Art Gallery for purchase

My Muses Card Shop & Muse Art Gallery

Runners-up: WomanCraft Gifts, FRANK Gallery

Best Art Gallery for viewing

My Muses Card Shop & Muse Art Gallery

Runners-up: FRANK Gallery, Lapin Bleu

Best Comedy Club/Event

The ArtsCenter/Once Upon A Time In Carrboro

Runners-up: Black Sheep Comedy, Yonder — Josh Rosenstein 

Best Drag Show/Event

Franny Starlight

Runners-up: Speakeasy Queer Cabaret, Pittsboro Pride: Drag Show & Dance Party 

Best Electronic Concert Venue

Cat’s Cradle

Runners-up: MOSAIC at Chatham Park, Local 506

Best Film Theatre Venue/Event

Chelsea Theater

Runners-up: Silverspot, The Lumina Theater

Best Live Theatre Company

Playmakers

Runners-up: The ArtsCenter, Stone Soup Theatre Company

Best Local/Regional Podcast

Wize Woman STORIES by Delia Quigley 

Runners-up: Hometown Holler, The Whammy Douglas Radio Hour

Best Local Band

Watchhouse

Runners-up: Tan and Sober Gentlemen, Bill Moore and His Secret Admirers

Best Museum

The Ackland

Runners-up: My Muses Card Shop & Muse Art Gallery, Orange County Historical Museum

Best Radio Station

WUNC

Runners-up: WCHL, WCOM (Carrboro)

Best Unplugged Concert Venue

Cat’s Cradle

Runners-up: Bynum Front Porch, Forest Theater

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Best Auto Dealer

Capital Ford Of Hillsborough

Runners-up: ABW Imports, Lunsford

Best Auto Mechanic

Chapel Hill Tire- Franklin St

Runners-up: Auto Logic, Wagner Tire and Auto 

Best Barber Shop

Arrow – Chapel Hill

Runners-up: Main Street Barber Shop, Snip-ish

Best Bookstore

Flyleaf Books

Runners-up: Epilogue Books, Golden Fig Books

Best CBD Shop

Oak City Hemp

Runners-up: Carolina Hemp Hut, Oasis Botanical Lounge

Best Childcare

Carolina Friends School

Runners-up: Children’s Campus, Morningside School

Best Clothing Consignment

Rumors (Chapel Hill)

Runners-up: My Secret Closet, The Stock Exchange 

Best Dance Studio

Ballet School of Chapel Hill

Runners-up: Monarch Movement Company, Studio A DanceArts

Best Dog Boarding

Green Beagle Lodge

Runners-up: Doggie Dude Ranch, Noah’s Ark Kennel and Cattery

Best Dog Grooming

Adore Mobile Pet Spa

Runners-up: Green Beagle Lodge, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Chapel Hill

Best Dog Training

Green Beagle Lodge

Runners-up: Top Dog Training and Resort, Paws4ever

Best Dog Veterinary

CityVet Chapel Hill

Runners-up: Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic, Meadowmont Animal Hospital

Best Dog Walking

Rover

Runners-up: Extraordinary Ventures Pet Service, Walk & Wag

Best Electrician

Advanced Electric of Pittsboro

Runners-up: Bonafide Electric, Bonneville Electric 

Best Florist

The Florapist

Runners-up: Victoria Park Florist, Chapel Hill Florist

Best Hair Salon

Ashlyn & Co

Runners-up: Salon Lofts – Chapel Hill, Citrine Salon

Best Home Remodeling or Renovation Company

Pope Builders, Inc

Runners-up: Moon’s Flooring, Zurbuch Construction

Best HVAC Service

Boer Brothers Heating & Cooling

Runners-up: Stone Services, Warren-Hay Mechanical

Best Insurance Company

Bonnie Rose – NC Farm Bureau Insurance 

Runners-up: Robbie Norris – NC Farm Bureau Insurance, Chan Wright Insurance Agency

Best Interior Designer

Emma Delon

Runners-up: Hummingbird Nest Interiors, MAVI Interiors

Best Jeweler/Jewelry Store

Olmaz Jewelers

Runners-up: WomanCraft Gifts, Rings True 

Best Landscaping/Yard Care

Roots and Sproots

Runners-up: O’Mara Landscaping, Tarheel Turf Lawn Care & Maintenance 

Best Local Bookstore

Flyleaf Books

Runners-up: Epilogue Books, Golden Fig Books

Best New Business

Even Dough Bakery (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Aromakology Scent Studio, NextEra Strategies

Best Painter

Carolina Professional Painting – Giuseppi Silenzi

Runners-up: Dingfelder’s Painting Services, Ramirez Painting

Best Place to Buy Locally Made Crafts/Art

WomanCraft Gifts

Runners-up: My Muses Card Shop & Muse Art Gallery, Hillsborough Arts Council Gift Shop

Best Plumber

Carrboro Plumbing

Runners-up: Boer Brothers, Full Stack Plumbing and Well

Best Real Estate Company

Independent Brokerage Alliance

Runners-up: Triangle Key by Flex Realty, Weaver Street Realty

Best Realtor

Carla Sartor

Runners-up: Kelly Alexander, Shelby Bishop

Best Roofing Contractor

Roofcrafters

Runners-up: Triangle’s Trusted Roofing, Big Bear Roofing

Best Vintage Store

New Karma for Old Threads

Runners-up: The Consignors, Uniquities Hillsborough 

Best Women’s Clothing Store

Sofia’s Boutique

Runners-up: Narrative and Co., Uniquities

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Best Alcoholic Cocktails

Atlas 

Runners-up: Crunkleton, The Beagle

Best Asian Restaurant

Jade Palace

Runners-up: Thai Station, Red Lotus 

Best Bakery

Guglhupf Bake Shop 

Runners-up: Tonya’s, Even Dough Bakery 

Best Barbecue

The Pig

Runners-up: Allen & Son Bar-B-Que, Hillsborough BBQ Company

Best Beer Retail Store

Beer Study

Runners-up: Steel String Brewery, Growler Grlz Southern Village

Best Biscuits

Sunrise Biscuit

Runners-up: Rise, Calevander Food Market

Best Brewery

Steel String Brewery 

Runners-up: Haw River Tap & Table, Eno River Brewing

Best Burger

Al’s Burger Shack

Runners-up: Wooden Nickel, Coco Bistro & Bar

Best Cheap Eats

The Loop

Runners-up: Imbibe, Calevander Food Market

Best Cheese Shop

Weaver Street 

Runners-up: Wedgewood Cheese Bar, New Hope Market

Best Chinese Cuisine

Jade Palace

Runners-up: Red Lotus, Gourmet Kingdom

Best Coffee Shop

Lanza’s Cafe

Runners-up: Caffè Driade, Open Eye Cafe 

Best Desserts

Guglhupf Bake Shop 

Runners-up: Coco Bistro & Bar, Even Dough Bakery 

Best Draft Selection

Speakeasy (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Growler Grlz Southern Village, Top of The Hill

Best Ethnic Grocery Store

Cliff’s Meat Market (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Mediterranean Deli, Mariakakis Fine Food & Wine 

Best Food Truck

Mi Oaxaca Taquería

Runners-up: Ta Contento, Garnachas Rivera

Best Indian Restaurant

Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe 

Runners-up: Rasa Malaysia, Lime & Lemon Chapel Hill

Best Italian Restaurant

Tesoro

Runners-up: Italian Pizzaria III, Antonia’s

Best Late Night Meal (Past 10 PM)

The Northside District 

Runners-up: Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, Time-Out Restaurant 

Best Mexican Restaurant

Carrburritos

Runners-up: Que Chula, Ixtapa

Best Neighborhood Bar

Spotted Dog

Runners-up: Orange County Social Club, Haw River Tap & Table

Best New Restaurant

Serratore

Runners-up: Road to Myanmar, Xolos Cocina Mexicana

Best Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Boro Beverage & Bodega

Runners-up: Lanza’s Cafe, Perennial

Best Pizza

Pizzeria Mercato

Runners-up: Napoli Pizzeria, Serratore’s Pasta and Pizza

Best Retail Wine

Trader Joes

Runners-up: Glasshalfull, Rocks & Acid

Best Seafood

Squid’s Restaurant 

Runners-up: Captain John’s Dockside, Saratoga Grill

Best Small Plates/Tapas

Glasshalfull

Runners-up: Squid’s Restaurant, Proximo

Best Sushi Restaurant

Akai Hana 

Runners-up: Spicy 9, Oishii

Best Vegan Restaurant

Spotted Dog (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Coco Bistro & Bar, Vimala’s

Best Vegetarian Eateries

Spotted Dog 

Runners-up: Coco Bistro & Bar, Vimala’s Curry Blossom Cafe 

Best Wine List

Glasshalfull

Runners-up: Bluebird, Hawthorn and Wood

Best Wings

Heavenly Buffalo’s

Runners-up: Wooden Nickel Pub, Four Corners

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Best Alternative Medicine

The Wellness Alliance (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Southern Village Acupuncture & Herbology, Holistic Health & Medicine 

Best Cat Veterinary

CityVet Chapel Hill

Runners-up: Fearrington Veterinary House Calls, Carrboro Plaza Vet Clinic

Best Chiropractor

Dr. Chas Gaertner, NC Chiropractic

Runners-up: Heartwood Chiropractic of Chapel Hill, Swiss Chiropractic Clinique

Best Dentist

Holman Family Dental Care

Runners-up: Cornerstone Family Dentistry, Eno River dental

Best Dermatologist

Central Dermatology Center

Runners-up: UNC Dermatology, Chapel Hill Dermatology

Best Gym

Orange County Sportsplex

Runners-up: FIT Carrboro, O2 Fitness Carrboro 

Best Massage Therapist

Carole L. Pope

Runners-up: Kathryn Kager – Massage and Bodywork, Jeff Wells – Wellsport Bodyworks

Best Pediatrics

Chapel Hill Pediatrics

Runners-up: Carrboro Pediatrics & Internal Medicine, Avance Care Pediatrics

Best Personal Trainer

Leslie Bodner of Bodfit 510

Runners-up: Kyle McDermott – K2FitLabs, Gayle Silver – FIT Carrboro 

Best Physical Therapy Practice

Balanced Movement Studio

Runners-up: Kenny & Associates Physical Therapy, Results Physiotherapy 

Best Spa

Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat

Runners-up: MEDSPA 501, Monarch Brow & Facial Studio 

Best Women’s Health Practice

Chapel Hill OBGYN

Runners-up: For Women, UNC Midwives

Best Yoga Studio

Franklin Street Yoga

Runners-up: Loving Kindness Yoga School, YogaSix Chapel Hill

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Best Adult Nonprofit

The ArtsCenter (Carrboro)

Runners-up: Extraordinary Ventures, Carolina Abortion Fund

Best Bartender

Bear – Growler Grlz Southern Village

Runners-up: Emmy Andreasson – Steel String, Eryk Pruitt – Yonder Southern Cocktails and Brew

Best Chef

Vimala Rajendran – Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafè

Runners-up: Leslie Chartier -The Travelling Café, Garret Fleming – Bombolo 

Best DJ

Jenny Sais Quoi

Runners-up: DJ Ryan the DJ, DJ Damu 

Best Kept Secret

Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary

Runners-up: The Travelling Cafe, The Whammy Douglas Radio Hour

Best Kids Nonprofit

Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary

Runners-up: Kidzu, Camp Chestnut Ride

Best Local Activist Group

Siembra, NC

Runners-up: Friends of Bolin Creek, Chatham County Democrats

Best Local Cause/Nonprofit Impact Award

Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary

Runners-up: Carrboro In Motion, B3

Best Mixologist

Zach White (Belltree) 

Runners-up: William Clark (Atlas), Addie Campbell (Atlas) 

Best Use of Public Money

Orange County Public Library

Runners-up: Chapel Hill Public Library, WCOM (Carrboro)

Worst Waste of Money

Anything supporting ICE

Runners-up: Changing the UNC logo, Closing Weaver Street in Carrboro studies

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Best Alcohol-Free Venue

Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area

Runners up: Cat Tales Cat Cafe, Chapel Hill Public Library

Best Arboretum or Garden

North Carolina Botanical Gardens

Runners-up: American Indian Cultural Garden at UNC, Coker Arboretum

Best Camp

Carolina Friends School Summer Programs

Runners-up: Camp Chestnut Ridge, The ArtsCenter 

Best Dog Park

Gold Park

Runners-up: Southern Community Dog Park, Homestead Dog Park 

Best Golf Course

UNC Finley Golf Course

Runners-up: Occoneechee Golf Club, Cedar Grove Gold Course

Best Hotel

Carolina Inn

Runners-up: Fearrington Inn, The Colonial Inn

Best Hotel Lounge

Carolina Inn

Runners-up: The Colonial Inn, The Graduate by Hilton 

Best Place to People Watch

Weaver Street Market (Carrboro)

Runners-up: The Plant, Carrboro Farmers’ Market

Best Wedding / Event Venue

The Parlour at Manns Chapel

Runners-up: Coco Bistro, North Carolina Botanical Garden

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