For two decades, readers have relied on INDY’s Best of the Triangle awards 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. 

INDY stalwarts will note that, once again, we’re rolling out winners from our highly anticipated reader poll one county at a time. Here, we’re sharing winners for all categories in Wake County. From the best restaurants, to yoga studios and hair salons, to museums, and preschools, we’ve got you covered with readers’ top picks. 

This year’s Wake County winners, as determined by our readers, have something for everyone—a greatest hits of food, bookstores, concert venues, parks, local causes and more. 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 for nominating all your favorites, and congratulations to all of the finalists in Wake, who will receive our coveted star decal and a poster to display. Stay tuned for a special print edition in December rounding up the best of the best across the Triangle.

Thank you to NC Wills and Trusts for sponsoring our Best of Wake ballot!

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Best Art Gallery for Purchase

Artspace

Best Gallery for Viewing

NC Museum of Art

Runner-up: The Centerpiece

Best Comedy Club/Event

Goodnights Comedy Club

Runner-up: Raleigh Improv

Best Drag Show/Event

GAG! Raleigh

Runner-up: Glitter Hour

Best Electronic Concert Venue

The Ritz

Runner-up: Lincoln Theater

Best Film Theatre Venue/Event

The Rialto

Runner-up: Alamo Drafthouse

Best Live Theatre Company

Theatre Raleigh

Best Local / Regional Podcast

Basically Famous

Runners-up: Ovies & Giglio, Her Seat At The Table

Best Local Band

Dallas Tetnus

Runners-up: Mipso, Bbait

Best Museum

NC Museum of Art

Runner-up: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Best Radio Station

WKNC 88.1

Runners-up: WUNC, That Station 101.5 HD2

Best Unplugged Concert Venue

Pine State Coffee

Runners-up: Raleigh Wide Open, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater

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Best Auto Dealer

Fred Anderson Toyota

Runner-up: Leith Honda

Best Auto Mechanic

Tilden Car Care Center

Runners-up: AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care, People’s Tire & Auto

Best Barber Shop

The Dominicans Barbershop

Runners-up: Professional Barbers of Cary, Arrow

Best Bookstore

Quail Ridge Books

Runners-up: Blackbird Books and Coffee, Reader’s Corner

Best Childcare

Temple Beth Or Preschool and Kindergarten

Runners-up: Schoolhouse of Wonder, Holly Springs School for Early Education

Best Clothing Consignment

Father and Sons Antiques

Runners-up: Recovered Treasures, Revolver Consignment Boutique

Best Dance Studio

Stage Door Dance Productions

Runners-up: Tutu School Cary, The DanZe Zone

Best Dog Boarding

Howling Moon Pet Care

Runner-up: Sunset Kennel

Best Dog Grooming

Pack&Pride

Runners-up: City Pet Grooming, Howling Moon Pet Care

Best Dog Training

All Dogs Allowed

Runner-up: The Collegiate Canine

Best Dog Walking

Pack&Pride

Runners-up: Amanda’s Best Friend, Peak City Puppy

Best Electrician

Dawson’s Electric & Air

Runners-up: Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric, Integrity Electric of NC

Best Florist

Teacup Floral

Runners-up: The English Garden Florist, Preston Flowers

Best Hair Salon

Tone Hair Salon

Runners-up: Alibi Collective, Southern Roots (Wendy Vaughan)

Best Hemp/CBD Shop

Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary

Runners-up: NC Hemp Shoppe, Elevate NC THCA

Best Home Remodeling or Renovation Company

The Bath Remodeling Center

Runners-up: Living Stone Design + Build, Premier Renovations

Best HVAC Service

Dawson’s Electric & Air

Runners-up: Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric, The Cool Guys Heating and Air

Best Insurance Company

Amanda Hagood State Farm

Runners-up: Matt Davis – State Farm, Farm Bureau

Best Interior Designer

Roux MacNeill Studio

Runners-up: Trig Modern, Pam Chatham Interiors

Best Jeweler / Jewelry Store

Johnson’s Jewelers of Cary

Runners-up: Mint Condition Jewelry, J.M. Edwards Jewelry

Best Landscaping / Yard Care

Yardnique

Runners-up: WingNut Yard Maintenance, Leo Landscaping

Best Law Firm

NC Wills and Trusts

Runners-up: Sterling Law Apex – Cara Gibbons, Triangle Smart Divorce

Best New Business

Sip and Shop Boutique

Runners-up: XAOS Collective, Super Rad Retro Lounge

Best Painter

Southern Boys Painting

Runners-up: Five Star Painting, Dave Hare Interiors

Best Place to Buy Locally Made Crafts/Art

Sip and Shop Boutique

Runners-up: Bayleaf Market, The Cotton Company

Best Plumber

Cary Plumbing Company

Runners-up: A&J Plumbing Services, Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric

Best Real Estate Company

Inhabit Real Estate

Runners-up: Avenue Properties, Raleigh Realty

Best Realtor

Justin Burleson

Runners-up: Will Fitzgerald – Raleigh Realty, Rachel Weatherspoon – Capital to Coast Realty

Best Roofing Contractor

Baker Roofing Company

Runners-up: Roofwerks, Artisan Quality Roofing

Best Vintage Store

Cheshire Cat Antique Gallery

Runners-up: Father and Son, Goodwill

Best Women’s Clothing Store

Bless Your Heart Boutique

Runners-up: Altar’d State, Clothes Mentor

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Best Alcoholic Cocktails

Aunty Betty’s Gin & Absinthe Bar

Runners-up: Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, The Haymaker

Best Asian Restaurant

Five Star Restaurant

Runners-up: O-Ku, Taipei 101

Best Bakery

Paul and Jack Bakery & Cafe

Runners-up: Stick Boy Bread Co., Boulted Bread

Best Barbecue

Prime Barbecue

Runners-up: Longleaf Swine, Lawrence Barbecue

Best Beer Retail Store

The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop

Runners-up: State of Beer, Peace Street Market

Best Biscuits

Flying Biscuit Cafe

Runners-up: Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, Biscuit Belly

Best Brewery

Lynwood Brewing Concern

Runners-up: Trophy Brewing Co., Crooked Hammock Brewery

Best Burger

MoJoe’s Burger Joint

Runners-up: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Neuse River Brewing

Best Cheap Eats

Cookout

Runners-up: Char-Grill, Players Retreat

Best Cheese Shop

Weaver Street Market

Runners-up: Wegmans, The Raleigh Wine Shop

Best Chinese Cuisine

Taipei 101

Runners-up: Red Dragon, G.58 Cuisine

Best Coffee Shop

Sola Coffee Cafe

Runners-up: Cup-A-Joe, Black & White Coffee

Best Desserts

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery

Runners-up: Bittersweet, Paul and Jack Bakery & Cafe

Best Draft Selection

The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop

Runners-up: Raleigh Beer Garden, Tasty Beverage Co.

Best Ethnic Grocery Stores

Grand Asia Market

Runners-up: Desi Dukaan, Patel Brothers

Best Food Truck

Utensilz Optional

Runners-up: Cousins Maine Lobster, Arepa Culture NC

Best Indian Restaurant

Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar

Runners-up: Kabab and Curry, Everest Kitchen

Best Italian Restaurant

Bella Monica

Runners-up: Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering

Best Late Night Meal (Past 10 PM)

Cookout

Runners-up: My Way Tavern, Lynwood Grill and Brewing

Best Mexican Restaurant

Gonza Tacos y Tequila

Runners-up: La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, El Jimador Mexican Restaurant

Best Neighborhood Bar

The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop

Runners-up: Person Street Bar, My Way Tavern

Best New Restaurant

Big Cat on Brookside

Runners-up: Crooked Hammock Brewery, Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

Best Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Dram + Draught

Runners-up: Tree Time THC Seltzers – Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, Tap Yard Raleigh

Best Pizza

Oakwood Pizza Box

Runners-up: Trophy Brewing & Pizza, Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Best Retail Wine

The Raleigh Wine Shop

Runners-up: The Beerded Lady, Taylor’s Wine Shop

Best Seafood

Cape Fear Seafood Company

Runners-up: Earp’s Seafood Market, The Blind Pelican Seafood House

Best Small Plates / Tapas

Barcelona Wine Bar

Runners-up: Madre, Vidrio

Best Sushi Restaurant

O-Ku

Runners-up: Waraji Japanese Restaurant, Sushi O Bistro & Sushi Bar

Best Vegan Restaurant

Fiction Kitchen

Runners-up: Irregardless, Element Gastropub

Best Vegetarian Eateries

Fiction Kitchen

Runners-up: Irregardless, Element Gastropub

Best Wine List

The Raleigh Wine Shop

Runners-up: Angus Barn, Sixty Vines

Best Wings

Wings Over Raleigh

Runners-up: Trophy Brewery & Pizza, Ba-Da Wings

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Best Alternative Medicine

Blue Water Spa

Runners-up: Cary Holistic Health, Carolina Integrative Clinic

Best Cat Veterinary

Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital

Runners-up: VetMobile, Hidden Valley Animal Hospital

Best Chiropractor

Fonke Chiropractic and Decompression Center

Runners-up: Peak Health Center, Garner Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Best Dentist

Wells Family Dental Group

Runners-up: Britt Dental Center, Dr. Paula Stapleton – Stapleton Dentistry

Best Dermatologist

Blue Ridge Dermatology

Runners-up: Oak City Dermatology, Midtown Dermatology

Best Dog Veterinary

Care First Animal Hospital at Oberlin

Runners-up: Shiloh Animal Hospital, Northwoods Animal Hospital

Best Gym

YMCA

Runners-up: Renu Health and Fitness, Oak and Iron Fitness

Best Massage Therapist

Umstead

Runners-up: Cary Massage, Massage Daze LLC – Allie Beck

Best Pediatrics

Western Wake Pediatrics

Runners-up: Oberlin Road Pediatrics, Duke Primary Care Heritage Pediatrics

Best Personal Trainer

Dino Nowak – Renu Health and Fitness

Runners-up: Justin Berger – O2 Fitness, Aaron Cziraky – Cziraky Training LLC

Best Physical Therapy Practice

Spark Physical Therapy and Performance

Runners-up: Raleigh Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Pro Motion Physical Therapy

Best Spa

Blue Water Spa

Runners-up: The MedSpa at Wake Plastic Surgery, Salon Serenity Spa

Best Women’s Health Practice

The Fountain Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Runners-up: Birch Therapy, Peri & Pause

Best Yoga Studio

CorePower Yoga

Runners-up: Zin Yoga & Wine, YogaSix Glenwood South

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Best Adult Nonprofit

Triangle Native American Society

Runner-up: Healing Transitions, Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)

Best Bartender – Draft Slinger

Cailin Peterson – Clouds Brewing

Runners-up: Eddie Arriola – The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Alison – The Hop Yard

Best Chef

Scott Crawford

Runners-up: Anita Khalek, Bobby McFarland

Best DJ

Luxe Posh

Runners-up: Miss Ashley, Bunn DJ Company

Best Kept Secret

Dix Park Hammocks

Runners-up: Cheshire Cat Antique Gallery, Copperline Plant Company

Best Kids Nonprofit

Schoolhouse of Wonder

Runners-up: SAFEchild, Community of Hope Ministries

Best Local Activist Group

Livable Raleigh

Runners-up: Progressive Democrats of Wake County, CITYBUILDER

Best Local Cause / Nonprofit Impact Award

Livable Raleigh

Runners-up: The Great Raleigh Cleanup, Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)

Best Mixologist

Bailey Gray

Runners-up: Jason Lanier, Greg Dreyer

Best Use of Public Money

Affordable Housing

Runners-up: Public Schools, Public Parks

Worst Waste of Money

Corporate tax cuts

Runners-up: MLB Stadium, Lenovo Center renovations

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Best Alcohol-Free Venue

Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)

Best Arboretum or Garden

North Carolina Museum of Art

Runners-up: Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Raleigh Rose Garden

Best Camps

Schoolhouse of Wonder

Runners-up: Falls River Music, Camp JCC

Best Dance Venue

Legends Nightclub

Runners-up: Club Era, Neptunes

Best Dog Park

Oakwood Dog Park

Runner-up: Dix Park

Best Golf Course

Raleigh Gold Association

Runner-up: Heritage Golf Course

Best Hotel

The Umstead Hotel and Spa

Runners-up: Heights House Hotel, Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown

Best Hotel Lounge

The Longleaf Hotel and Lounge

Runner-up: The Willard Raleigh

Best Place to People Watch

NC State Fair

Runners-up: Moore Square, Downtown Cary Park

Best Wedding / Event Venue

The Meadows at Firefly Farm Preserve

Runner-up: Main Street Kitchen + bar at Sip and Shop Cafe

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