Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the CLTtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Charlotte a better place to live.
From high-level dining experiences and accommodations to places to unwind and relax, here are your top choices in each of our categories.
Psst — Scroll to the bottom of this article for a map view.
Food & Beverage
Breweries + Distilleries
Your locally crafted haven of small-batch spirits with a focus on quality and community roots.
🏆 First place: Vaulted Oak Brewing | Craft beers, wine, and plenty of non-alcoholic beers make this spot your No. 1 choice in breweries — plus, it’s gorgeous whether you sit inside or out.
🥈 Runner Up: Sycamore Brewing
Honoree: Edge City Brewery
Brunch
Your favorite place for a mid-morning weekend indulgence.
🏆 First place: Cafe South | It’s not Saturday morning in our city without the pancakes, grits, and omelettes served up at this comforting spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Dean’s Italian Steakhouse
Honoree: Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Coffee Shop
Your go-to spot for the perfect latte, cold brew, or tea.
🏆 First place: The Hobbyist | This favorite coffee shop not only has delicious espresso drinks and specialty lattes (looking at you, black walnut latte), but beer, wine, and fun events.
🥈 Runner Up: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Honoree: Night Swim Roastery & Cafe
Fine Dining
A place to savor exquisite dishes where every detail is designed to impress.
🏆 First place: Steak 48 | Seafood, steaks, and chops await at this elegant destination perfect for a special night out.
🥈 Runner Up: Dean’s Italian Steakhouse
Honoree: Peppervine
Food Trucks
Your fave mobile food businesses offering diverse, convenient, and freshly prepared meals.
🏆 First place: Ms. Nicci’s Goodie Wagon | Our sweet tooth loves to see this food truck coming — sample specialty cakes, pies, and gourmet candy apples from this mobile treat wagon.
🥈 Runner Up: Deejai Food Truck
Honoree: LKN Cheesecakery
Happy Hour
Your relaxing choice for the best deals on drinks and appetizers.
🏆 First place: Fahrenheit Charlotte | Your happy hour deals wouldn’t be complete with the sweeping city views offered at this rooftop hot spot.
🥈 Runner Up: DTR Dilworth
Honoree: Moxy Charlotte Downtown
Ice Cream + Desserts
A sweet spot for all ages, dishing out locally inspired ice cream made with fresh ingredients.
🏆 First place: Two Scoops Creamery Plaza Midwood | Indulge in 100+ flavors of quality ice cream when you visit this local chain that originated in Plaza Midwood.
🥈 Runner Up: Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream
Honoree: LKN Cheesecakery
Lunch Spot
Your midday choice for a good sandwich, soup, or salad for a quick light bite.
🏆 First place: Cafe South | You not only voted this local spot No. 1 for brunch, but No. 1 for lunch — the country fried steak is a favorite.
🥈 Runner Up: YAFO Kitchen
Honoree: Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria
Outdoor Dining
The best rooftops and patios for enjoying a meal while soaking up the sun.
🏆 First place: Fahrenheit Charlotte | City views, an outdoor fireplace, sushi, pizza, and signature entrees are offered at this rooftop hot spot.
🥈 Runner Up: DTR Dilworth
Honoree: Aura Rooftop
Sports Bar
Where you head to for the next sports game, a wide menu of drinks, and game-day cravings.
🏆 First place: Angry Ale’s | There’s nowhere you’d rather watch the game than at this pub with 16 beers on tap.
🥈 Runner Up: Blinders Sports Lounge
Honoree: Growlers Pourhouse
Tap Rooms
A spot guaranteed to deliver a delicious, locally crafted beer.
🏆 First place: Vaulted Oak Brewing | Craft beers, wine, and plenty of non-alcoholic beers make this spot your No. 1 choice in tap rooms.
🥈 Runner Up: NoDa Brewing Company
Honoree: Edge City Brewery
Winery or Wine Bar
Your spot to enjoy crafted wine, offering a taste of the area’s unique flavors and traditions.
🏆 First place: DTR Dilworth | You love sipping wine and sampling charcuterie around the romantic patio at this cozy spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden
Honoree: Flight
Community
Apartment Complex
Apartment complexes with features, designs, and amenities that make you feel at home.
🏆 First place: The Colony Apartments | This complex with a swimming pool, fitness center, saunas, and a golf simulator landed the No. 1 spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Village at Commonwealth
Honoree: Linea
Coworking Location
The best place in town to be productive and collaborate.
🏆 First place: Alchemy CoWorking | Jazz up your business by coworking at this spot offering desks, offices, and meeting rooms.
🥈 Runner Up: CLT Creative Workspace
Honoree: The Mill Coworking
Dentist
Helping you smile brighter with gentle care and expert treatment.
🏆 First place: Kakouras Family Dentistry | It’s time to start getting your dental cleanings in a massage chair — this family dentistry features modern facilities and a courteous, professional staff.
🥈 Runner Up: Three Leaf Orthodontics
Honoree: Ballantyne Pediatric Dentistry
Gym + Fitness Center
Your favorite place to pump iron and get a sweat in.
🏆 First place: MOTION Fitness | MOTION is more than just a gym — strength classes, boxing, and yoga are offered at this center with an emphasis on personal training and recovery.
🥈 Runner Up: AerialCLT
Honoree: THE CLUB
Home Service Provider
Your go-to for carpentry, flooring, and all things home improvement + repair.
🏆 First place: Call Dad | When it comes to heating and cooling solutions in the area, don’t overthink — just Call Dad.
🥈 Runner Up: McClintock Heating and Cooling
Honoree: Lake Norman Lawn Services
Local Influencer + Celebrity
Your passionate leaders and trendsetters who are driving community awareness.
🏆 First place: Andrea Fox | Follow social media coach and creator Dre for advice on turning your business digital.
🥈 Runner Up: The Dean’s List
Honoree: Cory Wilkins
Local Nonprofit
Local organizations going above and beyond to fuel positive community impact.
🏆 First place: Life For The Hopeless Foundation | This local nonprofit is raising mental health awareness and connecting school-age youth and young adults with treatment and prevention services.
🥈 Runner Up: Girl Flow Inc
Honoree: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Medical Center
Facilities offering a range of healthcare services, including diagnostics and specialized care.
🏆 First place: Beyond The Weight | With a focus on nutrition, exercise, behavior modification, among other modalities, this medical clinic offers physician-guided weight loss.
🥈 Runner Up: Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Honoree: Atrium Health/CMC Main
Photographer
High-level creatives who knock how to capture compelling images through artistic vision.
🏆 First place: Poprock Photography | Your wedding, headshot, or special event is in good hands with this local expert based in Charlotte.
🥈 Runner Up: Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography
Honoree: Silver Monkey Images
Real Estate Agent + Group
Nominate the real estate agent or group that helped secure your dream home.
🏆 First place: Christen Ripoli - Realtor | Buy or sell your dream Charlotte home with the client-first approach of this local realtor.
🥈 Runner Up: WeSellUptown.com | Scott Russo
Honoree: Best In The Carolinas
Spas + Salons
The best option for hair care or a spa-day to unwind and treat yourself.
🏆 First place: Woodhouse Spa | Whether you want to relax in a massage or glow from a facial, trust the Charlotte location of this spa to get you there.
🥈 Runner Up: Queen City Beauty Studio
Honoree: Superbloom Hair Studio
Sports Medicine
Expert care for athletes of all levels—helping you recover, perform, and stay in the game.
🏆 First place: OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center | From “patients seeking to maintain mobility, to high school and college athletes, to professional and Olympic competitors,” this center sets the standard in our state for sports medicine care.
🥈 Runner Up: Carolina Sports Clinic
Honoree: Charlotte Lifestyle Medicine
Veterinary Clinics
Where pets are treated like family—offering gentle, comprehensive care for your furry pals.
🏆 First place: CARE | Charlotte Animal Referral & Emergency | Our city’s pets have this open-24-hours clinic to thank for quick responses and treatment.
🥈 Runner Up: Stand For Animals Veterinary Clinic
Honoree: Queen City Animal Hospital
Entertainment & Retail
Arts + Craft Store
From projects to crafts, find everything you need to create and make memories together.
🏆 First place: Upcycle Arts | Your craft materials have a second purpose when they come from this non-profit — they were collected from local businesses and residents and diverted from landfills.
🥈 Runner Up: Paper Skyscraper
Honoree: Archer Paper Goods
Bookstore
Your curated selection of literature, cozy reading nooks, and a community for curious minds.
🏆 First place: Park Road Books | Your new favorite page-turner is waiting at this local gem. Bonus: Join a book club or catch a special author event.
🥈 Runner Up: Book Buyers
Honoree: Belmont Bookshop
Museum
The places to explore history, culture, art, and science through curated exhibits.
🏆 First place: Levine Museum of the New South | We’re on the edge of our seat waiting to see where this No. 1 museum winner will set up permanent shop — for now, catch partner events with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and other local organizations.
🥈 Runner Up: Mint Museum Uptown
Honoree: Discovery Place Science
Music Venue
A vibrant hub for live performances showcasing local and touring artists.
🏆 First place: Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | See your favorite musical artists on tour at this No. 1 live music venue.
🥈 Runner Up: PNC Music Pavilion
Honoree: The Fillmore Charlotte
Party Venue
A dedicated space designed for hosting celebrations, events, and gatherings.
🏆 First place: The Duke Mansion | With a picturesque lawn and a stunning terrace, this venue will make your special day more special — inquiries now open for 2027 weddings (and only 25 a year are available).
🥈 Runner Up: VanLandingham Estate
Honoree: The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing
Pet-Friendly Venue
Your favorite place to eat, drink, play, or stay with your furry friend.
🏆 First place: Vaulted Oak Brewing | Your dog can’t enjoy the craft beer, but they’ll still have a great time enjoying this brewery’s outdoor space alongside you.
🥈 Runner Up: Charlotte Beer Garden
Honoree: The Painted Rooster
Theater + Performance Venue
Your venue of choice for live artistic performances and award-winning shows.
🏆 First place: Theatre Charlotte | Local shows come alive at this community theater that supports The Penguin Project, a national non-profit providing theater opportunities for young artist with learning challenges, developmental and physical disabilities.
🥈 Runner Up: The Keepers of Balance
Honoree: Funny Bus Comedy City Tour
Vintage + Resale Shops
Where to shop sustainably and stylishly with handpicked pieces that celebrate the past.
🏆 First place: The Missing Piece Vintage and Antiques | Your next favorite home good is likely tucked away at this eclectic antique store.
🥈 Runner Up: Thrift Pony
Honoree: METROLION Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage & Estate Marketplace
