WINNERS! For two decades, readers have relied on the 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. First up, we’re sharing winners for all categories in Wake County, with Durham and Orange counties to follow. 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 Durham and Orange County winners throughout the year and, in December, a special print edition rounding up the best of the best across the Triangle.
FOOD & BEVERAGE Be S t alcoholic cocktail S FOUNDATION
Runners-up: Dram & Draught, Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Be S t bagel
Benchwarmers Bagels
Runners-up: New York Bagel & Deli, Bruegger's Bagels
Be S t Bakery
Boulted Bread
Runners-up: Paul and Jack, Yellow Dog Bread Company
Be S t Barbecue
Longleaf Swine
Runners-up: Prime Barbeque, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Beer Retail Store
State of Beer
Runners-up: House of Hops, Tasty Beverage Company, House Creek Beverage Company
Be S t Bi S cuit S
State Farmers Market Restaurant
Runners-up: The Flying Biscuit Cafe, Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
Be S t Brewery (brewed locally)
Trophy Brewing
Runners-up: Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie, R&D Brewing
Be S t Brunch Re S taurant
Irregardless
Runners-up: Hummingbird, PRESS Coffee
Crêpes Cocktails, Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie
Be S t Hot Dog
Snoopy's Hot Dogs & More
Runners-up: The Roast Grill, The Cardinal Bar
Be S t Burger
Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie
Runners-up: Shake Shack, LaGana, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Catering
Sassool
Runners-up: Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Cheap Eat S
Char-Grill
Runners-up: Snoopy's Hot Dogs & More, Benny Capitale's, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Chine S e Re S taurant
Imperial Garden Chinese Restaurant
Runners-up: Peace China, Chengdu 7
Be S t Coffee Shop
NoRa Cafe
Runners-up: Jubala Coffee, Sola Coffee Cafe
Be S t De SS ert S
Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
Runners-up: Bittersweet, Groovy Duck
Bakery, Asali Desserts & Cafe
Be S t Draft Selection
Raleigh Beer Garden
Runners-up: Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Ethnic Grocery Store
Grand Asia Market
Runners-up: Golden Hex European Food Market, A&C Supermarket
Be S t Food Truck
Mr. Burro Breakfast + coffee
Runners-up: 454 Grill, Qspresso
Be S t Indian Re S taurant
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Runners-up: Bombay Curry, Kebab and Curry
Be S t Italian Re S taurant
Vic's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Runners-up: Cafe Tiramisu, Vivo Ristorante
Be S t Japane S e Re S taurant
Waraji Japanese Restaurant
Runners-up: O-Ku, Sushi Mon
Be S t Late Night Meal -
Pa S t 10 p.m.
Cook Out
Runners-up: Heavenly Buffaloes, Benny Capitale's, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Mexican Re S taurant
Gringo A Go Go
Runners-up: El Rodeo, Mi Cancun
Be S t Neighborhood Bar FOUNDATION
Runners-up: Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t New Re S taurant
(within 12 month S )
Brodeto
Runners-up: Postino Village District, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Non-Alcoholic Drink S (not coffee)
Cha House
Runners-up: Pixels Bar + Arcade, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Pizza
Oakwood Pizza Box
Runners-up: Trophy Pizza, Tony's Pizza
Be S t Wine Retail Store
Total Wine & More
Runners-up: Wine Authorities Raleigh, Taylor's Wine Shop, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
Catering
Be S t Seafood
N.C. Seafood Restaurant at the Farmers Market
Runners-up: St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Cape Fear Seafood Company
Be S t Small Plate S /Tapa S
Barcelona Wine Bar
Runners-up: Madre, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
Be S t Southern Food
Big Ed's City Market Restaurant
Runners-up: Longleaf Swine, Mac's Speed Shop
Be S t Su S hi
Waraji Japanese Restaurant
Runners-up: Oku, Sushi Mon
Be S t Thai Re S taurant
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
Runners-up: Osha Thai Kitchen and Sushi, Anise Pho
Be S t Vegetarian Eatery Irregardless
Runners-up: The Fiction Kitchen, Pure Vegan, Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Be S t Wine Li S t
Angus Barn
Runners-up: Vita Vite, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
Be S t Wing S
Woody's Sports Tavern & Grill
Runners-up: Heavenly Buffaloes, Mac's Speed Shop
Best
in Wake County: Sassool. PHOTO BY BEN MCKEOWN
Best Japanese Restaurant in Wake County: Waraji Japanese Restaurant.
PHOTO BY JEREMY M. LANGE
PLACES Be S t Wedding/Event Venue
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Runners-up: Heights House Hotel, Melrose Knitting Mill
Be S t Alcohol-Free Venue
Marbles Kids Museum
Runner-up: Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)
Be S t Arboretum or Garden
JC Raulston Arboretum
Runners-up: North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh Rose Garden
Be S t Bike Trail Greenway
Runners-up: Neuse River Trail, Lake Crabtree Park
Be S t Co-Working Space
Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)
Runners-up: Raleigh Founded, Flourish Coworking
Be S t Dance Venue
Legends Nightclub
Runners-up: Sunday Dancing @ Raleigh Elks Lodge, Fred Astaire Dance StudiosMorrisville
Be S t Golf Cour S e
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Runners-up: Wildwood, Pine Hollow Golf Club
Be S t Park
William B. Umstead State Park
Runners-up: Downtown Cary Park, Dorothea Dix Park, North Carolina Museum of Art
Be S t Hotel
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Runners-up: The Longleaf Hotel and Lounge, Heights House Hotel
Be S t Hotel Lounge
The Longleaf Hotel and Lounge
Runners-up: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
indy Best of the Triangle 2025: Wake County
Best Park in Wake County: William B. Umstead State Park PHOTO COURTESY OF RALEIGH.GOV
indy Best of the Triangle 2025: Wake County
Be S t Karaoke Place/Event
Neptunes Parlour
Runners-up: Berkeley Cafe, Flex Nightclub - Karaoke, StarBar Raleigh
Be S t Place to take a Fir S t Date
North Carolina Museum of Art
Runners-up: Downtown Cary Park, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
Be S t Place To Take An Out-of-Towner
North Carolina Museum of Art
Runners-up: The Raleigh Market, Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
Be S t Place to People Watch
Downtown Raleigh
Runners-up: North Carolina Museum of Art, The Raleigh Market
Be S t Sport S Bar The Players Retreat
Runners-up: Mac's Speed Shop, Bru’s Public House
Be S t Summer Camp
Raleigh Little Theatre
Runners-up: Temple Beth Or Preschool and Kindergarten, Arts Together Inc
Be S t Trivia Bar/Event
Raleigh Brewing Company
Runners-up: Trivia Night with Andy @ Nancy's Pizza, Clouds Brewing Tap Room
Be S t Pre S chool/ Early Education Program
Temple Beth Or Preschool and Kindergarten
Runners-up: Project Enlightenment, Greenwood Forest Children's Center
PEOPLE & MISC. Be S t Chef
Ashley Christensen
Runners-up: Scott Crawford, Silvano Garcia
Be S t DJ
Luxe Posh
Runners-up: Bunn DJ Company, 20th Century Boy
Be S t Draft-Slinger
Cailin Peterson @ Clouds Brewing Raleigh Taproom
Runners-up: Tom Fischer @ Person St. Bar, Jake @ House of Hops
Be S t Mixologi S t
Kyle Hankin @ Foundation
Runners-up: Ingrid Folkers @ Whiskey Kitchen, Kaylah Thomas @ Gussie's
Be S t Local Activi S t Group
Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH)
Runners-up: Livable Raleigh, NC Triangle DSA, Emancipate North Carolina
Be S t Non-Profit
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Runners-up: Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH), Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue
Be S t Kid S Non-Profit
Note in the Pocket
Runners-up: Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub (RUMAH), Hope for Teens
Be S t Rea S on to Love Wake County
Parks and Green Spaces
Runners-up: Diverse Community, Arts and Culture
Be S t Local Band
Dan Davis Group
Runners-up: The Embers, Truth Club, Ghostt Bllonde
Be S t Local Influcener
Kiara Ruth (@the.bananamoon)
Runners-up: Sana Siddiqui (@therealsanas), Meghan Grant (@imfixintoblog), Miriam Tolbert (@MIR.I.AM)
Be S t Politician
Roy Cooper
Runners-up: Jeff Jackson, Josh Stein
Be S t Rea S on to Leave Wake County
Republican State Politicians
Runners-up: Traffic, Crowded
Be S t U S e of Public Money
Affordable Housing
Runners-up: Parks, Wake County Public Libraries
Bigge S t Wa S te of Public Money
Republicans Fighting Allison Riggs' Legitimate Win
Runners-up: Tax Credits for Developers, Bike Lanes
HEALTH Be S t Barber Shop
The Herr Cutter
Runners-up: Arrow, All In Luxe Cuts, Sam and Bill's Hair Design
Be S t Childcare
Children's Lighthouse of Raleigh
Runners-up: Sas Institute Montessori, Preschool, The Learning Experience - Apex
Be S t Chiropractic Practice
Oak City Chiropractic
Runners-up: Infinite Wellness, Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic
Be S t Dental Practice
Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry
Runners-up: St. Mary's Family Dentistry, Edward Wood, DDS: Family Dentistry
Be S t Dermatological Practice
CLARA Dermatology
Runners-up: Blue Ridge Dermotology Cary, Cary Dermatology Center
Be S t Gym
Oak and Iron Fitness
Runners-up: Planet Fitness, Renu Health and Fitness
Be S t Hair Salon
Tone Hair Salon
Runners-up: Moss Salon, Tanas Hair Designs & Day Spa
Be S t Holi S tic Medicine
A New Day Integrative Health and Wellness
Runners-up: Raleigh Health and Wellness, Cary Holistic Health
Be S t Ma SS age Therapi S t
Laura Gries @ Awakenings Health
Runners-up: Raleigh Health & Wellness Center, Tranquil Oaks (Inside A New Day), Kneaded Massage
Be S t Pediatric Practice
Durant Road Pediatrics
Runners-up: HealthPark Pediatrics, Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatrics
Be S t Spa
Blue Water Spa
Runners-up: Colette Skincare, Lorena Luca MED + SPA
Be S t Dog Veterinarian Practice
Care First Animal Hospital
Runners-up: Falls Village Veterinary Hospital, Grace Park Animal Hospital, Armadale Animal Hospital
Be S t Cat Veterinarian
Care First Animal Hospital
Runners-up: Magnolia Animal Hospital, Carpenter Animal Hospital and Pet Inn
Be S t Women' S Health Practice
Wilkerson Obstetrics And Gynecology
Runners-up: Wake Women's Health, Durham Women's Clinic
Be S t Yoga Studio
YoBa Studio
Runners-up: Homebody Yoga and Wellness, Barre-Up Raleigh
Be S t Acupuncture Practice
A New Day Integrative Health and Wellness
Runners-up: Dr. Adam Gries @ Awakenings Health, Infinite Wellness
indy Best of the Triangle 2025: Wake County
BUSINESSES Be S t Attorney
Cara Gibbons, Sterling Law
Runners-up: Becker Law Offices, PC, Donna R. Cohen, Attorney at Law
Be S t Auto Mechanic
Precision Tune Auto Care
Runners-up: Brown's Alignment, Brake, and Auto Repair, Fuquay Tire & Automotive Center
Be S t CBD/Head Shop
Hempie's
Runners-up: Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary, NC Hemp Shoppe, Nature's Releaf Hemp Store®
Be S t Clothing Con S ignment
MODE Consignment Boutique
Runners-up: Revolver Consignment Boutique, ADORE Women’s Clothing Designer Resale Boutique
Be S t Dance Studio
Stage Door Dance Productions
Runners-up: Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Apex, Fred Astaire Dance StudiosMorrisville
Be S t Dog Boarding
Dog Diggity Daycare & Boarding
Runners-up: Leesville Animal Hospital PA, Pack&Pride
Be S t Dog Grooming
Pawfection Salon NC
Runners-up: City Pet Grooming, Pack&Pride
Be S t Dog Training
Sally Said So! Professional Dog Training
Runners-up: Symbio Dog Training, Pack&Pride, All Dogs Allowed
Be S t Dog Walking
Pack&Pride
Runners-up: aMANda'S BEST FRIEND, Hooman on Demand
Be S t Dog Sitting
Dog Diggity Daycare & Boarding
Runners-up: aMANda'S BEST FRIEND, Pack&Pride
Be S t Electrician
Chris Lee Electric, Inc.
Runners-up: Dog Face Electrical Contractors LLC, Bright Electricians
Be S t Flori S t
Fallon's Flowers
Runners-up: TG Floristry, Carlton’s Flowers
Be S t Game Store
Hidden Block Games
Runners-up: Game Theory Duraleigh, Side Quest Game Lounge + Bar
Be S t HVAC Company
Comfort Monster Heating & Air
Runners-up: Tech-On-Deck Heating, Air & Electric, Carroll Service Company Inc.
indy Best of the Triangle 2025: Wake County
A
Be S t In S urance Company
Farm Bureau Insurance
Runners-up: Amanda Hagood - State Farm Insurance Agent, Melvin PatrickState Farm Insurance Agent
Be S t Jeweler/Jewelry Store
Bailey's Fine Jewelry
Runners-up: Fink's Jewelers, Quercus Studio
Be S t Land S caper
Four Seasons Landscaping and Maintenance, Inc.
Runners-up: Brookscapes, Fine Lines Landscaping
Be S t Local Book S tore
Quail Ridge Books
Runners-up: Blackbird Books and Coffee, So & So Books
Be S t Men' S Clothing Store
Raleigh Denim Workshop + Curatory
Runners-up: Kannon's Clothing Men's, Bonobos
Be S t New Busine SS (within 12 month S )
PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails
Runners-up: Pixels Bar + Arcade, marketingFORWARD
Be S t Painter S
Alvarez Painting
Runners-up: Anderson Painting, Montoya Paint and Power Wash
Be S t Real E S tate Company
Raleigh Realty
Runners-up: Berkshire Hathaway
HomeServices, Linda Nuxoll, RealtorRaleigh Durham Chapel Hill
Be S t Realtor
Gracie Goins
Runners-up: Jarrett Jost, Chuck Belden
Be S t Place to Buy Locally Made Craft S /Art
Bayleaf Market
Runners-up: The Raleigh Market, Deco Raleigh
Be S t Vintage Store
Cheshire Cat Antique Gallery
Runners-up: Father & Son Vintage, TrunkShow, Pallbearer
Be S t Women' S Clothing Store
The Flourish Market
Runners-up: Bless Your Heart Boutique, MADISON | Village District
ARTS Be S t Art Gallery (Art for sale)
Artspace
Runners-up: The Raleigh Market, Bayleaf Market
Be S t Art Mu S eum
North Carolina Museum of Art
Runners-up: Gregg Museum of Art & Design, CAM Raleigh
Be S t Science/Hi S tory Mu S eum
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Runners-up: North Carolina Museum of History, Marbles Kids Museum
Be S t Comedy Club/Event
Goodnights Comedy Club
Runners-up: Raleigh Improv, Raleigh Comedy Festival, Awful Movie Club
Be S t Theatre Company
Raleigh Little Theatre
Runners-up: Theatre in the Park, Burning Coal Theatre Company
Be S t Mu S ic Fe S tival
Hopscotch Music Festival
Runners-up: Dreamville Fest, Midtown Beach Music Series
Be S t Drag Show/Event
Legends Nightclub
Runners-up: Ruby Deluxe Drag Brunch, Drag Story Hour (Triangle Area), Raleigh Drag Dinner @ Libations 317
Be S t Electronic Concert Venue
Red Hat Amphitheater
Runners-up: The Ritz, Lincoln Theatre, Alchemy
Be S t Unplugged Concert Venue
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Runners-up: Red Hat Amphitheater, The Ritz
Be S t Film Theatre Venue/ Event
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh
Runners-up: The Rialto, The Cary Theater, Cinemark Bistro Raleigh
Be S t Local/Regional Podca S t Level Up Artists
Runners-up: Pack Pride Podcast, Ovies & Giglio
Be S t Mural
All Are Welcome 428 S McDowell St
Runners-up: Our Vote is Power on Glenwood Ave., Life in Bloom E Main, Garner
Be S t Radio Station Serving Wake County
91.5 WUNC
Runners-up: 88.1 WKNC, 105.1 FM
Wake County
