BEST DRY CLEANER
Golden Horseshoe
POLO CLEANERS
Silver Horseshoe
ORTEGA CLEANERS
BEST CLOTHING
Ste. C11, 31105 Rancho Viejo Rd., 949.7354
Another perennial winner, Polo’s record on the Golden Horseshoe is as spotless as one of the shirts cleaned at the Marbella Plaza shop. Polo’s open every day, offers free pickup and delivery and makes your dry cleaning one less thing to worry about. 27184 Ortega Highway, 949.248.3405
Always the bridesmaid in this category, but that means solid service, too.
ABBY’S FINE JEWELRY DESIGN 32382 Del Obispo St #C3, 949.493.3632
This local jewelry store has established itself among San Juan’s quaint community for the last six years. The perfect place for wedding rings or a gift for someone special, this family-run shop offers custom made pieces as well as cleaning services and maintenance.
Silver Horseshoe
THE CARVED HORSE
Silver Horseshoe
ROSS DRESS FOR LESS
31952 Camino Capistrano, 949.661.9780
Like a classic outfit that never goes out of style, Carved Horse keeps winning the Golden Horseshoe in this category. Owner Sharon Applegarth has been in town 20 years and has well established her shop’s reputation as the only place to go for fine ladies’ apparel—for everything from sportswear to evening wear.
32051 Camino Capistrano, 949.496.2338
You have to a hunt a bit, but there’s treasures to be found.
BEST FLOWERS
BEST JEWELRY
Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horseshoe
ZIA JEWELRY
31761 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.1322
Last year’s Golden winner, Zia offers a great variety of one-of-a-kind pieces.
Golden Horseshoe
MOTHER EARTH
32158 Camino Capistrano #105, 949.493.4400
A 21-year business in town, Mother Earth offers hard-to-find flowers wrapped up in stunning arrangements. The store owners are great corporate citizens, too, donating to charities and supporting various efforts. They also have a shop in Lake Forest, so wherever you need to send flowers, they can get them there.
Silver Horseshoe
PANAGE
31876 Del Obispo, 949.661.1858
A first-time Silver winner last year, we like the tropicals at Panage.
Abby Kahn of Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design enjoys what he does. “We just offer good service and we treat everybody as we’d like to be treated,” he said. Photo by Jonathan Volzke
BEST HOME DÉCOR
Golden Horseshoe
WHIM
31831 Camino Capistrano, 949.388.9600
Whim is another elder on our “Best of Capistrano” list, winning in a couple of categories every year. That’s no surprise, as the owners keep the store like a showroom, inspirational and awe-inspiring. They’re not afraid to change it up, either, so every trip is filled with discovery.
Silver Horseshoe
A TOUCH OF ELEGANCE
31770 Camino Capistrano, Suite D, 949.429.1955
New to our list, this Camino Capistrano shop has a great variety.
BEST SPOT FOR THAT “PERFECT GIFT”
Golden Horseshoe
WHIM
31831 Camino Capistrano, 949.388.9600
Whim offers gifts you won’t find anywhere else, which means whatever you give is going to leave a good impression. They’ve got chandeliers made from wine bottles, books and the sort of things that make any room look special. And don’t forget a few doors down, they have “Pink,” too, where everything is just as cool, and yes, pink.
Silver Horseshoe
ABBY’S
32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, 949.493.3632
If Abby Kahn doesn’t have the perfect gift in his display case, he can make it.
BEST VET
Golden Horseshoe
ORTEGA ANIMAL CARE
27341 Ortega Highway, 949.487.7600
Last year’s Silver winner, Ortega Animal Care takes the Gold this year. The center offers laser surgery, digital radiology, ultrasound, dentistry and has an in-house lab. Maybe it’s our agrarian roots, but we take our pets seriously in San Juan Capistrano, and so does Ortega Animal Care.
Silver Horseshoe Whim Furniture and Interior Design is upscale but not under the radar. Photo by Jonathan Volzke
wwww.thecapistranodispatch.com
DR. JACK MANNIX
32391 San Juan Creek Road, 949.493.1147
Dr. Mannix is a longtime favorite whose
won Gold in the past. 6