Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the AVLtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Asheville 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: Highland Brewing Company | This sprawling brewery is immigrant-founded, woman-led, and home of the local favorite Cold Mountain Winter Ale.
🥈 Runner Up: Zillicoah Beer Co.
Honoree: Hillman Beer
Brunch
Your favorite place for a mid-morning weekend indulgence.
🏆 First place: Corner Kitchen | Farm to table dining in a Biltmore Village cottage = our city’s idea of how to spend Saturday mornings.
🥈 Runner Up: All Day Darling
Honoree: Biscuit Head
Coffee Shop
Your go-to spot for the perfect latte, cold brew, or tea.
🏆 First place: Dripolator Candler | Drip coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, the Cubano — it’s all good at this relaxed Candler spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Rowan Coffee
Honoree: BattleCat Coffee
Fine Dining
A place to savor exquisite dishes where every detail is designed to impress.
🏆 First place: Cúrate | Both classic Spanish tapas and modern reinterpretations make dining here a memorable night of discovery.
🥈 Runner Up: Chestnut
Honoree: Corner Kitchen
Food Trucks
Your fave mobile food businesses offering diverse, convenient, and freshly prepared meals.
🏆 First place: Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ | Indulge in Kansas City-style brisket + other BBQ faves at this restaurant, caterer, and food truck in one.
🥈 Runner Up: Guajiro
Honoree: The Smokin’ Onion Restaurant + Food Truck
Happy Hour
Your relaxing choice for the best deals on drinks and appetizers.
🏆 First place: Little Jumbo | Expertly crafted cocktails are the tip of the iceberg at this charming spot — stay for the live jazz + special events.
🥈 Runner Up: Anoche Asheville
Honoree: Potential New Boyfriend
Ice Cream + Desserts
A sweet spot for all ages, dishing out locally inspired ice cream made with fresh ingredients.
🏆 First place: The Hop Ice Cream Cafe | Indulge in classic handcrafted flavors like Salted Caramel and Chocolate, or see what unconventional flavors this classic Asheville company is serving up (Reindeer Poop, anyone?).
🥈 Runner Up: Old Europe Pastries
Honoree: Sunshine Sammies
Lunch Spot
Your midday choice for a good sandwich, soup, or salad for a quick light bite.
🏆 First place: Finest | This retro-style spot serves up the sandwiches, salads, and sides you crave for lunch, down to the dill pickle potato salad.
🥈 Runner Up: Chai Pani Asheville
Honoree: Mamacita’s Taqueria
Outdoor Dining
The best rooftops and patios for enjoying a meal while soaking up the sun.
🏆 First place: Sunny Point Cafe | “Sunny” is the right word to describe the cheerful, scrumptious experience dining outside on the patio.
🥈 Runner Up: Soprana Rooftop Cucina
Honoree: Leo’s House of Thirst
Sports Bar
Where you head to for the next sports game, a wide menu of drinks, and game-day cravings.
🏆 First place: Olde London Road | Beer, bites, and Premier League matches are all on the menu at this English-style pub and local favorite.
🥈 Runner Up: Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive
Honoree: The Bier Garden
Tap Rooms
A spot guaranteed to deliver a delicious, locally crafted beer.
🏆 First place: Highland Brewing Company | This sprawling brewery is immigrant-founded, woman-led, and home of the local favorite Cold Mountain Winter Ale.
🥈 Runner Up: Mills River Brewing Co
Honoree: Hi Wire Brewing
Winery or Wine Bar
Your spot to enjoy crafted wine, offering a taste of the area’s unique flavors and traditions.
🏆 First place: Leo’s House of Thirst | Stylish atmosphere, oysters, charcuterie, and a large selection of wines — this cozy bar has it all.
🥈 Runner Up: 5 Walnut Wine Bar
Honoree: Marked Tree Vineyard
Community
Apartment Complex
Apartment complexes with features, designs, and amenities that make you feel at home.
🏆 First place: Biltmore Park Town Square Apartments | With one-bedroom flats to two-bedroom townhomes, this complex blends the best of shops, restaurants, and movie theaters with nearby nature trails.
🥈 Runner Up: Haven at Enka Lake
Honoree: SkyLoft Apartments
Coworking Location
The best place in town to be productive and collaborate.
🏆 First place: THRIVE | Coworking | Thanks to meeting rooms, private desks, and shared workspaces, your remote job just got a functional, comfortable new office.
🥈 Runner Up: Hatch Coworking Asheville
Honoree: Flatiron Writers Room
Dentist
Helping you smile brighter with gentle care and expert treatment.
🏆 First place: Asheville Dental | 60 years of caring, friendly service and expert dentistry have earned this practice the top spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Hodges & Hodges
Honoree: Williams Family Dentistry
Gym + Fitness Center
Your favorite place to pump iron and get a sweat in.
🏆 First place: Asheville Community Yoga | Yoga that’s accessible for everyone is the guiding philosophy of this studio that offers vinyasa flows, gentle yoga, and Yin, among other styles.
🥈 Runner Up: Transformation Personal Training
Honoree: Reuter Family YMCA
Home Service Provider
Your go-to for carpentry, flooring, and all things home improvement + repair.
🏆 First place: MB HAYNES Corporation | From plumbing and electrical to innovative solar installation, this company provides fast, trustworthy service and solutions.
🥈 Runner Up: Green Mountain Space Professional Organizing
Honoree: T.P. Howard’s Plumbing Co.
Local Influencer + Celebrity
Your passionate leaders and trendsetters who are driving community awareness.
🏆 First place: Period Nirvana - Kim Rosas | After stopping by Period Nirvana, take your health and wellness journey digitally by following Kim Rosas and learning how to use the Hello Disc and period underwear for more comfortable, stress-free periods.
🥈 Runner Up: Brighton Kilgore
Honoree: Jaime Byrd Contemporary Art Gallery
Local Nonprofit
Local organizations going above and beyond to fuel positive community impact.
🏆 First place: BeLoved Asheville | An incredible response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is just one reason this local nonprofit holds a place in the community’s heart.
🥈 Runner Up: Friends of Western North Carolina Nature Center
Honoree: MANNA FoodBank
Medical Center
Facilities offering a range of healthcare services, including diagnostics and specialized care.
🏆 First place: AdventHealth Hendersonville | From primary care to emergency care, whole-person wellbeing is the focus at this local AdventHealth spot.
🥈 Runner Up: MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center)
Honoree: InVigorate Asheville
Photographer
High-level creatives who knock how to capture compelling images through artistic vision.
🏆 First place: Ruth Dunwoody | Home owners may want to bookmark Ruth’s page — Ruth specializes in showing off real estate through her stunning exterior and interior photography.
🥈 Runner Up: Brighton Kilgore Photo + Video
Honoree: Forest Photo
Real Estate Agent + Group
Nominate the real estate agent or group that helped secure your dream home.
🏆 First place: Howard Hanna Beverly Hanks Asheville-Biltmore Park | This local office is a favorite for real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and relocation services.
🥈 Runner Up: Greybeard Realty
Honoree: Asheville City Real Estate
Spas + Salons
The best option for hair care or a spa-day to unwind and treat yourself.
🏆 First place: Drip Nordic Sauna | Feel your stress melt away as you enjoy Asheville’s only wood-fired sauna — until you move into the cold plunge, that is.
🥈 Runner Up: Sensibilities Day Spa South
Honoree: Still Point Wellness Float and Massage Spa
Sports Medicine
Expert care for athletes of all levels—helping you recover, perform, and stay in the game.
🏆 First place: Brown Mountain Massage & Bodywork | Trust this 45-year strong establishment to keep you doing the activities you love, thanks to multiple specializations and an expert team.
🥈 Runner Up: Emerge Ortho
Honoree: MAHEC Sports Medicine Clinic
Veterinary Clinics
Where pets are treated like family—offering gentle, comprehensive care for your furry pals.
🏆 First place: Charlotte Street Animal Hospital | Trust that your dog, cat, or even exotic pet will be in good hands at this hospital emphasizing compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care.
🥈 Runner Up: Cat Clinic of Asheville
Honoree: VEG ER for Pets
Entertainment & Retail
Arts + Craft Store
From projects to crafts, find everything you need to create and make memories together.
🏆 First place: Asheville Art Supply | It’s hard to find an art supply not in stock — or a question the team can’t answer — at this spacious, curated store owned and operated by artists.
🥈 Runner Up: Black Mountain Yarn Shop
Honoree: Earth Guild
Bookstore
Your curated selection of literature, cozy reading nooks, and a community for curious minds.
🏆 First place: Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe | Pick up a blind date with a book, grab a drink at the cafe, or join a weekly book club at this iconic Asheville destination.
🥈 Runner Up: Firestorm Books
Honoree: Mr. K’s Used Books
Golf Course
A little birdie told us that this is your favorite golf course.
🏆 First place: Chestnut Mountain Golf Club | Golfers love the stunning views, well-maintained green, and challenging course available at this Mills River spot.
🥈 Runner Up: Grove Park Golf Course
Honoree: Black Mountain Golf Course
Museum
The places to explore history, culture, art, and science through curated exhibits.
🏆 First place: Asheville Art Museum | Take a tour of 20th + 21st century art, participate in an art program, or head up to the roof-top cafe — either way, it’s a day well spent.
🥈 Runner Up: WNC Nature Center
Honoree: Biltmore
Music Venue
A vibrant hub for live performances showcasing local and touring artists.
🏆 First place: The Orange Peel | From sound to lighting to staff, this venue makes every featured guest’s show a memorable experience.
🥈 Runner Up: The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub
Honoree: White Horse Black Mountain
Party Venue
A dedicated space designed for hosting celebrations, events, and gatherings.
🏆 First place: WNC Nature Center | Black bears and red pandas are some of the party guests when you book this dedicated nature center for your event.
🥈 Runner Up: Hickory Nut Gap
Honoree: Taylor Ranch
Pet-Friendly Venue
Your favorite place to eat, drink, play, or stay with your furry friend.
🏆 First place: Highland Brewing Company | Not only do you love its beer, but you love that you can bring your dog with you, too.
🥈 Runner Up: Wagbar
Honoree: Barkwells - The Dog Lovers’ Vacation Retreat
Theater + Performance Venue
Your venue of choice for live artistic performances and award-winning shows.
🏆 First place: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts | Creativity shines at the Wortham Center, a home for the region’s dancers, actors, musicians, and performers.
🥈 Runner Up: Asheville Community Theatre
Honoree: The Montford Park Players
Vintage + Resale Shops
Where to shop sustainably and stylishly with handpicked pieces that celebrate the past.
🏆 First place: Antique Tobacco Barn | The antiques seem endless at Antique Tobacco Barn, with something unique to treasure always waiting down the next row.
🥈 Runner Up: Harvest Records
Honoree: rEvolve Buy+Sell+Trade
