Readers throughout the community voted for their favorite businesses, services and venues. Now, we are excited to present the 2024 gold, silver and bronze Diamond Award Winners.
Browse the list to see if your favorites are there, and make a note of any new businesses you’d like to check out.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
HEALTH + BEAUTY
Best Hair Salon
Gold: Tone Hair Salon
Silver: Von Kekel Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa
Bronze: Lux Salon
Best MANI-PEDI
Gold: Paintbase
Silver: Village District Nail Spa
Bronze: Lee Spa Nails
Best SPA EXPERIENCE
Gold: Blue Water Spa
Silver: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Bronze: Woodhouse Spa (tie); The Now Massage (tie)
Best PLACE TO GET A MASSAGE
Gold: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Silver: Massage Envy
Bronze: Woodhouse Spa
Best MED SPA
Gold: Blue Water Spa
Silver: Regenesis MD
Bronze: Synergy (tie); The MedSpa (tie)
Best PLACE FOR SUNLESS TANNING
Gold: Oak City Sunless
Silver: Jill’s Beach
Bronze: Sun Tan City
Best DENTIST
Gold: Renaissance Dental Center
Silver: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
Bronze: Village Dental
Best ORTHODONTIST
Gold: NC Oral Surgery + Orthodontics
Silver: Wells Orthodontics
Bronze: Gladwell Orthodontics
Best FAMILY DOCTOR
Gold: Regenesis MD
Silver: Avance Care
Bronze: Duke Primary Care
Best OB-GYN
Gold: Kamm McKenzie OBGYN
Silver: Mid-Carolina Obstetrics & Gynecology
Bronze: Raleigh OB/GYN Centre
Best PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST
Gold: Gupta Psychiatry
Silver: Wynns Family Psychology
Bronze: One-80 Counseling
Best CHIROPRACTOR
Gold: Care Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Silver: Crabtree Chiropractic Center
Bronze: Oak City Chiropractic
Best PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Gold: Miller Concierge Physical Therapy
Silver: Epic Physical Therapy (tie); Stewart Physical Therapy (tie)
Bronze: Raleigh Orthopaedic
SPORTS + FITNESS
Best WELLNESS COACH
Gold: Marianne Breneman, Mindful Health & Harmony
Silver: Alicia Calderwood, Pura Vida Studio
Bronze: Katherine Andrew Nutrition
Best PERSONAL TRAINER
Gold: Greg Martinez, Elevate Fitness Community
Silver: SportsPlex Personal Trainers
Bronze: Alicia Calderwood, Pura Vida Studio (tie); April Richerson, Camp Gladiator (tie)
Best FITNESS EXPERIENCE
Gold: Pura Vida Studio
Silver: Life Time Fitness
Bronze: Orangetheory Fitness
Best YOGA AND PILATES STUDIO
Gold: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
Silver: Alchemy Hot Yoga
Bronze: Pura Vida Studio
Best SPORTING GOODS AND
GEAR PROVIDER
Gold: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Silver: REI
Bronze: Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best CYCLING GEAR AND REPAIR
Gold: Trek Bicycle
Silver: REI
Bronze: The Bicycle Chain
ENTERTAINMENT & RELAXATION
Best RADIO PERSONALITY
Gold: Erica DeLong, G105
Silver: Ross Hayes, 106.1 FM Talk
Bronze: Mike Wheless, 94.7 QDR
Best LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR
Gold: Debra Morgan, WRAL
Silver: Gerald Owens, WRAL
Bronze: Renee Chou, WRAL
Best METEOROLOGIST
Gold: Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, WTVD
Silver: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL
Bronze: Kat Campbell, WRAL
FAVORITE LOCAL INFLUENCER
Gold: Camille Kauer
Silver: This is Raleigh (tie); Holly Boyd – Maketodayahollyday (tie)
Bronze: Megan Nicole Pintell – magnoliamegan
Best MOVIE THEATER
Gold: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh
Silver: Regal North Hills
Bronze: Cinemark Bistro Raleigh
Best LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Gold: Red Hat Amphitheater
Silver: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Bronze: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Best LIVE THEATER
Gold: Durham Performing Arts Center
Silver: Raleigh Little Theatre
Bronze: Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
BEST SPECIAL EVENT VENUE
Gold: PNC Arena
Silver: The Merrimon-Wynne House
Bronze: Durham Performing Arts Center
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Gold: Quail Ridge Books
Silver: Page 158 Books
Bronze: Beow’s Books & Brews
BEST PLACE FOR GAMES
AND AMUSEMENT
Gold: Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Silver: Frankie’s
Bronze: Strike and Barrel
BEST MUSEUM
Gold: North Carolina Museum of Art
Silver: Marbles Kids Museum
Bronze: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
BEST PLACE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
Gold: William B. Umstead State Park
Silver: Dorothea Dix Park
Bronze: Pullen Park (tie); North Carolina Museum of Art Park
BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
Gold: North Carolina Museum of Art
Silver: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Bronze: State Farmers Market
BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL OR
BED AND BREAKFAST
Gold: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Silver: Heights House Hotel
Bronze: The Mayton
FOOD & FARE
BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT
Gold: Winston’s Grille
Silver: Angus Barn
Bronze: Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern
BEST DOWNTOWN RALEIGH RESTAURANT
Gold: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Silver: Sitti
Bronze: Caffé Luna
BEST INSIDE-THE-BELTLINE RESTAURANT
Gold: Glenwood Grill
Silver: The Capital Grille (tie); Crawford and Son (tie); Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery (tie); Stanbury (tie)
Bronze: East End Bistrot
BEST MIDTOWN RALEIGH RESTAURANT
Gold: Vivace
Silver: Coquette
Bronze: The Capital Grille
BEST NORTH RALEIGH RESTAURANT
Gold: Winston’s Grille
Silver: Café Tiramisu
Bronze: Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern
BEST BRIER CREEK RESTAURANT
Gold: Azitra Indian Culinary Nirvana
Silver: Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Bronze: Bar Louie (tie); V Pizza (tie); Tasu Asian Bistro (tie)
BEST WAKE FOREST RESTAURANT
Gold: Amalia’s Authentic Italian Restaurant
Silver: Over the Falls
Bronze: Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill
BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Gold: Vivace
Silver: Taverna Agora
Bronze: Whiskey Kitchen
BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH
Gold: First Watch
Silver: Brigs Restaurant
Bronze: Big Ed’s
BEST BARBECUE
Gold: City Barbeque
Silver: The Pit Authentic Barbecue
Bronze: The BBQ Lab
BEST BURGER
Gold: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Silver: MoJoe’s Burger Joint
Bronze: Five Guys
BEST PIZZA
Gold: Oakwood Pizza Box
Silver: Lilly’s Pizza
Bronze: Blaze Pizza
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Gold: Angus Barn
Silver: Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern
Bronze: Sullivan’s Steakhouse
BEST HEALTHY EATS
Gold: Happy + Hale
Silver: Sassool
Bronze: Clean Eatz (tie); Juicekeys (tie)
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
Gold: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Silver: Dos Taquitos
Bronze: Salt & Lime Cabo Grill
BEST ITALIAN FOOD
Gold: Vivace
Silver: Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano
Bronze: Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant
BEST SEAFOOD
Gold: Cape Fear Seafood Company
Silver: 42nd Street Oyster Bar
Bronze: Cousins Maine Lobster
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
Gold: Sassool
Silver: Neomonde Mediterranean
Bronze: Sitti (tie); Taverna Agora (tie)
BEST INDIAN FOOD
Gold: Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Silver: Azitra Indian Culinary Nirvana
Bronze: Bombay Curry
BEST ASIAN FOOD
Gold: Ni Asian Kitchen
Silver: Chai’s Asian Bistro
Bronze: Imperial Garden Restaurant (tie); Tasu Asian Bistro (tie)
BEST BAKERY OR CONFECTIONER
Gold: La Farm Bakery
Silver: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery & Cafe
Bronze: Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Café
BEST ICE CREAM
Gold: Two Roosters Ice Cream
Silver: FRESH. Local Ice Cream
Bronze: Andia’s Ice Cream
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold: Cousins Maine Lobster
Silver: Gym Tacos
Bronze: Arepa Culture NC
BEST CATERING
Gold: Donovan’s Dish
Silver: Rocky Top Catering
Bronze: Catering Works
BOOZE & BREWS
BEST BREWERY
Gold: Lynnwood Brewing Concern
Silver: Trophy Brewing
Bronze: Blackbird Brewery (tie); Brewery Bhavana (tie)
BEST WINE BAR
Gold: Vita Vite
Silver: Barcelona Wine Bar
Bronze: Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
Gold: Killjoy
Silver: Stir
Bronze: Level7
BEST BOTTLESHOP
Gold: House of Hops (tie); The Hop Yard (tie)
Silver: Bottle Rev
Bronze: D’s Bottle Shop (tie); House Creek Beverage Co. (tie)
BEST LOCAL COFFEEHOUSE
Gold: Sola Coffee Cafe
Silver: Jubala Coffee
Bronze: Ugly Mug Bean & Brew
SHOPPING
BEST FLORIST
Gold: Fallon’s Flowers
Silver:The English Garden
Bronze: Kelly Odom Flowers
BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Gold: North Hills
Silver: Swagger
Bronze: Fenton
BEST FURNITURE AND HOME
DECOR STORE OR FIRM
Gold: Green Front Furniture
Silver: La Maison (tie); Arhaus (tie)
Bronze: Furnish
BEST GARDEN CENTER
Gold: Homewood Nursery & Garden Center
Silver: Logan’s Garden Shop
Bronze: Fairview Garden Center
BEST JEWELRY STORE
Gold: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Silver: Raleigh Diamond
Bronze: Fink’s Jewelers
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: Swagger
Silver: Bless Your Heart Boutique
Bronze: Monkee’s of Raleigh
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: Kannon’s Men’s Clothing
Silver: Nowell’s Clothiers
Bronze: Liles Clothing Studio (tie); Peter Millar (tie)
BEST RESALE AND CONSIGNMENT CLOTHING
Gold: Dress
Silver: J’Adore Boutique
Bronze: Mode Consignment
BEST DESIGNER SHOE STORE
Gold: Main & Taylor Shoe Salon
Silver: Saks Fifth Avenue
Bronze: Monkee’s of Raleigh (tie); Rangoni Firenze (tie)
HOME SERVICES
BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM
Gold: Dash Carolina
Silver: The Coley Group
Bronze: Christina Valkanoff, Realty Group
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Gold: Gretchen Coley, The Coley Group
Silver: Christina Valkonoff, Christina Valkonoff Realty Group
Bronze: Jennifer Badalamenti, Dash Carolina
BEST LIVE, WORK, PLAY COMMUNITY
Gold: North Hills
Silver: Fenton
Bronze: Wendell Falls
BEST NEW HOME COMMUNITY
Gold: Avalaire
Silver: Shadow Creek Estates
Bronze: Wendell Falls
BEST BUILDER
Gold: Rufty Homes
Silver: Loyd Builders
Bronze: Sigmon Construction (tie); AR Homes (tie)
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Gold: Design by Tula
Silver: Joseph William Interiors
Bronze: Lavish
BEST LANDSCAPER
Gold: Mr. Mow it All (tie); Irvin Designs Landscaping (tie)
Silver: Ernesto Landscaping (tie); Landvision Designs (tie)
Bronze: Myatt Landscaping
BEST HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE
Gold: Go 2 Girls
Silver: Best Clean Ever
Bronze: Enovana Green Cleaning (tie); Sunshine Cleaning & Painting (tie)
PROFESSIONAL & EDUCATIONAL
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Gold: Edward Jones
Silver: Merrill
Bronze: Absher Wealth Management
BEST LAW FIRM
Gold: Midtown Property Law
Silver: Gene Davis Law (tie); Whitley Law Firm (tie)
Bronze: Brady Boyette (tie); Mann, McGibney & Jordan (tie)
BEST LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT
OR AGENCY
Gold: 1923 Travel
Silver: DWB Vacations
Bronze: AAA
BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
OR DETAILING SERVICE
Gold: Autohaus Import Service
Silver: Atlantic Tire & Service (tie); Creech Import Repair (tie)
Bronze: Frantz Automotive Center
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL
Gold: Trinity Academy
Silver: St. Timothy’s School
Bronze: Ravenscroft
BEST VETERINARIAN
Gold: Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital
Silver: Care First Animal Hospital
Bronze: PetSound Animal Hospital
BEST PET PAMPERING
OR DAYCARE SERVICE
Gold: North Raleigh Pet Nanny
Silver: Pupsi
Bronze: Dirty Dogs Spa
SPECIAL RECOGNITION*
Gold: Children’s Flight of Hope
* Beginning with our 2022 Diamond Awards, Midtown began honoring a local nonprofit doing good work for our community. This year, we are recognizing Children’s Flight of Hope, an organization that provides air transportation to specialized medical care for children in need.
