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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: Von Kekel Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa (tie); Bebe Ellis Salon (tie)
Silver: Salon Blu
Bronze: J&F Gemelli
Best MANI-PEDI
Gold: Pacific Nails Spa
Silver: Venetian Nail Spa
Bronze: Kiss My Nails
Best SPA EXPERIENCE
Gold: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Silver: Blue Water Spa
Bronze: Massage Envy
Best PLACE TO GET A MASSAGE
Gold: Skin Sense
Silver: Massage Envy
Bronze: Cary Massage
Best MED SPA
Gold: Blue Water Spa
Silver: Salon Serenity & Spa
Bronze: Skin Sense
Best PLACE FOR SUNLESS TANNING
Gold: Jill’s Beach
Silver: Oak City Sunless
Bronze: Sun Tan City
Best DENTIST
Gold: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
Silver: Sunrise Dental
Bronze: Lake Boone Dentistry of Raleigh
Best ORTHODONTIST
Gold: Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics
Silver: NC Oral Surgery + Orthodontics
Bronze: Ritter & Brogden Orthodontics
Best FAMILY DOCTOR
Gold: Avance Care
Silver: Courtney Dancy, FNP-C, UNC Health
Bronze: Generations Family Practice
Best OB-GYN
Gold: Triangle Physicians for Women
Silver: Kamm McKenzie OBGYN
Bronze: Cary OB/GYN (tie); Wake Women’s Health (tie)
Best PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST
Gold: Thriveworks
Silver: North Raleigh Mental Health and Wellness
Bronze: Erin Bircher, Foundations4Change (tie); Wynns Family Psychology (tie)
Best CHIROPRACTOR
Gold: Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic
Silver: Osborne Chiropractic Clinic
Bronze: The Joint Chiropractic
Best PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Gold: Drayer Physical Therapy Institute
Silver: Beyond Physical Therapy
Bronze: Total Motion Physical Therapy
SPORTS + FITNESS
Best WELLNESS COACH
Gold: Erin Bircher, Foundations4Change
Silver: Suzanne Egan Coaching
Bronze: Amy Jackson Carroll
Best PERSONAL TRAINER
Gold: Tony Ambrosecchia
Silver: William Wagner, Phase II, Personal Training
Bronze: Alton Skinner (tie); SportsPlex Personal Trainers (tie)
Best FITNESS EXPERIENCE
Gold: Life Time Fitness
Silver: CrossFit
Bronze: Stretch Zone
Best YOGA AND PILATES STUDIO
Gold: Club Pilates at Fenton
Silver: YMCA of the Triangle
Bronze: Pura Vida Studio
Best SPORTING GOODS
AND GEAR PROVIDER
Gold: Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Silver: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Bronze: Academy Sports + Outdoors
Best CYCLING GEAR AND REPAIR
Gold: The Bicycle Chain
Silver: Trek Bicycle
Bronze: TLC for Bikes
ENTERTAINMENT & RELAXATION
Best RADIO PERSONALITY
Gold: Erica DeLong, G105
Silver: Ross Hayes, 106.1 Talk FM
Bronze: Amanda Daughtry, 94.7 QDR (tie); Madison, 96.1 BBB (tie)
Best LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR
Gold: David Crabtree, WRAL
Silver: Debra Morgan, WRAL
Bronze: Gerald Owens, WRAL
Best METEOROLOGIST
Gold: Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, ABC11
Silver: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL
Bronze: Kweilyn Murphy, ABC11
FAVORITE LOCAL INFLUENCER
Gold: Holly Boyd – Maketodayahollyday
Silver: Shannon Cox – @eviltwinn
Bronze: This is Raleigh – @thisisraleigh
Best MOVIE THEATER
Gold: Paragon Theaters Fenton
Silver: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh
Bronze: CMX CinéBistro Waverly Place
Best LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Gold: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Silver: PNC Arena
Bronze: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Best LIVE THEATER
Gold: Durham Performing Arts Center
Silver: The Cary Theater
Bronze: The Carolina Theatre of Durham
BEST SPECIAL EVENT VENUE
Gold: Chandelier Event Venue
Silver: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Bronze: Durham Performing Arts Center
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Gold: Dog-Eared Books
Silver: Quail Ridge Books
Bronze: Mr. Mike’s Used Books
BEST PLACE FOR GAMES
AND AMUSEMENT
Gold: Frankie’s
Silver: Adventure Landing
Bronze: Chuck E. Cheese
BEST MUSEUM
Gold: Marbles Kids Museum
Silver: North Carolina Museum of Art
Bronze: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
BEST PLACE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
Gold: Fred G. Bond Metro Park
Silver: Pullen Park
Bronze: William B. Umstead State Park
BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
Gold: State Farmers Market
Silver: North Carolina Museum of Art
Bronze: Downtown Apex
BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL OR
BED AND BREAKFAST
Gold: The Mayton
Silver: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Bronze: The Fearrington House Inn
FOOD & FARE
BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT
Gold: Torero’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Silver: M Test Kitchen
Bronze: Di Fara Pizza Tavern
BEST CARY RESTAURANT
Gold: Di Fara Pizza Tavern
Silver: Lucky 32 (tie); Salvio’s Pizzeria (tie)
Bronze: Sassool
BEST APEX RESTAURANT
Gold: Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
Silver: Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering
Bronze: The Provincial
BEST MORRISVILLE RESTAURANT
Gold: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Silver: Mi Cancun
Bronze: Leo’s Italian Social (tie); Neomonde Mediterranean (tie)
BEST HOLLY SPRINGS RESTAURANT
Gold: Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
Silver: Pimiento Tea Room
Bronze: The Blind Pelican
BEST FUQUAY-VARINA RESTAURANT
Gold: The Mason Jar Tavern
Silver: Vicious Fishes Brewery
Bronze: Garibaldi Trattoria
BEST OUTDOOR SEATING
Gold: Di Fara Pizza Tavern
Silver: Academy Street Bistro
Bronze:
Crosstown Pub & Grill
BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH
Gold: Peck & Plume
Silver: First Watch
Bronze: Brigs Restaurant
BEST BARBECUE
Gold: City Barbeque
Silver: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Bronze: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
BEST BURGER
Gold: Five Guys
Silver: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Bronze: Abbey Road Tavern and Grill
BEST PIZZA
Gold: Di Fara Pizza Tavern
Silver: Salvio’s Pizzeria
Bronze: Marco’s Pizza
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Gold: Rey’s Restaurant
Silver: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Bronze: Outback Steakhouse
BEST HEALTHY EATS
Gold: Sassool
Silver: Clean Eatz
Bronze: Pineapple Sol
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
Gold: a’Verde Cocina + Tequila Library
Silver: Torero’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Bronze: Mi Cancun
BEST ITALIAN FOOD
Gold: Salvio’s Pizzeria
Silver: Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering
Bronze: Colletta
BEST SEAFOOD
Gold: The Blind Pelican
Silver: Cousins Maine Lobster
Bronze: Bonefish Grill (tie); Cary Crab House (tie)
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
Gold: Sassool
Silver: Baba Ghannouj Mediterranean Bistro
Bronze: Neomonde Mediterranean
BEST INDIAN FOOD
Gold: Cilantro India Cafe
Silver: Kababish Café (tie); Zeera Indian Restaurant (tie)
Bronze: Fusion 9 (tie); Naga’s South Indian Cuisine (tie)
BEST ASIAN FOOD
Gold: Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
Silver: Sushi-Thai Cary
Bronze: MC Cuisines
BEST BAKERY OR CONFECTIONER
Gold: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery & Cafe
Silver: La Farm Bakery
Bronze: Bestow Baked Goods
BEST ICE CREAM
Gold: Andia’s Ice Cream
Silver: FRESH. Local Ice Cream
Bronze: Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold: Tasty Tasty Truck
Silver: Cousins Maine Lobster
Bronze: Buoy Bowls
BEST CATERING
Gold: Donovan’s Dish
Silver: Salvio’s Pizzeria
Bronze: Catering Works
BOOZE & BREWS
BEST BREWERY
Gold: Bond Brothers Beer Company
Silver: Fortnight Brewing Company
Bronze: Vicious Fishes Brewery
BEST WINE BAR
Gold: Peak of the Vine
Silver: RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar
Bronze: Chatham Hill Winery
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
Gold: SideBar
Silver: AVA Rooftop Bar
Bronze: Peak of the Vine
BEST BOTTLESHOP
Gold: Total Wine & More
Silver: Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage
Bronze: Black Dog Bottle Shop (tie); Bottle Theory (tie)
BEST LOCAL COFFEEHOUSE
Gold: Esteamed Coffee
Silver: Coffee & Crepes (tie); Common Grounds Coffee House & Desserts (tie)
Bronze: Brew Coffee Bar
SHOPPING
BEST FLORIST
Gold: Preston Flowers
Silver: The Flower Cupboard
Bronze: Flowers On Broad Street (tie); Lavender Lane Flowers and Gifts (tie)
BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Gold: Fenton
Silver: Crossroads Plaza
Bronze: Beaver Creek Crossings
BEST FURNITURE AND HOME
DECOR STORE OR FIRM
Gold: Arhaus
Silver: Pottery Barn
Bronze: Cooper’s Furniture (tie); Max Hugo Interior Design (tie)
BEST GARDEN CENTER
Gold: Garden Supply Company
Silver: Campbell Road Nursery
Bronze: Fairview Garden Center
BEST JEWELRY STORE
Gold: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Silver: Holland’s Jewelers
Bronze: Kay Jewelers
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: Swagger
Silver: Bless Your Heart Boutique
Bronze: The Gatorbug
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: The Gentlemen’s Corner
Silver: Ashworth’s Clothing
Bronze: Alexander Eton
BEST RESALE AND
CONSIGNMENT CLOTHING
Gold: J’Adore Boutique
Silver: Petersons’ Consigning Design
Bronze: Plato’s Closet
BEST DESIGNER SHOE STORE
Gold: DSW
Silver: Monkee’s (tie); Rangone Firenze (tie); Nordstrom (tie)
Bronze: Main & Taylor
HOME SERVICES
BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM
Gold: M&M Team Realty
Silver: Navigate Realty
Bronze: Compass
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Gold: Nancy Grace, Keller, Williams Legacy
Silver: Kristin Zwahr Leonard, Navigate Realty
Bronze: Rocio Rojas, Fathom Realty
BEST LIVE, WORK, PLAY COMMUNITY
Gold: Fenton
Silver: Downtown Cary
Bronze: Downtown Apex
BEST NEW HOME COMMUNITY
Gold: Carolina Preserve (tie); Lochmere (tie)
Silver: Sunset Oaks
Bronze: Sweetwater
BEST BUILDER
Gold: Rufty Homes
Silver: Loyd Builders (tie); Thompson Home Creations (tie)
Bronze: Blue Heron Signature Homes
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Gold: Max Hugo Interior Design
Silver: Joseph William Interiors
Bronze: ReDefine Design + Staging
BEST LANDSCAPER
Gold: Mr. Mow It All (tie); Just My Style Landscape Services (tie);
Ritter Garden Design (tie); Tobacco Road Lawn & Landscaping (tie)
Silver: Genesis Outdoor Living
Bronze: Yardnique
BEST HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE
Gold: Best Clean Ever
Silver: Go 2 Girls
Bronze: The Maids
PROFESSIONAL & EDUCATIONAL
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Gold: Cary Financial Planning
Silver: Edward Jones
Bronze: Will Dyson, Ameriprise Financial Services
BEST LAW FIRM
Gold: Cary Estate Planning
Silver: Mann, McGibney & Jordan
Bronze: Brady Boyette
BEST LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTOR AGENCY
Gold: DWB Vacations
Silver: Shaina Meck, Magical Vacation Planner (tie); VIP Travel Designs (tie)
Bronze: Robin Bandong, Outlander Travel
BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
OR DETAILING SERVICE
Gold: Christian Brothers Automotive
Silver: Creech Import Repair
Bronze: Atlantic Tire & Service (tie); Getz Automotive (tie)
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL
Gold: Grace Christian School
Silver: Thales Academy
Bronze: Cary Christian School
BEST VETERINARIAN
Gold: Town & Country Veterinary Hospital
Silver: PetSound Animal Hospital
Bronze: Swift Creek Animal Hospital
BEST PET PAMPERING
OR DAYCARE SERVICE
Gold: Pupsi
Silver: PetSound Animal Hospital
Bronze: K9 Resorts (tie); Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming (tie)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION*
Gold: Children’s Flight of Hope
* Beginning with our 2022 Diamond Awards, 5 West 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.
