The Best of Chapel Hill 2026 winners were announced in the July/August issue of Chapel Hill Magazine on July 1.
Every year, we ask our readers to vote on the best of the best in Orange County, North Carolina – from Chapel Hill to Carrboro to Hillsborough. We tally those responses and share the results of our readers' favorite spots for dining, entertainment, shopping and much more. Whether you're a local or just visiting, you're sure to find something to suit your interests and preferences as you explore the best of our amazing communities.
Join us in celebrating the best in dining, entertainment, shopping, services and more. Winners are published in the July/August issue of Chapel Hill Magazine and the annual Visitors and Relocation Guide.
Are you an Orange County business owner? Check out our resources below for free graphics and marketing tips to promote your business. Advertising does not guarantee a spot as a winner.
Best of Chapel Hill Resources
Best of Chapel Hill 2026 Winners
*All results listed in alphabetical order.
** The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Arts & Entertainment
Art Gallery
Ackland Art Museum
The ArtsCenter
Frank Gallery
Peel Gallery + Photo Lab
Dance Studio
Ballet School of Chapel Hill
Monarch Movement Company
Studio A DanceArts
Triangle Youth Ballet
Group Outing
The Baxter
Beer Study
Cat Tales Cat Cafe
The Gathering Place
Say It With Glass
Live Music Venue
The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms
Cat’s Cradle
Memorial Hall (Carolina Performing Arts)
Southern Village
Movie Theater
Chelsea Theater
The Lumina
Silverspot Cinema
Varsity Theatre
Museum
Ackland Art Museum
Carolina Basketball Museum
Morehead Planetarium
& Science Center
North Carolina Children’s Museum
Orange County Historical Museum
Music School or Instruction
Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts
Golden Fiddles Violin Studio & Music School
School of Rock Chapel Hill
Skylark Music School
Performing Arts Venue
The ArtsCenter
Forest Theatre
Memorial Hall (Carolina Performing Arts)
PlayMakers Repertory Company
Photographer
Danell Beede
Lindsay Metivier
Amy Stern
Kimberly Stickel
Place to Host a Children’s Birthday Party
1870 Farm
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
Spring Haven Farm
Sunrise Community Farm Center
Summer Camp
Carolina Friends School
Center Theater Company
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
Sunrise Community Farm Center
Retail
Bike Shop
Back Alley Bikes
The Bicycle Chain
River Mill Cycles
Trek Bicycle Chapel Hill
Bookstore
Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews
Flyleaf Books
Golden Fig Books
McIntyre’s Books
Purple Crow Books
Children’s Store
Ali Cat Toys
Glee Kids
Lucky Dancewear
Puddle Baby Boutique
Consignment/Resale Store
The Consignors Online Auction House
Extraordinary Thrift Store
Rumors
The Stock Exchange
Fashion Jewelry
Light Years
Monkee’s of Chapel Hill
SallyMack Life Furnishings
Sofia’s Boutique
Fine Jewelry
Melissa Designer Jewelry
Olmaz Jewelers
Rings True
Wentworth & Sloan
Gift Store
Peel Gallery + Photo Lab
Purple Puddle Gifts & Flowers
SallyMack Life Furnishings
This & That Gift Gallery
WomanCraft Gifts
Home Furnishings & Accessories
The Consignors
Online Auction House
Paysage Home
Whitehall Antiques
Pet Store
Chapel Hill Wild Bird
Hollywood Feed
Paws at the Corner
Wild Birds Unlimited Chapel Hill
Picture Framing Services
Chapel Hill Frame & Fine Art (formerly Higgins & Myers)
The Frame & Print Shop
Studio 71
Place for Beauty Products
Aesthetic Solutions
DeeTox Skin & Laser
The Fragrance Shop
Medical Day Spa Chapel Hill
Monarch Brow & Facial Studio
Place for Glasses
20/20 Eyeworks
Carrboro Family Vision
Chapel Hill Eyecare
Chapel Hill Ophthalmology
Shopping Experience
Carr Mill Mall
Downtown Franklin Street
Eastgate Crossing
Southern Village
Store for UNC Gear
Chapel Hill Sportswear
Johnny T-Shirt
The Shrunken Head
UNC Student Stores
Women’s Boutique
Monkee’s of Chapel Hill
Narrative + Co.
Sofia’s Boutique
Uniquities
Whilden
Services
Accounting Firm
Adkin CPA PLLC
Blackman & Sloop
Citrin Cooperman
Rose Group, CPAs
Alterations
A Cleaner World
Anna’s Tailor and Alterations
Cynthia’s Tailor Shop
MTHU Oriental Tailors
Automotive Services/Repairs
Auto Logic
Brown’s Automotive
Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center
East Franklin Car Care
Bank
Coastal Credit Union
Pinnacle Financial Partners
State Employees’ Credit Union
Truist
Car Wash
Autobath
Carolina Car Wash & Detail
Clean Wheels Car Wash
Rocket Wash Express
Child Care
Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool
Mi Escuelita Spanish Immersion Preschool
Primrose School of Chapel Hill at Briar Chapel
University Child Care Center
Cleaners
A Cleaner World
Chapel Hill Cleaners
McPherson Cleaners
Perfect Image Cleaners
Event Planner
The Carolina Inn
Chapel Hill Country Club
I Do Weddings By Michele
Michele Leighton, Governors Club
Event Space
Blue Hill Event Center
The Carolina Inn
Friday Center
Lavender Oaks Farm
Financial Advisor/Investment Firm
Atlantic Private Wealth
Harmony Group Wealth Advisors
Woodward Financial Advisors
Zenith Retirement Planning
Hotel
The Carolina Inn
The Colonial Inn
Graduate by Hilton Chapel Hill
Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill-Carrboro/Downtown
Insurance Agent/Firm
Bonnie Rose, NC Farm Bureau
High & Rubish Insurance Agency
Pam Herndon State Farm Insurance Agency
Robbie Norris, NC Farm Bureau
Mortgage Company
Carolina Ventures Mortgage
CIMG Residential Mortgage
Pinnacle Financial Partners
State Employees’ Credit Union
New Business
DeeTox Skin & Laser
Extraordinary Thrift Store
Gardenia Baby Blossom 3D/4D Ultrasound Studio Boutique
Pet Boarding
The Animal Hospital of Carrboro
Dogwood Veterinary Hospital & Pet Resort
Green Beagle Lodge
Love Overboard Kennels & Grooming
Noah’s Ark Kennel and Cattery
Pet Grooming
Edge Pampered Paws
K9 Perfection Grooming Salon
Love Overboard Kennels & Grooming
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Pet Sitting
Daisybelle’s Dog Walking & Pet Sitting
Kimie’s Kritters
Laughing Dog Pet Care
Walk & Wag
Pet Trainer
Cheery Dogs Dog Training
Green Beagle Lodge
Hickory Hounds
Paws4ever
Veterinarian
The Animal Hospital of Carrboro
Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic
Kindred Heart Animal Hospital
Meadowmont Animal Hospital
Dining
Asian
Akai Hana
Cham Thai
Jujube
Thai Station
Barbecue
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Carolina Brewery
Hillsborough BBQ Company
The Pig
Biscuits
The Flying Biscuit Café
Neal’s Deli
Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Breakfast
Brandwein’s Bagels
Breadman’s
Breakaway Cafe
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Brewery
Carolina Brewery
Haw River Tap & Table
Steel String Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Brunch
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Bluebird
Breakaway Carrboro
Carolina Coffee Shop
Crossroads Barroom and Restaurant
Burger
Al’s Burger Shack
Hawthorne & Wood
Town Hall Burger & Beer
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Chain Restaurant
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Bartaco
Cook Out
The Loop Restaurant
Chef
Leslie Chartier, The Travelling Cafe
Dan Jackson, Osteria Georgi
Vimala Rajendran, Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Brandon Sharp, Bluebird,
Hawthorne & Wood and Próximo
Cocktails
Atlas Bar
Belltree Cocktail Club
The Crunkleton
Little Gem
Orange County Social Club
Coffee Shop
Caffè Driade
Gray Squirrel Coffee Co.
Joe Van Gogh
Open Eye Cafe
Comfort Food/Southern Cuisine
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Merritt’s Grill
Tonya’s Cafe
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Craft Beverages
Carolina Brewery’s Sky Blue Kölsch
Carolina Brewery’s Copperline Amber Ale
Carrboro Coffee Roasters' coffee
Top of the Hill’s Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat
Desserts/Pastries
Even Dough Bakery
Guglhupf Bake Shop
Nantucket Grill
Tonya’s Cookies & Bake Shop
Dog-Friendly Restaurant or Patio
Al’s Burger Shack
Dingo Dog Brewing Company
The Spotted Dog
Weaver Street Market
Draft Beer Selection
Beer Study
Franklin Motors
Growler Grlz
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Food Truck
Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck
City Bus Burritos and Tacos
Merritt’s Grill
Ta Contento Mex Fresh Food
Fried Chicken
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Time-Out Restaurant
Venable
Fries
Al’s Burger Shack
Bluebird
Buns
Glasshalfull
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Full-Service Catering
Beau Catering
Chapel Hill Restaurant Group
JMS Catering
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
Gluten-Free Options
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
The Purple Bowl
Weaver Street Market
Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Chapel Chill
Maple View Country Store
Whit’s Frozen Custard
The Yogurt Pump
Indian
Chimney Indian Kitchen + Bar
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Rasa Restaurant
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Italian
411 West
Osteria Georgi
Pizzeria Mercato
Tesoro
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Al’s Burger Shack
Bartaco
The Loop Restaurant
Monterrey Mexican Grill
Late-Night Eats
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza + Craft Bar
Cosmic Cantina
The Northside District
Time-Out Restaurant
Local Food Product
Big Spoon Roasters nut butters
Chapel Hill Toffee
Maple View Farm ice cream
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering’s pita bread
Mediterranean
Cava
Kipos Greek Taverna
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
Talulla’s
Mexican/Latin American
Carrburritos
Fiesta Grill
Monterrey Mexican Grill
Xolos Tacos and Tlayudas
New Eatery or Bar
Even Dough Bakery
H&H Bagels
One40 Social
Wedgewood Cheese Bar
Outdoor Dining
Bartaco
Kipos Greek Taverna
Merritt’s Grill
Weaver Street Market
Overall Restaurant
Bombolo
Hawthorne & Wood
Osteria Georgi
Tesoro
Overall Service
411 West
Hawthorne & Wood
Osteria Georgi
Próximo
Pizza
Alfredo’s Pizza Villa
Italian Pizzeria III
Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria
Pizzeria Mercato
Place for a Date Night
Bluebird
Hawthorne & Wood
Jujube
Nomad
Place to Watch the Game
Bru’s Public House
Carolina Brewery
Four Corners
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Queso
Armadillo Grill
Carrburritos
Fiesta Grill
Monterrey Mexican Grill
Restaurant Catering
Brandwein’s Bagels
Hillsborough BBQ Company
The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Sandwiches
The Loop Restaurant
Merritt’s Grill
Neal’s Deli
Steve’s Deli, Bakery & Cafe
Seafood
Hawthorne & Wood
Nantucket Grill
Oakleaf
Squid’s
Spot for a Business Lunch
Crossroads Barroom & Restaurant
Kipos Greek Taverna
Osteria Georgi
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Steak
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
Farm House Restaurant
Hawthorne & Wood
Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill
Tandem
Sushi
Akai Hana
Iza Whiskey & Eats
Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant
Takeout
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Carrburritos
Jade Palace
Mediterranean Deli,Bakery and Catering
Tea
Caffè Driade
Flight Tea Bar & Lounge
Krave
Tea Hill
Upscale Restaurant
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
Bombolo
Lantern
Tesoro
Vegetarian/Healthy Food
Coco Bistro & Bar
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
The Purple Bowl
The Spotted Dog
Wine and/or Beer Shop
Beer Study
Chapel Hill Wine Company
Rocks + Acid
Wegmans
Wine Selection
411 West
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
Glasshalfull
Oakleaf
Wings
Heavenly Buffaloes
The Town Hall Grill
Wings Over
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Home & Garden
Architect
Cari Filer Studio
Paces & Roehm
Architecture & Interiors
Steven Clipp Architecture
Szostak Design
Commercial Builder
Hopper Construction
Kennedy Building Company
Resolute Building Company
Szostak Design
Commercial Real Estate Company
Bold Commercial Real Estate
Chapel Hill Realty Group
Morris Commercial
Triangle Real Estate Services
Florist
Chapel Hill Florist
Flower Patch
Purple Puddle Gifts & Flowers
University Florist
Victoria Park Florist
Garden & Hardware Store
Fifth Season Gardening Company
Fitch Lumber & Hardware
Southern States Cooperative
Town & Country Hardware
Home Maintenance & Repair
Boer Brothers Heating & Cooling
Carrboro Plumbing Inc.
Sparrow & Sons Plumbing & Heating
Stone Services
Home Painter
CertaPro Painters
Ramirez Painting & Pressure Washing
Silvestre Painting
Tar Heel Painters
Interior Designer
Cat French Design
Chartreuse Design
Debra Zinn Interiors
Emma Delon
Kitchen/Bath Designer
Cederberg Kitchens + Renovations
Emma Delon
Kitchen and Bath Galleries
Will Johnson Building Company
Landscaper
Amy Strunk Designs
Landscape Logic
O’Mara Landscaping and Lawn Care
Tarheel Turf Services
Neighborhood
Downtown Carrboro
Hillsborough Historic District
Meadowmont
Southern Village
Real Estate Agent
Erika Buchholtz, Erika & Co., Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Scott Kelley, Governors Club Realty
Seth Gold, Bold Real Estate
Claire Pope, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty
Real Estate Company
Bold Real Estate
Erika & Co.
Shenandoah Realty
Triangle Key by Flex Realty
Residential Builder
Bold Construction
Groundstone Homes
Will Johnson Building Company
Zinn Design Build
Health & Wellness
Hair Salon
Ceremony Salon
Mina’s Studio
Syd’s Hair Shop
To The Woods
Hearing Care Provider
North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
UNC Hearing and Communication Center
UNC Hospitals Audiology at Meadowmont
UNC Hospitals Hearing and Voice Center at Carolina Crossing
Home Health Care
Aegis Home Care
Hallmark Homecare
Home Instead
UNC Home Health
Martial Arts
Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Chapel Hill Gymnastics
Quest Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense
United Tae Kwon Do Academy
Nail Salon
501 Nail Spa
Bliss Nail Bar
Le’s Sanctuary Nail Spa
Noire The Nail Bar
OB-GYN
Chapel Hill Obstetrics and Gynecology
For Women Holistic Gynecology and Conscious Wellness
UNC OB/GYN at Hillsborough
UNC OB/GYN at Weaver Crossing
Pharmacy
501 Pharmacy
Carrboro Family Pharmacy
Piedmont Health Carrboro Community Health Center
Southern Village Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
EmergeOrtho Chapel Hill
Kenny & Associates Physical Therapy
Therapy Smarts
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
Pilates Studio
Carolina Core Pilates
Club Pilates
FlowCorps
Pilates at Studio 8
Plastic Surgeon
Finn Plastic Surgery
H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery
UNC Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Spa
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa
Hillsborough Spa & Day Retreat
Medical Day Spa of Chapel Hill
Wax Poetic
Sports Club
Chapel Hill Tennis Club
The Farm UNC Faculty-Staff
Recreation Association
Orange County Sportsplex
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
Tattoo Shop
Gold Hand Gallery
Golden Falcon Tattoo and Piercing
Inkognito Tattoo Studio
Magnolia Tattoo Company
Urgent Care
Carolina Urgent Care
Duke Urgent Care Hillsborough
UNC Urgent Care at Hillsborough
UNC Urgent Care at The Family Medicine Center
Yoga Studio
Bloom Yoga Co.
Carrboro Yoga Company
Dogwood Studio
Franklin Street Yoga Center