The Best of Chapel Hill 2026 winners will be announced in the July/August issue of Chapel Hill Magazine. Check back on July 1 to see who the winners are!
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 2025 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
Frank Gallery
Margaret Lane Gallery
Peel Gallery + Photo Lab
Group Outing
The Baxter
Cat Tales Cat Cafe
Say It With Glass
Wine & Design Chapel Hill
Live Music Venue
The Carolina Inn
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
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
Trevor Holman
Lindsay Metivier
Heba Salama
Amy Stern
Kimberly Stickel
Place to Host a Children’s Birthday Party
1870 Farm
Blue Skies of Mapleview
Firefly Carrboro
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
Sunrise Community Farm Center
Summer Camp
Blue Skies of Mapleview
Bouncing Bulldogs
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
School of Rock Chapel Hill
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
Children’s Store
Ali Cat Toys
Glee Kids
Lucky Dancewear
Puddle Baby Boutique
Fashion Jewelry
Carlisle & Linny Vintage Jewelry
Light Years
Monkee's of Chapel Hill
Sofia’s Boutique
Fine Jewelry
Melissa Designer Jewelry
Olmaz Jewelers
Rings True
Wentworth & Sloan
Gift Store
My Muses Card Shop
Peel Gallery + Photo Lab
This & That Gift Gallery
WomanCraft Gifts
Home Furnishings & Accessories
The Consignors
Dwell
Re-Invintaged Home Decor & More
Whitehall Antiques
Pet Store
Chapel Hill Wild Bird
Feeders Pet Supply
Hollywood Feed
Paws at the Corner
Picture Framing Services
The Frame & Print Shop
Higgins & Myers Custom Framing & Fine Art Gallery
Studio 71
Yesterday and Today Frame Shop
Place for Beauty Products
Aesthetic Solutions
Medical Day Spa Chapel Hill
Monarch Brow & Facial Studio
Wax Poetic
Place for Glasses
20/20 Eyeworks
Carrboro Family Vision
Chapel Hill Eyecare
Chapel Hill Ophthalmology
Shopping Experience
Carr Mill Mall
Downtown Chapel Hill
Eastgate Crossing
Fearrington Village
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 (Coleman Huntoon & Brown)
DeVine & Reinheimer CPAs PC
Alterations
Anna’s Tailor and Alterations
Cynthia’s Tailor Shop
Elegance Cleaners
MTHU Oriental Tailors
Automotive Services/Repairs
Auto Logic
Brown’s Automotive
Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center
Sturdivant’s Tire Pros & Auto
Bank
Coastal Credit Union
Pinnacle Financial Partners
State Employees’ Credit Union
Truist
Barbershop
Arrow
Chapel Hill Barber Shop
Edge Salon & Wellness
Great Clips Chapel Hill North
Midway Barber Shop
Boutique Fitness
Barre3
Eat the Frog Fitness
Fit Carrboro
Pure Barre Chapel Hill
Car Wash
Carolina Car Wash & Detail
Chapel Hill Tire Car Care
Clean Wheels Car Wash
Rocket Wash Express
Child Care
Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool
Children's Campus
Mi Escuelita Spanish Immersion Preschool
Primrose School of Chapel Hill at Briar Chapel
Chiropractor
Carolina Spine Specialists
North Carolina Chiropractic
Partners in Health & Wellness
Swiss Chiropractic Clinique
Cleaners
A Cleaner World
Cole Park Cleaners
McPherson Cleaners
Perfect Image Cleaners
Dance Studio
Ballet School of Chapel Hill
Monarch Movement Company
Studio A DanceArts
Triangle Youth Ballet
Dermatologist/Cosmetic Services
Aesthetic Solutions
Central Dermatology Center
Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill
Medical Day Spa of Chapel Hill
Event Planner
The Carolina Inn
I Do Weddings by Michele
J. Scott Harmon, Chapel Hill Country Club
Michele Leighton, Governors Club
Event Space
Blue Hill Event Center
The Carolina Inn
Fearrington Village
Governors Club
Lavender Oaks Farm
Financial Advisor/Investment Firm
Atlantic Private Wealth
Edward Jones
Harmony Group Wealth Advisors
Woodward Financial Advisors
Fitness Facility
CrossFit Chapel Hill
CrossFit HTS
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
General Dentistry
Bostian Dental
Holman Family Dental Care
Khani Dental
Milltown Family Dentistry
Studio G Aesthetic & Family Dentistry
Hair Salon
Citrine Salon
Le Cheveu Studio
Mina’s Studio
Syd's Hair Shop
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
Hotel
The Carolina Inn
The Colonial Inn
The Fearrington House Inn
The Siena Hotel
Insurance Agent/Firm
Bonnie Rose, NC Farm Bureau
High & Rubish Insurance Agency
Ola Stinnett, State Farm
Pam Herndon State Farm Insurance Agency
Seagroves Insurance
Lawyer
Amy Walker Cagle, Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC
Kendall Page
Ryan Layton, The Law Office of Ryan A. Layton, PLLC
Martial Arts
Beacon Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness
The Coalition NC
Quest Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense
United Tae Kwon Do Academy
Mortgage Company
Carolina Ventures Mortgage
CIMG Residential Mortgage
Pinnacle Financial Partners
State Employees' Credit Union
Nail Salon
Bliss Nail Bar
Le’s Sanctuary Nail Spa
Natural Nails
Rose Nails
New Business
Arrow Travel Co.
Hallmark Homecare
MedSpa 501
Say It With Glass
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
Optometrist/Ophthalmologist
Carrboro Family Vision
Chapel Hill Eyecare
Chapel Hill Ophthalmology
UNC Kittner Eye Center
Orthodontist
Dr. Jeff Berndt, Noble Orthodontics
Dr. Corey Jones, Jones Orthodontics
Dr. Gavin Heymann, Smith & Heymann Orthodontics
Dr. Tammy R. Severt
Pediatrician/Family Medicine
Avance Care South Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Children and Adolescents’ Clinic
Chapel Hill Pediatrics & Adolescents
Piedmont Health
Pet Boarding
Dogwood Veterinary Hospital & Pet Resort
Green Beagle Lodge
Love Overboard Kennels & Grooming
Pet Grooming
Edge Pampered Paws
K9 Perfection Grooming Salon
Love Overboard Kennels & Grooming
Ooh La La Pet Spa
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Pet Sitting
Kimie’s Kritters
Laughing Dog Pet Care
Marley’s Angels Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Service
Walk & Wag
Pet Trainer
Green Beagle Lodge
Hickory Hounds
Laughing Dog Pet Care
Paws4ever
Pharmacy
501 Pharmacy
Carrboro Family Pharmacy
Piedmont Health
Southern Village Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Beacon Physical Therapy & Performance
EmergeOrtho Chapel Hill
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
Pilates Studio
Carolina Core Pilates
Club Pilates
Conscious Strong
FlowCorps
Plastic Surgeon
Finn Plastic Surgery
Dr. Daniel Rubinstein, UNC Kittner Eye Center
UNC Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Jeyhan Wood, H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery
Spa
Medical Day Spa of Chapel Hill
MedSpa 501
The Spa at Fearrington
Wild Beauty Organic Skin Care
Sports Club
Chapel Hill Tennis Club
Duke Center for Living at Fearrington
Governors Club Wellness Center
Orange County Sportsplex
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont
Tattoo Shop
Gold Hand Gallery
Golden Falcon Tattoo and Piercing
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
Veterinarian
The Animal Hospital of Carrboro
Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic
Cole Park Veterinary Hospital
Meadowmont Animal Hospital
Waxing Salon
L.A. Bikini
Monarch Brow & Facial Studio
Waxing the City
Wax Poetic
Yoga Studio
Carrboro Yoga Company
Dogwood Studio
Feel Better Yoga
Franklin Street Yoga Center
Loving Kindness Yoga School
Dining
Asian
Akai Hana
Jujube
Thai Station
Barbecue
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Carolina Brewery
Hillsborough BBQ Company
The Pig
Biscuits
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
Eno River Brewing
Steel String Brewery
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Brunch
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Bluebird
Breakaway Carrboro
Carolina Coffee Shop
Burger
Al’s Burger Shack
Buns
Town Hall Burger & Beer
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Chain Restaurant
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Bartaco
Cava
Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill
Chef
Leslie Chartier, The Travelling Cafe
Dan Jackson, Osteria Georgi
Brandon Sharp, Bluebird,
Hawthorne & Wood and Próximo
Danny Vacca, Market and Moss
Cocktails
Atlas Bar
Belltree Cocktail Club
Bowbarr
The Crunkleton
Coffee Shop
Caffè Driade
Gray Squirrel Coffee Co.
Joe Van Gogh
Open Eye Cafe
Comfort Food/Southern Cuisine
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Mama Dip’s Kitchen
Merritt’s Grill
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Craft Beverages
Botanist and Barrel ciders
Carolina Brewery's Sky Blue Kölsch
Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee
Top of the Hill's Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat
Desserts/Pastries
Even Dough Bakery
Genevieve Pastry
Guglhupf Bake Shop
Nantucket Grill
Dog-Friendly Restaurant or Patio
Dingo Dog Brewing Company
Eno River Brewing
Merritt’s Grill
Weaver Street Market
Draft Beer Selection
Beer Study
The Casual Pint
Franklin Motors
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Food Truck
Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck
Garnachas Rivera
Merritt’s Grill
Roquette at Franklin Motors
Ta Contento Mex Fresh Food
Fried Chicken
Acme Food & Beverage Co.
Mama Dip’s 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
Brandwein's Bagels
Coco Bistro & Bar
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
Weaver Street Market
Host/Server
McKenzie Almers, Eno River Brewing
Emily Akins, Pizzeria Mercato
Kristen Peterson, Market and Moss
David Wood, Governors Club
Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Chapel Chill
Maple View Farm Ice Cream
Whit’s Frozen Custard
The Yogurt Pump
Indian
CholaNad Restaurant & Bar
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Tandoor Indian Restaurant
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Italian
411 West
Osteria Georgi
Pizzeria Mercato
Tesoro
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Al’s Burger Shack
Alfredo's Pizza Villa
Bartaco
The Loop Restaurant
Late-Night Eats
Cosmic Cantina
The Northside District
Sup Dogs
Time-Out Restaurant
Local Food Product
Big Spoon Roasters nut butters
Chapel Hill Creamery cheese
Chapel Hill Toffee
Maple View Farm’s ice cream
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
The Flying Pierogi Delicatessen
Pròximo
Sidetrack Bar & Lounge
Xolos Tacos and Tlayudas
Outdoor Dining
Caffè Driade
Kipos Greek Taverna
Market and Moss
Merritt's Grill
Overall Restaurant
Hawthorne & Wood
Market and Moss
Osteria Georgi
Tesoro
Overall Service
Glasshalfull
Hawthorne & Wood
Market and Moss
Oakleaf
Pizza
Alfredo’s Pizza Villa
Italian Pizzeria III
Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria
Pizzeria Mercato
Place for a Date Night
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
Bombolo
Hawthorne & Wood
Oakleaf
Place to Watch the Game
Carolina Brewery
The Casual Pint
Four Courners
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
Coco Bistro & Bar
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Merritt’s Grill
Neal’s Deli
Seafood
Hawthorne & Wood
Squid’s
Tom Robinson's Seafood
Spot for a Business Lunch
Crossroads Barroom and Restaurant
Glasshalfull
Osteria Georgi
Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill
Steak
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
Farm House Restaurant
Hawthorne & Wood
Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill
Sushi
Akai Hana
Iza Whiskey & Eats
Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant
Takeout
Cham Thai
Jade Palace
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering
New Hope Market
Tea
Caffè DriadeThe Carolina Inn
The Fearrington House Restaurant
Krave
Tea Hill
Upscale Restaurant
Bluebird
Hawthorne & Wood
Market and Moss
The Fearrington House Restaurant
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 Wine Shop
Winestore
Wine Selection at a Restaurant
Bin 54 Steak & Cellar
The Fearrington House Restaurant
Glasshalfull
Hawthorne & Wood
Market and Moss
Wings
The Casual Pint
Heavenly Buffaloes
Wings Over
The Wooden Nickel Public House
Home & Garden
Architect
Cari Filer Studio
Paces & Roehm Architecture & Interiors
Shaw Design Associates
Sophie Piesse Architect
Commercial Builder
Hopper Construction
Kennedy Building Company
Resolute Building Company
Szostak Design
Commercial Real Estate Company
Avison Young
Bold Commercial Real Estate
Chapel Hill Realty Group
Morris Commercial
Triangle Real Estate Services
Florist
Chapel Hill Florist
Fireside Farm
Sutton Stems
Victoria Park Florist
Garden & Hardware Store
Fifth Season Gardening Company
Fitch Lumber & Hardware
Piedmont Feed & Garden Center
Southern States Cooperative
Home Maintenance & Repair
Boer Brothers Heating & Cooling
Bud Matthews Services
Carrboro Plumbing Inc.
Sparrow & Sons Plumbing & Heating
Home Painter
CertaPro Painters
Ramirez Painting & Pressure Washing
Silvestre Painting
Tar Heel Painters
Interior Designer
Cat French Design
Chartreuse Design
Emma Delon
Sloan Polish Design
Kitchen/Bath Designer
Cederberg Kitchens + Renovations
Emma Delon
Kitchen & Bath Galleries
Will Johnson Building Company
Landscaper
Amy Strunk Designs
Farmhouse Lawn & Landscape
O’Mara Landscaping and Lawn Care
Roots & Sproots
Large-Scale Residential Builder
David Weekley Homes
Garman Homes
Homes by Dickerson
Kovens Construction
Neighborhood
Downtown Carrboro
Hillsborough Historic District
The Oaks
Southern Village
Real Estate Agent
Erika Buchholtz, Erika & Co.
Scott Kelley, Governors Club Realty
Seth Gold, Bold Real Estate
Alex Nickodem, Terra Nova + Compass
Real Estate Company
Bold Real Estate
Erika & Co.
Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s
International Realty
Triangle Key by Flex Realty
Residential Builder
Bold Construction
Long Developers
Will Johnson Building Company
Zinn Design Build