JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Showcasing the best that Jacksonville has to offer, JaxBest is a voter-centric guide to all of the local things that make our city unique.
Below is a list of this year’s winners (2022-2023). Check out the winners from 2021-2022 and 2020-2021.
Round 1 winners
Jacksonville’s best brewery: SJ Brewing Company
Runners up:
2) Disco Witch Brewing 3) Amelia Tavern Restaurant & Brewhub
Jacksonville’s best trail: Camp Milton Historic Preserve
Runners up:
2) Fort Caroline National Memorial 3) Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Best dog park: Nassau Humane Society Dog Park
Runners-up:
2) Poochie’s Park 3) Dogwood Park of Jacksonville
Jacksonville’s best public art: Florida Shore Birds by M.J. Hinson
Runners up:
2) College Park “Arlington” 3) Maiya Elaine: “Starship to Base Command”
Jacksonville’s best coffee: That Coffee Chic
Runners-up:
2) The Urban Bean Coffeehouse Café 3) Lucky Goat Coffee
Jacksonville’s best fishing charter: Team Buck Rogers
Runners up:
2) Set Em Up Fishing Charters 3) Capt. Dave’s Sport Fishing
Jacksonville’s best geek business: Darby’s Dungeon
Runners up:
2) Gotham City Limit 3) Java Game Haus
Best animal encounter: St. Augustine Wild Reserve
Runners up:
2) Celestial Farms 3) Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Best golf course: Jacksonville Golf & Country Club
Runners up:
2) Jacksonville Beach Golf Club 3) Eagle Landing Golf Club
Jacksonville’s best water sports rentals: Riptide Watersports Tours and Rentals
Runners up:
2) Adventure Kayak Florida 3) St. Augustine Sailing
Round 2 winners
Jacksonville’s best family-friendly park: Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Runners up:
2) The Clarke House Park 3) South Beach Park & Sunshine Playground
Jacksonville’s best live music: Florida Theatre
Runners up:
2) VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 3) Murray Hill Theatre
Jacksonville’s best place to dock & dine: Whitey’s Fish Camp
Runners-up:
2) Palm Valley Outdoors Bar & Grill 3) Palms Fish Camp
Best sports bar to watch the Jaguars: Strings Sports Brewery
Runners up:
2) Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant 3) Jerry’s Sports Grille
Jacksonville’s best sunset view: Memorial Park
Runners-up:
2) Cap’s on the Water 3) Sunset Tiki Bar, Doctors Lake Marina
Jacksonville’s best tacos: El Agave Azul
Runners-up:
2) Brochachos Fusion Eats 3) Jalapeno Express
Round 3 winners
Jacksonville’s best vegan restaurant: KraVegan
Runners up:
2) Murray HillBilly 3) Southern Roots Filling Station
Jacksonville’s best kayak or paddleboard launch site: Big Talbot Island State Park
Runners up:
2) Fort Mose Historic State Park Launch 3) GTM Research Reserve Launch
Jacksonville’s best Mayport shrimp: Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant
Runner up:
2) Singleton’s Seafood Shack
Jacksonville’s best farmers market: Jacksonville Farmers Market
Runners up:
2) Fernandina Beach Market Place 3) Orange Park Farmers Market
Jacksonville’s best historic neighborhood: Springfield
Runners up:
2) Riverside Avondale 3) Mandarin
Round 4 winners
Jacksonville’s best haunted house: 13th Floor Haunted House
Runners up:
2) Warehouse 31 Unleashed 3) North Florida Nightmare
Jacksonville’s best Oktoberfest: Legacy Ale Works Oktoberfest
Runners up:
2) Wicked Barley Oktoberfest 3) Beaches Oktoberfest
Jacksonville’s best history museum: Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
Runners up:
2) Ritz Theatre and Museum 3) James Merrill Museum
Jacksonville’s best sweet shop: Southern Dessert Plate
Runners up:
2) Island Dream Authentic Italian Ice 3) Bambino Scoops
Jacksonville’s best bait shop: Browns Creek Fish Camp
Runners up:
2) Amelia Island Bait Tackle 3) Trout River Fish Co.
Jacksonville’s best boutique: Lily Grace Boutique
Runners up:
2) Chocolate Shoe Boutique 3) HERS
Jacksonville’s best geek event: WasabiCon
Round 5 winners
Jacksonville’s best rooftop bar: River & Post
Runners up:
2) Black Sheep Restaurant 3) Cowford Chophouse
Jacksonville’s best barbecue: The Bearded Pig
Runners up:
2) Berndt Ends BBQ 3) Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ
Jacksonville’s best locally-brewed fall beer: Jax Boot, Legacy Ale Works
Runners up:
2) Pumpkin Beer (Wicked Barley) 3) STILL Not a Pumpkin Beer (Southern Swells)
Jacksonville’s best pumpkin patch: Southside United Methodist Church
Runners up:
2) River of Life United Methodist Church 3) Isle of Faith
Best kids attraction: St. Augustine Wild Reserve
Runners up:
2) Bravoz Entertainment Center 3) Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Jacksonville’s best band: Mandalla Music
Runners up:
2) Big Engine 3) Last 2 Leave
Round 6 winners
Jacksonville’s best makery: Seaside Shoppes
Runners up:
2) Atlantic Beach Arts Market 3) Colonial Quarter
Jacksonville’s best holiday event: Deck The Chairs
Runners up:
2) Jacksonville Light Boat Parade 3) Jacksonville Zoo and Garden “ZOOLights”
Jacksonville’s best lights display: St. Augustine Nights of Lights
Runners up:
2) Girvin Road lights 3) WillowWood in Winter
Jacksonville’s best scenic trail: Timucuan Preserve
Runners up:
2) Amelia Island State Park 3) Hanna Abbey Park
Jacksonville’s best happy hour: Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Runners up:
2) Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant 3) Hoptinger Bier Garden and Sausage House
Jacksonville’s best food truck: 93 Hibachi
Runners up:
2) Gumbo Man 3) Sal’s Cucina
Round 7 winners
Jacksonville’s best pizza: Bala’s pizza
Runners up:
2) Moon River Pizza 3) Serafinas Pizzeria
Jacksonville’s best breakfast: Grumpy’s Restaurant
Runners up:
2) Metro Diner 3) Delicias Colombianas Jax
Best meal prep: Lean Impact Nutrition
Runners up:
2) SoulFull Eats 3) Kathy’s Table
Best yoga studio: Rebel Studio
Runners up:
2) Yoga den 3) Titanium Yoga
Jacksonville’s best gym or place for CrossFit: Brandon Fitness
Runners up:
2) PhysWell Fitness and Rehab 3) Salt de Terre
Jacksonville’s best wine bar: Coastal Wine Market
Runners up:
2) Red’s Wine Bar 3) Royal Palm Village Wine and Tapas
Round 8 winners
Jacksonville’s best burger: Carolina Jax
Runners up:
2) Burger Barn 3) The Loop
Jacksonville’s best romantic dinner: Cowford Chophouse
Runners up:
2) River and Post 3) Marker 32
Best bed & breakfast: Carriage Way Inn
Runner up:
2) St. Augustine Beach Bed & Breakfast
Jacksonville’s best flower shop: Seawalk Custom Florals
Runners up:
2) Jacksonville Flower Market 3) Kuhn Flowers
Jacksonville’s best jewelry store: Faith Jewelers
Runners up:
2) Element Jewelry INC 3) Kingsley Jewelry
Jacksonville’s best chocolate shop: Toffee by Rethreaded
Runners up:
2) Sweet Pete’s 3) Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Round 9 winners
Jacksonville’s best Irish pub: Culhane’s
Runners up:
2) The Stout Snug 3) Lynch’s Irish Pub
Best group outing: St. Augustine Wild Reserve
Runners up:
2) St. Augustine Alligator Farm 3) Epic Animal Farm
Jacksonville’s best kid-friendly restaurant: Shut Em Down Authentic Southern
Runners up:
2) Beachside Seafood 3) Carmines Pie House
Jacksonville’s best juice bar: Roots & Fruits Juicery
Runners up:
2) Juice Tap Jax 3) 3Natives
Jacksonville’s best summer camp: Camp Chippewa
Runners up:
2) Cummer Museum Camp 3) Diamond D Ranch Inc.
Jacksonville’s best road race (running): Emerald Trail 5K & 10K
Runners up:
2) Matanzas 5000 3) Gate River Run
Round 10 winners
Jacksonville’s best doughnut: The Doughnut Shoppe
Runners up:
2) Parlor Doughnuts 3) Good Dough
Jacksonville’s best fishing tournament: Annual Anglers for a Cure Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament
Runners up:
2) Flounder Pounder 3) Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament
Jacksonville’s best pet boarding/daycare: Birch Island Veterinary Center
Runners up:
2) Pooches Playhouse 3) Club K-9 Inc.
Jacksonville’s best gallery: Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Runners up:
2) Alexander Brest Museum 3) Grace Gallery
Jacksonville’s best sushi: Sushi Bear Sushi & Grill
Runners up:
2) Fancy Sushi 3) Hana Moon
Jacksonville’s best flea market: Pecan Park Flea & Farmers’ Market
Runners up:
2) Beach Boulevard Flea Market 3) Ramona Flea Market
Round 11 winners
1. Tucker Cycles
2. Bicycles Etc
3. Planet Bicycle
Best brunch:
1. Jazzy’s Restaurant and Lounge
2. Uptown Kitchen & Bar
3. Village Bread
Best Pet Bakery:
1. Hazel Grace and Goodies LLC
2. Redbones Gourmet Dog Bakery and Boutique
3. Bark on Park
Best Speak Easy:
1. The Volstead (2 time winner)
2. Aromas Cigar Bar and Lounge
3. Prohibition Kitchen
Best Biscuit:
1. Maple Street Biscuit Company (5 time winner)
2. Capri Diner
3. Famous Amos
Best Museum:
1. Museum of Science and History
2. Brown African Jew Museum Sanctuary
3. The Cummer Museum of Art and History