As always, New Orleans has so many great things to shout out loud about. We appreciate now, more than ever, those places and things that rise to the top. Here is our list of the Tops of the Town as selected by our editorial staff. Readers were encouraged to make recommendations too, and suggestions were weighed into the discussion.
To us, our readers remain at the very top.
Top Burgers
Winner: Port of Call
Finalists: Bub’s Burgers, Company Burger
Top Garden Supply
Winner: Perino’s
Finalists: Harold’s, Jefferson Feed Pet & Garden Center
Top Jeweler
Winner: Aucoin Hart
Finalists: Adler’s, Lee Michael’s
Top Pet Daycare
Winner: Pawlins
Finalists: Canine Connection, Zeus’ Place
Top Place for a Margarita
Winner: Barracuda
Finalists: El Gato Negro, Juan’s Flying Burritos, Superior Grill, Val’s
Top Local Sandwich Shop
Winner: Stein’s Deli
Finalists: Francolini’s, Martin’s Wine Cellar, St. James Cheese Company
Top French Bread
Winner: Leidenheimer
Finalist: Dong Phuong
Top Local Radio Station
Winner: WWOZ
Finalists: WWL, WWNO
Top Antique Store
Winner: Keil’s Antiques
Finalists: Dop Antiques, Magazine Street Antique Mall, M.S. Rau
Top Bakery
Winner: La Boulangerie
Finalists: Ayu Bakehouse, Celtica, Gambino’s, Maurice’s
Top Bed and Breakfast
Winner: Columns
Finalists: Park View, The Chimes
Top Children’s Boutique
Winner: Pippen Lane
Finalists: Little Miss Muffin, Nola Kids
Top Coffee House
Winner: French Truck
Finalists: Café du Monde, Cherry Espresso, PJ’s Coffee
Top Craft Brewery
Winner: Urban South
Finalists: Brewery Saint X, Port Orleans, Second Line
Top Craft Cocktail Bar
Winner: Cure
Finalists: Fives, Jewel of the South, Peacock Room
Top Dessert Menu
Winner: Arnaud’s
Finalists: Commander’s Palace, GW Fins
Top Dive Bar
Winner: Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge
Finalists: BJ’s Lounge, Chart Room, Kingpin
Top Local Drug Store
Winner: Castellon
Finalists: Majoria, NOLA Discount Pharmacy
Top Dry Cleaner
Winner: Young’s
Finalists: T&A Tailors
Top Florist
Winner: Harkins the Florist, Mitch’s, Villere
Finalist: Kim Starr Wise
Top Furniture Store
Winner: Doerr Furniture
Finalists: Hurwitz Mintz, Textures Warehouse
Top Golf Course
Winner: City Park
Finalist: Audubon Park
Top Gulf Coast Hotel
Winner: The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans
Finalists: Beau Rivage, Voco St. James Hotel
Top Gym
Winner: Clockwork Performance
Finalist: Barre3, New Orleans Athletic Club
Top Happy Hour
Winner: Cure
Finalists: Café Flamant, Domenica
Top Home Accessories
Winners: Eclectic Home, Home Malone
Finalist: Hazelnut
Top Hot Dogs
Winner: Dat Dog
Finalists: Brewery Saint X, Lucky Dog
Top Hotel Bar
Winner: The Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel
Finalists: Bar Marilou, Carousel Bar, Columns
Top Ice Cream/Gelato
Winner: Angelo Brocato
Finalists: Creole Creamery, Piccola Gelateria
Top King Cakes
Winner: Manny Randazzo’s
Finalists: Ayu Bakehouse, Dong Phuong
Top Local Grocery Store
Winner: Rouses
Finalists: Canseco’s, Dorignac’s, Langenstein’s
Top Local Shoe Store
Winner: Shoe Be Do
Finalists: Feet First, Orleans Shoe Co.
Top Men’s Clothing Store
Winner: Rubenstein’s
Finalist: Perlis
Top Museum
Winner: New Orleans Museum of Art
Finalists: National WWII Museum, The Historic New Orleans Collection
Top Neighborhood Restaurant
Winner: Clancy’s
Finalists: High Hat Café, Mandina’s
Top New Orleans Festival
Winner: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Finalists: Beignet Fest, French Quarter Festival
Top Pizza
Winner: Zee’s Pizza
Finalists: Ancora, Pizza Delicious, Pizza Domenica
Top Place for a Power Lunch
Winner: Galatoire’s
Finalists: Commander’s Palace, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Top Place for Barbecue Shrimp
Winner: Pascal’s Manale
Finalists: Mr. B’s Bistro
Top Place for Brunch
Winner: Arnaud’s
Finalists: Commander’s Palace, Ruby Slipper Café
Top Place for Cajun
Winner: Cochon
Finalist: Saint John
Top Place for Casual Breakfast
Winner: Ruby Slipper Café
Finalist: Molly’s Rise and Shine, Toast, Wakin’ Bakin’
Top Place for Chinese
Winner: Miss Shirley’s
Finalists: China Rose, Five Happiness
Top Place for Creole
Winner: Commander’s Palace
Finalists: Arnaud’s, Cane & Table, Saint John
Top Place for Doughnuts
Winner: District Donuts
Finalists: Baker’s Dozen, Tastee
Top Place for Fine Dining
Winner: Commander’s Palace
Finalists: Arnaud’s, Clancy’s, GW Fins
Top Place for Fried Chicken
Winner: Popeye’s
Finalists: Miss River, Mr. Ed’s, Willie Mae’s
Top Place for Gumbo
Winner: Mr. B’s Bistro
Finalists: Chef Ron’s, Gris-Gris
Top Place for Indian
Winner: Saffron NOLA
Finalists: Lufu, Nirvana
Top Place for Italian
Winner: Vincent’s
Finalists: Irene’s, Osteria Lupo, Venezia
Top Place for Japanese
Winner: Yakuza House
Finalists: Luvi, Mikimoto, Yo Nashi
Top Place for Local Gifts
Winner: Fleurty Girl
Finalists: Dirty Coast, Little Miss Muffin
Top Place for Mexican/Southwest
Winner: Santa Fe
Finalists: El Gato Negro, Val’s
Top Place for Middle Eastern
Winner: Saba
Finalists: 1000 Figs, Lebanon Café
Top Place for Raw Oysters
Winners: Felix’s, Seaworthy
Finalists: Acme Oyster House, Fives
Top Place for Seafood
Winner: Peche
Finalists: GW Fins, Seaworthy
Top Place for Steaks
Winner: Doris Metropolitan
Finalists: Charlie’s Steakhouse, Chophouse, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Top Place for Tacos
Winner: Barracuda
Finalists: Juan’s Flying Burrito, Rosalita’s Backyard Taco
Top Place for Tapas
Winner: Costera
Finalists: Baru
Top Place for Turtle Soup
Winner: Commander’s Palace
Finalists: Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Mandina’s
Top Place for Vietnamese
Winner: Lilly’s Café
Finalists: Ba Chi, Pho Tau Bay, Tan Dinh
Top Place for Women’s Clothing
Winner: Ballin’s LTD
Finalists: Hemline, Lucy Rose
Top Place to Buy a Wedding Dress
Winner: Town and Country, Wedding Belles
Finalists: Pearls Place
Top Place to Buy Eyewear
Winner: Krewe
Finalists: Eye Ware’s, St. Charles Vision
Top Place to Buy Liquor and Wine
Winner: Martin’s Wine Cellar
Finalists: Dorignac’s, Elio’s
Top Place to Buy Saints Accessories
Winner: Black & Gold
Finalists: Dirty Coast, Fleutry Girl
Top Po-Boys
Winner: Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Finalists: Domelise’s, Short Stop
Top Salon
Winners: H2O, Paris Parker, Sweet Olive
Top Sno-Balls
Winner: Hansen’s Sno-Bliz
Finalists: Chance in Hell, Imperial Woodpecker, Sal’s
Top Spa
Winner: The Waldorf Astoria Spa
Finalists: Earthsavers, Woodhouse Day Spa
Top Sports Bar
Winner: Cooter Brown’s
Finalists: Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar, Mid-City Yacht Club
Top Sushi
Winner: Tsunami
Finalists: Luvi, Shogun, Yakuza House
Top Wine Bar
Winner: Bacchanal
Finalists: Copper Vine, Swirl, Tell Me Bar
Top Yoga Studio
Winner: Wild Lotus
Finalist: Yes Yoga
