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JaxBest winners guide: The spots that make Jacksonville shine

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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.

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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

Bike Shop:

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

Round 12

Local Sports Team

Surf Shop

Waterfront Dining

Restaurant with best wine list

Best Sandwich

Best Fried Chicken


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