The readers have spoken and determined this year’s Best of the City winners in dozens of different categories.
Representatives from voters’ No. 1 choices for such things as best restaurant for Thai food (Baan Thai) and Japanese food (Japanese Village), best used book store (Russell Books), best flower shop (Brown’s the Florist), best wine store (Everything Wine) were among those welcomed at The Wellesley retirement community on Thursday (June 27), as Black Press unveiled the annual community awards.
A number of businesses, community service providers and even an individual – morning man Ed Bain of 100.3 The Q radio, who doubles as weather man on CHEK-TV – took top spot in multiple categories.
Some merchants added to longstanding titles atop their respective categories, such as Thrifty Foods for best grocery store, and Ming’s Restaurant, which captured a 10th straight win for best Chinese food.
For these Greater Victoria icons and all of the top three finishers in this year’s Best of the City awards, the results proved they are among the best reasons to live in the Capital Region.
Best of the City was delivered in select copies of the June 28 Victoria News.
Find feature stories from the 2013 Best of the City soon at vicnews.com/lifestyles/tourism/.
The list of top three finishers by category and topic is as follows:
LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Place to take a tourist
1st    BUTCHART GARDENS
2nd    INNER HARBOUR
3rd   DALLAS ROAD
Best Place to take a parent
1st   BUTCHART GARDENS
2nd    BEACON HILL PARK
3rd   THE FAIRMONT EMPRESS
Best place for afternoon tea
1st    THE FAIRMONT EMPRESS
2nd    THE WHITE HEATHER TEA ROOM
3rd   MURCHIE’S
Best Place to escape urban stress in the city
1st    BEACON HILL PARK
2nd    MOUNT DOUG PARK
3rd   WILLOWS BEACH
Best place to walk your dog
1st    DALLAS ROAD
2nd    THETIS LAKE
3rd   ELK LAKE
Best place to meet a mate
1st   STARBUCKS
2nd    THRIFTY FOODS
3rd   UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
Best free fun
1st   BEACON HILL PARK
2nd   INNER HARBOUR
3rd   DALLAS ROAD
Best Place to worship
1st    CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
2nd   ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL
3rd   GLAD TIDINGS CHURCH
Best Museum
1st    ROYAL BC MUSEUM
2nd   MARITIME MUSEUM
3rd   ART GALLERY OF GREATER VICTORIA
Best adventure tourism
1st   WILD PLAY ELEMENT PARKS
2nd   PRINCE OF WHALES
3rd   EAGLE WING TOURS
Best outdoor art
1st   MOSS STREET PAINT- IN
2nd   GOVERNMENT STREET CHALK ART
3rd   INNER HARBOUR
Best place to spot a celebrity
1st    FARIMONT EMPRESS
2nd   INNER HARBOUR
3rd   GOVERNMENT STREET
Local celebrity you’d like to invite to dinner
1st   ED BAIN
2nd   DAVID FOSTER
3rd   HUDSON MACK
Best Place to spot a ghost
1st   ROSS BAY CEMETERY
2nd   BASTION SQUARE
3rd   VICTORIA GOLF COURSE
Best urban hiking trail
1st   MOUNT DOUG
2nd   GALLOPING GOOSE
3rd   THETIS LAKE
Best romantic beach
1st   WILLOWS BEACH
2nd   DALLAS ROAD
3rd   GONZALES BAY BEACH
Best worst kept secret in Victoria
1st   RED FISH, BLUE FISH
2nd   THE BLUE FOX CAFÉ
3rd   BRASSERIE L’ECOLE
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SHOPPING
Best shop for vitamins & nutrition
1st   THE VITAMIN SHOP
2nd   LIFESTYLES MARKET
3rd   POPEYES
Best Bookstore
1st   MUNRO’S BOOKS
2nd   BOLEN BOOKS
3rd   CHAPTERS
Best used Bookstore
1st   RUSSELL BOOKS
2nd   SMART BOOK SHOP
3rd   CHRONICLES OF CRIME
Best Flower Shop
1st   BROWN’S THE FLORIST
2nd   POPPIES FLORAL ART
3rd   THRIFTY FOODS
Best Garden Shop
1st   GARDENWORKS
2nd   DIG THIS
3rd   MARIGOLD NURSERY
Best Thrift Shop
1st    VALUE VILLAGE
2nd   VICTORIA WOMEN IN NEED COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE
3rd   THE SALVATION ARMY
Best Consignment Shop
1st   BAJA ROSI’S CONSIGNMENT CABANA
2nd   MY SISTER’S CLOSET
3rd   THE PATCH
Best new car dealership
1st   METRO LEXUS TOYOTA
2nd   CAMPUS HONDA
3rd   BMW VICTORIA
Best used car dealership
1st   GALAXY MOTORS
2nd   HOWIES CAR CORRAL
3rd   METRO LEXUS TOYOTA
Best for motorcycles/scooters
1st   STEVE DRANE HARLEY DAVIDSON
2nd   ACTION MOTORCYLES
3rd   SG POWER
Best bicycle shop
1st   OAK BAY BICYCLES
2nd   FORT STREET BICYCLES
3rd   RUSS HAYS BICYCLE SHOP
Best for your pets
1st   PETCETERA
2nd   BOSLEY’S PET FOOD PLUS
3rd   PETS WEST
Best for appliances
1st   SEARS
2nd   TRAIL APPLIANCES
3rd   WEST COAST APPLIANCES
Best for hardware
1st   THE HOME DEPOT
2nd   HOME HARDWARE
3rd   RONA
Best kitchen shop
1st   COOK CULTURE
2nd   CAPITAL IRON
3rd   PENNA
Best independent shoe store
1st   THE COBBLER
2nd   FOOTLOOSE
3rd   SHE SHE SHOES
Best fashion boutique
1st   STILL LIFE
2nd   MANGO
3rd   BLISS
Best farmers market
1st   RED BARN MARKET
2nd   MOSS STREET COMMUNITY MARKET
3rd   THE ROOT CELLAR VILLAGE GREEN GROCER
Best for window coverings
1st   RUFFELL & BROWN
2nd   SEARS
3rd   HOME DEPOT
Best for flooring
1st   END OF THE ROLL
2nd   THE FINISHING STORE
3rd   HOME DEPOT
Best for lighting
1st   MCLAREN LIGHTING
2nd   ILLUMINATIONS LIGHTING SOLUTIONS
3rd   THE HOME DEPOT
Best Department Store
1st   THE BAY
2nd   SEARS
3rd   WALMART
Best furniture store (independent)
1st   DODDS FURNITURE & MATTRESS
2nd   SAGER’S HOME LIVING
3rd   LUXE HOME INTERIORS
Best furniture store (chain)
1st   THE BRICK
2nd   SEARS
3rd   URBAN BARN    3rd: ASHLEY FURNITURE
Best for pool/spa
1st   CAPITAL IRON
2nd   VINTAGE HOT TUBS
3rd   TWILIGHT HOT TUBS & BILLIARDS
Best for barbeques
1st   THE HOME DEPOT
2nd   CAPITAL IRON
3rd   CANADIAN TIRE
Best for musical instruments
1st   LONG and MCQUADE
2nd   TOM LEE MUSIC
3rd   LARSEN MUSIC
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RESTAURANTS/FOOD & DRINK
Best new restaurant
1st   BIN 4 BURGER LOUNGE
2nd   JAM CAFÉ
3rd   TARTAN TOQUE
Best old school diner
1st   FLOYD’S DINER
2nd   JOHN’S PLACE
3rd   ROSIE’S DINER
Best for first date
1st   MILESTONES
2nd   IL TERRAZZO
3rd   FIRESIDE GRILL
Best seafood
1st   PESCATORES SEAFOOD & GRILL
2nd   RED FISH, BLUE FISH
3rd   NAUGHTICAL NELLIES
Best for steak
1st   THE KEG STEAKHOUSE & BAR
2nd   BRASSERIE L’ECOLE
3rd   PRIME STEAKHOUSE
Best Chinese
1st   MING’S
2nd   DON MEES
3rd   JJ WONTON NOODLE HOUSE
Best Greek
1st   SAN REMO
2nd   IL GRECO
3rd   OPA SOUVLAKI
Best Italian
1st   IL TERRAZZO
2nd   ZAMBRI’S
3rd   PAGLIACCI’S
Best Japanese
1st   JAPANIESE VILLAGE RESTAURANT
2nd   AZUMA SUSHI
3rd   EBIZO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Best Mexican
1st   CAFÉ MEXICO
2nd   HERNANDE`Z
3rd   LA TAQUISA
Best Vietnamese
1st   PHO VY
2nd   GREEN LEAF BISTRO
3rd   SAIGON NIGHT
Best Indian
1st   SIZZLING TANDOOR
2nd   THE SPICE JAMMER
3rd   SABRI INDIAN CUISINE
Best Thai
1st   BAAN THAI
2nd   LITTLE THAI PLACE
3rd   SABHAI THAI
Best for Breakfast
1st   BLUE FOX CAFÉ
2nd   JAM CAFÉ
3rd   JOHN’S PLACE
Best vegetarian/vegan
1st   REBAR
2nd   GREEN CUISINE
3rd   THE LOTUS POND
Best “all you can eat”
1st   Brunch at THE MARINA RESTAURANT
2nd   RAYMONDS
3rd   PURPLE GARDEN
Best business lunch
1st   CACTUS CLUB CAFÉ
2nd   MOXIE’S CLASSIC GRILL
3rd   LURE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Best for your sweet tooth
1st   THE DUTCH BAKERY
2nd   ROGERS CHOCOLATES
3rd   OOH LA LA CUPCAKES
Best coffee/latte/cappuccino(independent)
1st   HABIT
2nd   DISCOVERY COFFEE
3rd   CAFÉ FANTASTICO
Best ice cream
1st   BEACON DRIVE IN
2nd   QOOLA FROZEN YOGURT BAR
3rd   MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY
Best wings
1st   TARTAN TOQUE
2nd   HECKLERS BAR & GRILL
3rd   1550’S
Best fish & chips
1st   BARB’S FISH & CHIPS
2nd   RED FISH, BLUE FISH
3rd   HAULTAIN FISH & CHIPS
Best burger
1st   BIN 4 BURGER LOUNGE
2nd   THE PINK BICYCLE
3rd   BIG WHEEL BURGER
Best Pizza
1st   PIZZERIA PRIMA STRADA
2nd   ROMEO’S
3rd   ALI BABA PIZZA
Best patio bar
1st   CANOE CLUB
2nd   GLO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
3rd   THE LOCAL KITCHEN
Best sports bar
1st   SHARK CLUB
2nd   THE PODIUM SPORTS GRILL
3rd   THE STICKY WICKET PUB
Best for a martini
1st   VENETO
2nd   CLIVES CLASSIC LOUNGE
3rd   THE BENGAL LOUNGE
Best pub
1st   IRISH TIMES PUB
2nd   BARD & BANKER SCOTTISH PUB
3rd   THE FERNWOOD INN
Best for scotch
1st   BARD & BANKER SCOTTISH PUB
2nd   CLIVES CLASSIC LOUNGE
3rd   ARGYLE ATTIC 3rd: THE BENGAL LOUNGE
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FOOD SERVICE
Best Grocery Store
1st   Thrifty Foods
2nd   Market on Yates
3rd   Fairway Market
Best bulk food store
1st   Costco
2nd   Thrifty Foods
3rd   For Good Measure
Best for produce
1st   The Root Cellar
2nd   Red Barn Market
3rd   Fairway Market
Best organic grocer
1st   The Root Cellar
2nd   Red Barn Market
3rd   Planet Organic
Best bakery
1st   Cobb’s Bakery
2nd   Dutch Bakery
3rd   Wildfire Bakery
Best specialty deli
1st   Italian Food Imports
2nd   Ottavio Italian Deli
3rd   Red Barn Market
Best local brewery/winery
1st   Phillips Brewery
2nd   Hoyne Brewery
3rd   Spinnakers
Best wine store
1st   Everything Wine
2nd   BC Liqouor Store
3rd   Liquor Plus
Best for making your own wine
1st   The Wine Maker
2nd   Cook Street Village Wineworks
3rd   Wine Kitz
Best U-Brew
1st   Brew Works – U Brew Victoria
2nd   Bedford Brewing
3rd   West Coast Brew Shop
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SERVICE
Best Hotel
1st    The Empress Hotel
2nd   Delta Ocean Pointe Resort
3rd   Hotel Grand Pacific
Best barbershop
1st    Victory Barbershop
2nd   Jimmy’s
3rd   Status Barber Shop
Best spa
1st   Willow Stream Spa at the Empress
2nd   The Spa at Delta Victoria – Ocean Pointe
3rd   Spa Magnolia
Best manicure/pedicure
1st   Willow Stream Spa at the Empress
2nd   Alchemy Hair Design & Spa
3rd   The Spa at Delta Victoria – Ocean Pointe
Best hair salon
1st   Lab Hair Salon
2nd   Alchemy Hair Design & Spa
3rd   Fish Hair Salon
Best shoe repair
1st   Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic
2nd   Oak Bay Cobbler
3rd   Arcadia Shoe Repair
Best optical/eyewear
1st   Goo Goo Goggles
2nd   Maycock Eyecare
3rd   Costco
Best pharmacy
1st   London Drugs
2nd   Pharmasave
3rd   Shoppers Drug Mart
Best for photo finishing
1st   London Drugs
2nd   Costco
3rd   Walmart
Best place for picture framing
1st   Michaels
2nd   Island Blue
3rd   Opus
Best custom home builder
1st   Abstract Developments
2nd   Terry Johal Developments
3rd   Coastal Construction & Maximillian Huxley Construction
Best condo development
1st   Dockside Green
2nd   Abstract
3rd   The Hudso
Best retirement residence
1st   The Wellesley
2nd   Berwick House
3rd   Carlton Hous
Best tattoo/piercing parlour
1st   Urge Tattoos
2nd   Tattoo Zoo
3rd   Empire Tattoo
Best tire store
1st   Kal Tire
2nd   Canadian Tire
3rd   Big O Tire
Best automotive service (chain)
1st   Canadian Tire
2nd   Midas
3rd   Kal Tire
Best automotive service (independent)
1st   Searles Auto Repair
2nd   Rand Automotive
3rd   Speedy Aut
Best place to improve your smile
1st   Academy Dental
2nd   Saanich Dental
3rd   Mayfair Denta
Best public washroom
1st   The Bay Centre
2nd   Cactus Club
3rd   Empress Hote
Best pet clinic
1st   Hillside Veterinary Hospital
2nd   McKenzie Vet Services
3rd   Kindred Spirits
Best weight loss cente
1st   Weight Watchers
2nd   Jenny Craig
3rd   Curves
Best bank/financial institution
1st   Coast Capital Savings
2nd   TD Canada Trust
3rd   RBC
Best for insurance
1st   Coast Capital Savings
2nd   Megson Fitzpatrick
3rd   BCAA
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RECREATION
Favorite local sports team
1st   Victoria Royals
2nd   Victoria Grizzlies
3rd   Victoria Shamrocks
Best yoga studio
1st   Moksha Yoga Victoria
2nd   Moksana Yoga Center
3rd   Feel Good Yoga & Pilates
Best rec centre
1st   Oak Bay Recreation Centre
2nd   Saanich Commonwealth Place
3rd   Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre
Best gym/fitness studio
1st   YMCA-YWCA of Greater Victoria
2nd   VI Fitness Centres
3rd   Oak Bay Recreation Centre
Best running store
1st   Frontrunners
2nd   Running room
3rd   Peninsula Runners
Best 18-hole golf course
1st   Olympic View Golf Club
2nd   Highland Pacific Golf
3rd   Royal Colwood Golf Club
Best 9-hole or par-3 golf course
1st   The Ridge Course at Cordova Bay
2nd   Henderson Park Golf Course
3rd   Juan de Fuca Golf Course
Best swimming pool
1st   Saanich Commonwealth Place
2nd   Oak Bay Recreation Centre
3rd   Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre
Best dance lessons
1st   de Pfyffer Dance Victoria
2nd   Karen Clark Dance Studio
3rd   Lynda Raino Dance
Best for martial arts
1st   Fierce Studio
2nd   Zuma
3rd   Olson’s Gym Martial Arts and Boxing
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KIDS
Best kids’ attraction
1st   Beacon Hill Children’s Farm
2nd   Victoria Bug zoo
3rd   Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
Best kids clothing store
1st   Gap kids
2nd   The Children’s Place
3rd   Abra-Kid-Abra
Best camp for kids
1st   Y Camp Thunderbird
2nd   Camp Imadene
3rd   Camp Pringle
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MEDIA
Best local blog
1st   Victoria Mom & Victoria Burger Blog & Lip Smacking by Chef Heidi Fink
2nd   Mamma Kärlek & GoVegan.net
3rd   Style Feed Victoria & The Morning After
Best local radio personality
1st   Ed Bain – The Q! Morning Show
2nd   KOOL Mornings with Robin & Brian
3rd   Dylan and Jason in The Morning Zone
Best local TV personality
1st   Hudson Mack – CTV News Vancouver Island
2nd   Ed Bain – Chek News
3rd   Astrid Braunschmidt – CTV News Vancouver Island