Meet the Finalists for the 2026 Seven Daysies Awards

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2026 Daysies Finalists

Round 2 Voting: June 2-15, 2026

Culture | 
Recreation | 
Services | 
Shopping | 
Drink | 
Food

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order under each category.
*= New category in 2026.

See a spelling error? Contact us at [email protected].

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Culture Finalists

Best outdoor music venue

• The Essex Experience
• Shelburne Farms
• Shelburne Museum
• Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery
• Waterfront Park

Best large live music venue

• Champlain Valley Exposition
• The Flynn
• Higher Ground
• Shelburne Museum
• Waterfront Park

Best small live music hot spot – Inside Chittenden County

• The 126
• Foam Brewers
• Monkey House
• Radio Bean
• Standing Stone Wines

Best small live music hot spot – Outside Chittenden County

• Afterthoughts
• Charlie-O’s World Famous
• Stowe Cider
• The Underground — Listening Room
• Zenbarn

Best music festival

• Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
• Do Good Fest
• Grand Point North
• Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival
• Stowe Jazz Festival

Best vocalist

• Ali T
• Erica Mae Couture
• Grace Potter
• Kat Wright
• Noah Kahan

Best instrumentalist

• André Maquera
• Bob Wagner
• Paul Asbell
• Ray Vega

Best band

• Cricket Blue
• The Grift
• MOMDAD
• Robber Robber
• Soul Porpoise
• The Wormdogs

Best club DJ

• Craig Mitchell
• DJ Taka
• GAYBAR
• Kate Kush
• The Kwame Vibe

Best cover or tribute band

• Dobbs’ Dead
• Experience Queen — Jesse Agan
• Purple: A Tribute to Prince
• Sticks and Stones
• Ultraviolet

Best classical music group or ensemble

• Champlain Trio
• Skylark
• Vermont Symphony Orchestra
• Vermont Youth Orchestra

Best choral ensemble

• Bella Voce Women’s Chorus
• Solaris Vocal Ensemble
• South County Chorus
• Vermont’s Freedom & Unity Chorus

Best karaoke

• Charlie-O’s World Famous
• Jenny Red Karaoke
• JP’s Pub
• Standing Stone Wines

Best trivia night

• 14th Star Brewing Co.
• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Charlie-O’s World Famous
• Four Quarters Brewing
• Vermont Cider Lab
• Zero Gravity Beer Hall

Best place to dance

• Einstein’s Tap House
• Higher Ground
• Light Club Lamp Shop
• Radio Bean
• Red Square

Best comedian

• Max Higgins
• Rusty Dewees
• Tal Friedman
• Tina Friml

Best place to see comedy

• Barre Opera House
• The Flynn
• Vermont Comedy Club
• Woolen Mill Comedy Club

Best movie theater

• Essex Cinemas
• Majestic 10
• Marquis Theatre
• Partizanfilm
• Savoy Theater
• The Screening Room @ VTIFF

Best theater company

• Lost Nation Theater
• Lyric Theatre Company
• Vermont Repertory Theatre
• Vermont Stage
• Very Merry Theatre

Best drag performer or group

• Emoji Nightmare & Katniss Everqueer
• The House of LeMay
• Lizzie Murderz
• Miss Chekova
• Rhedd Rhumm
• Sasha Sriracha

Best LGBTQ+ event

• Burlington Dyke Night
• Essex Pride Weekend
• Pride Ball
• Queeraoke at Standing Stone Wines
• Supernova
• Winter Is a Drag Ball

Best performing arts venue – Inside Chittenden County

• The Flynn
• Higher Ground
• Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
• Off Center for the Dramatic Arts
• Vermont Comedy Club

Best performing arts venue – Outside Chittenden County

• Barre Opera House
• Chandler Center for the Arts
• Paramount Theatre
• Spruce Peak Arts
• Town Hall Theater

Best art gallery – Inside Chittenden County

• BCA Center
• Fleming Museum of Art
• Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery
• Soapbox Arts
• The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery

Best art gallery – Outside Chittenden County

• Bryan Memorial Gallery
• The Current
• Edgewater Gallery
• Northwood Gallery
• Studio Place Arts

Best museum

• ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
• Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
• Fleming Museum of Art
• Montshire Museum of Science
• Shelburne Museum

Best arts event

• Festival of Fools
• Morning Glory Artistry’s Paint & Sips
• PechaKucha Night Burlington
• South End Art Hop
• Vermont International Film Festival

Best place to take an arts class

• Access CVU
• BCA Studios
• Blockhouse Studio
• Davis Studio
• Shelburne Craft School

Best family-friendly festival

• Do Good Fest
• Festival of Fools
• Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green
• South End Art Hop
• Vermont Maple Festival

Best craft fair

• Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo
• CVU Handcrafters Fair
• Queer Arts Festival/Queer Craft Fair

Best craft artisan

• Celestial Stuff
• Hazelbuds Clay Co.
• Jeremy Ayers Pottery
• Snail Girl Ceramics

Best craft gallery

• ArtHound Gallery
• Artisans Hand
• Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery
• Milton Artists’ Guild
• Northwood Gallery
• Thirty-odd

Best painter

• Charlotte Dworshak
• Katharine Montstream
• Kenzie Collins
• Martha Hull
• Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr.

Best illustrator

• Dylan Fant
• Julianna Brazill
• Lions & Yellowcake
• Martha Hull
• Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr.

Best sculptor

• Gretchen Verplanck
• Jennifer McCandless
• Jim Sardonis
• Leslie Fry
• Sean Hunter Williams

Best art photographer

• Caleb Kenna Photography
• Kira Huante (KH_VERMONT)
• Megan Marie Photographer
• Owen Leavey Photography
• Wild Flowers Photography

Best cartoonist

• Alison Bechdel
• Harry Bliss
• James Kochalka
• Julianna Brazill
• Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr.

Best published author

• Chris Bohjalian
• Claire M. Andrews
• Courtney and Clarke Collins
• Julia Alvarez
• Thea Lewis

Best local podcast

• ”Brave Little State”
• ”But Why”
• ”Quiet Connection”
• ”Rumble Strip”

Best local TV personality

• Cat Viglienzoni (WCAX-TV)
• Darren Perron (WCAX-TV)
• Jack Thurston (NBC5)
• Tyler Jankoski (NBC5)

Best local radio personality

• Betty B. (107.1 FM Frank)
• Mikaela Lefrak (Vermont Public)
• Mike & Mary (Star 92.9)
• Mitch Wertlieb (Vermont Public)

Best community newspaper (that’s not Seven Days)

• Addison County Independent
• The Bridge
• Burlington’s Community Newspaper (North Avenue News)
• The Other Paper
• Williston Observer

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Recreation Finalists

Best ski/ride slope

• Bolton Valley Resort
• Cochran’s Ski Area
• Jay Peak Resort
• Smugglers’ Notch Resort
• Sugarbush Resort

Best cross-country ski area

• Catamount Outdoor Family Center
• Craftsbury Outdoor Center
• Rikert Outdoor Center
• Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski & Bike Center
• von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort

Best place to snowshoe

• Bolton Valley Resort
• Catamount Outdoor Family Center
• Intervale Center
• Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski & Bike Center
• von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort

Best public place to ice skate

• Arthur Park
• C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena
• Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena at Leddy Park
• Highgate Sports Arena
• Lake Morey Skate Trail

Best state park

• Green River Reservoir State Park
• Little River State Park
• Mount Philo State Park
• Niquette Bay State Park
• Sand Bar State Park

Best place to camp

• Grand Isle State Park
• Green River Reservoir State Park
• Groton State Forest
• Little River State Park
• Stone City Treehouse & Glamping

Best day hike

• Camel’s Hump
• Mount Abraham
• Mount Philo
• Snake Mountain
• Sterling Pond

Best place to picnic

• Mount Philo State Park
• Oakledge Park
• Sand Bar State Park
• Shelburne Farms
• Waterfront Park

Best pick-your-own farm

• Adam’s Berry Farm
• Full Belly Farm
• Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm
• Paul Mazza’s Fresh Produce
• Sam Mazza’s Farm Market, Bakery and Greenhouses

Best public golf course

• Cedar Knoll Country Club
• Kwiniaska Golf Club
• The Links at Lang Farm
• Rocky Ridge Golf Club
• Williston Golf Club

Best pickleball facility

• Colchester Recreation Center
• The EDGE
• The Pop!
• Topnotch Resort

Best place to bike

• Bolton Valley Resort
• Burlington Greenway
• Colchester Causeway
• Kingdom Trails
• Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
• Stowe Recreation Path

Best bike rental shop

• Local Motion
• Onion River Outdoors
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Ranch Camp
• Skirack

Best public beach

• Boulder Beach
• Leddy Park
• North Beach
• Oakledge Park
• Sand Bar State Park

Best public place to swim

• Lake Willoughby
• Leddy Beach
• North Beach
• Oakledge Park
• Sand Bar State Park
• Waterbury Reservoir

Best place to kayak/canoe

• Branbury State Park
• Green River Reservoir State Park
• Lake Willoughby
• Lamoille River
• Waterbury Reservoir

Best boat tour

• Champlain Islands Magical Boat Tours
• Nauti Paddle Cycleboat Cruises
• Spirit of Ethan Allen
• Whistling Man Schooner Company

Best outdoor tours

• Baird Farm
• Queen City Ghostwalk
• Umiak Outdoor Outfitters

Best bowling alley

• Spare Time Entertainment
• Stowe Bowl
• Twin City Family Fun Center
• Valley Bowl

Best resort adventure center

• Jay Peak Resort
• Killington Resort
• Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Best nature center

• Birds of Vermont Museum
• ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
• Green Mountain Audubon Center
• North Branch Nature Center
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Best Vermont day trip with the kids

• ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
• Montshire Museum of Science
• Shelburne Farms
• Vermont Teddy Bear
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Best indoor children’s play space

• The Bright Side Playplace
• ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
• Get Air Trampoline Park
• Monkey Do! Indoor Playground
• Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum

Best place to take an out-of-towner

• Baird Farm
• Ben & Jerry’s Factory
• Church Street Marketplace
• Shelburne Farms
• Shelburne Museum

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Services Finalists

Best nonprofit organization

• Age Well
• Camp Ta-Kum-Ta
• Champlain Community Services
• Merrymac Farm Sanctuary
• VT-CAN! (Vermont Companion Animal Neutering)

Best veterinarian/animal hospital

• Burlington Emergency & Veterinary Specialists
• Essex Veterinary Center
• Green Mountain Animal Hospital
• Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic
• Richmond Animal Hospital
• Shelburne Veterinary Hospital

Best pet daycare

• The Crate Escape
• Gulliver’s Doggie Daycare
• Oh My DOG
• Play Dog Play
• Wag on Inn, LLC

Best pet groomer

• Ali’s Comfort Clips Pet Grooming
• Doggie Styles Salon
• Queen City Paw Spa
• Sit Pretty Grooming Salon
• Wag on Inn, LLC

Best dog training company

• Apex VT Dog Training
• Black Jack Dog Training
• Canine Consulting
• Fetch the Leash Dog Behavior and Training
• Gold Star Dog Training

Best bank/credit union

• Community National Bank
• EastRise Credit Union
• NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
• Northfield Savings Bank
• Vermont Federal Credit Union

Best law firm

• Bauer Gravel Farnham, LLP
• Dinse
• Page Law, PLLC
• Peet Law Group
• Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC

Best mortgage provider

• EastRise Credit Union
• Northfield Savings Bank
• Union Bank
• Vermont Federal Credit Union
• Vermont Mortgage Company

Best real estate agency

• Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman
• Element Real Estate
• Flex Realty
• Green Light Real Estate
• Prime Real Estate Co.

Best real estate agent

• Bradley Auclair (Polli Properties)
• Darcy Handy (RE/MAX North Professionals)
• Eileen O’Rourke (Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman)
• Heather Morse (Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman)
• Julie Lamoreaux (Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman)

Best moving company

• Booska Worldwide Movers
• Divine Moving
• Grunts Move Junk
• Local Muscle Movers
• Vermont Moving & Storage Inc.

Best household electrician

• Cummings Electric
• Lakeside Electric Inc.
• New England Electric
• RVG Electrical Services
• Village Voltage LLC

Best household plumbing company

• Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Falcon Plumbing & Heating Service Inc.
• J.A. Gould Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
• Platinum Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Red Rock Mechanical

Best household general contractor*

• Ecowood Floors & Construction Inc.
• Lewis Creek Builders
• Prop Ready
• Richer’s Home Improvements
• Vermont Construction Co.

Best landscaping company

• Church Hill Landscapes
• Creative Landscapes
• di Stefano Landscaping
• Landshapes Landscape Design & Installation
• Pinnacle Properties

Best solar company

• Building Energy
• Catamount Solar
• Green Mountain Solar
• SunCommon

Best lodging (resort or hotel)

• The Essex Resort & Spa
• Hotel Vermont
• The Lodge at Spruce Peak
• Topnotch Resort
• von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort

Best lodging (inn)

• The Green Mountain Inn
• Shelburne Farms Inn
• Sinclair Inn Bed & Breakfast
• The Tillerman
• Woodstock Inn & Resort

Best wedding venue

• The Mansfield Barn
• Maquam Barn & Winery
• Old Lantern Events Barn
• Sleepy Hollow Inn
• Topnotch Resort

Best wedding planner

• Julie Martin Olson Weddings & Events
• Katie Hopkins Events
• Lindsey Leichthammer Studio
• Sophia Morton (Willow Hill Design Co.)

Best commercial/event photographer

• Arielle Thomas Photography
• Danielle Allendorf Photography
• Karen Pike Photography
• Kim and Mike Chait (Love Wins Photography)
• StoryWorkz

Best caterer

• Cloud 9 Caterers
• Harmony’s Kitchen
• The Hindquarter
• Let’s Pretend Catering
• Sugarsnap

Best florist

• A Clover and One Bee
• Claussen’s Florist, Greenhouse & Perennial Farm
• In Full Bloom
• Maplehurst Florist
• Tipsy Daisy

Best salon

• Ego Salon
• Harmonia
• Indigo
• Stephen & Burns Salon and Spa
• Talmo Hair Co.

Best barbershop

• Burlington Barber Shop
• Imperial Barber Co.
• Myles Court Barbershop
• On Point Barbershop
• Park Street Kuts

Best manicure/pedicure

• Adore Nails & Spa
• Blossom Nail Salon
• Naku Nails Design
• Perfect Nails & Co.
• Tip Toe Nail Salon

Best place to get body art

• Crone Collective
• Imperial Tattoo Co.
• Marigold Adornment
• Monster Mash Ink
• World Famous Monkey House Customs

Best place to get a massage

• Blossom Wellness Center
• Brilliant Massage & Skin
• Mad River Massage
• Spa at The Essex Resort & Spa
• Stephen & Burns Salon and Spa

Best place to get a facial*

• Apple Blossom Esthetics & Massage
• BHAV Spa
• Brilliant Massage & Skin
• Mirror Mirror
• Stephen & Burns Salon and Spa

Best day spa

• Brilliant Massage & Skin
• Body Le Bronze
• Good Edit Beauty
• ”It’s My Day” Spa and Salon
• Oasis Day Spa

Best resort spa

• Spa at The Essex Resort & Spa
• The Spa at Spruce Peak
• The Spa at the Woodstock Inn & Resort
• Topnotch Resort

Best medical spa

• Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center
• Glow Aesthetics
• Pêche Medical + Wellness
• Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness Spa

Best chiropractic practice

• Compass Chiropractic & Performance Center
• Drs. Marko Family Chiropractors
• Middlebury Sport and Spine
• Office of Dr. Laura A. Ramirez, D.C.
• Woodhaven Health

Best physical therapy practice

• Burlington Physical Therapy
• The EDGE Physical Therapy
• PT360
• Snow Beast Performance
• Vasta Performance Training and Physical Therapy

Best acupuncture practice

• Acupuncture in Bloom (Zizi Zolten-Chandler)
• Integrative Acupuncture
• Maynard Acupuncture
• OPEN Community Acupuncture
• Vermont Community Acupuncture

Best health club/gym

• The EDGE
• Greater Burlington YMCA
• Green Mountain Community Fitness
• HWPO Gym VT
• LiftVT

Best boutique fitness studio

• ALIGN
• The Body Lab
• Emerge
• Peace of Mind Pilates
• take good care fitness
• VASTA Performance Training and Physical Therapy

Best yoga studio

• Blossom Wellness Center
• Hot Yoga Burlington VT
• Laughing River Yoga
• Sangha Studio
• SoulShine Power Yoga
• Williston Hot Yoga

Best cycling studio

• ALIGN
• Alpenglow Fitness
• Ride Cycle + Strength

Best CrossFit studio

• Champlain Valley Community Fitness
• CrossFit Burlington
• Green Mountain Community Fitness
• HWPO Gym VT
• Mountain Trail CrossFit

Best martial arts studio

• Aikido of Champlain Valley
• Martial Way Self-Defense Center
• Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Villari’s Vermont
• Yordan’s Black Belt Academy

Best auto repair

• Brian’s North End Automotive
• Girlington Garage
• Halford Motors
• Jason Leo’s Automotive
• New England Automotive

Best place to get your oil changed

• Brian’s North End Automotive
• Girlington Garage
• Halford Motors
• New England Automotive
• Oil n Go

Best place to get your tires changed

• Brian’s North End Automotive
• Halford Motors
• Town Fair Tire
• Vermont Tire
• VIP Tires & Service

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Shopping Finalists

Best women’s clothing store

• Addie & Grace Boutique
• Bailey Road
• Charlotte Case Boutique
• ECCO Clothes
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Someday Boutique

Best evening-wear store

• Addie & Grace Boutique
• Billie Jean Vintage
• Coco Goose
• ECCO Clothes
• Harbour Thread

Best bridal shop

• Fiori Bridal Boutique
• Hinterland Bride
• Needleman’s Bridal & Formal
• Shaline
• Veilmonté Bridal Showroom

Best women’s shoe store

• Danform Shoes
• Harbour Thread
• Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Roam Vermont

Best menswear store

• Harbour Thread
• Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel
• MK Clothing
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Slowpoke Exchange
• Vermont Flannel

Best men’s shoe store

• Danform Shoes
• Farm-Way, Inc./Vermont Gear
• Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel
• Outdoor Gear Exchange

Best vintage clothing

• The Getup Vintage
• Old Gold
• Project Object Vintage
• Slowpoke Exchange
• Spotlight Vintage

Best secondhand clothing store

• Battery St. Jeans
• Dirt Chic
• ReSOURCE
• Slowpoke Exchange
• Style Encore

Best children’s clothing store

• Amy’s Armoire
• Boho Baby
• Mud and Lace Children’s Clothing Boutique, LLC
• Once Upon a Child
• Zutano Outlet Store

Best children’s toy store

• The Collection
• Jamie Two Coats’ Toy Shop
• Turner Toys
• Vermont Teddy Bear
• Woodbury Mountain Toys

Best eyeglasses store

• 802 Eye Care
• Chroma Optics
• Eyecare of Vermont
• Eyes of the World
• The Optical Center

Best place to buy jewelry

• After Midnight Jewelers
• Found & Feral
• Perrywinkle’s
• Tradewinds
• Zinnia

Best beauty product purveyor

• Good Edit Beauty
• Mirror Mirror
• Splash Naturals
• Ursa Major

Best place to buy a unique gift – Inside Chittenden County

• ArtHound Gallery
• Common Deer
• Golden Hour
• Home & Garden Vermont
• Thirty-odd

Best place to buy a unique gift – Outside Chittenden County

• Artisans Hand
• Bees on Broadway
• Blockhouse Studio
• Magpie & Tiger
• Northwood Gallery

Best record store

• Autumn Records
• Buch Spieler Records
• Burlington Records
• Pure Pop Records
• Speaking Volumes (Burlington)
• Speaking Volumes (Randolph)

Best bookstore

• Bear Pond Books (Montpelier)
• Bear Pond Books (Stowe)
• Crow Bookshop
• Flying Pig Bookstore
• Phoenix Books
• Vermont Book Shop

Best arts and craft supply store

• Brainstorm Art Supply
• Daydream Art Supply
• The Drawing Board
• The Makery
• Notion Fabric & Craft

Best general store/country store

• Jericho Country Store
• Shaw’s General Store
• Shelburne Country Store
• The Vermont Country Store
• The Willey’s Store

Best cannabis dispensary – Inside Chittenden County

• Bern Gallery Cannabis
• Heybud
• Magic Mann Premium Cannabis
• Sweetspot
• Upstate Elevator
• Winooski Organics

Best cannabis dispensary – Outside Chittenden County

• Capital Cannabis Co.
• Forbin’s Reserve
• Kushies
• Lake Effect Vermont
• Polestar Cannabis
• Zenbarn Farms

Best cannabis grower

• Bern Legacy
• Bushy Beard Cultivation
• Forbin’s Finest
• Mr. Z Craft Cannabis
• Upstate Elevator
• Yellowbird

Best housewares store

• Abode VT
• Addison West
• April Cornell
• Homeport
• Slate

Best secondhand housewares store

• Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Sweet Charity
• ReSOURCE

Best antique store

• Barge Canal Market
• Five Corners Antiques
• J. Langdon
• The Vintage Den
• Vintage Inspired Marketplace

Best furniture store

• Anjou
• Burlington Furniture
• Modern Design
• The SuperStore
• Wendell’s Furniture

Best kitchen store

• As the Crow Flies
• Capital Kitchen
• Homeport
• Kiss the Cook

Best lighting store

• City Lights
• Conant Metal & Light
• The Lamp Shop
• The Lighting House

Best garden center

• Claussen’s Florist, Greenhouse & Perennial Farm
• Gardener’s Supply Company
• H & B Greenhouse & Nursery
• Paquette Full of Posies Nursery
• Red Wagon Plants

Best pet supply store

• The Dog and Cat
• Guy’s Farm and Yard
• Houndstooth
• The Pet Advantage
• Pet Food Warehouse
• The Quirky Pet

Best auto dealer

• Almartin Volvo Cars
• The Automaster
• Burlington Subaru
• Heritage Toyota
• Shearer Volkswagon

Best bike shop – Inside Chittenden County

• Earl’s Cyclery & Fitness
• North Star Sports
• Old Spokes Home
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Skirack

Best bike shop – Outside Chittenden County

• Bicycle Express
• Bootlegger Bikes
• Chuck’s Bikes
• The Gear House
• Onion River Outdoors
• Vermont Bicycle Shop

Best ski/snowboard shop

• Alpine Shop
• Burton
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Skirack
• SlopeStyle Ski & Ride

Best outdoor outfitter

• Alpine Shop
• Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel
• Onion River Outdoors
• Outdoor Gear Exchange
• Skirack

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Drink

Best craft brewery – Inside Chittenden County

• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Burlington Beer Co.
• Foam Brewers
• Switchback Brewing Co.
• Zero Gravity

Best craft brewery – Outside Chittenden County

• 14th Star Brewing Co.
• The Alchemist
• Bent Hill Brewery
• Hill Farmstead Brewery
• Lawson’s Finest Liquids
• von Trapp Brewing

Best brewpub

• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Burlington Beer Co.
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse
• The Vermont Pub & Brewery
• Zero Gravity Beer Hall

Best craft brew selection

• 802bws
• Beverage Warehouse
• Cask & Cork
• Hunger Mountain Co-op
• Stowe Public House & Bottle Shop

Best winery

• Ellison Estate Vineyard
• Lincoln Peak Vineyard
• Maquam Barn & Winery
• Shelburne Vineyard
• Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery

Best wine list

• Bar Renée
• Hen of the Wood
• La Reprise
• Salt & Bubbles Wine Bar and Market
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• Wilder Wines

Best wine shop

• Bar Renée
• La Reprise
• The Local: Wine & Beer
• Salt & Bubbles Wine Bar and Market
• Standing Stone Wines
• Wilder Wines

Best hard cidery

• Citizen Cider
• Shacksbury
• Stowe Cider
• Vermont Cider Lab
• Woodchuck Hard Cider

Best cannabis beverage maker

• CLEANN
• Sunset Lake Cannabis
• Taunik
• Upstate Elevator
• Yut

Best spirits distiller

• Barr Hill
• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Mad River Distillers
• Smugglers’ Notch Distillery
• St. Johnsbury Distillery

Best bar – Inside Chittenden County

• The Archives
• Devil Takes a Holiday
• The Wallflower Collective
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best bar – Outside Chittenden County

• Babes Bar
• Barr Hill
• Blackback Pub
• Wolf Tree

Best bartender

• Brenna Goodine (St. Johnsbury Distillery)
• Bryan Buley (Olde Northender Pub & Waterworks Food + Drink)
• Isa Masi (Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse)
• JC Dugan (Woodchuck Hard Cider)
• Tatiana Bruno (Doma Bar)

Best dive bar

• Charlie-O’s World Famous
• Finnigan’s Pub
• JP’s Pub
• The Other Place
• T. Rugg’s Tavern

Best sports bar

• Last Stop Sports Bar
• McGillicuddy’s
• Ruben James
• Upper Deck Pub

Best cocktails

• Barr Hill
• Devil Takes a Holiday
• Specs
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best mocktails

• The 126
• Daily Planet
• Devil Takes a Holiday
• The Drake Bar and Kitchen
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best nonalcoholic beverage brand

• Aqua ViTea
• Rookie’s Root Beer
• Sap!
• Switchback N.A.
• Zero Gravity

Best smoothies/juices

• Green Mountain Nutrition & Smoothies
• Healthy Living
• Muddy Waters
• The Vermont Juice Co.

Best place to get tea

• Dobrá Tea
• Fresh Bubble Tea & Juice
• Morning Light Bakery
• The North Branch Café
• Stone Leaf Teahouse

Best coffee shop – Inside Chittenden County

• Brio Coffeeworks
• Muddy Waters
• Onyx Tonics
• Specs
• Uncommon Coffee Co.

Best coffee shop – Outside Chittenden County

• Black Cap Coffee & Bakery of Vermont
• Capitol Grounds
• Catalyst Coffee Bar
• Little Seed Coffee Roasters
• Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co.

Best coffee roaster

• Brio Coffeeworks
• Speeder & Earl’s Coffee
• Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co.
• Vivid Coffee Roasters

Best cold-brew/iced coffee

• Brew House Coffee Company at Jericho Ale & Bean
• Brio Coffeeworks
• Catalyst Coffee Bar
• Uncommon Coffee Co.
• Vivid Coffee Roasters

Best barista

• Emily Airoldi (Catalyst Coffee Bar)
• Jason Gonzalez (Onyx Tonics)
• Naima Chamorro (Great Harvest Bread Co.)
• Noah Richland (Kru Coffee)
• Quinn Johnson (Brio Coffeeworks)
• Sarah Hofmann (Brio Coffeeworks)

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Food

Best new restaurant

• Café Monette
• La Di Da Pizza
• La Reprise
• Pizzeria Corinna
• Spaghet

Best restaurant – Inside Chittenden County

• Fancy’s
• Frankie’s
• Hen of the Wood
• Honey Road
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best restaurant – Outside Chittenden County

• Café Monette
• Sarducci’s Restaurant & Bar
• Starry Night Café
• The Tillerman

Best family restaurant

• American Flatbread
• Jericho Café & Tavern
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery
• wit & grit.

Best chef

• Cara Chigazola Tobin (The Grey Jay, Honey Road)
• Cassidy Dezan (wit & grit.)
• Daniel Mims (Grant’s)
• Paul Trombly (Fancy’s)
• Robert Smith III (Starry Night Café)
• Weston Nicoll (Cork)

Best restaurant service

• Frankie’s
• Hen of the Wood
• Honey Road
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• wit & grit.

Best takeout

• Aromas of India by Sarita’s Kitchen
• Kate’s Food Truck
• Pho Hong
• Tiny Thai Restaurant
• The Wise Fool

Best breakfast/brunch – Inside Chittenden County

• Deep City
• The Grey Jay
• The Pinwheel
• Sneakers Bistro

Best breakfast/brunch – Outside Chittenden County

• 3 Squares Café
• 158 Main
• Maxi’s
• Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery
• wit & grit.

Best lunch

• Aromas of India by Sarita’s Kitchen
• Martone’s Market & Café
• Pingala Café
• Poppy
• Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup

Best place to get late-night food

• Ahli Baba’s Kabob Shop
• Al’s French Frys
• The Daily Planet
• Three Needs Tap Room & Pizza Cube
• The Wise Fool

Best restaurant for dessert

• Frankie’s
• Honey Road
• Jericho Café & Tavern
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery

Best outdoor dining

• Farmers & Foragers Dockside
• Idletyme Brewery & Restaurant
• Splash at the Boathouse
• The Spot on the Dock
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best place to grab a quick meal

• Bliss Bee
• City Market, Onion River Co-op
• Innovation Café
• Pingala Café
• The Wise Fool

Best locally owned grocery store – Inside Chittenden County

• City Market, Onion River Co-op
• Healthy Living
• Jake’s ONE Market
• Jericho Market
• Lantman’s Market

Best locally owned grocery store – Outside Chittenden County

• Hunger Mountain Co-op
• Keeler’s Bay Variety
• Mehuron’s Supermarket
• Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op
• The Roots Farm Market

Best global foods market

• Always Full Asian Market
• Asian Mart
• Cork Market
• European Market
• Thai Phat

Best neighborhood corner store

• Chick’s Market
• Korner Kwik Stop
• Momo’s Market
• Old Brick Store
• The Shopping Bag

Best CSA

• Bread & Butter Farm
• Intervale Community Farm
• Paul Mazza’s Fresh Produce
• Pete’s Greens
• Trillium Hill Farm

Best farmstand

• Full Belly Farm
• Head Over Fields
• Paul Mazza’s Fresh Produce
• Sam Mazza’s Farm Market, Bakery and Greenhouses
• Trillium Hill Farm

Best farmers market

• Burlington Farmers Market
• Capital City Farmers Market
• Shelburne Farmers Market
• Waitsfield Farmers Market
• Winooski Farmers Market

Best farmers market vendor

• Birch Hill English Muffins
• Chimera Meats
• Crazy Cotton Candy Lady
• Head Over Fields
• Last Resort Farm
• The Tipsy Pickle

Best food truck or cart

• The Broccoli Bar
• Farmers & Foragers
• Gerber’s Joint
• Hangry Hogg
• Kate’s Food Truck

Best bread bakery – Inside Chittenden County

• August First
• Great Harvest Bread Co.
• Klinger’s Bread Company
• O Bread Bakery
• Trent’s Bread

Best bread bakery – Outside Chittenden County

• Downhill Bread
• Elmore Mountain Bread
• Red Hen Baking Co.
• Red House Sweets
• Two Sons Bakehouse

Best sweets bakery – Inside Chittenden County

• Belleville Bakery & Catering
• Boxcar Bakery
• Madeleine’s Bakery
• Mirabelles Bakery
• Poorhouse Pies
• Sweet Simone’s Bakery Café

Best sweets bakery – Outside Chittenden County

• Birchgrove Baking
• Bohemian Bakery
• Red Hen Baking Co.
• Red House Sweets
• Windy Lane Bakehouse

Best Mexican restaurant

• Casa Grande
• Casa Real
• El Comal Mexican Cuisine
• El Gato Cantina
• Taco Gordo

Best Chinese restaurant

• A Single Pebble
• Chef Leu’s House
• Eastern Dragon
• Oriental Wok
• Zen Garden

Best Thai restaurant

• Maliwan Thai Restaurant
• Saap
• Thai House Restaurant
• Tiny Thai Restaurant
• Wilaiwans

Best Vietnamese restaurant

• Pho Capital
• Pho Dang Vietnamese Café
• Pho Hong
• Vietnamese Pho Ly
• Viet Thai

Best Indian/Nepali restaurant

• Aromas of India by Sarita’s Kitchen
• Delight Restaurant & Bar
• Namaste Garden
• Namaste Kitchen
• Namaste Indian Nepali Kitchen

Best Italian restaurant

• Papa Frank’s Italian Restaurant
• Pascolo Ristorante
• Sarducci’s Restaurant & Bar
• Toscano Bistro
• Trattoria Delia

Best vegan/vegetarian fare

• Aromas of India by Sarita’s Kitchen
• Bent Hill Brewery
• The Daily Planet
• Fancy’s
• Pingala Café

Best gluten-free menu options

• Aromas of India by Sarita’s Kitchen
• Bliss Bee
• Jules on the Green
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• West Meadow Farm Bakery

Best cannabis edible maker

• Haute & Heady Cannabis Cuisine
• Magic Mann Premium Cannabis
• Rosie’s
• Sunset Lake Cannabis
• Upstate Elevator

Best breakfast sandwich

• August First
• Burlington Bagel Bakery
• Henry Street Deli
• Kountry Kart Deli
• Myer’s Wood Fired

Best bagel – Inside Chittenden County

• The Bagel Place
• Burlington Bagel Bakery
• Green Mountain Bagels
• Myer’s Wood Fired
• Willow’s Bagels

Best bagel – Outside Chittenden County

• The Bagel
• K.C.’s Bagel Café
• Middlebury Bagel & Deli
• Wally’s Place
• Wee Bird Bagel Café

Best sandwiches – Inside Chittenden County

• August First
• Henry Street Deli
• Leo & Co.
• Martone’s Market & Café
• Poppy

Best sandwiches – Outside Chittenden County

• Edelweiss Mountain Deli
• Morse Block Deli & Taps
• Mother Hubbard’s Bakery, Deli & Country Store
• Noonie’s Deli
• Red Hen Baking Co.

Best pizza (restaurant) – Inside Chittenden County

• American Flatbread
• Folino’s Pizza
• La Di Da Pizza
• Pizza 44
• Pizzeria Verità

Best pizza (restaurant) – Outside Chittenden County

• Pearl Street Pizza
• Piecasso Family Pizzeria
• Pie in the Sky
• Positive Pie
• The Tillerman

Best pizza (delivery)

• Leonardo’s
• Piecasso Family Pizzeria
• Positive Pie
• Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza
• Zachary’s Pizza

Best burger – Inside Chittenden County

• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
• Kate’s Food Truck
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse
• Waterworks Food + Drink

Best burger – Outside Chittenden County

• Black Radish at 14th Star Brewing Co.
• Buddy’s Famous
• Burger Barn
• Three Penny Taproom
• Worthy Burger

Best French fries

• Al’s French Frys
• Farmers & Foragers
• Kate’s Food Truck
• Waterworks Food + Drink
• The Wise Fool

Best wings

• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Donwoori
• Honey Road
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse
• Wings at Maple

Best barbecue

• Black Diamond Barbecue
• Bluebird Barbecue
• Prohibition Pig
• Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse

Best sushi

• Asiana Noodle Shop
• Hana Japanese Restaurant
• Koto Japanese Steak House
• Sakura Sushi & Kitchen
• Sushi Yoshi

Best dumplings or momos

• Café Dim Sum
• Hong’s Chinese Dumplings
• Namaste Kitchen
• Sherpa Foods
• A Single Pebble

Best doughnuts

• Madeleine’s Bakery
• Miss Wienerz
• North Country Donuts
• Poorhouse Pies
• Quality Bake Shop

Best creemee – Inside Chittenden County

• Burlington Bay Market & Cafe
• Mr. Creemee
• Offbeat Creemee
• Palmer Lane Maple
• The Village Scoop

Best creemee – Outside Chittenden County

• Canteen Creemee Company
• Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
• Red Hen Baking Co.
• Silloway Maple
• Vermont Cookie Love

Best housemade ice cream or gelato

• Island Homemade Ice Cream
• lu-lu
• Odd Otter Ice Cream
• Shy Guy Gelato
• Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream

Best chocolate brand

• Daily Chocolate
• Farmhouse Chocolates
• Lake Champlain Chocolates
• NU Chocolat
• Snowflake Chocolates

Best maple syrup

• Baird Farm
• Bragg Farm Sugarhouse & Gift Shop
• Palmer Lane Maple
• Palmer’s Sugarhouse
• Shelburne Sugarworks
• Silloway Maple

Best Vermont cheese brand

• Blue Ledge Farm
• Cabot Creamery
• Grafton Village Cheese Co.
• Jasper Hill Farm
• Shelburne Farms

Best cooking class

• Access CVU
• Baking School at King Arthur Baking Company
• City Market, Onion River Co-op
• The Essex Resort & Spa
• Richmond Community Kitchen

Best food/drink event

• Burlington Wine & Food
• South End Get Down
• Vermont Brewers Fest
• Vermont Cheesemakers Festival
• Vermont VegFest

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The post Meet the Finalists for the 2026 Seven Daysies Awards appeared first on Seven Days.

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