By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist

 

It’s one of our favorite times of the year again!

 

Beloved local (and free!) publication Revue has once again wrapped up its annual Best of the West Readers’ Poll, inviting West Michiganders to vote for their favorite restaurants, bars, shops, attractions, service providers, venues, and more. Over its 11 year history, this competition has evolved into one of our region’s most influential voter-led awards, making a Best of the West (BOTW) recognition increasingly coveted (and increasingly competitive!). This recognition doesn’t just earn bragging rights; it puts businesses on thousands of radars, builds instant credibility, and inspires new customers to walk through the doors of a new-to-them-but-soon-to-be-next-favorite business. 

 

That impact is enormous for any establishment. For one that is small and independently owned (like the vast majority of those located here in Uptown Grand Rapids)? It can be a game-changer! And for a community seeking ways to support these beloved locals, the contest offers a really fun and free tradition to do just that. 

 

This year, thousands of local residents (that’s you) cast votes across hundreds of categories and multiple rounds of voting. The votes were tallied, the results are in, and our district has more reasons to celebrate this year than ever before. Seventy-five, to be exact. We’re delighted for our winners…and delighted for the continuation of our trend (i.e., more winners than the previous year – a consecutive pattern for more than five years!).

 

Yep! Year after year, our district continues to earn a larger share of the honors, proving what we’ve always known: Uptown is home to some of the very best places to shop, dine, drink, create, and experience West Michigan.

 

While we have you, we want to call special attention to a really special first for the Uptown district collectively, as well. 

 

For the first time ever, Uptown Grand Rapids itself has been recognized as West Michigan’s Best Shopping District/Destination.

 

 

While several of our individual business districts have received past honors in this category (most recently, the 2025 top spot went to our incredible Wealthy Street district), this year’s recognition is a milestone that won’t soon be forgotten. It is a reflection of the collective energy, creativity, and dedication of the hundreds of independent businesses, organizations, residents, and entrepreneurs across the entirety of Uptown GR, cumulatively.

 

YOU, you awesome community voters, chose to acknowledge that in a way that invigorates all of us here in Uptown to recommit to our objectives: To create a community that thrives, that invites, that moves. On behalf of everyone who works and contributes and creates here: Thank you thank you thank you! And now, to the rest of our fantastic awardees.

 

Congratulations to these Revue West Michigan BEST OF THE WESTS in Uptown Grand Rapids

 

 

 

WINNER! Best Bar in Greater Grand Rapids: The Meanwhile

WINNER! Best Bicycle Shop: Grand Rapids Bicycle Co.

WINNER! Best Bourbon: Eastern Kille Distillery/EK Wealthy (Straight Bourbon)

WINNER! Best Burgers: Black Napkin

WINNER! Best Children’s Boutique: Hopscotch

WINNER! Best Chocolate/Candy Shop: Mokaya

WINNER! Best Consignment Store: Rock Paper Scissors

WINNER! Best Craft Cocktails: EK Wealthy

WINNER! Best Diner: Matchbox Diner & Drinks

WINNER! Best Distillery: Eastern Kille Distillery/EK Wealthy

WINNER! Best Farmers Market: Fulton Street Market

WINNER! Best Gift Shop: Rebel

WINNER! Best Gin: Eastern Kille Distillery/EK Wealthy (Barrel Finished Gin)

WINNER! Best Group Activity: Taste of GR Food Tours

 

WINNER! Best Hot Dogs: Yesterdog

WINNER! Best Juice & Smoothie Bar: Good Judy’s Market and Juice Bar

WINNER! Best Late-Night Bite: Yesterdog

WINNER! Best Mexican Restaurant: Taqueria Chilango

WINNER! Best Mocktails: Chartreuse Sisters

WINNER! Best Most Innovative Cuisine: Grove

WINNER! Best Shopping District/Destination: Uptown Grand Rapids

WINNER! Best Soup: Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop

WINNER! Best Tattoo Shop: Sovereign Arms Tattoo Co.

WINNER! Best Vegetarian/Vegan Menu: Good Judy’s Market and Juice Bar

WINNER! Best Vodka: Eastern Kille Distillery/EK Wealthy (Utility Vodka)

WINNER! Best Welless Center: Rooted in Wellness

WINNER! Best Wine Bar: Chateau Grand Rapids

WINNER! Best Yoga Studio: Funky Buddha

 

 

Additional congratulations to our district’s finalists as well:

 

 

Best Bakery (Finalist): Chartreuse Sisters
Best Barber Shop (Finalist): Punch Up Barber Shop
Best Book Store (Finalist): Books & Mortar
Best Bourbon (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled (Straight Bourbon)
Best Bourbon (Finalist): Mammoth Distilling (Northern Bourbon)
Best Breakfast (Finalist): Wolfgang’s
Best Butcher (Finalist): Louise Earl
Best Catering Company (Finalist): Kangaroo Kitchen
Best Children’s Boutique (Finalist): Modish Moth
Best Chinese Restaurant (Finalist): Red Bowl
Best Chocolate/Candy Shop (Finalist): Sticky Fingers
Best Coffee Shop (Finalist): Chartreuse Sisters
Best Coffee Shop (Finalist): Scorpion Hearts Club
Best Comic Book Store (Finalist): Argos Book Shop
Best Consignment Store (Finalist): Urban Exchange
Best Craft Cocktails (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled
Best Desserts (Finalist): Chartreuse Sisters
Best Desserts (Finalist): Mokaya
Best Distillery (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled
Best Distillery (Finalist): Mammoth Distilling
Best Fine Dining (Finalist): Grove
Best Fried Chicken (Finalist): Hancock
Best Fries (Finalist): Black Napkin
Best Gift Shop (Finalist): Commune
Best Gin (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled (MICHIGIN)
Best Gin (Finalist): Mammoth Distilling (Gin)
Best Hair Salon (Finalist): Palace Flophouse
Best Happy Hour (Finalist): Terra
Best Hiking/Outdoor Gear (Finalist): FERAL
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Treats (Finalist): Furniture City Creamery
Best Italian Restaurant (Finalist): Mangiamo’s
Best Jewelry Store (Finalist): Dime & Regal
Best Jewelry Store (Finalist): Metal Art Studio
Best Juice & Smoothie Bar (Finalist): Fruition
Best Mediterranean Restaurant (Finalist): Zivio
Best Mocktails (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled
Best Pizza (Finalist): Quarantino’s
Best Sandwich/Deli (Finalist): Schnitz Deli
Best Sour/Wild Ale (Finalist): Speciation Cellars (Incipient)
Best Sushi (Finalist): Maru Sushi & Grill
Best Vet/Animal Clinic (Finalist): Eastown Veterinary Clinic
Best Veterinarian/DVM (Finalist): Dr. Meghan Swayman (Eastown Veterinary Clinic)
Best Vinyl Record Store (Finalist): Vinyl Alchemy
Best Vodka (Finalist): Long Road Distillers/Less Traveled (Original Vodka)
Best Vodka (Finalist): Mammoth Distilling (Vodka)
Best Women’s Clothing Boutique (Finalist): Covet
Best Yoga Studio (Finalist): Kula Yoga

 

Discover where to find each of these amazing businesses now, by visiting our online business directory.