Meet our CITY’s Best winners for 2026!
Join us as we celebrate CITY’s Best winners of 2026, honoring the standout people, places, and businesses that make our community shine! And don’t forget to explore the CITY’s Best ad section and discover the local businesses our community loves.
Thank you to our CITY’s Best 2026 presenting sponsor, Hitachi Energy!
Arts & Entertainment
1st Place Winners Pictured: Magnolia Dance Studio, Unique Creations, Capital City Productions, Memorial Park, The Little Theatre of Jefferson City, and Oak Hills Golf Center
Best Art Gallery
1. Cottonstone Art Gallery & Frame Shop
2. Capital Arts
Best City Park
1. Memorial Park
2. Binder Park
Best Dance Studio
1. Magnolia Dance Studio
2. Dancers Alley
Best Golf Course
1. Oak Hills Golf Center
2. Jefferson City Country Club
Best Live Music Spot
1. The Mission
2. Red Wheel Steam House
Best Local Band
1. Dope Ass Sneakers
2. AKA
Best Place to Make Art
1. Unique Creations
2. Art 101
Best Theatre
1. Capital City Productions
1. The Little Theater of Jefferson City
2. Scene One Theatre
Food & Drink
1st Place Winners Pictured: Santo Añejo Tacos & Tequila, BarVino, Sweet Smoke BBQ, Duke’s on the Boulevard, Domenico’s Italian Restaurant & Catering, Oscar’s Classic Diner, Plate & Pour, Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant, and JQ’s on High
Best Bar
1. BarVino
2. BarWhiskey
Best Catering Company
1. Argyle Catering
2. Lehman BBQ & Catering
Best Chinese Restaurant
1. Hunan Restaurant
2. Dragon Kitchen
Best Coffee Shop
1. Three Story Coffee
2. Plate & Pour
Best Food Truck
1. Fatty’s Seafood
2. Holy Smokes Mobile Meats
Best Happy Hour
1. Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
2. BarVino
Best Mexican Restaurant
1. El Espolon
2. Cinco de Mayo
Best New Restaurant
1. Santo Añejo Tacos & Tequila
2. First Watch
Best Pastry
1. Plate & Pour
2. High Rise Bakery
Best Place for Breakfast
1. Oscar’s Classic Diner
2. First Watch
Best Place for Date Night
1. The Grand Café
2. Domenico’s Italian Restaurant & Catering
Best Place for Fried Chicken
1. Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
2. Steve’s Family Style Restaurant
Best Place for Outdoor Dining
1. Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant
2. Pizza Underground
2. Prison Brews
Best Place to Get a Burger
1. Duke’s on the Boulevard
2. Izzy’s Burgers & Shakes
Best Place to Get Appetizers
1. Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
2. Applebee’s Grill + Bar
Best Place to Get Barbeque
1. Sweet Smoke BBQ
2. Lutz’s BBQ
Best Place to Get Chicken Wings
1. JQ’s on High
2. Buffalo Wild Wings
Best Place to get Ice Cream
1. Central Dairy
2. YoYums Frozen Yogurt
Best Place to Get Pizza
1. Arris’ Pizza
2. West Main Pizza
Best Place to Get Salad
1. Madison’s Café
2. Old Brick House Deli
Best Place to Get Seafood
1. Fatty’s Seafood
2. Domenico’s Restaurant & Catering
Best Place to Get Steak
1. LongHorn Steakhouse
2. Texas Roadhouse
Best Restaurant
1. Domenico’s Italian Restaurant & Catering
2. The Grand Café
Best Sushi Restaurant
1. Love Sushi
2. Sakura Japanese Steak House
Best Vegetarian-Friendly Menu
1. The Curry ‘n’ Grill
2. Eat Smart
Shops & Services
1st Place Winners Pictured: Rehagen Heating & Cooling, Magnify Salon, River City Florist, Kempker Landscaping & Lawn Care, Curious Turtle, Equality Painting, Play Local, Rusty Drewing Automotive, The Barking Garage, Kitty’s Critter Care, Southbank Gift Company, and MRA Construction
Best Accounting Firm
1. BHS CPAs & Advisors
2. Krieger & Krieger
2. Williams-Keepers
Best Adult Care
1. Heisinger Bluffs Senior Living Community
2. StoneBridge Villa Marie
Best Auto Maintainance
1. Rusty Drewing Automotive
1. The Auto Shop
2. 4-Wheel Parts Plus
2. Christian Motors
Best Auto Paint & Body Shop
1. Xtreme Body & Paint
2. Fischer Body Shop
Best Bank
1. Central Bank
2. Jefferson Bank
Best Barber Shop
1. Southside Barber Shop
2. Bossy Barber
Best Bookstore
1. Curious Turtle
2. book/shop, etc.
Best Brand Merch Company
1. Custom Promotional Branding
2. Medium Rare Promotions
Best Child Care Center
1. Learning Connection Child Development Center
2. A Place to Grow
Best Children’s Party Location
1. Play Local
2. JC Gymnastics
Best Chiropractic Care
1. Koelling Chiropractic
1. Wheat Chiropractic
2. Hollon Chiropractic
Best Cleaning Service
1. Jefferson City Cleaning Services
2. Mint Professional Cleaning
Best Consignment Shop
1. The Snob Shop Exchange
2. K’s Consignment Shop
Best Cosmetic Procedure Company
1. Genesis Medspa
2. JCMO GLOW
Best Dispensary
1. CODES Dispensary
2. Shangri-La Marijuana Dispensary
Best Dog Daycare
1. Kitty’s Critter Care
2. Tailspin Pet Resort & Daycare
Best Electrical Contractor
1. Vanloo Electric
2. Kaiser Electric of Central Missouri
Best Florist
1. River City Florist
2. Busch’s Florist & Greenhouse
Best General Contractor
1. MRA Construction
2. Bernskoetter Construction
Best Grocery Store
1. Hy-Vee
2. Gerbes
Best Hair Salon
1. Magnify Salon
2. Studio 1 Salon
Best Handyman
1. Checklist Solutions
2. Equality Painting
Best Home Furnishing Store
1. JC Mattress and Furniture Showrooms
2. Home Goods
Best HVAC Company
1. Rehagen Heating & Cooling
2. Stieferman Heating Company
Best Landscaping Company
1. Haslag Landscape & Design
2. Kempker Landscaping & Lawn Care
Best Lawncare Company
1. Kempker Landscaping & Lawn Care
2. Top Tier Truescapes
Best Nail Salon
1. Polished Nail Salon
2. Bliss Nail Bar
Best Nursery Garden
1. Longfellow’s Garden Center
2. Kipp’s Gardens To Go
Best Painting Company
1. Equality Painting
2. Pezley Paintin
Best Pest Control Company
1. Steve’s Pest Control
2. Art’s Pest Control
Best Pet Grooming Salon
1. The Barking Garage
2. Dog Dey’s Grooming
Best Place for Fine Jewelry
1. The Blue Diamond
2. Vandelicht Jewelry
Best Place for Men’s Fashion
1. Samuel’s Menswear
2. Dillard’s
Best Place for Unique Gifts
1. Southbank Gift Company
2. Initially Yours
Best Place for Women’s Fashion
1. Wildflower Lane
2. Hello Belle Boutique
2. The Snob Shop Exchange
Best Place to Buy a Car
1. Rusty Drewing Automotive
2. Jefferson City Autoplex
Best Place to Splurge on You
1. Genesis Medspa
2. Wildflower Lane
Best Place to Work Out
1. Jefferson City Area YMCA
2. Ignite Fitness and Performance
Best Plumbing Company
1. Sandbothe Plumbing
2. Raithel Plumbing
Best Rental Store
1. U.S. Rents It
2. A1 Tool & Equipment Rental
Best Roofing Company
1. Premier Property Improvement Services
2. MRA Construction
Best Siding & Guttering Company
1. MRA Construction
2. Premier Property Improvement Services
Best Social Media Presence
1. Beth McGeorge Team RE/MAX
2. Genesis Medspa
Best Spa
1. JCMO GLOW
2. Riverson Spa & Salon
Best Towing Company
1. Toebbens Towing
2. Diamond Towing
Best Tree Trimming Service
1. Korte Tree Care
2. Hentges Tree Service
Best Venue for Events
1. The Millbottom
2. Capital Bluffs Event Center
Best Veterinary Clinic
1. Quail Valley Veterinary Clinic
2. Westside Veterinary Clinic
Best Vintage/Antique Store
1. Dogwood Vintiques
2. J Street Vintage
Best Water Treatment Company
1. Mid-Mo Water Solutions
2. Culligan of Jefferson City
People
1st Place Winners Pictured: Beth McGeorge, Beth McGeorge Team RE/MAX; Chad Chrisman, Ignite Fitness and Performance; Kasey Keim, Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar; Dr. Helen Tergin, Central Missouri Dermatology; Rachel Barfield, Genesis Company; Erin Hart, 94.3 KAT Country; Natalie Wittenberger, NCW.Hair @ Heads Up Salon; Dave Baker; Natalie Payne, Payne Free Travel; Angela Silvey, Silvey & Associates; Ryan Davis, Argyle Catering; Rod Smith, KRCG; Brianne Morgan, The Therapy Clubhouse; Dr. Jason Allen, JCMG; Kim Nocula, Polished Nail Salon; Dr. Greg Boyer, Animal Medical Center of Jefferson City; Tricia Orscheln, Tree of Hope Counseling and Wellness Center; and Meredith Krueger, Respiro Spa.
Best Bartender
1. Kasey Keim, Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
2. Laura Gil, Arris’ Pizza
Best Boss
1. Rachel Barfield, Genesis Company
2. Ashley Pederson, Promo Realty LLC
2. Beth McGeorge, Beth McGeorge Team RE/MAX
2. Nicci Rexroat, A Place to Grow
2. Samantha Lacefield, A Place to Grow
Best Chef
1. Ryan Davis, Argyle Catering
2. Mark Arcobasso, Domenico’s Italian Restaurant & Catering
Best Cosmetic Tattoo Artist
1. Heather Henke, Onyx Aesthetics
2. Jayda Berhorst, J’s Esthetics
Best Dentist
1. Dr. Wes Christiansen, Stadium Dental
2. Dr. Tyler Slaughter, Riverbend Dentistry
Best Dermatology Professional
1. Dr. Helen Tergin, Central Missouri Dermatology
2. Lisa Haslag, NP, Central Missouri Dermatology
Best DJ
1. Bill Farr, Around the Clock Mobile DJ
2. Lee Bird, Woodnbird Entertainment
Best Esthetician
1. LaCota Davis, JCMO GLOW
2. Heather Henke, Onyx Aesthetics
Best Financial Advisor
1. Kevin Fick, Jefferson Bank
2. DJ Thrash, Edward Jones
2. Jeffrey Boessen, Central Investment Advisors
Best Hair Stylist
1. Natalie Wittenberger, NCW.Hair @ Heads Up Salon
2. Kim Pope-Reason, The Vibe Salon
Best Insurance Agent
1. Heather Luebbert, Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance
2. Charlie Christiansen, Shelter Insurance
Best Interior Designer
1. Samantha Rush, MRA Construction
2. Angie Finton, Angie Finton Designs
Best Lawyer
1. Angela Silvey, Silvey & Associates
1. Jonathan C. Browning, Sigmund Browning
2. Brian Francka, Schreimann, Rackers & Francka
2. David Bandré, Bandré, Hunt & Snider
2. Sara Michael, Carver & Michael
2. Scott Hamblin, Brydon, Swearengen & England
Best Local Artist
1. Caitlin Fuller, Honey Bee Mine
2. Jim Dyke, Cottonstone Art Gallery & Frame Shop
Best Local Musician
1. Bobby Showers
1. Dave Baker
2. Chloe Hoecker
Best Massage Therapist
1. Meredith Krueger, Respiro Spa
2. Rachel Steinmeier, Graceful Healing Massage
Best Mechanic
1. Christian Eickhorst, Christian Motors
2. Steven Whittenberg, The Auto Shop
Best Mental Heath Professional
1. Tricia Orscheln, Tree of Hope Counseling and Wellness Center
2. Jennifer Thomas, Community Health Center
Best Nail Technician
1. Kim Nocula, Polished Nail Salon
2. Jaelyn Engelbrecht, Bella Capelli Salon & Spa
2. Seriah Taber, Painted Pretty
Best Nurse
1. Abby Berhorst, MU Health Care
2. Kimberly Hentges, Genesis Company
Best Occupational Therapy Professional
1. Tricia Hook, Jefferson City Manor
2. Terri Brune, Special Learning Center
Best Optometrist
1. Dr. Bret Bodenhamer, Bodenhamer Eye Consultants
2. Dr. Fred Bodenhamer, Bodenhamer Eye Consultants
Best Orthodontist
1. Dr. Dustin Wilson, Wilson Orthodontics
2. Dr. Twaddle, Twaddle Orthodontics
Best Pediatrician
1. Dr. Hannah Strong, Covenant Pediatrics
2. Dr. Pauline Burrell, MU Health Care
Best Personal Trainer
1. Chad Chrisman, Ignite Fitness and Performance
2. Brent Heckemeyer, Ignite and Performance
Best Photographer
1. Ali Almazar, ali almazar Photography
2. Emily Poston, Emily Poston Photography
Best Physical Therapist
1. Ben Kuster, Peak Sport & Spine
1. Jason Allen, JCMG
1. Josh Frates, Peak Sport & Spine
2. Tasha Stevens, SSM Health
Best Primary Care Physician
1. Dr. Brandy Glascock, JCMG
1. Dr. Rachel Rucker, JCMG
2. Dr. Alexandria Geist, MU Health Care
Best Radio Personality
1. Erin Hart, 94.3 KAT Country
2. Shags, 96.7 KCMQ
Best Real Estate
1. Beth McGeorge, Beth McGeorge Team RE/MAX
2. Ashley Pederson, Promo Realty LLC
Best Speech Therapist
1. Brianne Morgan, The Therapy Clubhouse
2. Alexis Hopkins, SSM Health
Best Tattoo Artist
1. Calli Loskill, Human Nature Art & Tattoo
2. Clayton Gerard, The Art House Tattoos
Best Travel Agent
1. Natalie Payne, Payne Free Travel
2. Becky Bowman, Classic Travel & Tours
Best TV Personality
1. Rod Smith, KRCG
2. Kermit Miller, KRCG
Best Veterinarian
1. Dr. Greg Boyer, Animal Medical Center of Jefferson City
2. Dr. Eric Boeckmann, Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic
Best Videographer
1. Liz Conner, Major Films
2. Naden Luebbert, Echo Valley Productions