Explore Your Best of Cities South 2025 Winners

Discover the results of our Readers’ Choice Poll.

Even the most passionate fans of winter have to admit that summer in Minnesota can be magical. After spending months in hibernation, there’s a special delight in reclaiming long hours spent outside, reconnecting with neighbors and nature.

Summer brings out the best, which is why we’re kicking off our summer with our annual Best of Cities South issue, highlighting the communities of Apple Valley, Lakeville and Prior Lake. Our readers voted for their favorite people, places and businesses in more than 60 different categories, and the results highlight both the hidden gems and the well-known cornerstones that make our community shine. —Liz Potasek

Dining

Best Bakery

1. Edelweiss Bakery
2. Sweet Kneads by Farmington
3. Cream of the Cakes

Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery

1. Lakeville Brewing Company
2. Tie: Angry Inch Brewing; Omni Winery & Taproom

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. The Better Half
2. Tie: Hope Breakfast Bar; The Buckboard Restaurant

Best Burger

1. B-52 Burgers and Brew
2. Tie: JL Beers; The Better Half

Best Dessert or Ice Cream

1. Cream of the Cakes
2. Dairy Delite
3. Nothing Bundt Cakes

Best International Cuisine

1. Tie: Joy’s Thai; Pau Hana; Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant

Best Locally Owned Coffee or Tea Shop

1. Tapestry Coffee
2. Tie: BlueNose Coffee; Constellation Coffee

Best Outdoor Dining Space

1. Barley + Vine Kitchen/Bar
2. Lakeville Brewing Company
3. Charlie’s on Prior

Best Pizza

1. Ole Piper Family Restaurant & Sports Bar
2. Punch
3. Goodfellas Pizza Bar & Grill

Best Restaurant

1. Gary’s Supper Club
2. Porterhouse
3. Chianti Grill

Abode

Best Carpet and Flooring Store

1. Above All Flooring
2. Tie: Hertaus Floors; Simon’s Flooring and Design

Best Custom Home Builder

1. Homes by Tradition
2. Custom One Homes
3. Country Joe Homes

Best Garden Center/Nursery

1. Pahl’s Market
2. Terra Garden Center
3. Bachman’s

Best Home Décor or Furniture Store

1. Schneiderman’s Furniture
2. HOM Furniture
3. Ficus & Fig

Best Landscape Design Service

1. Southview Design
2. Custom One Landscaping
3. Tie: Friedges Landscaping; Pahl’s Market

Best Remodeler

1. Custom One Renovation
2. New Spaces

Best Senior Living Residence

1. Tie: Highview Hills by Vivie; The Pillars of Lakeville
2. Tie: BeeHive Homes of Lakeville; Kingsley Shores; The Moments

Self Care

Best Barbershop or Salon With Men’s Services

1. Gent Cuts and Grooming
2. Cole’s Salon
3. Beau Monde Salon

Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio

1. Tie: Hotworx; Title Boxing Club
2. ONX

Best Hair Salon

1. Beau Monde Salon
2. Cole’s Salon
3. Be-YOU-tiful Sol Salon

Best Manicure and Pedicure

1. Frenchies Modern Nail Care
2. Fanci Nails
3. Beau Monde Salon

Best Massage

1. Spavia Apple Valley
2. Exuberance Chiropractic & Wellness Center
3. Clovr Life Spa Apple Valley

Best Med Spa

1. Symmetry Medical Aesthetics
2. ProSkin Esthetics and Laser

Best Spa

1. Spavia Apple Valley
2. Tie: Sage + Arch; Symmetry Medical Aesthetics

Wellness

Best Chiropractic Practice

1. Exuberance Chiropractic & Wellness Center
2. HealthSource Chiropractic of Lakeville
3. Tie: Family Chiropractic Center Farmington; LifeClinic Chiropractic & Rehabilitation; RAPP Chiropractic

Best Dental Practice

1. Platt Dentistry
2. Glacier Lake Dental
3. Tie: Lakeville Dental; River’s Edge Dental Clinic

Best Dermatology Practice

1. Tie: Dermatology Consultants; Lakes Dermatology; Pinnacle Dermatology

Best OB-GYN Practice

1. OBGYN Specialists
2. Southdale OBGYN
3. Minnesota Women’s Care

Best Orthodontic Practice

1. Ekim Orthodontics
2. Lakeville Orthodontics
3. Cosmopolitan Orthodontics

Best Physical Therapy Practice

1. Twin Cities Orthopedics
2. Tie: Exuberance Chiropractic and Wellness Center; TRIA

Best Vision Care Practice

1. McDonald Eye Care Associates
2. Eye 35 Eye Care
3. Focused Eye Care

Learning

Best Dance Studio

1. Tie: Next Step Dance Studio; South Metro Dance Arts Center
2. Tie: Ballet Royale Minnesota; DanceWorks Performing Arts Center; Just For Kix

Best Learning or Tutoring Center

1. The Goddard School of Eagan
2. Hypointe Childcare
3. The Study Station

Best Preschool Program

1. Especially for Children Eagan
2. Hypointe Childcare
3. The Goddard School of Eagan

Best Swim School or Lesson Provider

1. Wise Swim School
2. Goldfish Swim School
3. Foss Swim School

Pet Care

Best Dog Park

1. Tie: Cleary Lake Dog Off-leash Area; Ritter Farm Dog Park
2. Dakota Woods Dog Park

Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service

1. Puppy Play and Stay
2. Dog Day Getaway
3. Justina’s Pet Sitting

Best Pet Grooming Service

1. Spaw 4 Paws
2. Tie: Scenthound Lakeville; Wag N’ Wash

Best Veterinarian Practice

1. Lakeville Family Pet Clinic
2. Southfork Animal Hospital
3. Tie: Dakota Pet Hospital; Valley View Pet Hospital

Shops

Best Apparel Boutique

1. The Charming Lily
2. Mainstream Boutique

Best Florist

1. Flora Etc.
2. Tie: Rosemount Floral; Stems & Vines

Best Gift Shop

1. Tie: Ficus & Fig; The Charming Lily
2. Whimzy

Best Jewelry Store

1. Princess Jewelry
2. Apple Valley Diamonds
3. Gerster Jewelers

Best Specialty Food or Kitchen Store

1. Tie: Bodega 42 Fresh Market; Lunds & Byerlys

Leisure

Best Beach, Open Space or Park

1. Antlers Park
2. Tie: Lebanon Hills Regional Park; Ritter Farm Park

Best Date Night Spot

1. Tie: Gary’s Supper Club; Perron’s Sul Lago
2. Porterhouse

Best Outdoor Location for Graduation Photos

1. Ritter Farm Park
2. Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Best of the Metro

Best Alpine Hill or Nordic Ski Trail

1. Buck Hill
2. Tie: Lebanon Hills Regional Park; Welch Village

Best Alterations or Tailoring Service

1. John’s Tailors
2. Tie: Mai Tailor; Sew What Alterations

Best Biking or Hiking Trail

1. Lebanon Hills Regional Park
2. Cannon Valley Trail
3. Tie: Minnehaha Falls; Spring Lake Park Reserve

Best Bridal or Formal Wear Store

1. Bridal Accents Couture
2. Effie’s Bridal Trunk
3. Luxe Bridal

Best Family Photographer

1. Kristen Elizabeth Photography
2. Tess Baker Photography
3. Jamie Smith Photography

Best Financial Services

1. Robert Bayer, Stonebrooke Wealth Management
2. Kohlnhofer Agency
3. Matt Edwards, Edward Jones

Best Golf Course

1. Legends Club
2. Tie: Brackett’s Crossing Country Club; Crystal Lake Golf Club

Best Home Cleaning Service

1. Tie: A Clean Sweep, LLC.; Cleaning Day, LLC; The Maids in Minneapolis South Metro

Best Law Practice

1. Provision Law Firm
2. Tie: Bennerotte & Associates; Elizabeth M. Porter

Best Local Concert Series

1. Live at the Lake
2. Lakefront Music Fest

Best Music School

1. Farmhouse Music Studio
2. MacPhail Center for Music

Best Private School

1. The Goddard School of Eagan
2. All Saints Catholic School

Best Roofing Service

1. Tie: Custom One Exteriors; Sela Roofing
2. Tie: Built Strong Exteriors; Hoyt Exteriors

Best Senior Portrait Photographer

1. Kristen Elizabeth Photography
2. Tie: Tess Baker Photography; Tracy Caffrey Photography

Best Staycation Hotel

1. Omni Vikings Lakes Hotel
2. Hewing Hotel
3. Holiday Inn Lakeville

Best Wedding Venue

1. Bavaria Downs
2. The Gardens of Castle Rock
3. F3 Lounge & Event Center

Best Winery

1. Omni Winery & Taproom
2. Next Chapter Winery
3. 7 Vines Vineyard