Over the course of January, we invited readers to vote for the very best Apple Valley, Eagan, Lakeville and Prior Lake have to offer. The reader poll is closed and the votes are tallied. Now, it’s time to meet the finalists (listed in alphabetical order) for Best of Cities South 2024.
Stay tuned for our Best of Cities South 2024 issue this June, when the winners will be revealed.
Dining
Best Bakery
- Edelweiss Bakery
- Sweet Kneads by Farmington Bakery
- Sweet Treasures
Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery
- Bald Man Brewing
- Lakeville Brewing Company
- Omni Winery & Taproom
Best Breakfast or Brunch
- Hope Breakfast Bar
- Jensen’s Cafe
- The Better Half
Best Burger
- B-52 Burgers and Brew
- Burgers and Bottles
- Northern Taphouse
Best Desserts or Ice Cream
- Dairy Delite
- Chill Ice Cream Studio
- Cold Stone Creamery
Best International Cuisine
- Fong’s Restaurant & Bar
- Joy’s Thai Cuisine
- Mediterranean Cruise Cafe
- Taste of Thai Yai
Best Outdoor Dining Space
- Barley + Vine Kitchen/Bar
- Lakeville Brewing Company
- The Tavern Grill
Best Pizza
- Carbone’s Lakeville
- Ole Piper Family Restaurant & Sports Bar
- Red’s Savoy Pizza
Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu
- Mediterranean Cruise Cafe
- Toppers Pizza
Best Restaurant
- Doolittles Woodfire Grill
- Lakeville Brewing Company
- Porterhouse Steak & Seafood
- The Better Half
Abode
Best Garden Center
- Gertens
- Pahl’s Market
- Terra Garden Center
Best Home Decor or Furniture Store
- Ashley
- HOM Furniture
- Schneiderman’s Furniture
Best Interior Design Firm
- Curate with Kate
- The Divine Living Space
Best Landscape Design Service
- Custom One Landscaping
- Pahl’s Market
- Southview Design
Best Remodeler
- Custom One Renovation
- Platt Contracting
- Rise & Shine Garage Doors
Best Senior Living Residence
- BeeHive Homes of Lakeville
- Highview Hills
- The Moments
Self Care
Best Barbershop
- 210 Barber Shop
- Red’s Chop Shop
- TR’s Lakeville Barber Shop
Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio
- Onx
- Puravida Fitness
- The Warehouse
Best Hair Salon
- CBeauty Hair Studio
- Cole’s Salon
- Regard Rayonnant
Best Manicure and Pedicure
- Frenchies Modern Nail Care
- Heidi Nails
- Nail Bar & Spa
Best Massage
- Amesbarry Chiropractic
- Clovr Life Spa
- Keep In Touch
- Spavia
Best Spa
- Lifetime Lifespa
- Sage + Arch
- Spavia
- The Esthetician
Wellness
Best Chiropractic Practice
- ABLE Chiropractic
- Enlighten Chiropractic
- HealthSource Chiropractic
Best Dental Practice
- Apelgren Dental
- Lakeville Dental
- Park Dental
Best Dermatology Practice
- Dermatology Consultants
- Lakes Dermatology
Best Eye Care Practice
- Advanced Family Eyecare
- Focused Eye Care
- McDonald Eye Care Associates
- Yankee Eye Clinic
Best Family Medicine Practice
- Allina
- Dillman Clinic & Lab
- New Kingdom
- Park Nicollet
Best OB-GYN Practice
- Minnesota Women’s Care
- OBGYN Specialists
Best Orthodontic Practice
- Anchored Orthodontics
- Cosmopolitan Orthodontics
- Lakeville Orthodontics
Best Pediatric Practice
- Eagan Valley Pediatrics
- Park Nicollet
- Southdale Pediatrics
Learning
Best Dance Studio
- Betty Jo’s Dance Center
- DanceWorks Performing Art Center
- Next Step Dance Studio
- South Metro Dance Arts Center
Best Preschool Program
- Especially For Children
- Hypointe Childcare
- The Goddard School Lakeville
Best Swim School or Lessons
- Bear Paddle Swim School
- Foss Swim School
- Wise Swim School
Pet Care
Best Dog-Friendly Business (Dining or Retail venue)
- Dog Day Getaway
- Three Dog Bakery
- Wag N’ Wash
Best Dog Park
- Cleary Lake Dog Off-leash Area
- Dakota Woods Dog Park
- Ritter Farm Dog Park
Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service
- Dog Day Getaway
- Puppy Play and Stay
- River Valley Groom & Board
Best Pet Grooming Service
- Dog Day Getaway
- Fancy Paws Pet Salon
- Pet Attitudes
- The Dirty Dog Spa
- Wag N’ Wash
Best Veterinarian Practice
- East Valley Animal Clinic
- Southfork Animal Hospital
- VCA Cedar View Animal Hospital
Shops
Best Apparel Boutique
- Board and Batten
- Mainstream Boutique
- Thread and Clover Boutique
Best Florist
- Bachman’s
- Flora Etc.
- Flowerama
- Rosemount Floral
Best Gift Shop
- Ficus & Fig
- Market On Oak Boutique
- The Charming Lily Boutique
Best Jewelry Store
- Gerster Jewelers
- Real Gem Jewelers
- Shane Co.
Best Specialty Food or Kitchen Store
- Desi Foods
Leisure
Best Beach, Open Space or Park
- Antlers Park
- Cleary Lake Regional Park
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Best Date Night Spot
- Board and Brush
- Gary’s Supper Club
- Porterhouse Steak and Seafood
Best Outdoor Spot for Graduation Photos
- Ritter Farm Park
Best Place for Family Activities
- Board and Brush
- Bowlero
- Labyrinth Puzzle Rooms
Best Venue to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks
- Apple Valley Freedom Days Fireworks
- Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Fireworks
Best of the Metro
Best Alpine Hill or Nordic Ski Trail
- Buck Hill
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park
- Welch Village
Best Biking or Hiking Trail
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park
- Ritter Farm Park
- Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Best Bridal or Formal Wear Store
- Bridal-N-More Boutique
- Effie’s Bridal Trunk
- The Wedding Shoppe
Best Family Photographer/ Photography Business
- Anthologie
- BennyAni Photography
- East Oaks Photography
- Kiley Marissa Photography
- Tiffany Lynn Photography
Best Financial Services (financial planners, wealth management, estate planning, etc.)
- Edward Jones
- Haven Financial Group
- Thrivent
Best Golf Course
- Bracketts Crossing Country Club
- Crystal Lake Golf Club
- Legends Club
- The Wilds Golf Club
- Valleywood Golf Course
Best Law Practice
- Elizabeth M. Porter
Best Outdoor Skating Rink
- Arden Park
- Goat Hill Park
Best Private School
- First Baptist School
- The Goddard School Lakeville
- United Christian Academy
Best Professional Theatre
- Children’s Theatre Company
- Orpheum Theatre
- Park Square Theatre
Best Staycation Hotel
- Holiday Inn & Suites Lakeville
- JW Marriott Mall of America
Best Summer Camp
- Camp Sizzleberry
- Catholic Youth Camp
- YMCA Day Camp Streefland
Best Wedding Photographer or Videographer
- East Oaks Photography
- Kiley Marissa Photography
- Studio Twelve:52
Best Wedding Venue
- Bracketts Crossing Country Club
Best Winery
- Next Chapter Winery
- Omni Winery & Taproom
- Schram Vineyards
