DINGDING DING!
ARTS &CULTURE PAGE6
FOOD &DRINK PAGE12
HEALTH& BEAUTY PAGE8
HOME &GARDEN PAGE10
OVERNIGHTS PAGE16
SHOPPING PAGE17
Thetitle fight is over!Readonto seewho took homethe Bestof Hartford County winner’s belt. ACTIVITIES PAGE4
BY SUSAN SHULTZ
TheloyalreadersoftheCTPosthave casttheirvotesonceagaininthe “BestofHartfordCounty”contest,andthe resultsarein.Varyingfromlocal favoritestonationally-knownfare,this sectionshowcasesthetrue“knockouts” ineachcategory.>>
>>Attheheartofitaresevencategoriesthat encompassalltheindustriesthathelp
HartfordCountythrive:ACTIVITIES,ARTS& CULTURE,FOOD&DRINK,HEALTH&BEAUTY, HOME&GARDEN,SHOPPING,andTRAVEL
Thebusinesses,venues,spaces,andplaces recognizedinthisyear’sreaders’choicepoll reflectthecounty’seclecticstayingpower,as wellasitsstatusasasummerstaycation destination.Eachwinnercan’twaitto welcometheinfluxoftouriststhatwill inundateConnecticut’sHartfordCountythis season,butit’sjustasfuntoenjoyifyoucallit homeyear-round.
Plananexcursiontoalocalmuseumor liveperformancevenuetoaddsomeculture toyoursummerbucketlist;feastonallthe freshseafoodtheregionhastooffer;and thenworkitoffwithsomeofthecounty’stop fitnesstrainers.
Summeristheperfecttimetotreatyour homeoasistosomeTLCwiththehelpof professionalgardenersandlandscapers;shop tillyoudropatlocalbusinessesofferingthe lateststylesandtrendsatsummersales;or spendyourvacationasmanypeopleliketo do—relaxingbythepooloronabeachwitha goodbook.
Howeveryouplantospendyoursummer, werecommendvisitingoneofthehundreds ofwinnersinthe2026“BestofHartford County”reader’schoicepoll.Readontosee howtomakethemostofthenextfewmonths rightinyourownbackyard
BEST INDOORFAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT
REACT Premium
EscapeRooms
County Runner-Ups
ConnecticutScienceCenter
County Finalists
SpareTimeEntertainment
Escapism
CreativeJamArtCo.
BEST MINI GOLF COURSE
BEST PICK YOUR OWNFARM
Bristol’s Farm Market
CountyRunner-Up
RogersOrchards,ShuttleMeadow
FarmStore
CountyFinalist
BelltownHillOrchards
BEST PUBLICGOLF COURSE
Goodwin Park Golf Course
CountyRunner-Up
BESTWEDDINGVENUE
NewEngland AirMuseum
CountyRunner-Up
TheMarkTwainHouse&Museum
CountyFinalists
Maneeley’sBanquet&Catering
BondBallroom
TheCocktailParlourby HartfordFlavorCompany
WickhamPark
Riverfront Miniature Golf &Ice Cream
RockledgeGolfCourse
& Ice
CountyRunner-Ups
MatterhornMiniGol
County Runner-U Golf
County Finalists
SafariGolf
SafariGolf
County Finalist
CountyFinalist
Topstone Course
TopstoneGolfCourse
BEST STATEPARK
E P
DinosaurState Park
Dinosaur State
Fa tu
FarmingtonMiniatureGolf &IceCream
HiddenValleyMiniGolf
Hid iG
CountyRunner-Up
County Runner-Up
St Stat
StrattonBrookStatePark
VOTEDBESTB&B OR COUNTRYINN inHartfordCounty
ARTS&CULTURE
BESTART GALLERY
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
County Runner-Up
NewBritainMuseumofAmericanArt
County Finalists
RealArtWays
ParkvilleArtGallery
BESTCULTURAL ATTRACTION FORFAMILIES
Stanley-WhitmanHouse
County Runner-Up
TheMarkTwainHouse&Museum
County Finalists
CreativeJamArtCo.
ParkvilleArtGallery
PoshPaint
BESTHISTORICAL ATTRACTION
Stanley-WhitmanHouse
County Runner-Up
TheMarkTwainHouse&Museum
County Finalist
CreativeJamArtCo.
BESTINDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER
Real ArtWays
County Runner-Up
ParkadeCinemas&Entertainment
County Finalist
Cinestudio
BESTMUSEUM
Stanley-WhitmanHouse
County Runner-Up
NewBritainMuseumofAmericanArt
County Finalist
NewEnglandAirMuseum
ConnecticutScienceCenter
TheCarouselMuseum
BESTPRIVATEORCATHOLICSCHOOL
St. Paul Catholic High School
County Runner-Up
TheFarmingtonValley
AcademyMontessori
County Finalist
St.BernardCatholicSchool
BESTBARBER SHOP
DreamBarbershop
CountyRunner-Up
UndergroundBarbers
CountyFinalists
Garrett’sBarberShop
OneStopBarbershop
BESTDAY SPA
HEALTH& BEAUTY
AMoment Away
CountyRunner-Up
ModernChicSpa
CountyFinalist
FloatFortyOne
TheHeadSpa
ImmerseHydroSpa&Massage
BESTHAIR SALON
Icon Salon
CountyRunner-Up
GallerySalon
CountyFinalists
AvonHairCompany
TheBeaHiveSalon
ModernChicSpa
BESTLOCALLYOWNED
FITNESS CLUB OR GYM
Silk City Fit
CountyRunner-Up
BToneFitnessHartford
CountyFinalists
IronWillFitness
PrimalFit
LiftHealth&Fitness
LightningFitness
BESTMASSAGE STUDIO
BodyTalk Wellness
CountyRunner-Up
AbundantHealthMassage
Therapy&Wellness
CountyFinalists
AMomentAway
TatianaRodriguezAesthetics
TableofZen
BESTMEDICALSPA
Aria MedicalAesthetics
CountyRunner-Up
SKINMedical&Wellness
County Finalists
SamaraMedSpaGlastonbury MassageEnvy
TheMedSpaatOldWethersfield
BESTNAIL SALON
Venus Nails &Spa
County Runner-Up MystickNails
CountyFinalists
RemdyNails
TiaraNails&Spa
FashionNail
BESTTATTOOPARLOR
Timeout Tattoos
CountyRunner-Up
SempiternalTattoo&PMU
CountyFinalists
PropagandaInk
XclusiveInk
CrookedSoulTattoo
BESTYOGASTUDIO
Soulshine Yoga
CountyRunner-Up
WestHartfordYoga
CountyFinalists
TYSG
AfterglowStudioHartford
Wabi-SabiYoga&WellnessCenter
VotedBestPizzain HartfordCounty!
TheFirstandLastTavern hasbeena Hartford landmark since 1936,earning itsname as the firsttavern inside thecitylimits andthe last stop when leavingHartford.Longknown as the “tradesmen’s bar,”itbuilt aloyalfollowing with itsOriginal Special—a heartyplate of pasta,meatballorsausage,and salad along with itssignaturepastasauce that remains unchanged to this day. Overthe years, awardwinningcoal-fired brick oven pizza wasadded to the menu, furthercementing The First and LastTavern’s reputation as abelovedHartford institution
HOME&GARDEN
BEST ANTIQUES OR VINTAGESHOPPING
MillStreetMarketplace
County Runner-Up
Cottonwood&Church
County Finalists
SouthwoodAntiques&Marketplace
Fable
WEHAVintage&MoreMarketplace
BEST ELECTRICALCONTRACTOR
Aiello Home Services
County Runner-Up
WestHartfordElectric
County Finalist
BartholomewElectric
BEST FLORIST
Haworth’sFlowers &Gifts
County Runner-Up
PersimmonPetals
County Finalists
BroadBrookGardens
HarmonicBlooms
@rjgflowers
BESTGARDEN CENTERORNURSERY
Larson’sGardenCenter
County Runner-Up
Wojtusik’sNursery&GardenCenter
County Finalists
Moscarillo’sGardenCenter&Nursery
WoodlandGardens
Garden’sDream
StonehedgeGardenCenter
TheGardenBarnNursery&Landscape
BEST HOME DECOR
Mill Street Marketplace
CountyRunner-Up
Cottonwood&Church
CountyFinalists
KaoudRugs
Ring’sEnd
BEST HOME REMODELER
Gove Restoration
CountyRunner-Up
MJRenaudPainting
CountyFinalists
ChamberlandProfessional Painting
CarefreeHomePros
BESTHVACCOMPANY
Chiarillo’s
CountyRunner-Up
DegreeHeating&Cooling
CountyFinalists
AielloHomeServices
GONZOHeating&Cooling
BESTINTERIORDESIGNER
McCoryInteriors
BESTLANDSCAPER
OBEE Landscaping
County Runner-Up
Larson’sGardenCenter
CountyFinalists
860Masonry
BahlerBrothers
FerrariLawn&Landscape
BESTPLUMBER
Positano Plumbing
County Runner-Up
AvonPlumbing&Heating
CountyFinalists
Chiarillo’s
DegreeHeating&Cooling
AielloHomeServices
BESTWINDOWCOMPANYORDEALER
Action Windows& Siding
BEST BAGELS
The Blue House Bagel Co. &Café
CountyRunner-Up
BagelChalet
CountyFinalists
FancyBagels
DailyGrind
SeedKitchen&Bagelry
BESTBAKERY
The Blue House Bagel Co. &Café
CountyRunner-Up
PattyCakesBakeryofCT
CountyFinalists
HarvestBakery
PureLoveBakery
SmallStateProvisions
FOOD&DRINK
BEST BEER BAR
TheOliveBar
CountyRunner-Up
SpigotCafé
CountyFinalists
SlidersGrill&Bar HopHaüs GroggyFrogg
BEST BREWERY
Alvarium BeerCompany
CountyRunner-Ups
UrbanLodgeBrewingCo.
CountyFinalists
HopsontheHillFarmBrewery
WitchdoctorBrewingCompany
DudleytownBrewingCompany
KinsmenBrewingCompany
BEST BURGERS
EnclaveGrille
CountyRunner-Up
MaxBurgerCT
CountyFinalists
BigalowCafé
PlanB
PuenteAmerican-LatinoPub
BEST BURRITOS
TJ’s Burritos, Bloomfield
CountyRunner-Up
MonterreyMexicanRestaurant
CountyFinalists
PuenteAmerican-LatinoPub
TJ’sBurritos,EastGranby
FuegoPicanteFoodTruck
BEST CHICKEN WINGS
JTimothy’s Taverne
CountyRunner-Up
EnclaveGrille
CountyFinalists
Greer’sChicken
NaplesPizza
SlidersGrill&Bar
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
TJ’sBurritos, Bloomfield
CountyRunner-Up
TheCharles
CountyFinalists
PuenteAmerican-LatinoPub
River:AWaterfrontRestaurant &Bar
FirebyForge
BEST COFFEE ROASTER
DrumrollCoffee Roasters
CountyRunner-Up
RebelDogCoffeeCo.
CountyFinalists
GivCoffee
CaféRealSchoolStreet
TheCoffeeTrade
BEST COFFEEHOUSE
DailyGrind
County Runner-Up
BlueHouseBagelCafé
County Finalists
TJ’sBurritos,Bloomfield
TheCoffeeSpot
CoffeeFixCT
RebelDogCoffeeCo.&Tavern
BEST DELIORSANDWICH SHOP
Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe
County Runner-Up
PastramionWry
County Finalists
Claudia’sGrinderShop
DailyGrind
DeepRootsStreetFood
BEST DINER
Bell CityDiner
County Runner-Up
Sally&Bob’s
County Finalists
BluePlateKitchen
UncleD’sDiner
MakrisDiner
BESTDISTILLERY
Hartford Flavor Company
Distillery
CountyRunner-Up
WaypointSpirits
CountyFinalist
CentralCTDistillers
BESTGRINDERS
Nardelli’sGrinder Shoppe
CountyRunner-Up
TheOliveBar
CountyFinalists
Claudia’sGrinderShop
Wethersfieldpizzahouse
George’sTerryvilleAvenueMarket
BESTHEALTHFOODSTORE
Essential HealthNatural Foods Market
CountyRunner-Up
Lim’sHealthFoodCenter
BESTHOT DOGS
Sahadi’s Hotties
CountyRunner-Up
CapitolLunch
CountyFinalists
Doogie’s Frankies
Carol’sLunchBox
BESTICE CREAM
GrassrootsIce Cream
CountyRunner-Up
TulmeadowFarmStore
CountyFinalists
RichFarmIceCream
A.C.PetersenFarmsRestaurant
Lacroix’sHomemadeIceCream
BESTIRISH PUB
Farley’sPub
CountyRunner-Up
Vaughan’sPublicHouse
BESTLGBTQ-FRIENDLYBAR ChezEst
CountyRunner-Up
SpigotCafe
CountyFinalists
TheLaurel
FirebyForge
BluePlateTavern
BESTLOBSTER ROLLS
River: AWaterfront Restaurant &Bar
County Runner-Up
BlueLobsterRestaurant
County Finalists
SamTheClamPub&Grub
ColdHarborSeafood&Market
BESTLOCALDOUGHNUTS
Luke’sDonut Shop
County Runner-Up
HarvestBakery
County Finalists
ElmwoodPastryShop
TheDonutStation
SwichesCoffee&Donuts
BESTLOCALLY OWNED LIQUOR STORE
Bottle Shop of Unionville
County Runner-Up
Harvey’sWine&SpiritShoppe
County Finalists
BerlinSpirits
WorldwideWine&Spirits
SignatureWine&Spirits
BESTLOCALLY OWNED WINESHOP
Bottle Shop of Unionville
County Runner-Ups
TheWiseOldDog
CountyFinalists
CenterWine&Spirits
SignatureWine&Spirits
HarvestBakery
BESTOUTDOOROR
ROOFTOPBAR
At TheRooftop
CountyRunner-Up
Rooftop120
CountyFinalist
Butchers&Bakers
River:AWaterfrontRestaurant &Bar
Wood-n-Tap,RockyHill
BESTOYSTERBAR
Max’s Oyster Bar
BEST PIZZA
First &LastTavern, Hartford
CountyRunner-Up
George’sPizza&Restaurant
CountyFinalists
NaplesPizza
E&DPizzaCompany
LittleCityPizza
BEST SPORTSBAR
Sliders Grill &Bar
CountyRunner-Up
IronHorsePub
CountyFinalist
GroggyFrogg
SaltyDogTavern
Jimmy’sPub
BEST SUSHI
Liki AsianBistro &Bar
CountyRunner-Up
YumeHibachiSteak&Sushi
CountyFinalists
SushiHouse
BonsaiJapaneseRestaurant
GohanJapaneseCuisine
BESTTACO
TJ’s Burritos, Bloomfield
CountyRunner-Up
SayulitaRestaurant
CountyFinalists
FuegoPicanteFoodTruck
AgaveGrill
Bartaco
BESTWINEBAR CafeAura
CountyRunner-Up
River:AWaterfrontRestaurant &Bar
CountyFinalists
BluePlateTavern
Abigail’sGrille&WineBar
BarcelonaWineBar
BESTWINERYORVINEYARD
Brignole Vineyards
CountyRunner-Up
LostAcresVineyard
CountyFinalist
CrystalRidgeWinery
SHOPPING
BEST BIKE SHOP
Biker’sEdge
CountyRunner-Up
BiCiCo.
BEST CONSIGNMENTSHOP
Consignment Originals
CountyRunner-Up
UptownConsignment
CountyFinalists
PerfectPieceFurniture
Consignment
HandToHandThriftStore
BESTFURNITURESTORE
Consignment Originals
CountyRunner-Up
PerfectPieceFurniture
Consignment
CountyFinalist
KaoudRugs
BESTGAMING HOBBYOR
COMIC BOOKSTORE
Boom Tube Comics
CountyRunner-Up
Radar’sComicsatMill
StreetMarketplace
CountyFinalists
TimeMachineHobby
TabletopGamingCenter
GalaxyPops&Beyond
TheBattleStandardTabletop
Game&Hobby
BESTGIFT OR SPECIALTY SHOP
The Bristol Bazaar
County Runner-Up
Stanley-WhitmanHouse
MuseumStore
County Finalists
GirouxWoodworkingArtisanBoutique
WojtusikNurseryChristmasShop
MillStreetMarketplace
BESTHARDWARE STORE
City True Value
County Runner-Up
LarsenAceHardware
County Finalists
KatzHardware
RiceHardware
Ring’sEnd
BESTINDEPENDENT
BOOKSTORE, NEW BOOKS
RiverBend Bookshop
County Runner-Up
TheEnchantedViolet
BESTJEWELER ConsignmentOriginals
County Runner-Up
LuxBond&Green
County Finalists
UptownConsignment
DBKFamilyJewelers
PergjoniFamilyJewelers
TurgeonJewelers
BESTLOCAL GROCERYSTORE
Family RootsProduceMarket
County Runner-Up
HighlandParkMarket
County Finalists
GnazzoFoodCenter
D&DMarket
Tonn’sMarketplace
BESTMEATMARKET/BUTCHER
South Side Market
CountyRunner-Up Hall’sMarket
CountyFinalists
AvonPrimeMeats
Caronna’sMarket
D&DMarket
BESTMEN’S CLOTHING STORE Consignment Originals
CountyRunner-Up UptownConsignment
CountyFinalist GiovanniLouise
BESTPET SALONOR BOUTIQUE The PetSpa
CountyRunner-Up Leaps&Bones
CountyFinalists
HighlandParkDogGrooming TheDogfather
BESTRECORDCDSHOP Mill Street Marketplace
BESTSECONDHAND OR VINTAGECLOTHING STORY Consignment Originals
CountyRunner-Up UptownConsignment
CountyFinalists
MillStreetMarketplace HandToHandThriftStore
BESTTOY STORE Necker’sToyland
CountyRunner-Up BoomTubeComics
CountyFinalists
PinwheelsToys&Games
BESTWOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE Consignment Originals
CountyRunner-Up
UptownConsignment
CountyFinalists
MillStreetMarketplace
Castor&PolyBoutique
BK&Co.
