Congratulations to all of the businesses chosen by Providence Phoenix readers this year, including several downtown favorites!
- Best art gallery: AS220, described as “a consistent venue for great art, supporting green beginners and ripe veterans, theorists and activists.”
- Best cover club: Ri Ra, offering “the area’s top hit machines on Friday and Saturday…and karaoke on Thursday and Sunday.”
- Best dance club/night: The Salon, whose “calendar is bursting with diverse sounds and attractions six days a week.”
- Best rock venue: Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel. “There’s simply no better place to see a concert in the state, no matter the genre.”
- Best theater company: Trinity Rep, a theater that “has always embraced the classic and the contemporary, and their artistry and craft is second to none.”
- Best theater venue: Providence Performing Arts Center, which “welcomes Broadway road shows, concerts, comedians, and other unique entertainments.”
- Best trivia night: Trinity Brewhouse, with a recommendation to “go easy on Trinity’s Best Brewpub brews so you can dig up trivial-yet-significant data.”
- Best bar, cocktails: The Eddy, known for “friendly bartenders” and “interesting drinks.”
- Best bar, fancy: The Dorrance, with its “high ceilings,” “lots of tall windows,” and a bar that is “the centerpiece of the place.”
- Best gay bar: The Stable. “The vibe is lively and engaging” and “the location is ultra-central.”
- Best brewpub: Trinity Brewhouse. “Brew + chew = The Best of both worlds.”
- Best burritos: Cilantro Mexican Grill, giving “copious choices” of endless fillings.
- Best steakhouse: Ten Prime Steak + Sushi, chosen for its “extra-marbleized Wagyu flat iron steak…aged at least 28 days.”
- Best wine list: Local 121, offering “three dozen whites and nearly four dozen reds, heavy on the West Coast vineyards.”
- Best book store, used: Cellar Stories Books. “the downtown staple” has “70,000 volumes covering almost every imaginable topic.”
- Best clothing store, women’s: Queen of Hearts, selling a “funky collection of hand-crafted, modern, and vintage fare and distinctive jewelry.”
- Best local cause: AS220 Youth, providing “free arts education for ages 14-21, with a concentration on youth in the care and custody of the state.”
- Best place to people-watch: WaterFire Providence. “The people-watching gets even more interesting as the sweaty season drags on.”
Read more about the winners across the state here, and don’t forget to vote in next year’s poll!