08/09/2026
Please don’t forget to vote!
Hey everybody! The SoCo insider is doing its "Best Of" competition again! This time there is only one voting round, no nominations. In addition, voters can only vote once- not once per day.
https://best-of-colorado-springs-2026--csi.contest.vote/
You must vote in 20 categories for your ballot to be counted. I have made a list of recommendations, below in each category where I'm familiar with at least one business listed.
**Arts & Community
Annual event- Pikes Peak Pride
**Drinks & Cocktails
Brewery/Pub: Goat Patch Brewing
Cratft Cocktail Menu: Tokki
Distillery: Axe and Oak
Drive Through Coffee: Humble Coffee
Local Coffee: Carnelian
Locally Produced Beer: Goat Patch Brewing
Margarita: Dos Santos
Smoothie/Juice Bar: Monse's
Store for Craft Beer: Coaltrain
Store for Spirits: Coaltrain
Store for Wine: Coaltrain
Tap Room (Beers): Summa
Tasting Room (Spirits) Axe and Oak
Tea Room: Glen Eyrie Castle Tea
**Nightlife
Bar Staff: Tokki
Dive Bar: Benny's
Happy Hour (write in) Brakeman's
Neighborhood Bar Downtown (write in): Brakeman's
Neighborhood Bar North: Colorado Mountain Brewery
Neighborhood Bar South: Tokki
Neighborhood Bar West (write in): Agave Lounge
New Bar: Totem
Overall Bar: Icons
Place for Comedy: Loonees
Place for Live Music: Tokki
Place to Dance: Icons
Sports Bar (write in) Brakeman's
Upscale Bar: Prime West
Wine Bar: Vine and Wheel
**Food and Dining
Bakery: Marigolds
Breakfast: King Chef
Caterer: Luchals
Chef: Nora Dillon at Ephemera
Chocolatier: Cacoa Chemistry
Dessert Menu: Marigold's
Diner: King Chef's
Dog Friendly Restaurant: Pub Dog
Donuts: Mochi Thaim
Fine Dining: Ephemera
Food Truck: (write in) Gossip Point
Frozen Treat: (write in)The Meltdown
Indian(write in): Pakwan
Late Night Dining: Chiba Bar
Latin American: Monse's
Local/ Regional Chain: La Casita
Lunch (write in): Dos Dogs
Middle Eastern: Heart of Jerusalem
Mexican (write in): Totem
Neighborhood Restaurant: Stellina's
Neighborhood Restaurant East: Wooglin's
Neighborhood Restaurant North: Arlene's Beans
Neighborhood Restaurant South: Tokki
Overall Restaurant: Ephemera
Pizza(write in): Joey's
Thai Food: Wild Ginger
**Shopping and Services
Comic Shop: Kapow Coffee
Eclectic Shop (write in): Odds and Ends Emporium
Pet Store: Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Grooming: House of Hounds Grooming
Store for Fashion Accessories (write in): Odds and Ends Emporium
Veterinary Clinic: Roaming Veterinary Team
