Lafayette Winners Shine In 'Best Of' Awards

LAMORINDA, CA — Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga captured multiple honors in Diablo magazine's 2026 Best of the East Bay awards, with readers recognizing destinations ranging from performing arts and public gardens to one of the region's largest annual festivals.

The annual awards highlight businesses, attractions, restaurants, services, and organizations that readers say best represent life in the East Bay.

Walnut Creek led the region with 56 winning categories, followed by Lafayette with 21 and Concord with 12, making the three cities the top Contra Costa County performers in Diablo Magazine's 2026 Best of the East Bay readers' choice awards.

Winners are determined through reader voting across dozens of categories, while Diablo magazine editors also select a smaller number of editorial favorites.

2026 Best of the East Bay winners

Walnut Creek

Best Dance Company
The Ballet School Performing Arts' Ballet Joyeux
Website: theballetschool.org

Best Performing Arts Venue
Lesher Center for the Arts
Website: lesherartscenter.org

Best Place to Take Visitors
The Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery
Website: ruthbancroftgarden.org

Best Gift Shop
Wish
Website: wishwalnutcreek.com

Best Independent Shoe Store
Footwear Etc.
Website: footwearetc.com

Best Shopping Center
Broadway Plaza
Website: broadwayplaza.com

Best Children's Clothing
Wish
Website: wishwalnutcreek.com

Best Community Playground
Heather Farm Park
Website: walnutcreekartsrec.org

Best Day Camp
The Ballet School Performing Arts
Website: theballetschool.org

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
PiddeG
Website: piddeg.com

Best Music Lessons
The Ballet School Performing Arts
Website: theballetschool.org

Best Bakery
Model Bakery
Website: themodelbakery.com

Best Brunch (Co-Winner)
Katy's Kreek
Website: katyskreek.com

Best Chef
Hasan Yildiz, La Fontaine
Website: lafontainerestaurant.com

Best Deli
Morucci's
Website: moruccis.com

Best Farmers Market
Walnut Creek Market
Website: cccfm.org/walnut-creek-market

Best Greek Restaurant (Co-Winner)
Elia
Website: eliarestaurants.com

Best Ice Cream
Lottie's Creamery
Website: lottiescreamery.com

Best Italian Restaurant
Benvenuti Ristorante
Website: benvenutiwc.com

Best Japanese Restaurant
Sasa
Website: sasawc.com

Best Local Winery
Shadowbrook Winery
Website: shadowbrookwinery.com

Best Mexican Restaurant
Bar Camino
Website: barcamino.com

Best New Restaurant (Opened After March 2025)
Stereo 41
Website: stereo41.com

Best Outdoor Dining (Co-Winner)
Bar Camino
Website: barcamino.com

Best Outdoor Dining (Co-Winner)
Va de Vi Bistro and Wine Bar
Website: vadevi.com

Best Romantic Restaurant
La Fontaine
Website: lafontainerestaurant.com

Best Special Occasion Restaurant
La Fontaine
Website: lafontainerestaurant.com

Best Thai Restaurant
Torsap Thai Kitchen
Website: torsapthaikitchen.com

Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Sipeos
Website: sipeos.com

Best Bar
Retro Junkie
Website: retrojunkiebar.com

Best Bloody Mary
1515 Restaurant Lounge
Website: 1515wc.com

Best Cocktail Menu
La Fontaine
Website: lafontainerestaurant.com

Best Dance Club
Retro Junkie
Website: retrojunkiebar.com

Best Happy Hour
Benvenuti Ristorante
Website: benvenutiwc.com

Best Late-Night Dining
Stereo 41
Website: stereo41.com

Best LGBTQ+ Bar
Club 1220
Website: club1220.com

Best Margarita
Bar Camino
Website: barcamino.com

Best Martini
La Fontaine
Website: lafontainerestaurant.com

Best Mocktails
Sipeos
Website: sipeos.com

Best Sports Bar
Stadium Pub
Website: thestadiumpubwc.com

Best Whiskey List
Hops and Scotch
Website: instagram.com/hops_and_scotch

Best Fertility Services
Collab Fertility
Website: collabfertility.com

Best Day Spa
Woodhouse Spa
Website: woodhousespas.com

Best Massage
Woodhouse Spa
Website: woodhousespas.com

Best Nail Salon
Changes Salon and Day Spa
Website: changessalon.com

Best Place to Buy Beauty Products
SkinScience Medical Aesthetics
Website: skinsciencemedicalspa.com

Best Waxing
Changes Salon and Day Spa
Website: changessalon.com

Best Dance Studio
The Ballet School Performing Arts
Website: theballetschool.org

Best Animal Rescue
Joybound People and Pets
Website: joybound.org

Best Furniture Store
Cole's Interiors Design Center
Website: colesinteriors.com

Best Home Decor
Cole's Interiors Design Center
Website: colesinteriors.com

Best Interior Design Studio
Jeffrey Neve Interior Design
Website: jeffreyneve.com

Best Florist
Flower Bowl Florist
Website: flowerbowlflorist.com

Best Party Venue
1515 Restaurant and Lounge
Website: 1515wc.com

Best Wedding Cake (Co-Winner)
Le Gâteau Élégant
Website: legateauelegant.com

Best Wedding Venue
The Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery
Website: ruthbancroftgarden.org

Source: Diablo Magazine's 2026 Best of the East Bay readers' choice awards. (muckrack.com)

Lafayette

Best Local Festival
Lafayette Art and Wine Festival
Website: lafayettefestival.com

Best Staycation
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
Website: lafayetteparkhotel.com

Best Antiques Store
Vintage Vida
Website: instagram.com/vintagevida.shop

Best Bicycle Shop
First Mile Cycle Works
Website: firstmilecycle.com

Best Men's Clothing Store
Venture Quality Goods
Website: venturegoods.com

Best Stationery / Greeting Cards
Venture Quality Goods
Website: venturegoods.com

Best Specialty Grocery Store / International Foods
Diablo Foods
Website: diablofoods.com

Best Breakfast Spot
Tutu's
Website: tutusfooddrink.com

Best Hair Salon
Caroline's Salon
Website: carolinessalon.net

Best Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Specialist (Co-Winner)
Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery
Website: lamorindagyn.com

Best Lash and Brow Salon
ArtistryMK
Website: artistrymk.com

Best Hiking Spot (Co-Winner)
Briones Regional Park
Website: ebparks.org

Best Place to Have a Picnic
Lafayette Reservoir
Website: ebmud.com

Best Contractor
Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Best Flooring / Carpet
Abode
Website: abode-flooring.com

Best Garden Center
Orchard Nursery
Website: orchardnursery.com

Best Home Lighting
Luxe Home by Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Best Kitchen & Bath Remodel
Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Best Kitchen & Bath Store
Luxe Home by Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Best Stone / Tile
Luxe Home by Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Best Window Treatments
Luxe Home by Douglah Designs
Website: douglahdesigns.com

Orinda

Best Consignment Shop
reChic
Website: shoprechic.com

Best Roofing
A 1 Home Roofing Company
Website: havealeak.com

Moraga

Best Dance Lessons
Joy in Motion
Website: joyinmotiondance.org

Concord

Best Nonprofit Gala
Celebrate John Muir Health!
Website: johnmuirhealth.com

Best Family-Fun Spot
Dave & Buster's
Website: daveandbusters.com

Best Family Photographer
Gretchen Adams Photography
Website: gretchenadams.com

Best Pet Photographer
Gretchen Adams Photography
Website: gretchenadams.com

Best Private High School
De La Salle High School
Website: dlshs.org

Best Brewery / Taproom
Side Gate Brewery & Beer Garden
Website: sidegatebrewing.com

Best Trivia Night
Side Gate Brewery & Beer Garden
Website: sidegatebrewing.com

Best Singles Spot
Residual Sugar Wine Bar
Website: rswine.com

Best Wine Bar
Residual Sugar Wine Bar
Website: rswine.com

Best Cosmetic Dentistry
Josh McCormick, DDS
Website: myeastbaydentist.com

Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant
Lazy Dog
Website: lazydogrestaurants.com

Best Solar (Co-Winner)
Got Watts?
Website: gotwatts.com

Pleasant Hill

Best Summer Concert Series
Sunset by the Lake Summer Concerts
Website: pleasanthillsummerconcerts.com

Best Day Care
My Spanish Village
Website: myspanishvillage.com

Best Barbecue
Back Forty Texas BBQ
Website: backforty.us

Best Caterer
Back Forty Texas BBQ
Website: backforty.us

Best Brunch (Co-Winner)
Katy's Kreek
Website: katyskreek.com

Best Live Music Spot
WiseGirl
Website: wisegirlph.com

Best Neighborhood Bar
WiseGirl
Website: wisegirlph.com

Best Emergency Vet
VEG Veterinary Emergency Group
Website: veterinaryemergencygroup.com

Best Hospice Care
Hospice East Bay
Website: hospiceeastbay.org

Martinez

Best Chinese RestaurantSunflower GardenWebsite: sunflowergardentogo.com

Best DinerCopper SkilletWebsite: copperskillet.com

Best Cannabis DispensaryVelvetWebsite: velvetcannabis.com

Best Boot CampMartinez Athletic ClubWebsite: martinezathleticclub.com

Best Gym / Training FacilityMartinez Athletic ClubWebsite: martinezathleticclub.com

Best Personal TrainerBen Borsellino, Martinez Athletic ClubWebsite: martinezathleticclub.com

Best Dog WalkerDiablo Dog Walking and ServicesWebsite: diablodogwalking.com

Clayton

Best Art Gallery
Jor Fine Art Gallery
Website: jorfineartgallery.com

Diablo magazine has published its Best of the East Bay issue annually for more than three decades, making it one of the region's longest-running readers' choice programs.

The awards celebrate favorites across dining, shopping, arts and entertainment, health and wellness, home services, recreation, and community life.

Each year's results combine reader voting with a curated selection of editors' picks intended to showcase businesses and destinations that help define the East Bay. You can find the rest of them on the Diablo magazine website.