The Best of North SLO County, picked by you.
For 13 years, the best of North SLO County has been decided by the people who actually eat there, shop there, and get their trucks fixed there. No editors. No shortlist. No pre-approved options.
Nominations open September 1, 2026
It's an election, not a list.
Three steps, and every name on the ballot got there because a reader wrote it in.
Pick a corner of the county.
150 categories. Nobody has an opinion about all of them — start where you actually know something.
The top three in every category appear here on November 1.
Local Business Standouts
Community Involvement by Business Owner · New Location or Relocation for Existing Business · Beautification, Interior or Exterior Improvement · New Business Opened this Year · Social Media Presence by Local Business
Pets
Pet Feed and Supply Store · Pet Grooming and Care · Veterinarian or Pet Hospital
Shopping and Retail
Overall Shopping and Retail · Women's Clothing · Men's Clothing · Board Shop · Kid's Clothing · Fashion
Restaurants and Cafes
Overall Food and Beverage · Coffeehouse · Seafood Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · Sushi · Chinese
Food and Drink Favorites
Tacos · Breakfast Burrito · Appetizer · Salad · French Fries · French Toast
Wine, Beer and Spirits
Downtown Tasting Room · Vineyard Tasting Room · Vineyard Experience · Winery Experience · Red Wine · White Wine
Health and Medical
Urgent Care or Clinic · Pediatric Dentistry · Surgical and Cosmetic Dentistry · Pediatrician · Orthodontist · Audiologist and Hearing Aid Service
Fitness, Beauty and Self-Care
Gym · Weight Loss or Personal Trainer(s) · Day Spa · Nail Salon · Women's Hair Salon · Men's Barber Shop
Community and Causes
Charity or Nonprofit · Charity Event · Youth Charity · Parade · Community Service Group
Events, Arts and Entertainment
Hotel · Outdoor Event Venue · Indoor Event Venue · Wedding Venue · Event Supply Company · Art Gallery
Money and Real Estate
Bank or Credit Union · Real Estate Agent · Real Estate Group · Mortgage or Home Loans · Insurance Agent · Tax Prep or CPA
Auto
American Auto Repair and Maintenance · German Auto Repair and Maintenance · Japanese Auto Repair and Maintenance · Lube and Oil Service · Car Wash and Auto Detail · Tire Sales and Service
Home and Trades
Paving, Concrete, and Driveways · Residential Renovation and Rehab · Backyard Design and Build · Pool Design and Build · Pool and Spa Service · Construction and Building Material Supplier
Chosen last year, by people who live here.
Category by category — and the businesses this county keeps coming back to.
Back Porch Bakery
6 years runningMade possible by local business.
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