Best of KC 2022 was the 2022 edition of The Pitch’s Best of KC, Kansas City’s largest readers’ poll: 2,911 published placings across 510 categories in 11 groups, producing 415 distinct winners.1 Every winner that year is listed below. Runners-up, finalists and the full vote tallies are on The Pitch’s own results portal.
The ballot
| Group | Categories | Placings |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Entertainment | 54 | 297 |
| Barbecue | 13 | 81 |
| CBD/Hemp/THC | 9 | 56 |
| Drink | 60 | 357 |
| Food | 94 | 604 |
| Goods & Services | 94 | 518 |
| Health & Fitness | 34 | 177 |
| People & Places | 51 | 273 |
| Shopping | 55 | 311 |
| Sports & Rec | 19 | 88 |
| Weddings | 27 | 149 |
| Total | 510 | 2,911 |
Vote leaders
The ten highest single-category vote totals of 2022.
| # | Votes | Entity | Category | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,449 | @andr3wsky | Best Local TikTok | Winner |
| 2 | 1,364 | Meshuggah Bagels | Best Bagels | Winner |
| 3 | 1,356 | The Peanut | Best Chicken Wings | Winner |
| 4 | 1,276 | The Peanut | Best Bar Food | Winner |
| 5 | 1,268 | LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee | Best Donuts | Winner |
| 6 | 1,258 | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que | Best French Fries | Winner |
| 7 | 1,229 | Minsky’s Pizza | Best Pizza (Multiple Locations) | Winner |
| 8 | 1,198 | Town Topic | Best Drunk Food | Winner |
| 9 | 1,193 | KC Pet Project | Best Place to Adopt a Pet | Winner |
| 10 | 1,185 | Town Topic | Best 24-Hour Restaurant | Winner |
Won more than once
| # | Wins | Placings | Entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 7 | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | Jerusalem Cafe |
| 3 | 4 | 8 | Q39 |
| 4 | 4 | 6 | Green Lady Lounge |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | Up-Down KC |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | Town Topic |
| 7 | 4 | 4 | Greenlight Dispensary |
| 8 | 4 | 4 | Free State Brewing Company |
| 9 | 4 | 4 | McLain’s Bakery |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | CommunityAmerica Credit Union |
What changed on the ballot
- 46 categories new in 2022: Best Bar [Lawrence] · Best Brewery [Lawrence] · Best Chinese Restaurant · Best Crossfit · Best Dog Training · Best Edibles Brand (Cannabis) · Best Flower · Best Food Popup · Best Garage Door Company · Best Group Therapy · Best Halloween Destination · Best Hand-Lettering/Stationery · Best Henna Artist · Best Home Furnishing Store (Local) · Best Hot Dog (Restaurants/Food Trucks) · Best Italian Sausage · Best Laundromat · Best Live Music Venue [Lawrence] · Best Live Performance Event · Best Locally Made Kombucha · Best Luxury Picnic · Best Mobile Spray Tan · Best Motorcycle or Off-road Vehicle Dealer · Best New Dispensary (opened after 7/1/2021) · Best Pizza (Multiple Locations) · Best Pizza (Single Location) · Best Place to Buy Delta Products · Best Place to Play Board Games · Best Pop-Up Shop · Best Psychic Readings · Best Queso · Best Restaurant [Lawrence] · Best Resume Writing/Career Services · Best Retail Store [Lawrence] · Best Romantic Restaurant · Best Sandwiches (Non-BBQ) · Best Skate Shop · Best Soaking Pool/Float Tank · Best Swimming Pool · Best Swimwear Store · Best Tanning Salon · Best Thai Restaurant · Best Vape Cartridge Brand · Best Wedding Officiant/Celebrant · Best Wine Event · Best Youth Theater.
- 54 categories that ran in 2021 did not return. Among them: Best 2020 Fashion Line · Best Airbrush/Spray Tanning · Best Appliance Store · Best Art Gallery (LFK) · Best Asian Restaurant · Best BBQ Pop-Up · Best Baby Store · Best Bar (LFK) · Best Barbecue Event · Best Bartender (LFK) · Best Beer Festival · Best Boulevard Release — and 42 more.
- 31 categories ran for the last time in 2022, absent from the 2023 ballot.
Winners
415 distinct winners; 122 have an entry elsewhere in this Wiki or the Registry and are linked. Vote counts are as the poll published them.2
Arts & Entertainment
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Art Exhibit | American Art Deco at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (286) |
| Best Art Festival | Plaza Art Fair (339) |
| Best Art Gallery | Kansas City Artists Coalition (103) |
| Best Blues Venue | Green Lady Lounge (263) |
| Best Burlesque Troupe | Burlesque Downtown Underground (138) |
| Best Club DJ | Human Penguin (121) |
| Best Comedy Club | Kansas City Improv Comedy Club (212) |
| Best Cultural Event | Kansas City PrideFest (293) |
| Best Dance Crew | BPM Dance Complex (134) |
| Best Drag Artist | Daisy Buckët (245) |
| Best Drag Show | Drag Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s (471) |
| Best Fashion Event | Kansas City Fashion Week (469) |
| Best Filmmaker (Artistic) | David Wayne Reed (96) |
| Best Fundraising Event | Big Slick (337) |
| Best House/Cover Band | The M80s (312) |
| Best Improv/Sketch Troupe | The KC Improv Company (268) |
| Best Jazz Artist | Lonnie McFadden (247) |
| Best Jazz Band | Hot Club KC (200) |
| Best Jazz Venue | Green Lady Lounge (575) |
| Best Karaoke | Hamburger Mary’s (199) |
| Best Live Music Venue (Over 1,000) | Starlight Theatre (500) |
| Best Live Music Venue (Under 1,000) | Knuckleheads Saloon (473) |
| Best Live Music Venue [Lawrence] | The Granada (336) |
| Best Live Performance Event | Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet (322) |
| Best Live Theater | Starlight Theatre (473) |
| Best Local Actor | Katie Gilchrist (279) |
| Best Local Artist | Susan Jackson - The Heart and Hand Co (95) |
| Best Local Band | Making Movies (161) |
| Best Local Craft Artist | Who is she? (105) |
| Best Local Event | Boulevardia (404) |
| Best Local Podcast | The KC Morning Show (178) |
| Best Local Stand-Up Comic | Brittany Tilander (161) |
| Best Local Themed Tour | Kansas City Gangster Tour (253) |
| Best Movie Theater | Screenland Armour Theatre (543) |
| Best Museum | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (940) |
| Best Music Festival | Boulevardia (577) |
| Best Musician | Calvin Arsenia (287) |
| Best New Local Album | BY THY HAND by The Black Creatures (161) |
| Best Nightclub | Missie B’s (514) |
| Best Non-Music Performer | Quixotic (579) |
| Best Open Mic | The Piano Room (239) |
| Best Outdoor Event | Boulevardia (401) |
| Best Outdoor Venue | Starlight Theatre (753) |
| Best Painting Party | Brookside Ceramics (130) |
| Best Photographer (Artistic) | Samantha Levi (125) |
| Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party | Chicken N Pickle (181) |
| Best Place to Shake Your Booty | Funky Town (424) |
| Best Play | Romeo and Juliet - Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (254) |
| Best Poet/Spoken Word Artist | Madison Mae Parker (140) |
| Best Song by a Local Band | ”Break Up Museum” by Nicole Springer (154) |
| Best Theater Company | KCRep (307) |
| Best Trivia Night | Hamburger Mary’s All-Star Trivia (325) |
| Best Vocalist | Talya Groves (311) |
| Best Youth Theater | The Coterie Theatre (528) |
Barbecue
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Barbecue | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (404) |
| Best Barbecue Sandwich | Z-Man at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (650) |
| Best Barbecue Side Dish | Hickory Pit Beans at Jack Stack (502) |
| Best Brisket | Q39 (343) |
| Best Burnt Ends | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (279) |
| Best Craft Barbecue | Q39 (506) |
| Best Mixed Plate | Q39 (285) |
| Best Old School Barbecue | Gates BBQ (299) |
| Best Pulled Pork | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (398) |
| Best Ribs | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (324) |
| Best Sauce | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (283) |
| Best Sausage | Q39 (230) |
| Best Vegetarian Barbecue Dish | Portobello Z-man - Joe’s Kansas City (297) |
CBD/Hemp/THC
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best CBD Store | American Shaman (163) |
| Best Dispensary | Greenlight Dispensary (820) |
| Best Edibles Brand (Cannabis) | Greenlight Dispensary (690) |
| Best Flower | Greenlight Dispensary (677) |
| Best Medical Marijuana Clinic | Elevate Holistics (811) |
| Best Medical Marijuana Clinician | Dr. Michael Poppa (239) |
| Best New Dispensary (opened after 7/1/2021) | Greenlight Medical Marijuana Dispensary Stateline (645) |
| Best Place to Buy Delta Products | Dr Smoke (260) |
| Best Vape Cartridge Brand | Greenlight Dispensary (612) |
Drink
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best 3 am Bar | Missie B’s (267) |
| Best Bar | Julep (216) |
| Best Bar Staff | The Piano Room (154) |
| Best Bar [Lawrence] | Free State Brewing Company (148) |
| Best Bar to Meet People | John’s Big Deck (224) |
| Best Bartender | Heather Price at The Piano Room (215) |
| Best Beer Taps Selection | Taps on Main (266) |
| Best Bloody Mary | Char Bar (151) |
| Best Boba/Bubble Tea | Dragonfly Tea Zone (134) |
| Best Brew Pub | Martin City Brewing Company (329) |
| Best Brewery [Lawrence] | Free State Brewing Company (341) |
| Best Cheap Drinks | The Hi-Dive Lounge (220) |
| Best Cocktails | Swordfish Tom’s (228) |
| Best Coffee Shop Food/Snacks | Messenger Coffee Co. + Ibis Bakery (416) |
| Best Coffeehouse | Messenger Coffee (273) |
| Best Dive Bar | The Hi-Dive Lounge (256) |
| Best French 75 | Green Lady Lounge (272) |
| Best Girl’s Night Out Bar | Hamburger Mary’s (331) |
| Best Happy Hour (Drink) | Cafe Trio (204) |
| Best Horsefeather | J. Rieger & Co. (351) |
| Best Hotel Bar | Percheron Rooftop Bar (223) |
| Best Irish Bar | Kelly’s Westport Inn (364) |
| Best LGBTQ+ Bar | Missie B’s (316) |
| Best Local Beer (Fruit Beer) | Bomb Pop (City Barrel) (195) |
| Best Local Beer (IPA) | Space Camper Cosmic IPA (Boulevard Brewing Company) (328) |
| Best Local Beer (Lager) | Dunkel (Kansas City Bier Company) (425) |
| Best Local Beer (Saison) | Tank 7 (Boulevard Brewing Company) (521) |
| Best Local Beer (Sour) | Tea Weiss (Crane Brewing Company) (286) |
| Best Local Beer (Stout) | House Brew (Torn Label Brewing Co.) (259) |
| Best Local Brewery | Boulevard Brewing Company (346) |
| Best Local Coffee Blend | Messenger Coffee Company (320) |
| Best Local Coffee Roaster | The Roasterie (288) |
| Best Local Distillery | J. Rieger & Co. (468) |
| Best Local Winery | KC Wine Co. (257) |
| Best Locally Made Kombucha | The Brewkery (173) |
| Best Locally Owned Kansas Brewery | Free State Brewing Company (364) |
| Best Locally Owned Missouri Brewery | Cinder Block Brewery (292) |
| Best Manhattan | Swordfish Tom’s (145) |
| Best Margarita | Ponak’s (335) |
| Best Martini | Cafe Trio (159) |
| Best Milkshake | Winstead’s Steakburgers (360) |
| Best Mojito | Cafe Trio (128) |
| Best Negroni | The Campground (178) |
| Best Neighborhood Bar | The Hi-Dive Lounge (218) |
| Best New Bar | Fountain Haus (227) |
| Best New Brewery | River Bluff Brewing (277) |
| Best Old Fashioned | Julep (239) |
| Best Patio | Char Bar (252) |
| Best Place for a Celebratory Toast | Ca Va (280) |
| Best Place to Drink with Your Dog | Bar K (638) |
| Best Pop-Up Bar | Conductor Club (151) |
| Best Rooftop Bar | Percheron (318) |
| Best Service Industry Night | Up-Down KC (178) |
| Best Speakeasy | Green Lady Lounge (374) |
| Best Sports Bar | Johnny’s Tavern (257) |
| Best Tea Shop/Place to Buy Tea | Dragonfly Tea Zone (163) |
| Best Upscale Bar | The Monarch Bar (194) |
| Best Whiskey Selection | Julep (220) |
| Best Wine Event | KC Wine Co’s KC Wine Walk (176) |
| Best Wine Selection | Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants (192) |
Food
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best 24-Hour Restaurant | Town Topic (1,185) |
| Best Appetizers | Extra Virgin (558) |
| Best Bagels | Meshuggah Bagels (1,364) |
| Best Bakery (Bread) | McLain’s Bakery (698) |
| Best Bakery (Gluten Free) | Billie’s Grocery (518) |
| Best Bakery (Sweets) | McLain’s Bakery (939) |
| Best Bar Food | The Peanut (1,276) |
| Best Black-Owned Restaurant | Niecie’s Restaurant (563) |
| Best Bowl of Soup | Pho Lan (277) |
| Best Breakfast | The Big Biscuit (518) |
| Best Brunch | The Farmhouse (661) |
| Best Buffet | Cinzetti’s Italian Market (685) |
| Best Burger | Westport Flea Market (934) |
| Best Burrito | Margarita’s (378) |
| Best Butcher | Local Pig (640) |
| Best Caribbean Food | Mesob (313) |
| Best Catering | Brancato’s Catering (366) |
| Best Charcuterie Board | Graze & Gather KC (266) |
| Best Cheap Eats | In-A-Tub (486) |
| Best Chef | Pam Liberda - Waldo Thai (549) |
| Best Chicken Sandwich | Chicken N Pickle (435) |
| Best Chicken Strips/Tenders | Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers (575) |
| Best Chicken Wings | The Peanut (1,356) |
| Best Chili | Dixon’s Famous Chili Parlor (456) |
| Best Chinese Restaurant | Bo Lings (760) |
| Best Chocolate Shop | Christopher Elbow Chocolates (927) |
| Best Cinnamon Rolls | Corner Cafe (639) |
| Best Curbside Delivery | Minsky’s (393) |
| Best Deli | Scimeca’s Market & Deli (461) |
| Best Dessert Menu | Rye (406) |
| Best Donuts | LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee (1,268) |
| Best Drunk Food | Town Topic (1,198) |
| Best Ethiopian Food | Blue Nile Cafe (607) |
| Best Falafel | Jerusalem Cafe (654) |
| Best Family Restaurant | Stroud’s (729) |
| Best Food Popup | Devoured (207) |
| Best Food Truck | Jerusalem Cafe (529) |
| Best French Fries | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (1,258) |
| Best French Restaurant | Le Fou Frog (490) |
| Best Fried Chicken | Stroud’s (973) |
| Best German Restaurant | Grünauer (841) |
| Best Gluten-Free Restaurant | Billie’s Grocery (481) |
| Best Greek Restaurant | Jerusalem Cafe (593) |
| Best Gyro | Jerusalem Cafe (475) |
| Best Halal Restaurant | Jerusalem Cafe (355) |
| Best Hangover Cure Restaurant | Town Topic (535) |
| Best Happy Hour (Food) | La Bodega (674) |
| Best Hot Dog (Restaurants/Food Trucks) | Wiener Kitchen (252) |
| Best Hotel Restaurant | The Savoy at 21c (379) |
| Best Ice Cream | Betty Rae’s (1,140) |
| Best Indian Restaurant | Taj Mahal Authentic Cuisine of India (372) |
| Best Italian Restaurant | Garozzo’s (797) |
| Best Italian Sausage | Scimeca’s Italian Sausage Company (978) |
| Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant | Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant (1,040) |
| Best Korean | Kobi-Q (286) |
| Best Late Night Eats | Town Topic (676) |
| Best Local Snack | Three Bears Bakery & BBQ (165) |
| Best Locally Made Sweets | McLain’s Bakery (552) |
| Best Lunch | Third Street Social (487) |
| Best Meal Kit/Prepared Foods | Evolve Juicery and Kitchen (207) |
| Best Mediterranean Restaurant | Jerusalem Cafe (627) |
| Best Mexican Restaurant | Ponak’s (406) |
| Best Nachos | The Peanut (574) |
| Best New Restaurant | Lula Southern Cookhouse (432) |
| Best Outdoor Dining | Trezo Mare (454) |
| Best Pho | Vietnam Cafe (650) |
| Best Pie | Corner Cafe (555) |
| Best Pizza (Multiple Locations) | Minsky’s Pizza (1,229) |
| Best Pizza (Single Location) | Waldo Pizza (922) |
| Best Place to Eat at the Bar | Nick and Jake’s (517) |
| Best Place to Take Your Top Client | The Capital Grille (551) |
| Best Pork Tenderloin | Kitty’s Cafe (403) |
| Best Queso | Margarita’s (519) |
| Best Ramen | Boru Asian Eatery (350) |
| Best Restaurant | Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room (337) |
| Best Restaurant Server | Emanuel at Pierpont’s at Union Station (189) |
| Best Restaurant [Lawrence] | Free State Brewing Company (339) |
| Best Reuben | Summit Grill (320) |
| Best Romantic Restaurant | Le Fou Frog (431) |
| Best Salad | The Mixx (798) |
| Best Sandwiches (Non-BBQ) | Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches (363) |
| Best Seafood Restaurant | Bristol Seafood Grill (511) |
| Best Serving Staff | Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room (301) |
| Best Smoothie/Juice Bar | Ruby Jean’s Kitchen & Juicery (563) |
| Best Soul Food | Niecie’s Restaurant (400) |
| Best Steakhouse | J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood (309) |
| Best Sushi | Blue Sushi Saki Grill (455) |
| Best Tacos | Mission Taco Joint (411) |
| Best Take Out | Char Bar (259) |
| Best Tapas | La Bodega (944) |
| Best Thai Restaurant | Waldo Thai (557) |
| Best Tots | Grinders (633) |
| Best Vegan | Cafe Gratitude (453) |
| Best Vegetarian Restaurant | Cafe Gratitude (377) |
Goods & Services
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Accounting Firm | S. Paige Sander CPA (150) |
| Best Acupuncture | Kansas City Chiropractic (117) |
| Best Ad/Marketing Agency | No-Where Consultants (136) |
| Best Adult Club | The Shady Lady Lounge (288) |
| Best Aesthetician | Amber Syer Jackson - The Facial Bar (149) |
| Best Apartment Community | Union Hill on Main (184) |
| Best Auction House | KC Auction Company (283) |
| Best Auto Service/Repair | KC AutoWorx (249) |
| Best Bank (Commercial) | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (651) |
| Best Bank (Consumer) | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (712) |
| Best Barber | Jerrin Hawes - him.her.them Hair Studio (227) |
| Best Barbershop | him.her.them Hair Studio (270) |
| Best Bed & Breakfast | Inn on Crescent Lake (122) |
| Best Blow Out | Posh KC (232) |
| Best Body Piercing | Supernatural Body Piercing (416) |
| Best Boudoir Photographer | Good Bodies (223) |
| Best Brows | Brows by Dalia (169) |
| Best Car Wash | GO Car Wash (442) |
| Best Child Care Center | Rainbow School (153) |
| Best Cleaning Service | The Maids (224) |
| Best Computer/IT Services | Micro Center (409) |
| Best Contractor | NextGen Remodeling (115) |
| Best Coworking Space | Plexpod (277) |
| Best Credit Union | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (952) |
| Best Custom Countertops | RockTops Granite & Stone Fabrication (178) |
| Best Customer Service | BesaMe Wellness (207) |
| Best Dog Training | The Dogs’ Spot (167) |
| Best Electrician | Sparky Steve’s Electric LLC (93) |
| Best Employment Agency | Staffing Kansas City (150) |
| Best Financial Planning | Creative Planning (303) |
| Best Garage Door Company | Overhead Door Company of Kansas City (612) |
| Best Group Therapy | Gilda’s Club Kansas City (130) |
| Best Gutter Cleaning | Triton Window Cleaning (104) |
| Best Hair Colorist | Cassandra Reeder - The Glam Room Salon (214) |
| Best Hair Removal | The Wax Co. (179) |
| Best Hair Salon | The Glam Room Salon Spa + Beauty Bar (299) |
| Best Hair Stylist | Bree Mutschler - him.her.them Hair Studio (231) |
| Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company | Anthony Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric (249) |
| Best Henna Artist | Henna Hands by Nida (182) |
| Best Hotel | Crossroads Hotel (500) |
| Best Hydroponics/Grow Shop | River Market Hydro (250) |
| Best Injector | Holly Post - Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics (195) |
| Best Insurance Agency | Larry Langford - State Farm (97) |
| Best Interior Designer | Surface to Surface Interior Design & Construction (255) |
| Best Kitchen & Bath Remodeler | NextGen Remodeling (125) |
| Best Landscaper | Ryan Lawn & Tree (396) |
| Best Lashes | The Glam Room Salon Spa + Beauty Bar (146) |
| Best Laundromat | Midtown Laundry (95) |
| Best Law Firm/Lawyer | The Accurso Law Firm (194) |
| Best Library Branch: KS | Kansas City, Kansas Public Library Main Library (529) |
| Best Library Branch: MO | Kansas City Public Library: Plaza Branch (541) |
| Best Loan Officer | Brittani King - LeaderOne Financial (158) |
| Best Local Farm | Shatto Milk Company (840) |
| Best Local Moving Company | You Move Me (247) |
| Best Luxury Picnic | Pop Up Picnics KC (229) |
| Best Makeup Artist | Meg Marsh - him.her.them Hair Studio (152) |
| Best Martial Arts | Glory MMA & Fitness (153) |
| Best Mobile Spray Tan | TanTara Mobile Airbrush Tan (114) |
| Best Mortgage/Home Loan Provider | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (348) |
| Best Motorcycle or Off-road Vehicle Dealer | Worth Harley-Davidson (253) |
| Best Music Label | Strange Music (672) |
| Best Music Studio | Element Recording Studios (89) |
| Best Nail Salon | Nail Society (171) |
| Best Naturopath | Inspire Health by Jen (67) |
| Best Oil Change | Valvoline Instant Oil Change (318) |
| Best Party Bus/Limo Service | KC Night Train (208) |
| Best Pest Control | Blue Beetle Pest Control (315) |
| Best Pet Boarding/Daycare | Katie’s Kennel (200) |
| Best Pet Groomer | Brookside Barkery & Bath (332) |
| Best Photo Booth Service | The Photo Bus KC (283) |
| Best Photographer (Business) | Nicole Bissey Photography (143) |
| Best Place to Adopt a Pet | KC Pet Project (1,193) |
| Best Place to Buy a Plant | Family Tree Nursery (806) |
| Best Plumbing | Anthony Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric (230) |
| Best Preschool | Rainbow School (142) |
| Best Property Management Company | Block Multifamily Group (169) |
| Best Psychic Readings | Noelle Noir (77) |
| Best Real Estate Agent | Jessica Kurzweil (196) |
| Best Real Estate Brokerage | Keller Williams Key Partners (333) |
| Best Real Estate Company (Boutique) | Kansas City Realty Services (125) |
| Best Real Estate Company (Commercial) | ReeceNichols (355) |
| Best Resume Writing/Career Services | Sarah Uchytil, Sarah U Coach (123) |
| Best Roofer/Roofing Company | Christian Brothers Roofing (151) |
| Best Screen Printing | Oddities Prints (161) |
| Best Senior Living Community | Carnegie Village Senior Living Community (89) |
| Best Solar Provider | The Solar Guys (72) |
| Best Tailor/Alterations | Dan Dan the Tailor Man (162) |
| Best Tanning Salon | Sun Tan City (250) |
| Best Tattoo Artist | Jessie Hopeless (149) |
| Best Tattoo Studio | Black Atlas Tattoo (225) |
| Best Travel Agency | Destination Fun Travel (87) |
| Best Veterinarian | Eagle Animal Hospital (231) |
| Best Videographer/Filmmaker (Business) | Cinematic Visions (90) |
| Best Window Cleaning | Fish Window Cleaning (105) |
Health & Fitness
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Boxing Club | 9Round Fitness (51) |
| Best Chiropractor | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (106) |
| Best Cosmetic Surgeon | Dr. Paul Leahy - Monarch Plastic Surgery (116) |
| Best Crossfit | Performance Edge Crossfit (46) |
| Best Day Spa | Associated Plastic Surgeons Med Spa (76) |
| Best Dentist | Dr. Luke Joliff - Leawood Dental (97) |
| Best Dermatologist | Dr. Nashid Shahrooz - Associated Plastic Surgeons (60) |
| Best Eye Clinic | Drs. Hawks, Besler, Rogers & Stoppel (297) |
| Best Fitness Bootcamp | Freight House Fitness (140) |
| Best Fitness Class | Freight House Fitness (145) |
| Best Gym | Freight House Fitness (150) |
| Best Health Clinic | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (150) |
| Best Hospital | The University of Kansas Hospital (301) |
| Best IV Therapy | Recovery Hydration Therapy (44) |
| Best Local Doula/Midwife | Oh Baby! KC (36) |
| Best Massage Clinic | Sacred Roots Holistic Healing (82) |
| Best Massage Therapist | Mary Beth Mosteller - Lifestyle Massage + Bodywork (73) |
| Best Medical Spa | Monarch Skin Rejuvenation Center (98) |
| Best Mental Health Provider | The Counseling Collaborative (73) |
| Best Nutritionist | Jackie Roth (74) |
| Best Orthodontist | Fry Orthodontic Specialists (122) |
| Best Pediatrician | Dr. Lauren Hughes - Bloom Pediatrics and Lactation (123) |
| Best Personal Trainer | Brandon Smith (149) |
| Best Pharmacy | North Kansas City Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy (81) |
| Best Physical Rehab Center | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (146) |
| Best Physician | Dr. Matt Daggett (71) |
| Best Pilates | Studio 7 Pilates (70) |
| Best Place to Have a Baby | Saint Luke’s Hospital (226) |
| Best Rehab Treatment Center | ARC Physical Therapy+ (176) |
| Best Rock Climbing Gym | RoKC (276) |
| Best Soaking Pool/Float Tank | Floating KC (82) |
| Best Swimming Pool | Woodside (110) |
| Best Weight Loss Clinic/Counseling | Heartland Weight Loss (112) |
| Best Yoga Studio | Megan’s Yoga Tribe (140) |
People & Places
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Attraction | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (415) |
| Best Business that Could Only Exist in KC | Made in KC (537) |
| Best Day Trip | Weston (463) |
| Best Dog Park | Bar K (429) |
| Best Elevator | The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center (184) |
| Best Facebook Page | Kansas City Eats (166) |
| Best Green Business | Ripple Glass (370) |
| Best Halloween Destination | The Beast (186) |
| Best KC Building Wherein to Find a Ghost | The Elms Hotel & Spa (328) |
| Best KC Humanitarian | Scott Poore (286) |
| Best Local Activist | Scott Poore (284) |
| Best Local Author | Vladimir Sainte (80) |
| Best Local Blog/Substack | KCtoday (129) |
| Best Local Charity | Operation Breakthrough (319) |
| Best Local Hero | Patrick Mahomes (720) |
| Best Local Instagram | @ksujulie (145) |
| Best Local Investigative Reporter | Dia Wall (124) |
| Best Local Model | Brandon Smith (103) |
| Best Local Personality | Gary Lezak (543) |
| Best Local Politician | Quinton Lucas (502) |
| Best Local Radio Personality | Dana Wright (292) |
| Best Local Radio Station | KMBZ 98.1 (289) |
| Best Local TV Sports Anchor | Len Jennings (384) |
| Best Local TV Station | KMBC 9 (519) |
| Best Local TV Weather Forecaster | Gary Lezak (705) |
| Best Local Television Personality | Gary Lezak (458) |
| Best Local TikTok | @andr3wsky (1,449) |
| Best Local Twitter | @GuysSnacks (387) |
| Best Neighborhood | Overland Park (452) |
| Best Park | Loose Park (773) |
| Best Place for Stargazing | Powell Gardens (568) |
| Best Place for a Cheap Date | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (1,062) |
| Best Place for a First Date | Up-Down KC (525) |
| Best Place for a Long Walk | Loose Park (505) |
| Best Place for a Picnic | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (lawn) (794) |
| Best Place for a View of the City | Liberty Memorial (1,011) |
| Best Place to Geek Out | Science City (429) |
| Best Place to Meet Singles | John’s Big Deck (266) |
| Best Place to Pick Up a Copy of The Pitch | Westport Coffee House (292) |
| Best Place to Play Board Games | Pawn and Pint (184) |
| Best Place to Take Out of Town Guests | Union Station (482) |
| Best Place to Take a Selfie | Union Station (411) |
| Best Place to Work (Over 50 Employees) | KC Pet Project (523) |
| Best Place to Work (Under 50 Employees) | Drumm Farm Center for Children (305) |
| Best Place to Worship | Church of the Resurrection (204) |
| Best Public Restroom | QuikTrip (860) |
| Best Rooftop View | Percheron (305) |
| Best Shop Pet | Arlo at Brookside Barkery & Bath (231) |
| Best Sports Talk Radio Host | Carrington Harrison (175) |
| Best Urban Garden | Kauffman Memorial Garden (373) |
| Best YouTuber | Mr. Beat (152) |
Shopping
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Accessories Store | Shop Local KC (109) |
| Best Adult Store | Cirilla’s (167) |
| Best Bath and Body Shop | Indigo Wild (132) |
| Best Bicycle Shop | Midwest Cyclery (99) |
| Best Black-Owned Retail Store | The Black Pantry (90) |
| Best Bookstore | Rainy Day Books (200) |
| Best Boutique Store | LoveStoned (145) |
| Best Candles | Pickwick & Co. (158) |
| Best Clothing Store (Men’s) | ULAH (147) |
| Best Clothing Store (Non-Gendered) | The Bunker (168) |
| Best Clothing Store (Women’s) | LoveStoned (156) |
| Best Comic Book Store | Clint’s Comics (120) |
| Best Consignment Store | Boomerang (100) |
| Best Craft Store | ScrapsKC (220) |
| Best Farmer’s Market | City Market Farmers’ Market (508) |
| Best Fashion Designer | Whitney Manney (111) |
| Best Florist | Crestwood Flowers (84) |
| Best Framing Store | Brookside Gallery & Framing (91) |
| Best Furniture Designer | ULAH Interiors + Design (115) |
| Best Garden Store/Nursery | Family Tree Nursery (381) |
| Best Gift Store | Shop Local KC (263) |
| Best Grocery Store | Hy-Vee (447) |
| Best Health Food Store | Sprouts (343) |
| Best Home Furnishing Store (Local) | Nell Hill’s (165) |
| Best Home Goods | The Painted Sofa (128) |
| Best Jewelry Store | Meierotto Jewelers (216) |
| Best KC Pride Clothing | Made in KC (241) |
| Best Lingerie Store | Birdies (169) |
| Best Liquor Store | Gomer’s (250) |
| Best Local Maker | Bear Soap Company (101) |
| Best Locally Made Soap | Zum (420) |
| Best Metaphysical/Spiritual Store | Aquarius (182) |
| Best Outdoor Outfitters | REI (224) |
| Best Pet Supply Store | Brookside Barkery & Bath (242) |
| Best Place to Buy Eyeglasses | Brookside Optical (90) |
| Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument | Meyer Music (255) |
| Best Place to Buy a New Car | Aristocrat Motors (75) |
| Best Place to Buy a Used Car | Jay Wolfe Honda (100) |
| Best Pop-Up Shop | The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair (261) |
| Best Record Store | 7th Heaven (167) |
| Best Retail Store [Lawrence] | The Raven Book Store (84) |
| Best Shoe Store | Fleet Feet - Garry Gribble’s Running Sports (88) |
| Best Shopping Center | Country Club Plaza (230) |
| Best Skate Shop | Escapist Skateboarding (142) |
| Best Sporting Goods Store | Scheels (285) |
| Best Swimwear Store | Swim Things (114) |
| Best Table Top Game Store | Mission: Board Games (85) |
| Best Thrift Store | Savers (234) |
| Best Tobacco Shop | Outlaw Cigar Company (100) |
| Best Toy Store | Brookside Toy and Science (262) |
| Best Vape Shop | 7th Heaven (89) |
| Best Vintage Clothing Store | Donna’s Dress Shop (148) |
| Best Vintage Finds | River Market Antiques (296) |
| Best West Bottoms Vendor | Bella Patina (231) |
| Best Wine Shop | Gomer’s (230) |
Sports & Rec
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Athlete | Patrick Mahomes (452) |
| Best Bowling Alley | Ward Parkway Lanes (86) |
| Best Break Out Room | Breakout KC (118) |
| Best Casino | Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City (116) |
| Best Driving Range | Topgolf (199) |
| Best Golf Course | Sykes/Lady Overland Park Golf Course (45) |
| Best Local Family-Friendly Activity | Kansas City Zoo (283) |
| Best Local Stadium/Arena | Arrowhead Stadium (230) |
| Best Organized Bike Ride | Tour de Bier (59) |
| Best Organized Footrace/Run | Rock the Parkway (68) |
| Best Place To Get an Adrenaline Rush | Worlds of Fun (215) |
| Best Place to Play Video Games/Arcade | Up-Down KC (219) |
| Best Place to Play Volleyball | Volleyball Beach (77) |
| Best Place to Shoot Pool | Side Pockets (141) |
| Best Place to Table Top Game | Pawn & Pint (69) |
| Best Place to Throw Darts | Brass Rail (70) |
| Best Roller Derby Team | Lovely Lethals (65) |
| Best Sports Team | Kansas City Chiefs (435) |
| Best Spot for Yard Games | Chicken N Pickle (308) |
Weddings
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Bachelor Party Location | Up-Down KC (98) |
| Best Bachelorette Party Location | Hamburger Mary’s (152) |
| Best Bridesmaids Dress Shop | True Society by Belle Vogue Bridal (68) |
| Best Couples Therapist | Simple Empathy (28) |
| Best Divorce Lawyer | The Law Office of Maggie L. Anderson (18) |
| Best Engagement Photographer | Cate Eighmey Photography (68) |
| Best Hand-Lettering/Stationery | Script Your Event (69) |
| Best Hotel for Your Wedding Night;) | Crossroads Hotel (95) |
| Best Local Wedding Caterer | Brancato’s Catering (151) |
| Best Place for Wedding Photos | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (132) |
| Best Place for a Rehearsal Dinner | Lidia’s Kansas City (109) |
| Best Place to Get a Tux | Tip Top Tux (88) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Cake | McLain’s Bakery (134) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Cake Alternative | Dolce Bakery (79) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Dress | True Society by Belle Vogue Bridal (166) |
| Best Wedding Band | Lost Wax Band (113) |
| Best Wedding DJ | DJ MIC-KC (89) |
| Best Wedding Florist | Wild Hill Flowers and Events (120) |
| Best Wedding Hair Stylist | Posh KC (99) |
| Best Wedding Jeweler | Meierotto Jewelers (167) |
| Best Wedding Makeup Artist | Hello Lovely (107) |
| Best Wedding Officiant/Celebrant | The Vow Exchange (73) |
| Best Wedding Photographer | Black Coffee Photo Co. (100) |
| Best Wedding Planner | Wildly Yours Weddings + Elopements (103) |
| Best Wedding Reception Venue | The Bardot (120) |
| Best Wedding Venue | Crossroads Hotel (125) |
| Best Wedding Videographer | Her Third Eye Productions (123) |
Sources
Footnotes
-
The Pitch, Best of KC 2022 results portal —
PitchKC/best-of-KC-2022(accessed 2026-09-12) · Asserts: every category, placing, rank and vote count reproduced on this page. ↩ -
Harvested from that portal on 2026-09-12 and held in full at
05_Operations/Pitch-Best-Of-KC-Awards-2021-2025.csv; method, per-year portal slugs and coverage limits are recorded with the dataset. ↩
See also
On the record — ks.city/wiki/events/2022-best-of-kc · last revised 2026-09-12