Best of KC 2023 was the 2023 edition of The Pitch’s Best of KC, Kansas City’s largest readers’ poll: 3,053 published placings across 504 categories in 11 groups, producing 418 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 | 53 | 318 |
| Barbecue | 14 | 89 |
| CBD/Hemp/THC | 10 | 60 |
| Drink | 56 | 373 |
| Food | 95 | 638 |
| Goods & Services | 96 | 563 |
| Health & Fitness | 33 | 188 |
| People & Places | 46 | 274 |
| Shopping | 55 | 312 |
| Sports & Rec | 19 | 79 |
| Weddings | 27 | 159 |
| Total | 504 | 3,053 |
1 category published more than one first-place entry — the poll recorded a tie.
Vote leaders
The ten highest single-category vote totals of 2023.
| # | Votes | Entity | Category | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,824 | LaMar’s Donuts | Best Donuts | Winner |
| 2 | 1,617 | Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant | Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant | Winner |
| 3 | 1,577 | Minsky’s Pizza | Best Pizza (Multiple Locations) | Winner |
| 4 | 1,563 | The Peanut | Best Chicken Wings | Winner |
| 5 | 1,551 | Meshuggah Bagels | Best Bagels | Winner |
| 6 | 1,534 | Betty Rae’s Ice Cream | Best Ice Cream | Winner |
| 7 | 1,459 | Town Topic | Best 24-Hour Restaurant | Winner |
| 8 | 1,392 | The Big Biscuit | Best Breakfast | Winner |
| 9 | 1,324 | Liberty Memorial | Best Place for a View of the City | Winner |
| 10 | 1,304 | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Best Museum | Winner |
Won more than once
| # | Wins | Placings | Entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 7 | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que |
| 2 | 5 | 8 | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art |
| 3 | 5 | 7 | The Peanut |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | River Market Antiques |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | Town Topic |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | Jerusalem Cafe |
| 7 | 4 | 4 | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic |
| 8 | 3 | 10 | Red Door Woodfired Grill |
| 9 | 3 | 8 | Transparent Brewing Company |
| 10 | 3 | 7 | Crossroads Hotel |
What changed on the ballot
- 25 categories new in 2023: Best Chicken (Baked or Grilled) · Best Clinical Trials/Pharmaceutical Research · Best Concentrate/Dab Brand · Best Custom Blinds/Window Treatments · Best Dance Crew/Studio · Best Dive Shop · Best Gluten-Free Options (Restaurant) · Best Handyman · Best Hot Yoga · Best Live Music Venue (Kansas) · Best Live Music Venue (Missouri) · Best Local Doula · Best Local TV Personality · Best Locally Made Sauce/Salsa/Condiment (Non-BBQ) · Best New Dispensary · Best Pest Control (Indoor) · Best Pest Control (Outdoor) · Best Place to Play Pickleball · Best Poké · Best Pretzel · Best Rub · Best Sandwich Shop · Best Tribute Band · Best Vegetarian Options · Best Virtual Reality.
- 31 categories that ran in 2022 did not return. Among them: Best Boxing Club · Best Brewery [Lawrence] · Best Crossfit · Best Curbside Delivery · Best Dance Crew · Best Elevator · Best Fitness Bootcamp · Best Framing Store · Best Gluten-Free Restaurant · Best Hangover Cure Restaurant · Best KC Building Wherein to Find a Ghost · Best KC Humanitarian — and 19 more.
- 41 categories ran for the last time in 2023, absent from the 2024 ballot.
Winners
418 distinct winners; 131 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 | ”Fierce Women” at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (255) |
| Best Art Festival | Plaza Art Fair (304) |
| Best Art Gallery | MOD Gallery & Space (111) |
| Best Blues Venue | Knuckleheads (259) |
| Best Burlesque Troupe | VAMP Kansas City (237) |
| Best Club DJ | Smoov Confusion - Hot Mics Entertainment (303) |
| Best Comedy Club | The Bird Comedy Theater (221) |
| Best Cultural Event | Kansas City PrideFest (439) |
| Best Dance Crew/Studio | Kansas City Canaries (115) |
| Best Drag Artist | Lana Luxx (346) |
| Best Drag Show | Sundays with Sasha - Drag Brunch at Gaels Public House & Sports (218) |
| Best Fashion Event | Kansas City Fashion Week (455) |
| Best Filmmaker (Artistic) | Patrick Poe & Lolo Loren (136) |
| Best Fundraising Event | Big Slick (537) |
| Best House/Cover Band | The M80s (552) |
| Best Improv/Sketch Troupe | The Bird Comedy Theater Players (177) · Car Sounds (177) |
| Best Jazz Artist | Lonnie McFadden (257) |
| Best Jazz Band | The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (163) |
| Best Jazz Venue | Green Lady Lounge (608) |
| Best Karaoke | Hot Mics Entertainment (287) |
| Best Live Music Venue (Kansas) | Azura Amphitheater (312) |
| Best Live Music Venue (Missouri) | Knuckleheads (494) |
| Best Live Performance Event | Quixotic (438) |
| Best Live Theater | Starlight Theatre (702) |
| Best Local Actor | Jessica Whitfield (209) |
| Best Local Artist | Samantha Edwards (152) |
| Best Local Band | Soul Servers (349) |
| Best Local Craft Artist | who is she? (171) |
| Best Local Event | Boulevardia (510) |
| Best Local Podcast | Beers with Nigel (401) |
| Best Local Stand-Up Comic | Janell Banks (170) |
| Best Local Themed Tour | Urban Hikes Kansas City (406) |
| Best Movie Theater | Screenland Armour (731) |
| Best Museum | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (1,304) |
| Best Music Festival | Boulevardia (565) |
| Best Musician | Calvin Arsenia (288) |
| Best New Local Album | Welcome to Springfield - Daisy Buckët (200) |
| Best Nightclub | Missie B’s (573) |
| Best Open Mic | Jerry’s Bait Shop (271) |
| Best Outdoor Event | KC Ren Fest (610) |
| Best Outdoor Venue | Starlight Theatre (747) |
| Best Painting Party | Pinot’s Palette - Olathe (191) |
| Best Photographer (Artistic) | Katharine Kitty LeClair (269) |
| Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party | The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City (245) |
| Best Place to Shake Your Booty | Funky Town (470) |
| Best Play | Heart of America Shakespeare Festival: The Tempest (325) |
| Best Poet/Spoken Word Artist | Abby Bland (161) |
| Best Song by a Local Band | ”Take It Slow” - The Swallowtails (243) |
| Best Theater Company | KCRep (357) |
| Best Tribute Band | Bob Jovi (565) |
| Best Trivia Night | Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Cinder Block Brewery (245) |
| Best Vocalist | Talya Groves (355) |
| Best Youth Theater | Coterie Theatre (579) |
Barbecue
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Barbecue | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (499) |
| Best Barbecue Sandwich | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que - Z-Man (680) |
| Best Barbecue Side Dish | Cheesy Corn Bake - Jack Stack BBQ (785) |
| Best Brisket | Q39 (537) |
| Best Burnt Ends | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (396) |
| Best Craft Barbecue | Q39 (591) |
| Best Mixed Plate | Slap’s BBQ (308) |
| Best Old School Barbecue | Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque (313) |
| Best Pulled Pork | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (463) |
| Best Ribs | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (345) |
| Best Rub | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (387) |
| Best Sauce | Jack Stack BBQ - Original BBQ Sauce (404) |
| Best Sausage | Slap’s BBQ (186) |
| Best Vegetarian Barbecue Dish | Potato Casserole, Arthur Bryant’s BBQ (186) |
CBD/Hemp/THC
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best CBD Store | American Shaman (163) |
| Best Concentrate/Dab Brand | Illicit (305) |
| Best Dispensary | From the Earth Dispensary (459) |
| Best Edibles Brand (Cannabis) | Greenlight Dispensary (368) |
| Best Flower | Illicit (426) |
| Best Medical Marijuana Clinic | Elevate Holistics (275) |
| Best Medical Marijuana Clinician | Dr. Collins (Releaf Clinics) (137) |
| Best New Dispensary | The Forest Dispensary (732) |
| Best Place to Buy Delta Products | Vapor Maven (161) |
| Best Vape Cartridge Brand | Illicit (440) |
Drink
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best 3 am Bar | Missie B’s (262) |
| Best Bar | Drastic Measures (291) |
| Best Bar Staff | Transparent Brewing Company (349) |
| Best Bar [Lawrence] | The Sandbar (190) |
| Best Bar to Meet People | Transparent Brewing Company (302) |
| Best Bartender | Conor at Transparent Brewing Company (377) |
| Best Beer Taps Selection | Transparent Brewing Company (363) |
| Best Bloody Mary | The Farmhouse (187) |
| Best Boba/Bubble Tea | Dragonfly Tea Zone (204) |
| Best Brew Pub | Martin City Brewing Company (351) |
| Best Cheap Drinks | The Hi-Dive Lounge (282) |
| Best Cocktails | Drastic Measures (275) |
| Best Coffee Shop Food/Snacks | Messenger Coffee Co. (268) |
| Best Coffeehouse | Cafe Cà Phê (447) |
| Best Dive Bar | The Hi-Dive Lounge (253) |
| Best French 75 | Westport Cafe (300) |
| Best Girl’s Night Out Bar | Missie B’s (287) |
| Best Happy Hour (Drink) | La Bodega (289) |
| Best Horsefeather | J. Rieger & Co. (524) |
| Best Hotel Bar | Percheron Rooftop Bar (300) |
| Best Irish Bar | Kelly’s Westport Inn (410) |
| Best LGBTQ+ Bar | Missie B’s (492) |
| Best Local Beer (IPA) | Space Camper Cosmic IPA (Boulevard Brewing Company) (309) |
| Best Local Beer (Lager) | Pure Pils (KC Bier Co.) (357) |
| Best Local Beer (Saison) | Tank 7 (Boulevard Brewing Company) (630) |
| Best Local Beer (Sour) | Tea Weiss (Crane Brewing Company) (258) |
| Best Local Beer (Stout) | Tippin’ Stout (Transparent Brewing Company) (321) |
| Best Local Brewery | Boulevard Brewing Company (415) |
| Best Local Coffee Roaster | The Roasterie (380) |
| Best Local Distillery | J. Rieger & Co. (732) |
| Best Local Winery | AMIGONI URBAN WINERY (253) |
| Best Locally Made Kombucha | Tea-Biotics (180) |
| Best Locally Owned Kansas Brewery | Free State Brewing Company (455) |
| Best Locally Owned Missouri Brewery | KC Bier Co. (361) |
| Best Manhattan | The Hey! Hey! Club (212) |
| Best Margarita | Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen (397) |
| Best Martini | The Campground (219) |
| Best Milkshake | Winstead’s (611) |
| Best Mojito | El Patron (204) |
| Best Negroni | The Campground (204) |
| Best Neighborhood Bar | The Peanut (524) |
| Best New Bar | Jim’s Alley Bar (271) |
| Best New Brewery | Vine Street Brewing Co. (857) |
| Best Old Fashioned | J. Rieger & Co. (446) |
| Best Patio | Electric Park Garden Bar at J. Rieger & Co. (411) |
| Best Place to Drink with Your Dog | Bar K (694) |
| Best Pop-Up Bar | Vignettes (260) |
| Best Rooftop Bar | Percheron Rooftop Bar (442) |
| Best Service Industry Night | Extra Virgin (193) |
| Best Speakeasy | Green Lady Lounge (470) |
| Best Sports Bar | The Peanut (447) |
| Best Tea Shop/Place to Buy Tea | Dragonfly Tea Zone (189) |
| Best Upscale Bar | The Monarch Bar (293) |
| Best Whiskey Selection | Harry’s Country Club (322) |
| Best Wine Event | Weston Wine Company - Harry Potter Weekend (242) |
| Best Wine Selection | The Antler Room (168) |
Food
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best 24-Hour Restaurant | Town Topic (1,459) |
| Best Appetizers | Red Door Woodfired Grill (576) |
| Best Bagels | Meshuggah Bagels (1,551) |
| Best Bakery (Bread) | McLain’s Bakery (875) |
| Best Bakery (Gluten Free) | The Littlest Bake Shop (423) |
| Best Bakery (Sweets) | McLain’s Bakery (809) |
| Best Bar Food | The Peanut (1,185) |
| Best Black-Owned Restaurant | Niecie’s Restaurant (776) |
| Best Bowl of Soup | Vietnam Cafe (726) |
| Best Breakfast | The Big Biscuit (1,392) |
| Best Brunch | The Farmhouse (732) |
| Best Buffet | Waldo Pizza (785) |
| Best Burger | Westport Flea Market (1,014) |
| Best Burrito | Manny’s Mexican Restaurant (553) |
| Best Butcher | Local Pig (633) |
| Best Caribbean Food | Mesob (395) |
| Best Catering | Brancato’s Catering (390) |
| Best Charcuterie Board | Graze & Gather KC (319) |
| Best Cheap Eats | Town Topic (894) |
| Best Chef | Michael Corvino - Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room (416) |
| Best Chicken (Baked or Grilled) | El Pollo Rey (720) |
| Best Chicken Sandwich | Chicken N Pickle (671) |
| Best Chicken Strips/Tenders | Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers (634) |
| Best Chicken Wings | The Peanut (1,563) |
| Best Chili | Dixon’s Famous Chili Parlor (634) |
| Best Chinese Restaurant | Bo Lings (741) |
| Best Chocolate Shop | Christopher Elbow Chocolates (1,009) |
| Best Cinnamon Rolls | Corner Cafe (776) |
| Best Deli | Scimeca’s Retail Market & Deli (519) |
| Best Dessert Menu | Unforked (283) |
| Best Donuts | LaMar’s Donuts (1,824) |
| Best Drunk Food | Town Topic (963) |
| Best Ethiopian Food | Blue Nile Cafe (722) |
| Best Falafel | Jerusalem Cafe (709) |
| Best Family Restaurant | Stroud’s Oak Ridge Manor (944) |
| Best Food Popup | Devoured Pop-Up (240) |
| Best Food Truck | Jerusalem Cafe (559) |
| Best French Fries | Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (1,238) |
| Best French Restaurant | Le Fou Frog (517) |
| Best Fried Chicken | Stroud’s Oak Ridge Manor (810) |
| Best German Restaurant | Grünauer (1,142) |
| Best Gluten-Free Options (Restaurant) | Billie’s Grocery (665) |
| Best Greek Restaurant | Tasso’s Greek Restaurant (568) |
| Best Gyro | Jerusalem Cafe (683) |
| Best Halal Restaurant | Baba’s Pantry (522) |
| Best Happy Hour (Food) | La Bodega (563) |
| Best Hot Dog (Restaurants/Food Trucks) | Wiener Kitchen (377) |
| Best Hotel Restaurant | The Town Company (432) |
| Best Ice Cream | Betty Rae’s Ice Cream (1,534) |
| Best Indian Restaurant | Taj Mahal (381) |
| Best Italian Restaurant | Garozzo’s (915) |
| Best Italian Sausage | Scimeca’s Italian Sausage Co. (1,229) |
| Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant | Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant (1,617) |
| Best Korean | Chingu (423) |
| Best Late Night Eats | Town Topic (1,151) |
| Best Local Snack | Topsy’s Popcorn (1,213) |
| Best Locally Made Sauce/Salsa/Condiment (Non-BBQ) | Margarita’s Salsa (870) |
| Best Locally Made Sweets | Velvet Creme Popcorn (414) |
| Best Lunch | The Russell (439) |
| Best Meal Kit/Prepared Foods | Three Bears Bakery KC (159) |
| Best Mediterranean Restaurant | Jerusalem Cafe (612) |
| Best Mexican Restaurant | Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen (703) |
| Best Nachos | Gaels Public House & Sports (313) |
| Best New Restaurant | Barbacoa (332) |
| Best Outdoor Dining | Char Bar (495) |
| Best Pho | Vietnam Cafe (808) |
| Best Pie | Corner Cafe (609) |
| Best Pizza (Multiple Locations) | Minsky’s Pizza (1,577) |
| Best Pizza (Single Location) | Waldo Pizza (1,129) |
| Best Place to Eat at the Bar | The Peanut (822) |
| Best Poké | Freestyle Poke (475) |
| Best Pork Tenderloin | Kitty’s Cafe (562) |
| Best Pretzel | KC Bier Co. (469) |
| Best Queso | Jose Pepper’s Mexican Restaurant (647) |
| Best Ramen | Bōru Asian Eatery (456) |
| Best Restaurant | Red Door Woodfired Grill (714) |
| Best Restaurant Server | Elaine at Stroud’s Oak Ridge Manor (434) |
| Best Restaurant [Lawrence] | Free State Brewing Company (473) |
| Best Reuben | Summit Grill and Bar (309) |
| Best Romantic Restaurant | Le Fou Frog (455) |
| Best Salad | The Mixx (810) |
| Best Sandwich Shop | Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches (557) |
| Best Seafood Restaurant | Bristol Seafood Grill (526) |
| Best Serving Staff | Red Door Woodfired Grill (434) |
| Best Smoothie/Juice Bar | Ruby Jean’s Juicery (653) |
| Best Soul Food | Niecie’s Restaurant (588) |
| Best Steakhouse | The Capital Grille (369) |
| Best Sushi | Blue Sushi Sake Grill (599) |
| Best Tacos | Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria (426) |
| Best Take Out | Minsky’s Pizza (784) |
| Best Tapas | La Bodega (1,276) |
| Best Thai Restaurant | Waldo Thai (597) |
| Best Tots | Grinders (529) |
| Best Vegan | Cafe Gratitude (364) |
| Best Vegetarian Options | Cafe Gratitude (390) |
Goods & Services
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Accounting Firm | S. Paige Sander CPA, LLC (118) |
| Best Ad/Marketing Agency | Square Peg Marketing & Branding (250) |
| Best Adult Club | The Shady Lady Lounge (338) |
| Best Aesthetician | Nikky Rice - Face KC Medical Spa (273) |
| Best Apartment Community | Union HIll on Main (106) |
| Best Auction House | This & That KC, LLC (240) |
| Best Auto Service/Repair | KC AutoWorx (167) |
| Best Bank (Commercial) | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (659) |
| Best Bank (Consumer) | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (746) |
| Best Barber | Bezhin Barzinji - Catalyst Barber Co. (308) |
| Best Barbershop | Catalyst Barber Co. (435) |
| Best Bed & Breakfast | Weston Steamboat Inn (162) |
| Best Blow Out | Posh KC (213) |
| Best Body Piercing | Supernatural Body Piercing (421) |
| Best Boudoir Photographer | Good Bodies (201) |
| Best Brows | BellaBrows (230) |
| Best Car Wash | GO Car Wash (362) |
| Best Child Care Center | Rainbow School (130) |
| Best Cleaning Service | Two Gals & A Broom (193) |
| Best Clinical Trials/Pharmaceutical Research | KU Cancer Center (717) |
| Best Computer/IT Services | Kansas City Managed IT (161) |
| Best Contractor | All Under One Roof (92) |
| Best Coworking Space | Plexpod (235) |
| Best Credit Union | CommunityAmerica Credit Union (1,004) |
| Best Custom Blinds/Window Treatments | Budget Blinds of Lee’s Summit (173) |
| Best Custom Countertops | Rocktops Granite & Stone Fabrication (482) |
| Best Customer Service | BesaMe Wellness (424) |
| Best Dog Training | The Dogs’ Spot - Dog Training Center and Boutique (182) |
| Best Electrician | Power KC (154) |
| Best Employment Agency | Chief of Staff Kansas City (194) |
| Best Financial Planning | Creative Planning (240) |
| Best Garage Door Company | Overhead Door Company of Kansas City (663) |
| Best Group Therapy | The Counseling Collaborative (167) |
| Best Gutter Cleaning | The Gutter Guys (119) |
| Best Hair Colorist | Payton Thomas at COLLAB (292) |
| Best Hair Removal | Elevate Esthetics Parlor (124) |
| Best Hair Salon | Moxie by KC (310) |
| Best Hair Stylist | Kassidi Upton - The Hairapy Co. (667) |
| Best Handyman | Mr. Honey-Do Handyman Services (138) |
| Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company | Hotter Than Hell Heating and Cooling (203) |
| Best Henna Artist | Henna Hands by Nida (131) |
| Best Hotel | Crossroads Hotel (472) |
| Best Hydroponics/Grow Shop | KC Grow Depot (204) |
| Best Injector | Chandler Vance at Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics (645) |
| Best Insurance Agency | Goosehead Insurance - Alyson Pope Agency (151) |
| Best Interior Designer | Hill Homes KC (137) |
| Best Kitchen & Bath Remodeler | Shamrock Cabinet (221) |
| Best Landscaper | Third Space Design Build (164) |
| Best Lashes | The Lash Lounge (195) |
| Best Laundromat | Mr Bubbles (177) |
| Best Law Firm/Lawyer | David Bell - Criminal Defense Attorney (119) |
| Best Library Branch: KS | Johnson County Library (670) |
| Best Library Branch: MO | The Kansas City Public Library: Central Library (551) |
| Best Loan Officer | Derek McGowan (406) |
| Best Local Farm | Messner Bee Farm (638) |
| Best Local Moving Company | You Move Me (337) |
| Best Luxury Picnic | Pop Up Picnics KC (252) |
| Best Makeup Artist | RP Artistry (203) |
| Best Martial Arts | Integrity Martial Arts Academy (208) |
| Best Mobile Spray Tan | TanTara Mobile Airbrush Tan (132) |
| Best Mortgage/Home Loan Provider | McGowan Mortgages (525) |
| Best Motorcycle or Off-road Vehicle Dealer | Gail’s Powersports (455) |
| Best Music Label | Strange Music (734) |
| Best Music Studio | SoundWorks Recording Studio (117) |
| Best Nail Salon | Luxe Nail Spa (234) |
| Best Naturopath | Alicia Johnson, ND (108) |
| Best Oil Change | Valvoline Instant Oil Change (411) |
| Best Party Bus/Limo Service | Showtime Transportation (180) |
| Best Pest Control (Indoor) | Pete’s Pest Control (263) |
| Best Pest Control (Outdoor) | Pete’s Pest Control (278) |
| Best Pet Boarding/Daycare | Woof’s Play & Stay (293) |
| Best Pet Groomer | For Pet’s Sake (248) |
| Best Photo Booth Service | The Photo Bus (251) |
| Best Photographer (Business) | Stag & Bird Photo (201) |
| Best Place to Adopt a Pet | KC Pet Project (1,188) |
| Best Place to Buy a Plant | Family Tree Nursery (1,028) |
| Best Plumbing | Anthony Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric (291) |
| Best Preschool | Northland Early Education Center (188) |
| Best Property Management Company | Price Brothers Management Company (109) |
| Best Psychic Readings | Dr. Matt Turner - Be Love Healing (175) |
| Best Real Estate Agent | Rach The Realtor Kansas City (242) |
| Best Real Estate Company (Boutique) | The Collective at Compass Realty Group (218) |
| Best Real Estate Company (Commercial) | ReeceNichols (423) |
| Best Resume Writing/Career Services | Resumes By Neesha (109) |
| Best Roofer/Roofing Company | True Grit Roofing Company (384) |
| Best Screen Printing | Union Press Screen Printing (279) |
| Best Senior Living Community | John Knox Village (358) |
| Best Solar Provider | The Solar Guys (230) |
| Best Tailor/Alterations | Elizabeth’s Alterations (170) |
| Best Tanning Salon | Sun Tan City (201) |
| Best Tattoo Artist | Cat Wong (268) |
| Best Tattoo Studio | Gold Cathedral (355) |
| Best Travel Agency | Destination Fun Travel (210) |
| Best Veterinarian | The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City (383) |
| Best Videographer/Filmmaker (Business) | Rainy Day Productions (523) |
| Best Window Cleaning | Fish Window Cleaning (145) |
Health & Fitness
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Acupuncture | Your Wellness Connection (125) |
| Best Chiropractor | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (155) |
| Best Cosmetic Surgeon | Dr. Jeffrey R. Dillow, Monarch Plastic Surgery (67) |
| Best Day Spa | Haven Wellness + Spa (116) |
| Best Dentist | Sloop Dental Co. (66) |
| Best Dermatologist | Dr. Meggan Newland (68) |
| Best Eye Clinic | Durrie Vision (69) |
| Best Fitness Class | Freight House Fitness (344) |
| Best Gym | Freight House Fitness (384) |
| Best Health Clinic | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (253) |
| Best Hospital | The University of Kansas Health System (363) |
| Best Hot Yoga | Power Life (99) |
| Best IV Therapy | IV Nutrition (92) |
| Best Local Doula | Ashley Walburn, hOMe holistic (160) |
| Best Massage Clinic | Lifestyle Massage + Bodywork (153) |
| Best Massage Therapist | Mary Beth Mosteller - Lifestyle Massage + Bodywork (132) |
| Best Medical Spa | Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics (220) |
| Best Mental Health Provider | Carlyn Timp - The Counseling Collaborative (164) |
| Best Nutritionist | Ariel Johnston at The Tasty Balance (113) |
| Best Orthodontist | Fry Orthodontics (210) |
| Best Pediatrician | Dr. Lance Slaymaker - Village Pediatrics (150) |
| Best Personal Trainer | Brandon Smith - Freight House Fitness (339) |
| Best Pharmacy | Phillips Family Pharmacy (213) |
| Best Physical Rehab Center | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (225) |
| Best Physician | Dr. Tiffany Blythe (122) |
| Best Pilates | Studio 7 Pilates + Barre (123) |
| Best Place to Have a Baby | AdventHealth Birth Center (258) |
| Best Rehab Treatment Center | F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic (229) |
| Best Rock Climbing Gym | RoKC (485) |
| Best Soaking Pool/Float Tank | Floating KC (145) |
| Best Swimming Pool | The J KC - Jewish Community Center (163) |
| Best Weight Loss Clinic/Counseling | Total Weight Loss Center (80) |
| Best Yoga Studio | Yoga Patch (133) |
People & Places
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Attraction | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (432) |
| Best Business that Could Only Exist in KC | Made in KC (408) |
| Best Day Trip | Weston (565) |
| Best Dog Park | Bar K (428) |
| Best Facebook Page | Kansas City Eats - facebook.com/groups/KansasCityEats/ (211) |
| Best Green Business | Compost Collective KC (149) |
| Best Halloween Destination | The Beast (256) |
| Best Local Activist | Scott Poore (554) |
| Best Local Author | Jen Mann (86) |
| Best Local Blog/Substack | People I Want to Punch in the Throat (152) |
| Best Local Charity | Harvesters - The Community Food Network (340) |
| Best Local Hero | Patrick Mahomes (879) |
| Best Local Instagram | @shepsplaceseniordogsanctuary (328) |
| Best Local Investigative Reporter | Matt Flener (282) |
| Best Local Personality | Michael Mackie (629) |
| Best Local Politician | Quinton Lucas (788) |
| Best Local Radio Personality | Dana Wright (542) |
| Best Local Radio Station | KMBZ 98.1 (566) |
| Best Local TV Personality | Matt Stewart (829) |
| Best Local TV Sports Anchor | Karen Kornacki (553) |
| Best Local TV Station | FOX4 (1,011) |
| Best Local TV Weather Forecaster | Bryan Busby (983) |
| Best Local TikTok | Ryan Wesley - @ryanwmusic (378) |
| Best Local Twitter | @VisitKC (569) |
| Best Neighborhood | Brookside (597) |
| Best Park | Loose Park (890) |
| Best Place for Stargazing | Smithville Lake (566) |
| Best Place for a Cheap Date | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (902) |
| Best Place for a First Date | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (744) |
| Best Place for a Long Walk | Loose Park (584) |
| Best Place for a Picnic | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (lawn) (757) |
| Best Place for a View of the City | Liberty Memorial (1,324) |
| Best Place to Geek Out | The Kansas City Public Library: Central Library (528) |
| Best Place to Meet Singles | Missie B’s (208) |
| Best Place to Pick Up a Copy of The Pitch | Hen House (524) |
| Best Place to Play Board Games | Mission: Board Games (337) |
| Best Place to Take Out of Town Guests | Union Station (514) |
| Best Place to Take a Selfie | Union Station (701) |
| Best Place to Work (Over 50 Employees) | Garmin (383) |
| Best Place to Work (Under 50 Employees) | Pet Resource Center of Kansas CIty (358) |
| Best Place to Worship | Church of the Resurrection (337) |
| Best Public Restroom | QuikTrip (1,152) |
| Best Shop Pet | Conway at Mills Record Company (127) |
| Best Sports Talk Radio Host | Bob Fescoe (234) |
| Best Urban Garden | Kauffman Memorial Garden (705) |
| Best YouTuber | Midge Munster (348) |
Shopping
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Accessories Store | Whiskey and Bone (124) |
| Best Adult Store | Cirilla’s (219) |
| Best Bath and Body Shop | Mother Lovers Eco Market (124) |
| Best Bicycle Shop | 816 Bicycle Collective (76) |
| Best Black-Owned Retail Store | Bliss Books & Wine (138) |
| Best Bookstore | Rainy Day Books (267) |
| Best Boutique Store | Owl-R-Junk Boutique (132) |
| Best Candles | Pickwick & Co. (197) |
| Best Clothing Store (Men’s) | Bunker (152) |
| Best Clothing Store (Non-Gendered) | River Market Antiques (131) |
| Best Clothing Store (Women’s) | Donna’s Dress Shop (183) |
| Best Comic Book Store | A to Z Comics (86) |
| Best Consignment Store | Arizona Trading Company (169) |
| Best Craft Store | Scraps KC (322) |
| Best Dive Shop | The Dive Shop (96) |
| Best Farmer’s Market | City Market Farmers Market (558) |
| Best Fashion Designer | Wasteland Society (106) |
| Best Florist | Lily Floral Designs (255) |
| Best Furniture Designer | Unruh Furniture (214) |
| Best Garden Store/Nursery | Family Tree Nursery (514) |
| Best Gift Store | Made in KC (385) |
| Best Grocery Store | Hy-Vee (554) |
| Best Health Food Store | Sprouts (490) |
| Best Home Furnishing Store (Local) | River Market Antiques (179) |
| Best Home Goods | River Market Antiques (165) |
| Best Jewelry Store | Meierotto Jewelers (213) |
| Best KC Pride Clothing | Charlie Hustle (298) |
| Best Lingerie Store | Birdies (299) |
| Best Liquor Store | Gomer’s (251) |
| Best Local Maker | Jaycee Designs KC (199) |
| Best Locally Made Soap | Indigo Wild - Zum Bar Soap (345) |
| Best Metaphysical/Spiritual Store | Aquarius (194) |
| Best Outdoor Outfitters | Scheels (376) |
| Best Pet Supply Store | Brookside Barkery & Bath (289) |
| Best Place to Buy Eyeglasses | Fairway Eye Center (89) |
| Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument | Meyer Music (338) |
| Best Place to Buy a New Car | Cable Dahmer Chevrolet of Kansas City (119) |
| Best Place to Buy a Used Car | CarMax (195) |
| Best Pop-Up Shop | The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair (294) |
| Best Record Store | 7th Heaven (233) |
| Best Retail Store [Lawrence] | Wonder Fair (150) |
| Best Shoe Store | Elite Feet (109) |
| Best Shopping Center | Town Center Plaza (343) |
| Best Skate Shop | Escapist Skateboarding (144) |
| Best Sporting Goods Store | Scheels (475) |
| Best Swimwear Store | Birdies (166) |
| Best Table Top Game Store | TableTop Game & Hobby (137) |
| Best Thrift Store | Savers (333) |
| Best Tobacco Shop | Outlaw Cigar & Brewery (96) |
| Best Toy Store | Brookside Toy & Science (279) |
| Best Vape Shop | Smokers Heaven (56) |
| Best Vintage Clothing Store | River Market Antiques (178) |
| Best Vintage Finds | River Market Antiques (317) |
| Best West Bottoms Vendor | Good Ju Ju (291) |
| Best Wine Shop | Lukas Wine & Spirits (211) |
Sports & Rec
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Athlete | Patrick Mahomes (476) |
| Best Bowling Alley | Ward Parkway Lanes (139) |
| Best Break Out Room | Breakout KC (165) |
| Best Casino | Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City (123) |
| Best Driving Range | Topgolf (265) |
| Best Golf Course | The National Golf Club of Kansas City (82) |
| Best Local Family-Friendly Activity | Main Event Kansas City North (125) |
| Best Local Stadium/Arena | Arrowhead Stadium (417) |
| Best Organized Footrace/Run | Girls on the Run (148) |
| Best Place To Get an Adrenaline Rush | Worlds of Fun (295) |
| Best Place to Play Pickleball | Chicken N Pickle (482) |
| Best Place to Play Video Games/Arcade | Up-Down Kansas City (305) |
| Best Place to Play Volleyball | Volleyball Beach (143) |
| Best Place to Shoot Pool | Side Pockets Blue Springs (131) |
| Best Place to Table Top Game | Pawn and Pint (80) |
| Best Place to Throw Darts | Side Pockets Blue Springs (93) |
| Best Roller Derby Team | Kansas City Roller Warriors All-Stars (131) |
| Best Sports Team | Kansas City Chiefs (587) |
| Best Virtual Reality | Double Tap KC (93) |
Weddings
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Bachelor Party Location | Crossroads Hotel (85) |
| Best Bachelorette Party Location | Weston Wine Company (137) |
| Best Bridesmaids Dress Shop | bridal by SHL (104) |
| Best Couples Therapist | Kieri Olmstead - Simple Empathy (49) |
| Best Divorce Lawyer | Pingel Family Law & Mandee Rowen Pingel, JD (58) |
| Best Engagement Photographer | Stag & Bird Photography (115) |
| Best Hand-Lettering/Stationery | Script Your Event (93) |
| Best Hotel for Your Wedding Night;) | Crossroads Hotel (113) |
| Best Local Wedding Caterer | Brancato’s Catering (187) |
| Best Place for Wedding Photos | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (172) |
| Best Place for a Rehearsal Dinner | Lidia’s Kansas City (206) |
| Best Place to Get a Tux | Todd’s Clothiers & Tailoring (67) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Cake | Sugar Whipped Bakery (160) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Cake Alternative | Sugar Whipped Bakery (133) |
| Best Place to Get a Wedding Dress | bridal by SHL (137) |
| Best Wedding Band | Lost Wax Band (137) |
| Best Wedding DJ | DJ Joe Straws (154) |
| Best Wedding Florist | Lily Floral Designs (263) |
| Best Wedding Hair Stylist | Hello Lovely KC (191) |
| Best Wedding Jeweler | Meierotto Jewelers (256) |
| Best Wedding Makeup Artist | Hello Lovely KC (160) |
| Best Wedding Officiant/Celebrant | Timmy Gibson (105) |
| Best Wedding Photographer | Stag & Bird Photography (124) |
| Best Wedding Planner | Events by Elle (141) |
| Best Wedding Reception Venue | The Brim (279) |
| Best Wedding Venue | The Brim (306) |
| Best Wedding Videographer | Her Third Eye Productions (200) |
Sources
Footnotes
-
The Pitch, Best of KC 2023 results portal —
PitchKC/best-of-kc-2023(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/2023-best-of-kc · last revised 2026-09-12