Best Antique Shop
The Royal Standard (31%)
This is the place for antique and funky furniture and fashion, homewares and unique gifts. With bright flowy clothing, bold totes and chunky jewelry, the two Baton Rouge locations are set up like stores full of mini boutiques. The Royal Standard also sells colorful chairs, rustic tables, monogrammed slippers, casserole carriers and even a selection of ring holders resembling birds’ nests. Antique lovers can uncover one-of-a-kind finds such as antique pews, dressers, chandeliers and even vintage gumbo spoons. The shop also carries unique old jewelry, such as antique gold-filled bangles. theroyalstandard.com
Runners up
(28.8%) Circa 1857
(10.9%) Rusty Rooster
(9%) The Foyer
(6.7%) Fireside Antiques
Best Catering Service for a Tailgate or Event
Raising Cane’s (17.4%)
The aroma hits you first. And then you see them: those breaded chicken fingers piled high in a foil casserole pan with mini plastic cups full of the signature Cane’s Sauce. It’s Saturday at Tiger Stadium, and a good tailgate always includes fried chicken. But don’t worry if the scent of Cane’s wafting from your tailgate spot increases the number of guests you host throughout the season—these chicken fingers come in quantities of 25, 50, 75 or even 100. raisingcanes.com
Runners up
(17.2%) Sammy’s Grill
(17%) City Pork Catering
(14.4%) Bergeron’s City Market
(12.3%) Walk-On’s Catering
Best Grocery Store
LeBlanc’s Frais Marché (16.9%)
The first Baton Rouge location of LeBlanc’s draws shoppers in with its organized shelves, friendly staff and fresh food. Some favorites at this newer grocery store include: the daily buffet lunch specials, crisp vegetables, cakes and cookies prepared in-store and an authentic Philly cheesesteak cooked to order on a flat-top with onions, mushrooms and bell peppers and served on a soft hoagie roll. Wash it all down with a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice from the juicer located in the produce section. leblancsfoodstores.com
Runners up
(14.4%) Trader Joe’s
(12.4%) Alexander’s Highland Market
(12.3%) Whole Foods Market
(11.6%) Calandro’s
Best Hotel for Out-of-Towners
L’Auberge Casino & Hotel (22.6%)
Baton Rouge might become your out-of-town friends’ new favorite destination if they spend a night at this casino hotel. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the 12-floor hotel and casino has oversized showers, comfortable beds and endless entertainment. In addition to the casino, the hotel features a swanky rooftop pool and bar and three restaurants, including 18 Steak—where the tender filet and creamy lobster macaroni and cheese are customer favorites. lbatonrouge.com
Runners up
(22%) Renaissance Hotel
(21%) Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
(14.9%) Hotel Indigo
(6.4%) The Cook Hotel & Conference Center at LSU
Best Local Men’s Clothing Store
The Master’s Touch Menswear Store (18%)
This men’s clothing boutique located off Monterrey Drive features a huge array of colorful ties, shirts, blazers, slacks and dress shoes. This is a great spot to find custom suits and leather shoes by Spanish designer Mezlan and colognes from designers Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo and Versace. For fashion-forward timepieces, check out the slick Atlantis watch collection. Customer service is a priority, and shopping at The Master’s Touch will feel like spending the day with family when you are greeted by one of the four friends who started this business nearly eight years ago. Find The Master’s Touch MensWear Store on Facebook
Runners up
(17.8%) Carriages Fine Clothier
(17.1%) Perlis Clothing
(14.8%) McLavy Ltd.
(10.2%) Harper’s Haberdashery
Best Local Women’s Boutique
Bella Bella (15.4%)
Trendsetters will fall in love with the latest fashions offered at the three Baton Rouge-area Bella Bella stores. Chinese Laundry, Volatile and Seychelles are just a few of the designer names sold at this small boutique, where you can walk away with affordable but stylish rompers, flowy dresses, chunky heels, trendy jewelry and Panama hats. bellabellashop.com
Runners up
(12.8%) Frock Candy
(10.5%) Merci Beaucoup
(10.3%) Hey, Penelope
(10.3%) Love
Editor’s note: Apricot Lane, a franchised boutique, was mistakenly included on the ballot as a choice for Best Local Women’s Boutique. The store received 21.8% of the vote. Because this category is reserved for stores with Baton Rouge roots, Apricot Lane had to be disqualified. 225 regrets this error.
Best Market for Seafood
Tony’s Seafood (58.2%)
Locals and tourists are all fans of this Baton Rouge staple that dominates the fresh seafood market. It doesn’t hurt that Tony’s offers customers a palatable selection of prepared Louisiana dishes in a cafeteria-style dining area. The parking lot is normally packed with people ready to buy a sack of crawfish or a to-go container of jambalaya, etouffee or a favorite, the bread pudding. tonyseafood.com
Runners up
(10%) LA Boilers
(6.3%) Maxwell’s Market
(5.2%) Whole Foods Market
(5.1%) Heads & Tails
Best Local Summer Camp for Kids
BREC’s Summer Camps (35.4%)
There is no reason for your kiddos to have their faces glued to a smart device this summer when BREC has so many summer camp offerings. Horseback riding? Acting, singing and dancing? Hiking through the woods listening to the melodic songs of bullfrogs? You name it, BREC has a camp for it. But wait, we’re not done yet—BREC also has camps for kayaking, swimming, BMX biking, drawing and painting and more. brec.org/summercamps
Runners up
(16.2%) Louisiana Art & Science Museum Summer Camp
(13.9%) The YMCA Summer Camp
(8.4%) Exerfit Extreme Summer Camp
(8.2%) Playmakers Summer Camp
Best Place to Buy Gameday Attire
Tiger Mania (25.5%)
Purple and gold swag dominates Tiger Mania’s three Capital Region locations, including one in Denham Springs. Tiger Mania is the place to go if you need a new football jersey, pajama pants, onesies for both your dog and baby and even a purple and gold picture frame to showcase that Saturday night selfie in Death Valley. Ready to hop on board the LSU baseball team’s #rallypossum train? Get the slogan on a T-shirt here, too. tigermania.net
Runners up
(15.8%) Academy Sports+Outdoors
(13%) Bengals and Bandits
(11.4%) Tiger People Clothiers
(10.5%) Purple and Gold Sports Shop
Best Place for Pet Services
Petz Plaza (17.6%)
Be careful dropping your pup or cat off at Petz Plaza—they may never want to come home. With a doggy daycare service, grooming and a pet taxi that will pick up and drop off your dog, this luxurious spa for pets will allow you peace of mind whether you’re traveling without your pet or you’ve got a day booked with meetings and won’t have time to go home. Your pets will be happy to be there the first time and even happier to go back a second time. petzplaza.com
Runners up
(14.8%) Camp Bow Wow
(12.5%) PetSmart
(11.6%) Smooch My Pooch
(9.8%) Kleinpeter Veterinary Hospital
Best Spa
Bumble Lane (37%)
This spa’s head-to-toe pampering starts with fluffy bathrobes and a serene and calm environment. After you make your selections from a long menu of spa services, the professional staff will help you unwind with a pedicure, manicure or a deep-tissue massage as the scent of soothing oils and soft melodic music help you drift away. Before you go, check out all the unique lotions, candles and even those fluffy bathrobes sold in the retail shop. bumblelane.com
Runners up
(12.4%) Paris Parker Aveda Salon & Spa
(10.5%) Massage Envy
(10.1%) The Woodhouse Day Spa
(8.2%) Avant Tous Beauty Bar and Spa
Best Tattoo Shop
High Resolution Tattoo (23.9%)
The artists and staff of this Perkins Road tattoo parlor create a comfortable and safe environment for both tattoo newbies and veterans. The store is bright and clean, the atmosphere is laid-back and the artwork by the shop’s designers is intricate, bold, colorful and a beautiful display of talent. High Resolution’s artists custom-create each tattoo, from inscriptions to watercolor designs. And if you’re over an old tattoo from your college years, they can cover that up, too. highresolutiontattoo.com
Runners up
(17.1%) The Walk-In Warrior Tattoo Co.
(15.2%) Art Addiction Tattoo Studio
(12.3%) Tattoos by Dody
(11.4%) Ink Shop
Best Workout Program
The YMCA (21.6%)
Working out is easy when you’re a member of the YMCA of the Capital Area. One membership grants access to the nine YMCA locations in Baton Rouge. With 10 pools (including five outdoor heated pools) and more than 420 weekly workout classes for the whole family—including body sculpting, boot camp, boxing, Zumba, Pilates, yoga and even a dance pop and hip-hop class called “Werq”—the possibilities are endless. Have kids? Drop them off at one of the many childcare facilities while you enjoy a spin class, the ropes course, shooting hoops with some friends or running on indoor and outdoor tracks. ymcabatonrouge.org
Runners up
(15.8%) Spectrum Fitness
(13.9%) Body Sculpt Barre Studio
(11.1%) UFC Gym
(9.4%) Pure Barre
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