#BESTOFWR2022: The Winners

You decided!

We sent you some categories and you hit us back with some amazing nominations. When we posted the shortlist, you cast way more votes than we anticipated.

Here they are, at long last, the finest of Waterloo Region:

Folks & Groups

BEST WRITER:
Fitsum Areguy

BEST MUSICIAN/BAND:
I, The Mountain

BEST VISUAL ARTIST:
Luke Swinson

BEST BARTENDER:
Zach Hovinga

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER:
Bangishimo

BEST ACTIVE AND
PRESENT POLITICIAN:
Laura Mae Lindo

BEST COMMUNITY LEADER
Amy Smoke

BEST CHARITABLE/
NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORG:
Sanguen Health Centre

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT:
Curated KW

BEST FILMMAKER:
Erik O’Neill

BEST NEWSLETTER:
TL;WR

BEST PODCAST:
The Devil’s Cut

Noteworthy Places

BEST LGBTQ+ SPACE:
Apollo Cinema

BEST OUTDOOR SPACE:
Willow River Park

Food & Drink

BEST SANDWICH:
Vincenzo’s

BEST ICE CREAM:
Four All Ice Cream

BEST CAFE:
The Yeti

BEST PATIO:
Arabella Park Beer Bar

BEST INDEPENDENT GROCER:
Central Fresh Market

BEST DONUT:
Lady Glaze

BEST COFFEE:
Matter of Taste

BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT:
Ethel’s Lounge

BEST BREAKFAST:
The Yeti

BEST VEGETARIAN/
VEGAN OPTIONS:
Jane Bond

BEST FINE DINING:
Bhima’s Warung

BEST BEER SELECTION:
Sidewalk Beer Shop

BEST FOOD TRUCK:
Los Rolling Tacos

BEST BREWERY:
TWB

BEST TAKEOUT:
Mozy’s

BEST BURGER:
Ethel’s Lounge

BEST PIZZA:
Later Pizza

Shops & Services

BEST TATTOO PROVIDER:
Frazzle Cat Tattoos

BEST BOOKSTORE:
Words Worth Books

BEST VINTAGE/STORE:
White Tiger Vintage

BEST BARBERSHOP:
Cowboy’s and Angels

BEST HAIR SALON:
Cowboy’s and Angels

BEST CINEMA:
Apollo Cinema

mm

Kurtis Rideout, local musician, producer and ad manager for WLUSP