Photos by Melania Mahoney
Best place to read a book
The Plaza
Runner-up: Readers’ Books
Best place to meet people
The Plaza
Runner-up: The Swiss Hotel
Best unique shop
Laughing Queen & Baksheesh (tie)
Runner-up: Tiddle E Winks
Best place to buy wine
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Valley Wine Shack
Best place to propose marriage
Overlook Trail
Runner-up: Bartholomew Park
Best deal in town
Church Mouse & Larson Family Winery (tie)
Runner-up: Dollar Store
Best coffee shop
Barking Dog Cafe
Runner-up: Sunflower Caffe
Best place to workout
Parkpoint
Runner-up: Fitness Factory
Best customer service
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Sonoma Valley Bank & Larson Family Winery (tie)
Best mechanic or auto shop
Pacific Rim
Runner-up: Larbre Automotive
Best mixed drink
EDK
Runner-up: The girl and the fig
Best steak in town
Saddles
Runner-up: The Swiss Hotel
Best beauty salon
Catalina’s Skin and Body
Runner-up: EJ-588 Hair Studio
Best choir
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
Runner-up: Sonoma Valley Chorale
Best bank
Sonoma Valley Bank
Runner-up: Bank of America
Best local ad slogan
Clover
Runner-up: Larson Family Winery
Best place to buy plants
Sonoma Mission Gardens
Runner-up: Wedekind’s
Best view
Sonoma Overlook Trail
Runner-up: Diamond A
Best place to take visitors
The Plaza
Runner-up: Benziger Family
Winery
Best winery tasting room
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
Runner-up: Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Best place to buy furniture
Harvest Home Store
Runner-up: Plain Jane’s and Salsa Trading Company (tie)
Best place to entertain children
Train Town
Runner-up: The Plaza
Best regional hike
Sonoma Overlook Trail
Runner-up: Jack London State Park
Best local event
Fourth of July
Runner-up: Sonoma Jazz +
Best outdoor dining spot
The Swiss Hotel
Runner-up: Della Santina, El Dorado Kitchen and Sunflower Caffe (tie)
Best Italian food
Della Santina
Runner-up: Mama Tanino’s
Best Mexican food
La Hacienda
Runner-up: Maya
Best Thai food
Rin’s Thai
Runner-up: 599 Thai
Best seafood
Meritage Martini Oyster Bar & Grille
Runner-up: El Dorado Kitchen
Best Chinese food
Golden Spring
Runner-up: Amy’s
Best restaurant overall
Cafe La Haye
Runner-up: The Swiss Hotel
Best restaurant host
Saul Gropman of Cafe La Haye
Runner-up: Gary Saperstein of Estate
Best florist
Anne Appleman
Runner-up: Bancroft’s
Best place to buy organic produce and products
Whole Foods
Runner-up: Sonoma Market
Best ice cream/gelato
Ben & Jerry’s
Runner-up: The Chocolate Cow
Best place to satisfy your sweet tooth
The Chocolate Cow
Runner-up: Tiddle E. Winks
Best grocery store
Sonoma Market
Runner-up: Whole Foods
Best place for a spa experience
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa
Runner-up: Raindance Spa,
The Lodge at Sonoma
Best breakfast spot
Pearl’s
Runner-up: The Breakaway Cafe
Best pizza
The Red Grape
Runner-up: Mary’s Pizza
Best bartender
Mark O’Donnell
Runner-up: Michael O’Leary
Best burger
Happy Dog
Runner-up: Mondo
Best family restaurant
Mary’s Pizza
Runner-up: The Red Grape
Best bed and breakfast
Hidden Oak Inn
Runner-up: Trojan Horse In
Best caterer
Elaine Bell
Runner-up: Olive&Vine
Best nightspot
Murphy’s Irish Pub
Runner-up: The Swiss Hotel
Best-kept secret
Julie Schindler Designs
Runner-up: Larson Family Winery
Best place for live entertainment
Murphy’s Irish Pub
Runner-up: Lodge & Little Switzerland (tie)
Best place to buy a gift
Baksheesh
Runner-up: Sign of the Bear
Best local entertainer(s)
The Whiskey Thieves
Runner-up: Sheila Whitney
Best business mascot
Dooney (Altimira Veterinary Hospital
Runner-up: Clo the Cow
Best local radio show
Mornings in Sonoma
Runner-up: Smokin’ Joe Herrschaft
Best local radio host
Ken Brown
Runner-up: Smokin’ Joe Herrschaft
Best local estate agent
Dan Casabonne
Runner-up: Michelle Samson
