Welcome to the 46th Bay Guardian Best of the Bay, hosted by 48 Hills! PHEW! What a couple years, eh? The Bay Area has stood up through it all. While we’ve lost so much, it’s important to still celebrate who we are and how we’ve pulled through together. We’re beating back the monsters every day, and embracing our Best of the Bay beasts! Thus our 2021 theme: Beast Mode.
This year’s Best of the Bay is dedicated to the indomitable Bay Area spirit, in all its freaky, oft-foggy glory. Inside you’ll find the winners of more than 100 categories, voted on by thousands of fans. This year, we’re also publishing the runners up in each category, to spread more local love. We encourage everyone to pour all they can into supporting great local businesses, institutions, organizations, and wonderful people, starting with this edition as a guide.
We’ll be publishing our Editors’ Picks, highlighting folks and orgs that have made a difference, throughout the next two months to keep the positive vibes going. PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE BEST OF THE BAY AND OUR 8TH ANNIVERSARY AT OUR FALL FLING, October 20, 6pm-9pm at El Rio (more info here). We’d love to see you! And we’re giving out free vintage Bay Guardian t-shirts while supplies last.
Click below to see the winners in each category. Special thank you to our terrific designer Aaron Joseph of Identafire, my Hunky Beau who has stuck with me through 16 of these, and all the readers who make the Bay Area the Best Place to Live on Earth. You can see 2020’s winners here.
CITY LIVING READERS’ POLL WINNERS: Best Salon, Best Bike Repair, Best Hotel, Best Tour, Best Gym, more
ARTS & NIGHTLIFE READERS’ POLL WINNERS: Best Nightclub, Best Art Gallery, Best Drag Queen, Best Live Venue, Best Band, more
FOOD & DRINK READERS’ POLL WINNERS: Best Burrito, Best Chinese, Best Gay Bar, Best Takeout, Best Sports Bar, more
SHOPPING READERS’ POLL WINNERS: Best Bookstore, Best Bike Shop, Best Store Staff, Best Cannabis Dispensary, Best Shoe Store, More
