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Saturday, November 8, 2025

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2018 Best of the Bay

48hills is proud to host the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay 2018! View the winners below, and sign up for our newsletter for more great local arts + culture. 

Dear Readers,

Welcome back to the SF Bay Guardian’s Best of the Bay! This is our 43nd edition of Best of the Bay, and it comes out on the Bay Guardian’s 52nd anniversary. That’s a lot of Bests of the Bay, and we can’t thank you enough for your support as we keep this cherished Bay Area tradition alive. (Please consider donating or becoming a member to help us continue, or advertise to our 35,000 weekly readers eager to support local businesses and events.)

This year, thousands and thousands of you voted for what you loved in more than 150 categories. We know that was a lot to get through, but we want to shower attention on as many local people, places, and things as we can, especially in the rapidly changing city. This year, we’re also announcing the two runners up in each category, because why not? So many people voted for so many great things (including some new to us), that it made us hopeful for the city’s vibrant culture. Enjoy the results of this year’s readers’ poll, and thank you for making the Bay the Best.

— Marke B, Best of the Bay 2018 Editor

Designer Aaron Joseph Bay Guardian Editor Tim Redmond Web Developer Matt Fisher Bay Guardian Publishers Emeritus Bruce B. Brugmann and Jean Dibble Special Thanks Hunky Beau

Best of the Bay 2018: City Living Winners

Best Street Fair, Best Yoga Studio, Best Bicycle Repair, Best Plumber, Best Pet Grooming, and more

Best of the Bay 2018: Arts & Entertainment Winners

Your picks for Best DJ, Best Live Music Venue, Best Film Festival, Best Drag Show, Best Dance Company, and more

Best of the Bay 2018: Food & Drink Winners

Your picks for Best Burrito, Best Sushi, Best Breakfast, Best Happy Hour, Best Bartender, and more

Best of the Bay 2018: Shopping Winners

Your picks for Best Book Store, Best Grocery Store, Best Shoe Store, Best Bike Shop, Best Flea Market, Best Dispensary, and more

More Best of the Bay stories

Best of the Bay 2025: Arts & Nightlife Winners

Best Cinema, Best Live Music Venue, Best Drag Show, Best Strip Club, Best Karaoke, Best Comedy Club, more

Best of the Bay 2025: Shopping Winners

Best Bookstore, Best Bike Store, Best Cannabis Dispensary, Best Flea Market, Best Thrift Store, Best Shoe Store, more

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Popscene

30 years and an astonishing array or SF debuts later, the club night is still presenting the hottest-to-be live bands on the planet.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: The Post Room

In the former Francis Drake Hotel (now Beacon Grand), a small tea room oasis keeps a lovely tradition alive.

Best of the Bay Editor’s Pick 2025: Stonestown

Stunning transformation from mall food court to dining destination points a way forward for brick and mortar behemoths.

Best of the Bay voting extended through October 3!

You've got until the end of the week to tell us what you love in our 51st annual Readers' Poll.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Fantastic Negrito

Oakland-raised singer-songwriter refuses to rest on laurels, turning in a painfully introspective album with 'Son of a Broken Man.'

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Z Space

A blessedly versatile former can factory has become a well-established gem of a stage complex—and party place.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Double Cross Trail

A 14-plus-mile trek from Fort Funston to Pier 23 provides a chance to 'get away'—while reveling in hometown beauty.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Dani Offline

No wonder she's been featured at Noise Pop—this nouveau hip-hop vibe merchant isn't faking a thing.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Studio Fallout

A quiet North Beach alley leads down to the basement retail lair of a punk-surrealist stalwart and his talented friends.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: San Francisco Bay Area Bench Collective

Group's guerrilla seating makes solid statement about accessibility and humane public infrastructure.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art

Napa institution made major moves with opening of free-entry Incorrect Museum—plus creative strategy to brave era's financial woes.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Corgi Con

The beloved celebration of the sturdy little spuds waddles into a blessedly bigger venue this year.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: 540 Bar

This retro Inner Richmond watering hole attracts gleeful happy hour goers and tight-knit creative community.

Best of the Bay 2025 Editors’ Pick: Compton’s Cafeteria Riot

The city thought it would never see itself done right onstage after 'Beach Blanket Babylon.' Then this long-running show came along.