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2018 Albany & The Capital Region's Best

The voters have spoken, and the 2018 results are in! Below are the best things to do, places to eat and drink, places to shop, and places to stay in Albany, NY and the Capital Region.

JUMP TO: THINGS TO DO | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING | LODGING

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Things To Do

Best Outdoor Attraction

1st: USS Slater
2nd: Empire State Plaza
3rd: Indian Ladder Farms
4th: Peebles Island State Park
5th (tie): Mountain Ridge Adventure & Liberty Ridge Farm

Best Parks & Recreation

1st: John Boyd Thacher State Park
2nd: Washington Park
3rd: Albany Pine Bush Preserve
4th: The Crossings of Colonie
5th: Peebles Island State Park

Best Kid Friendly Attraction

1st: USS Slater
2nd: Indian Ladder Farms
3rd: Capital Holiday Lights in the Park
4th: New York State Museum
5th: Liberty Ridge Farm

Best Golf Course

1st: Orchard Creek Golf Club
2nd: The Edison Club
3rd: Joralemon Park Disc Golf Course
4th: Capital Hills at Albany
5th (tie): Colonie Country Club & Shaker Ridge

Best Museum

1st: USS Slater/Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
2nd: The Underground Railroad History Project at the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence
3rd: New York State Museum
4th: Children's Museum of Science & Technology
5th: Albany County Historical Association at Ten Broeck Mansion

Best Event Series

1st: Alive @ Five
2nd: Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market
3rd: Rockin' on the River
4th: Capital Concert Series at Empire State Plaza
5th: Schenectady Greenmarket

Food & Drink

Best American

1st: Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern
2nd: The Century House
3rd: Druthers Brewing Company
4th: Restaurant Navona
5th: Jack's Drive-In

Best Burger

1st: Manhattan Exchange
2nd: The Horses Lounge
3rd: Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern
4th: Maxon's American Grill
5th: Crave

Best Barbecue

1st: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
2nd: Capital Q Smokehouse
3rd: Wagon Train BBQ
4th: Memphis King
5th: Pig Pit

Best Pub Fare

1st: Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern
2nd: Druthers Brewing Company
3rd: Brown's Brewing Co.
4th: The Albany Pump Station
5th: Junior's Bar & Grill

Best Sandwiches, Subs & Delicatessens

1st: Gershon's Deli
2nd: Ragonese Italian Imports
3rd: Cardona's Market
4th: Bountiful Bread
5th: Genoa Importing

Best Steakhouse

1st: Angelo's 677 Prime
2nd: Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse
3rd: Barnsider Restaurant
4th: black & blue steak & crab
5th: Texas de Brazil

Best Fine Dining

1st: Angelo's 677 Prime
2nd: Yono's Restaurant
3rd: black & blue steak & crab
4th: New World Bistro Bar
5th: The Century House

Best Asian Cuisine

1st: Sake Café
2nd: Koto
3rd: Rain
4th: Shogun
5th (tie): Jade Bistro and Sukhothai Restaurant

Best Mexican

1st: El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant
2nd: El Loco Cafe
3rd: Casa Real Mexican Restaurant
4th: Salsa Latina Restaurant
5th: Oaxaquena Triqui

Best Indian

1st: Karavalli
2nd: Shalimar Delmar
3rd: Shalimar Troy
4th: LaZeez Restaurant
5th (tie): Curry House, Maharaja Indian Restaurant and Taj Mahal Restaurant

Best Italian

1st: Restaurant Navona
2nd: Risotto
3rd: Caffe Italia
4th: Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse
5th: Ferrari's

Best Late Night Food

1st: Bob's Diner
2nd: Bombers Burrito Bar
3rd: The Ruck
4th: I Love Pizza Troy
5th: Wings Over Albany

Best Pizza

1st: Restaurant Navona
2nd: Defazio's Pizza
3rd: The Fountain
4th: Marino's
5th: Kay's Pizza

Best Wings

1st: 20 North Broadway Tavern
2nd: Ralph's Tavern
3rd: Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern
4th: Chicken Joe's
5th (tie): McGeary's and Hill Street Cafe

Best Coffee Shops, Cafes & Diners

1st: Cafe Madison
2nd: Uncommon Grounds
3rd: Professor Java's
4th: Stacks Espresso Bar
5th: Iron Gate Cafe

Best Bakeries, Desserts & Candy

1st: Villa Italia Bakery
2nd: Cider Belly Doughnuts
3rd: Krause's Candy
4th: Bella Napoli
5th: Cheesecake Machismo

Best Brunch

1st: Iron Gate Cafe
2nd: Cafe Madison
3rd: Risotto
4th: Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern
5th: Perreca's

Best Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries

1st: Nine Pin Ciderworks
2nd: Druthers Brewing Company
3rd: Brown's Brewing Co.
4th: Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.
5th: Rare Form Brewing Company

Best Bar

1st: Restaurant Navona
2nd: City Beer Hall
3rd: 20 North Broadway Tavern
4th: McGeary's
5th: The Albany Pump Station

Best Irish Bar

1st: McGeary's
2nd: Katie O'Byrne's Restaurant
3rd: Pinhead Susan's
4th: Ryan's Wake
5th: Swifty's Restaurant & Pub

Best Live Music

1st: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
2nd: The Linda
3rd: The Low Beat
4th: McGeary's
5th (tie): Dinosaur Bar-B-Que & Centre Street Pub

 

Shopping

Best Retail Shops & Specialty Shopping

1st: Lord & Taylor
2nd: Open Door Bookstore
3rd: Alex and Ani
4th: Plato's Closet
5th: Angela's Bridal

Best Shopping Center

1st: Colonie Center
2nd: Stuyvesant Plaza
3rd: Crossgates Mall
4th: Clifton Park Center Mall
5th: Mohawk Commons

Best Gift Shop

1st: Wit's End Giftique
2nd: All Star Wine & Spirits
3rd: Romeo's
4th: De Anna's
5th (tie): Ta Da! Gifts and Fort Orange General Store

Best Jewelry Store

1st: Northeastern Fine Jewelry
2nd: Hannoush Jewelry
3rd: Glennpeter Jewelers
4th: Frank Adams Jewelers
5th (tie): Sondra's Fine Jewelry and Harold Finkle Your Jeweler

Best Florist

1st: Emil J Nagengast Florist
2nd: Felthousen's Florist
3rd: Blooms Wedding & Event Design Studio
4th: Lark Street Flower Market
5th: Danker Florist

Best Salon

1st: Bombshell
2nd: Townsend & Company Hair Salon & Spa
3rd: Jean Paul Spa & Salons
4th: Rumors Salon & Spa
5th: Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness

Lodging

Best Hotel

1st: Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel
2nd: The Century House
3rd: Renaissance Albany
4th: Hilton Garden Inn of Troy
5th (tie): Hampton Inn & Suites Albany Downtown & Hilton Garden Inn at Albany Medical Center

Best Bed & Breakfast

1st: The Inn at Glen Sanders Mansion
2nd: Washington Park Inn
3rd: Gardner Farm Inn
4th: Vintage Chic Inn
5th: The Gregory House