We invited readers to vote for the best the St. Croix Valley area has to offer throughout January in our annual readers’ poll. The poll is now closed, and we’re excited to announce your finalists (listed in alphabetical order) for Best of St. Croix Valley 2025.
Winners will be announced in our Best of St. Croix Valley 2025 issue this June, so stay tuned!
Dining
Best Bakery
- Buddy’s Bakery
- Keys Cafe & Bakery
- St. Croix Baking Company
Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery
- Hop & Barrel Brewing
- Pitchfork Brewing
- 45th Parallel Distillery
Best Breakfast or Brunch
- Keys Cafe & Bakery
- Oasis Café
- San Pedro Café
Best Burger
- Agave Kitchen
- Barker’s Bar & Grill
- Milwaukee Burger Company
Best Dessert or Ice Cream
- Dipsy Ice Cream Shoppe
- Knoke’s Chocolates and Nuts
- Nelson’s Ice Cream
Best International Cuisine
- Miko Thai Kitchen
- San Pedro Café
- Sapporo Japanese Restaurant
Best Locally Owned Coffee or Tea Shop
- Ember and Bean Roasting Co
- Joe to Go
- Wheelhouse Coffee
Best Outdoor Dining Space
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
- Urban Olive & Vine
Best Pizza
- Bricks Neapolitan Pizza
- EJ’s Pizzeria
- Melt Pizza Company
Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu
- Protein House
- Urban Olive & Vine
- The Wild Hare
Best Restaurant
- Lolo American Kitchen and Craft Bar
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
Abode
Best Carpet and Flooring Store
- Abbott Paint & Carpet
- Carpeting By Mike
- Hamernick’s Flooring Solutions
- H & F Home Furnishings
Best Custom Home Builder
- Derrick Custom Homes
- Hartman Homes
- Wittstock Builders
Best Garden Center/Nursery
- Abrahamson Nurseries
- Farrill’s Sunrise Nursery and Garden Center
- Rose Floral and Greenhouse
Best Home Décor or Furniture Store
- H & F Home Furnishings
- Rustic Eagle Home Décor & Furnishings
- The 715
Best Interior Design Firm
- Bobbie Peterson Interiors
- Brick + Linen
- Kelli Kaufer Designs
Best Landscape Design Service
- Myhra Design Group
- Stone & Leaf Landscaping
- Willow River Company
Best Remodeler
- Derrick Custom Homes
- The Fortress Project
- Wildwood Kitchens and Baths
Best Senior Living Residence
- Boutwells Landing
- The Deerfield
- The Sycamore of River Falls
Self Care
Best Barbershop or Salon With Men’s Services
- Prohibition Barbers
- The Barber Shop – River Falls
- 4 North Beauty Collective
Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio
- Fit PT
- Inspiring Actions Yoga
- Light House Yoga + Fitness
Best Hair Salon
- Tangled Salon & Spa
- The Hair Tailor
- 4 North Beauty Collective
Best Manicure and Pedicure
- INails & Spa
- Turbo Nails Oak Park Heights
- 21 Nails
Best Massage
- Just for Me “The Spa”
- Lori’s Salon & Day Spa
- River Bend Massage Therapy
- The Healing Hand
Best Med Spa
- St Croix Skincare
- Stillwater Skin Medspa
- Willow Medspa & Fitness
Best Spa
- Just for Me “The Spa”
- Sandalwood Skin Studio
- Stillwater Skin Medspa
Wellness
Best Chiropractic Practice
- Croixview Family Chiropractic
- Move•Well Chiropractic and Sports Therapy
- Vitality Chiropractic
Best Dental Practice
- Ashley Dental
- Oakwood Dental
- St. Croix Kidds Pediatric Dentistry
Best Dermatology Practice
- Advanced Dermatology Care
- Forefront Dermatology
- Tareen Dermatology
Best Vision Care Practice
- Associated Eye Care
- Christensen Vision Care
- Pearle Vision
Best Family Medicine Practice
- HealthPartners Clinic Stillwater
- Hudson Physicians
- Western Wisconsin Health
Best Holistic Wellness Practice
- Evensong Wellness
- Fit PT
- Healing Waters Health Center
Best OB-GYN Practice
- Evensong Women’s Health and Midwifery
- Hudson Physicians
- Western Wisconsin Health
Best Orthodontic Practice
- Brettin Orthodontics
- Orchin + Orchin
- Valley Orthodontics
Best Physical Therapy Practice
- Fit PT
- Twin Cities Orthopedics
- Velocity Physical Therapy
Best Pediatric Practice
- Central + Priority Pediatrics
- Hudson Physicians
- St. Croix Kidds Pediatric Dentistry
Learning
Best Dance Studio
- Helmer Dance Studio
- The Dancing House
- The Phipps Center for the Arts
Best Learning or Tutoring Center
- Bright Star Tutoring
- Learning Rx – Hudson
- Mathnasium of Stillwater
Best Preschool Program
- Bethel Highlands Preschool
- Sunny Hill Preschool
- Trinity Academy
Best Swim School or Lesson Provider
- Foss Swim School
- Hudson YMCA
- Little Crappie Swim School
Pet Care
Best Pet-Friendly Dining or Retail Businesses (not including pet stores)
- Hop and Barrel Brewing
- River Siren Brewing
- Urban Olive & Vine
Best Dog Park
- Andy’s Bark Park
- Hudson Dog Park
- River Falls Dog Park
Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service
- Goldwood Kennels
- K9-Playtime
- Paws and Claws Pet Resort
Best Pet Grooming Service
- Angel’s Pet World
- Diggity Dawg Grooming
- Paws and Claws Pet Resort
Best Veterinarian Practice
- Animal Care Center of Hudson
- Croix Valley Veterinary Hospital
- Hillcrest Animal Hospital
Shops
Best Apparel Boutique
- La Rue Marche
- Mainstream Boutique
- One:Nine Boutique
Best Florist
- Blooms For Happiness
- Hudson Flower Shop
- Rose Floral & Greenhouse
Best Gift Shop
- Rose & Lavender
- Smith + Trade Mercantile
- The Bees Knees
- The Purple Tree
Best Jewelry Store
- Beth’s Jewelry Shop
- Diamonds on Main
- The Jewelers Bench
Best Specialty Food or Kitchen Store
- Grand Fête
- Hudson Grocery Co-op
- Urban Olive & Vine
Leisure
Best Beach, Open Space or Park
- Lakefront Park
- Perch Lake
- Willow River State Park
Best Date Night Spot
- Lolo American Kitchen + Craft Bar
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
Best Outdoor Location for Graduation Photos
- Lakefront Park
- Stillwater Lift Bridge
- Willow River State Park
Best Place for Family Activities
- Eagle Eye Farm
- The Grounds at St. Croix National
- Willow River State Park
Best of the East Metro
Best Alpine Hill or Nordic Ski Trail
- Afton Alps
- Trollhaugen Ski Area
- Willow River State Park
Best Alterations or Tailoring Service
- Sew For “U”
- St Croix Cleaners
- Tom’s Tailor
Best Biking or Hiking Trail
- Brown’s Creek State Trail
- Gateway State Trail
- Willow River State Park
Best Bridal or Formal Wear Store
- Bella Bridal Boutique
- Raffiné Bridal
Best Electrician Service
- Crown Electric
- JWC Electric
- Steiner Plumbing, Electric & Heating
Best Family Photographer
- Gwen Larson Photography
- Lisa Buth Photography
- NP Design & Photography
Best Financial Services
- Chris Wood at CrossCountry Mortgage
- Todd Kockelman at Kockelman Financial
Best Golf Course
- River Falls Golf Club
- St. Croix National Golf and Event Center
- White Eagle Golf Club
Best Heating and Cooling Service
- Anderson Heating
- Boldt’s Plumbing and Heating
- K&C Air Systems
Best Home Cleaning Service
- Cleaning with Meaning
- Dunn Right Cleaning Services
- Integrity Cleaners
Best Home and Property Management Service
- Jenkins Property Management
- Pro Care Property Maintenance
- Telus Property Services + Solutions
Best Law Practice
- Angela Olson Law
- Doar, Drill & Skow
- Galowitz Olson Law Firm
Best Local Concert Series
- Concerts in the Park, Hudson
- Hillside Music Series, New Richmond
Best Music School
- Brickhouse Music
- Hovland Conservatory of Music
- Jen’s String Studio
- Rock U Music School
- The Phipps Center for the Arts
Best Outdoor Skating Rink
- Burton Field
- Perro Park
- St. Croix Recreation Center
Best Plumbing Service
- Boldt’s Plumbing and Heating
- Countryside Plumbing and Heating
- Johnson Brothers Plumbing
Best Private School
- Saint Patrick Catholic School
- St. Mary School
- Trinity Academy
Best Professional Theater
- St. Croix Festival Theater
- The Zephyr Theatre
Best Roofing Service
- Becker Roofing & Construction
- Bohl Home Services
- Fultz Roofing and Siding
- JTR Roofing
Best Senior Portrait Photographer
- Isa Wines Photography
- Lisa Buth Photography
- NP Design & Photography
Best Staycation Hotel
- Hotel Crosby
- Lora Hotel
Best Summer Camp (specific camp name)
- Hidden Pines Ranch
- YMCA Camp DayCroix
- YMCA Camp St. Croix
Best Venue to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks
- Lakefront Park
- Lowell Park
- Pioneer Park
Best Wedding Photographer or Videographer
- Ashley Foster Photography
- Dakota Layne Photography
- Isa Wines Photography
- Katie Lee Photography
Best Wedding Venue
- JX Venue
- Oehme Oasis Wedding & Events Venue
- St. Croix National Golf and Event Center
Best Winery
- Belle Âme Vineyard
- Cracked Barrel Winery
- Dancing Dragonfly Winery
- Rustic Roots Winery
