Best Local Plant Nursery
Clegg’s Nursery 45.59%
Before being a #plantmom or #plantdad was ever trendy on social media, Clegg’s Nursery was an original plant influencer, helping families grow since 1955. Get lost in the lush aisles of flourishing flowers, happy house plants, decorative succulents, fresh herbs and vegetables, and promising trees and shrubs. cleggsnursery.com
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Louisiana Nursery 37.68%
D’s Garden Center 5.05%
Baton Rouge Succulent Co. 4.34%
The Plant Barn 3.72%
Best Antique Shop
Circa 1857 29.06%
This Mid City antique mecca has taken home the title of Best Antique Shop four years in a row. (Is it getting reminiscent of the famous Michael Jordan portrait wearing his national championship rings yet?) Thanks to owner Garrett Kemp’s social media presence and the store’s covetable collection, Circa 1857 has no doubt contributed timeless character to homes around Baton Rouge. circa1857br.com
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The Pink Elephant Antiques 14.27%
Rusty Rooster 13.68%
V. Watts Trade Mart 10.47%
The Corbel 7.78%
Best Local Grocery Store
Oak Point Fresh Market 24.02%
If you’re not lured by the rows of hot and crispy fried fish or the chocolate-covered strawberries, the big bags of flavored popcorn or pounds of boiled crawfish may tempt you at this family-owned grocery store with locations in Watson and Central. It’s OK; no one is judging if you leave with a cart full of treats that weren’t on your long-forgotten shopping list. oakpointmarket.com
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Rouses Markets 22.77%
Calandro’s Supermarkets 11.82%
Calvin’s Bocage Market 11.78%
Alexander’s Markets 11.19%
Best Market for Meat
Iverstine Farms Butcher 20.44%
Deciding which hormone-free, grass-fed, pasture-raised meat to choose for your meal can feel like a pop quiz. The experts at this whole-animal butcher shop, which sources from local farms, can help. iverstinebutcher.com
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Oak Point Fresh Market 11.92%
Maxwell’s Market 10.08%
Chris’ Specialty Foods 9.76%
Day’s Smokehouse & Specialty Meats 9.40%
Best Caterer
Big Jake’s BBQ 21.78%
Listen, we can’t all be pitmasters. That’s why there are catering companies—let the pros handle the plating. Big Jake’s will bring a spread of smoked chicken, brisket and sausage and creamy sides of baked beans, mac and cheese and coleslaw. Find it on Facebook.
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City Pork Catering & Events 19.34%
Bergeron’s City Market 19.02%
Unique Cuisine 7.70%
Drakes Catering 7.13%
Best Local Shop for Children & Infants
The Bee’s Knees
14.06%
Your little ones will only be this small for so long. So why not dress them in the sweetest, custom-embroidered and themed seasonal pieces? This precious Denham Springs shop stocks onesies, dresses, button-ups, overalls and pajama sets for all those milestones. Find it on Facebook
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Lulu & Bean 13.35%
Victoria’s Toy Station 12.28%
Cassandi’s 12.06%
Oh Baby 11.85%
Best Local Women’s Boutique
Bayou Belle Boutique 23.31%
Wearing an outfit you love is the key to taking a night out from good to unforgettable. Find romantic date night dresses, bold matching sets with loud prints, statement sneakers, metallic booties and clothes that celebrate the Cap City’s culture at Bayou Belle’s Denham Springs and Baton Rouge locations. bayoubelleboutique.com
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JM Boutique 9.27%
Frock Candy 8.92%
Virgo Boutique 8.57%
Mingle 8.22%
Best Local Men’s Clothing Store
The Backpacker 21.83%
Patagonia polos, The North Face shorts and Hoka running shoes may not be considered high-fashion, but active wear and athleisure reign supreme here in the Sportsman’s Paradise. The Jefferson Highway outdoor sports store’s shelves of high-quality clothes and accessories look and feel good—and perform well. backpackeroutdoors.com
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Carriages Fine Clothier 19.90%
Perlis 16.45%
McLavy Ltd. 14.42%
Harper’s Haberdashery 9.85%
Best Hotel
WATERMARK Baton Rouge 36.66%
Alexa, play Gwen Stefani’s “Luxurious.” Once upon a time, this glamorous downtown hotel was the Louisiana Trust & Savings Bank headquarters, the safe place for the wealthy’s valuables. Now, reimagined with carved marble walls, grand ceiling murals and gold accents, this historic landmark makes everyone who walks through the door feel like a million bucks. watermarkbr.com
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L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge 18.36%
Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel 16.21%
Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center 10.90%
The Cook Hotel at LSU 7.89%
Best Local Gift Shop
The Royal Standard 26.78%
Tell me you’re from Louisiana without telling me you’re from Louisiana. Think: Crawfish- and oyster-patterned pajamas, LSU Tiger-themed gifts and apparel, Lilly Pulitzer accessories and monogrammed … well, everything. This gift and apparel shop has all of the essentials for a good ol’ Southern-style tailgate, crawfish boil or day at the lake. theroyalstandard.com
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Fleurty Girl Baton Rouge 16.42%
Baton Rouge General Gift Shop 11.05%
The Foyer 9.23%
Bayou Belle Boutique 7.46%
Best Local Spa
Bumble Lane 30.40%
Self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s a requirement. Slip into a comfy robe and slippers, and nourish your body. Take the plunge at this 23-year-old spa with a sinus and headache massage, a lavender sugar body scrub, a seaweed mud wrap or an illuminating facial. bumblelane.com
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Woodhouse Day Spa 21.33%
K Bliss Beauty 10.83%
Le Roche Bleu Day Spa 8.06%
Aydell Lane Spa & Boutique LLC 6.77%
Best Local Medical Spa
Weiler Plastic Surgery 19.56%
Botox, anyone? Weiler Plastic Surgery has been recognized by Allergan as the No. 1 provider of Botox in Louisiana. It offers a range of plastic surgery, injectables and nonsurgical facial and body treatments, and its videos like “Dance or you can’t get your Botox” have helped draw a following of more than 142,000 on Instagram. weilerplasticsurgery.com
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Avant Tous Beauty and Medical Spa 18.24%
Louisiana Aesthetics and Skin Care 12.99%
Williamson Cosmetic Center 12.02%
The Aesthetic Medicine & Anti-Aging Clinics of Louisiana 8.29%
Best Local Nail Salon
Zaza Nail Boutique 20.76%
The love is in the details at Zaza. Comfy sofa chairs for pedicures, fresh flower arrangements on every table and elegant decor send you into an instant state of bliss. zazabatonrouge.com
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Sweetheart Nails 16.18%
BeauVie Nail Bar 14.50%
Perkins Nails 10.00%
Ginger’s Nails, Salon & Boutique 9.69%
Best Local Hair Salon
Paris Parker 13.14%
As the saying goes, life is too short to have boring hair. Whether you’re in your Britney Spears era or have evolved with the times like Beyoncé, this is the place to experiment with a new cut, color or style from a trained hair professional. parisparker.com
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EGGIE salon studio 10.24%
Salon Prism 9.22%
Nadine & Company Hair Studio 8.25%
Mitchell & Co 6.96%
Best Place for Pet Services
Camp Bow Wow 23.39%
“Pup cups” full of whipped cream and bone-shaped pools with balls to play with? Sounds like a pet’s paradise. Keep your furry friend’s tail wagging with grooming, daycare, boarding and training. campbowwow.com
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Smooch My Pooch 14.76%
Royal Treatment: Pet Manor & Grooming Spa 11.45%
Barking Lots Boarding & Daycare 8.55%
Petz Plaza 7.42%
Best Boutique Fitness Studio
Body Sculpt Barre Studio 21.27%
Don’t be fooled by the ballet barres and plie positions—barre is not for the weak. These muscle-defining micro-movements will leave you sweating, challenged and stronger than you’d imagine. bodysculptbarrestudios.com
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ToneBR 11.66%
Evolve Studio 9.54%
HotWorx 9.47%
Resolute Fitness 8.98%
Best Urgent Care Center
Lake After Hours 28.45%
Health is wealth. Lake After Hours can treat cuts, simple fractures and sprains, fevers and ear infections—without the long wait times and costly fees of the ER. lakeurgentcare.com
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Patient Plus Urgent Care 16.80%
The Baton Rouge Clinic 16.20%
STAT Care Clinic 9.21%
Ochsner Urgent Care 8.55%
Best Car Wash
Benny’s Car Wash 61.15%
Sometimes all it takes to turn a day around is to ride in a drive-thru car wash. It’s a great excuse to throw out all the empty water bottles and napkins from your vehicle, and clean the interior with a free vacuum. You can also knock out those dreaded car maintenance tasks like getting an oil change and updating your state inspection, too. bennyscarwash.com
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WhiteWater Express Car Wash 18.03%
PitStop Car Wash 6.11%
Tsunami Car Wash 3.41%
H2O Auto Spa 3.41%
Editor’s note: All Geaux Clean Car Wash locations are now operating as WhiteWater Express Car Wash, so the votes for those two business names have been combined.
Best Tattoo Shop
Burning Lotus Tattoo 20.72%
What story does your skin tell? Burning Lotus Tattoo’s artists treat skin like a canvas, creating vibrant pieces to wear forever. Find it on Instagram
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Black Torch Tattoo 14.23%
Hall Tattoos 11.53%
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Body Images Tattoo 10.18%
Tattootopia 9.55%
This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of 225 Magazine.