Indian River Magazine and its readers have chosen the following in the 2021 Best of the Treasure Coast Contest.
BEST RESTAURANT 2021
THE FORT STEAKHOUSE
The Fort Steakhouse, with its exquisitely prepared meals and top-notch chef Kevin Darr at the helm, is a huge hit with its customers.
BEST HOTEL 2021
KIMPTON VERO BEACH HOTEL & SPA
Discovering Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is like stumbling upon a rare and radiant gem.
BEST PLACE TO PLAY GOLF 2021
FAIRWINDS GOLF COURSE
Designed by famed golf course architect Jim Fazio, this 18-hole golf course is affordable, beautiful and challenging.
BEST FESTIVAL 2021
UNDER THE OAKS
Winning accolades from state and national organizations for years, Under the Oaks fine arts and crafts show is not to be missed.
BEST NEW BUSINESS 2021
WALLFLOWER CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING
Wallflower Custom Picture Framing took off with a bang from the very beginning.
BEST PLACE FOR DATE NIGHT 2021
BIGSHOTS GOLF OF VERO BEACH
Date night sparkles when you and your favorite person head for BigShots in Vero Beach. There’s so much to do you’ll find yourselves moving seamlessly from one thing to the next.
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE 2021
TERRA FERMATA/TERRA FERMATA TIKI BAR
Terra Fermata, the Treasure Coast’s premier outdoor concert venue, is set on a lush tropical property in the heart of downtown Stuart.
BEST RETAIL STORE 2021
CHIC AND SHORE THINGS
Chic and Shore Things is unique. Filled with creative coastal-inspired home décor, it reflects owner Becky Demanuel’s passion for the beauty of the beach and its always unique shells, sea beans, pebbles, starfish and so much more.
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION 2021
A.E. BACKUS MUSEUM & GALLERY
Visitors from around the world make the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery a must-visit stop. The museum houses the nation’s largest public presentation of artwork by Florida Artists Hall of Fame landscape painter A.E. “Bean” Backus [1906-1990].
BEST NONPROFIT 2021
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE TREASURE COAST
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast lives up to its name. It is a top-notch, humane, no-kill shelter that prides itself on finding forever homes for 3,000 animals a year – no small feat.
BEST RESIDENTIAL HOME BUILDER 2021
MATHERNE CONSTRUCTION
Matherne Construction of Florida LLC is involved in every aspect of construction, from upscale new custom residential design-construction and renovation to site development and significant commercial projects.
BEST SALON 2021
STUDIO GABRIEL SALON & SPA
Studio Gabriel has been providing Vero Beach with five-star services from relaxing spa treatments to hair and makeup design that strike the balance between classic style and current trends.
BEST PLACE FOR KIDS 2021
MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN CHILDREN’S GARDEN
There is nothing like the McKee Children’s Garden on the entire Treasure Coast.
BEST FOR PETS 2021
TREASURE COAST ANIMAL REHABILITATION AND FITNESS CENTER
One of the most difficult things for a pet parent is to see their beloved animal in pain. Medication doesn’t always seem to be the best or only answer.
BEST SALON 2021
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE 2021
Enter White Orchid Spa in Vero Beach and the staff immediately blankets you with attention, surrounding you with the feeling that you are the most important person in the place.
2020 Best of the Treasure Coast
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION 2020
McKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN
Immerse yourself in the green beauty of McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach.
BEST MUSEUM 2020
NATIONAL NAVY SEAL MUSEUM
The toughness and expertise of U. S. Navy SEALS is legendary.
BEST BEACH 2020
FORT PIERCE INLET STATE PARK
A beautiful half-mile beach in a state park on North Hutchinson Island is waiting for you to kick back and soak up the sun, wade or swim, snorkel, surf or SCUBA dive.
BEST MARINA 2020
FORT PIERCE CITY MARINA
Fort Pierce City Marina is exceptional, no doubt about it. Pilot your boat straight to a dock from the Atlantic — no turns, no extra mileage. Get off the boat and walk right into a park or a quaint and beautiful downtown with shops, restaurants and a theater.
BEST PLACE TO PLAY GOLF 2020
SANDRIDGE GOLF COURSE
Sandridge Golf Club, owned by Indian River County, wins raves from golfers who love its layout, its challenging holes and the great condition in which the courses are maintained. Repeat visits
are common.
BEST SPA 2020
WHITE ORCHID SPA
A sense of elegant luxury greets clients as they enter White Orchid Spa in Vero Beach. A feeling of relaxation and “time for me” adds to the pleasure of being where you are all that matters.
BEST NEW BUSINESS 2020
TREASURE COAST ANIMAL REHABILITATION AND FITNESS CENTER
The Treasure Coast has long needed a business that would help animals recover or improve from joint pain, injury and other issues that affect quality of life.
BEST RETAIL STORE 2020
SEAHORSE LANE BOUTIQUE
Searching for a way to bring out the true you? Seahorse Lane Boutique’s clothing stylists know just how to do it.
BEST RESIDENTIAL HOME BUILDER 2020
HELMET HOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Yes, your dream home can come true. If you can dream it, Helmet House Construction’s team can design and build it — or, build it from your plans.
BEST BREWERY 2020
PAREIDOLIA BREWING CO.
Pareidolia Brewing Company is so popular that it didn’t take long before owners Lynn and Pete Anderson realized they needed more space to produce their fine craft beers. Luckily, the old Sebastian post office building was empty at the time, and it perfectly fit their needs.
BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER 2020
OCEAN GRILL
Surrounded by unique and romantic decor, with views of the ocean, there is no better place to hold hands across the table and enjoy a romantic dinner with your sweetie than Ocean Grill in Vero Beach.
BEST BEACH BAR 2020
CAPT. HIRAM’S SANDBAR BEACH CLUB
The Sandbar Beach Club at Capt. Hiram’s Resort is a place to kick back and relax outdoors at tables in the sand, make friends and immerse yourself in the feeling of being on a tropical island.
BEST PIZZA 2020
PIZZA MIA
Pizza Mia offers the most amazing selection of pizza you might ever hope to see. They enjoy coming up with new ones all the time, giving customers a chance to try something different each time they come.
BEST PRODUCE/FRUIT STAND 2020
NELSON FAMILY FARMS
Nelson Family Farms is a destination for fresh produce buyers from around the Treasure Coast. It’s a delightful place to go, and it is often the first place named when someone asks where to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
2019 Best of the Treasure Coast
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION 2019
MANATEE OBSERVATION AND EDUCATION CENTER
“Ooooo, look!” That’s the sound of a visitor to the Manatee Observation and Education Center spotting a manatee in the waters of Moore’s Creek.
BEST ECO-ADVENTURE 2019
ST. LUCIE GUIDED NATURE PROGRAMS
The green woods and trails beckon. Sunlight slants down through the trees, lighting up a bush here and a palmetto there.
BEST SALON 2019
TALK OF THE TOWN HAIR STUDIO
Talk of the Town Hair Studio is not your typical hair salon — that’s obvious from the moment anyone steps in the door.
BEST NON-PROFIT 2019
FAMILY MEALS
When a holiday is coming, Family Meals in Fort Pierce buzzes into a beehive of activity. The non-profit founded by Martha Taylor and a group of friends gives families turkeys, chickens and other uncooked foods so that they may enjoy holiday meals cooked at home in their own special ways.
BEST PLACE TO WORK 2019
POST INSURANCE
People who work for Post Insurance say they love it. And the owners love their employees. It makes for a serendipitous situation, a happy coincidence where employees discover they’ve signed on to a workplace that values them not only as employees, but also as people.
BEST BREWERY 2019
AMERICAN ICON BREWERY
American Icon Brewery offers the best in handcrafted beer developed by a passionate brewmaster with an international diploma in brewing technology. From classics like Pilsner to new favorites like Milk Stout, guests can always expect an outstanding experience when they drop in to the Vero Beach brewery.
BEST RESTAURANT 2019
OCEAN GRILL
The Ocean Grill is an icon along the Vero Beach shoreline. Literally built right out over the beach sand, the 70-year-old building has a long and storied history recounted on its website. It has been operated since 1965 by the Replogle family, and a second generation of the family is now running the restaurant.
BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER 2019
SAILOR’S RETURN
Gazing out at an orange and purple sunset from a restaurant table with boats spread out below, watching as the fiery sun slips below the horizon is unquestionably an experience that lends itself to romantic thoughts.
BEST WATERFRONT VIEW AT A RESTAURANT 2019
KYLE G’S PRIME SEAFOOD AND STEAKS
If you’re looking for the best waterfront view as you drink or dine in a Treasure Coast restaurant, what could be better than hitting an outside bar with frothy blue waves breaking just feet away. Or sit inside and look through the huge windows for the same view.
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 2019
12A BUOY
It stands to reason that a restaurant named 12A Buoy, located on Fisherman’s Wharf, would be named Best Seafood Restaurant on the Treasure Coast.
The eatery’s slogan is “when the fish won’t bite.”
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT 2019
SCAMPI GRILL
The enticing scent of a true Italian restaurant featuring beautifully prepared dishes is apparent from the moment you open the door to Scampi Grill in Vero Beach.
BEST PIZZA 2019
TAVOLA PIZZA
Rob Clark has something unique in Tavola Pizza — his secret pizza recipe from the parents of his childhood friends in Syracuse, New York. And, his restaurant features an unusual decor for a pizza place. It has a surfing theme.
BEST HAMBURGER 2019
THE ROOSTER IN THE GARDEN DINING ROOM
Relishing locally raised beef in a big juicy burger is an experience you won’t forget. Neither is the restaurant or its name.
