The following is a press release courtesy of Meredith Corporation and the Southern Living Brand.
(NEW YORK, NY, March 10, 2020)—Meredith Corporation’s (NYSE: MDP) Southern Living announced today the winners of its fourth annual South’s Best Awards, recognizing readers' favorite Southern destinations and experiences. In-depth coverage of the winners appears in the April issue of Southern Living, on sale March 20. To see the full results go here. This year's survey results reveal the best Southern Bars, BBQ Joints, Catfish, Cities, Hotels, Neighborhoods, Restaurants, Scenic Drives, Stores and Towns.
"At Southern Living, we're passionate about celebrating the extraordinary experiences that define Southern hospitality," said Sid Evans, Editor in Chief of Southern Living. "Our goal is to identify the destinations our readers are loving the most right now—places that represent the very best of the South. This year's awards are a unique mix of newcomers and longtime favorites."
Highlights of Southern Living’s 2020 South's Best Awards survey results are as follows:
CITIES
South’s Best Cities Overall – The Top 10
1. Charleston, SC
2. Savannah, GA
3. Nashville, TN
4. New Orleans, LA
5. Austin, TX
6. Asheville, NC
7. Alexandria, VA
8. Atlanta, GA
9. Richmond, VA
10. Tallahassee, FL
South’s Best Food City: New Orleans, LA
TOWNS
South’s Best Small Town: Williamsburg, VA
South’s Best Beach Town: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL
South’s Best Mountain Town: Gatlinburg, TN
South’s Best College Town: Athens, GA
NEIGHBORHOODS
South’s Best Neighborhood: Thomas Square (Savannah, GA)
HOTELS
South’s Best New Hotel: The Dewberry (Charleston, SC)
South’s Best Historic Hotel: The Peabody Memphis (Memphis, TN)
South’s Best Resort: The Inn on Biltmore Estate (Asheville, NC)
RESTAURANTS
South’s Best New Restaurant: Alewife (Richmond, VA)
South’s Best Classic Restaurant: Commander's Palace (New Orleans, LA)
South’s Best Local Restaurant: The Grey (Savannah, GA)
BARS
South’s Best Bar: Alley Cat Lounge (Savannah, GA)
South’s Best Dive Bar: Green Parrot Bar (Key West, FL)
CATFISH
South’s Best Catfish: Taylor Grocery (Taylor, MS)
STORES
South’s Best Bookstore: E. Shaver, Bookseller (Savannah, GA)
South’s Best Garden Shop: Tallahassee Nurseries (Tallahassee, FL)
South’s Best Boutique: Magnolia Market at The Silos (Waco, TX)
SCENIC DRIVES
South’s Best Scenic Drive: Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA)
BBQ JOINTS
South’s Best BBQ Joint Overall: 4 Rivers Smokehouse (Winter Park, FL)
South’s Best BBQ Joints by State:
Alabama: Dreamland Bar-B-Que (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Arkansas: McClard's Bar-B-Q (Hot Springs, AR)
Florida: 4 Rivers Smokehouse (Winter Park, FL)
Georgia: Wiley's Championship BBQ (Savannah, GA)
Kentucky: Starnes Barbecue (Paducah, KY)
Louisiana: The Joint (New Orleans, LA)
Mississippi: The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint (Ocean Springs, MS)
Missouri: Pappy's Smokehouse (St. Louis, MO)
North Carolina: Buxton Hall Barbecue (Asheville, NC)
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Joe's Bar-B-Cue (Stillwater, OK)
South Carolina: Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ (Charleston, SC)
Tennessee: Peg Leg Porker (Nashville, TN)
Texas: The Salt Lick BBQ (Driftwood, TX)
Virginia: Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que (Williamsburg, VA)
Washington D.C.: Hill Country Barbecue Market (Downtown, D.C.)
For more results from Southern Living South’s Best 2020 survey, including the full lists in every category, visit https://www.southernliving.com/souths-best.
South’s Best 2020 Survey Methodology: A survey developed by the editors of Southern Living, in association with the third-party research firm M&RR, was made available at a secure online destination from July 10, 2019, to September 16, 2019. For more on survey methodology, visit the website.
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Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, homes, gardens and travel. Reaching more than 23 million people each month, Southern Living connects consumers to the region's rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile and event platforms. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is produced by Meredith Corporation.