Lafayette businesses and destinations claimed 21 wins in Diablo Magazine's 2026 Best of the East Bay readers' choice awards, finishing second only to Walnut Creek among Contra Costa County cities. Orinda and Moraga also earned honors in the annual poll, published in the magazine's July/August 2026 issue on Thursday, July 2.
Walnut Creek led the region with 56 category wins, followed by Lafayette's 21 and Concord's 12, according to Patch. The readers' choice program, which has run for more than five decades, drew votes across dozens of categories. Diablo's editors also select a smaller number of editorial favorites.
Douglah Designs, a Lafayette-based contractor, swept six home-improvement categories: Best Contractor, Best Kitchen & Bath Remodel, Best Home Lighting, Best Kitchen & Bath Store, Best Stone/Tile, and Best Window Treatments. The last five were awarded under its Luxe Home by Douglah Designs showroom brand. That haul made it the single biggest local winner.
Other Lafayette standouts span dining, retail, and recreation:
- Best Local Festival: Lafayette Art and Wine Festival
- Best Staycation: Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
- Best Specialty Grocery Store: Diablo Foods
- Best Breakfast Spot: Tutu's
- Best Garden Center: Orchard Nursery, the family-owned nursery at 4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd. that has operated since 1946
- Best Place to Have a Picnic: Lafayette Reservoir
- Best Hiking Spot (co-winner): Briones Regional Park
- Best Men's Clothing Store and Best Stationery/Greeting Cards: Venture Quality Goods
- Best Antiques Store: Vintage Vida
- Best Bicycle Shop: First Mile Cycle Works
- Best Hair Salon: Caroline's Salon
- Best Lash and Brow Salon: ArtistryMK
- Best Flooring/Carpet: Abode
- Best HRT (hormone replacement therapy) Specialist (co-winner): Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery
In Orinda, reChic won Best Consignment Shop and A 1 Home Roofing Company took Best Roofing. Moraga's Joy in Motion earned Best Dance Lessons.
The Lafayette Art and Wine Festival, fresh off its Best Local Festival win, returns Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, on Mount Diablo Boulevard in downtown Lafayette. The free-admission event is presented by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and draws more than 65,000 visitors.
