Nominations and final voting: Based entirely on community participation, Omaha businesses are nominated as the best in their category for about eight weeks at TheReader.com beginning in January and running through the end of February. Tens of thousands of nominations inform the top nominees in each category who will appear on the final ballot. Final voting runs March 5 through April 30. Stringent procedures help insure one-person, one-vote and minimize vote-buying. An independent accounting firm Hancock & Dana, one of Omaha’s oldest, counts final votes to tabulate the awards.
Winners: This list represents what Omaha locals and Reader readers love — businesses that are the best at what they do. With deep thanks to everyone in the community who participated, we congratulate these amazing awardees!
Best Bar for an Internet Date
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Tiny House Bar
Readers’ Choice: Beercade, Edge of the Universe, The Homy Inn
Readers’ Recommend: Nite Owl, WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers
Readers’ Refer: Stocks n Bonds, Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen, The Down Under Lounge
Best Bar for Beer Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Crescent Moon
Readers’ Choice: Krug Park, 72 Table & Tap, Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen, Blatt Beer & Table
Readers’ Refer: Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews, The Down Under Lounge
Best Bar for Billiards
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Big John’s Billiards
Readers’ Choice: Perry’s Place, Stocks n Bonds
Best Bar for Cheap Drinks
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Winchester Bar & Grill
Readers’ Choice: Brothers Lounge, O’Leaver’s Pub, Alderman’s Bar
Readers’ Recommend: Sullivan’s Bar, KoZee Lounge, The Down Under Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen, Rose & Crown Pub, Century Lounge
Best Bar for Conversation
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Edge of the Universe
Readers’ Choice: The Homy Inn, Mr. Toad’s Pub
Readers’ Recommend: Corkscrew Wine & Cheese, The Down Under Lounge, Red Lion Lounge, The Berry & Rye
Readers’ Refer: The Village Bar Ralston, Dario’s Brasserie
Best Bar for Craft Cocktails
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Wicked Rabbit
Readers’ Choice: Tiny House Bar, Alice
Readers’ Recommend: Edge of the Universe, The Berry & Rye, WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers, Krug Park
Readers’ Refer: The Trap Room, Flixx, Red Lion Lounge
Best Bar for Darts:
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Winchester Bar & Grill
Readers’ Choice: Stocks n Bonds, Addy’s Sports Bar & Grill
Readers’ Recommend: The Down Under Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Century Lounge
Best Bar for Hiding Out
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Green Onion Lounge
Readers’ Choice: Edge of the Universe, Alderman’s Bar, Brothers Lounge
Readers’ Recommend: The Down Under Lounge, The Trap Room, Jerry’s Bar
Readers’ Refer: Kaitei, Babe’s
Best Bar for Spirits Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: PROOF Whiskey Bar & Craft Cocktails
Readers’ Choice: Dundee Dell, Krug Park, Copacabana
Best Bar for Whiskey Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Berry & Rye
Readers’ Choice: WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers
Readers’ Recommend: The Down Under Lounge, Century Lounge
Best Bar with Live Music
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Waiting Room Lounge
Readers’ Choice: Slowdown
Readers’ Recommend: The Down Under Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Brokedown Palace, The Omaha Lounge, Barnato Lounge
Best Bartenders Are At…
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: M’s Pub
Readers’ Choice: Edge of the Universe
Readers’ Recommend: Village Bar, WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers, Krug Park, Alice, The Down Under Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Journeys Bar and Grill, The Berry & Rye, Stocks n Bonds, Winchester Bar & Grill, The Tavern – Pub & Market
Best Casino
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Prairie Flower Casino
Readers’ Choice: Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Readers’ Recommend: Ameristar
Readers’ Refer: Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Best Cigar Bar
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Jake’s Cigars & Spirits
Readers’ Choice: Havana Garage, Copacabana Cocktail Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Nickleby’s Smoke Ring
Best Cocktail Lounge
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lake Lono Rum Club
Readers’ Choice: WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers, Alice, Cedar
Readers’ Recommend: Lemon Drop Bar & Grill, Holiday Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Interlude Lounge
Best Concert Venue
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stir Cove
Readers’ Choice: Slowdown, Holland Center
Readers’ Recommend: Sokol Auditorium
Best Dance Club
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Max
Readers’ Choice: Bushwackers Saloon & Dance Hall, Ozone Lounge
Readers’ Refer: Bar 415
Best DJ Service
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Jack Entertainment
Readers’ Choice: Bryan Hill Entertainment Inc., A Lasting Impression DJ, GMan Entertainment
Best Driving Range
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Topgolf
Readers’ Choice: Milt’s Golf Center, Stone Creek Golf Course
Readers’ Recommend: Schmidley’s Family Golf Range
Best Escape Room
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Escape Omaha
Readers’ Choice: Get Out: Omaha, House of Conundrum
Readers’ Recommend: Locked Room Omaha
Best Golf Course
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Field Club of Omaha
Readers’ Choice: Tiburon Golf Club, Quarry Oaks Golf Club
Readers’ Recommend: Bent Tree Golf Club
Best Happy Hour
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Readers’ Choice: DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar, WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers
Readers’ Recommend: Edge of the Universe, Alderman’s Bar, Hiro 88 Millard, The Tavern, The Trap Room, Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill
Readers’ Refer: The Village Bar Ralston, The Down Under Lounge
Best Karaoke Bar
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Winchester Bar & Grill
Readers’ Choice: Alderman’s Bar, Moe & Curly’s Pub
Readers’ Recommend: Renos Karaoke
Readers’ Refer: KoZee Lounge, Brownie’s Watering Hole
Best Movie Theater
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Marcus Majestic Cinema of Omaha
Readers’ Choice: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Aksarben Cinema, AMC Oakview Plaza 24, Film Streams’ Dundee Theater
Best Neighborhood Tavern
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Homy Inn
Readers’ Choice: Winchester Bar & Grill, Alderman’s Bar, The Village Bar Ralston, Krug Park
Readers’ Recommend: The Down Under Lounge
Readers’ Refer: KoZee Lounge, Perry’s Place, Village Bar
Best New Bar
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Edge of the Universe
Readers’ Choice: Tiny House Bar, Alice
Readers’ Recommend: Sickies Garage
Best Organized Bike Ride
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Tour de Nebraska
Readers’ Choice: Radler Bike Festival, Omaha Biathlon
Readers’ Recommend: Interscholastic Nebraska Cycling League Race
Best Organized Footrace/Run
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ralston Fun Run
Readers’ Choice: Lincoln Marathon, Shamrock Run, Papillon Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Fun Run
Best Patio at a Bar
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: 1912 Benson
Readers’ Choice: Bärchen Beer Garden, Mr. Toad’s Pub, WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers, Blatt Beer & Table
Readers’ Recommend: Brownie’s Watering Hole
Readers’ Refer: The Trap Room, The Down Under Lounge, The Tavern
Best Sand Volleyball
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Winchester Bar & Grill
Readers’ Choice: O’Leaver’s Pub, Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill, Big Red Restaurant & Sports Bar, The MARK
Best Shopping District/Mall
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Nebraska Crossing Outlets
Readers’ Choice: Village Pointe, The Old Market, Downtown Ralston, Westroads Mall, Shadow Lake Towne Center
Best Sports Bar
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Good Life
Readers’ Choice: DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar, Tanner’s Bar & Grill, Addy’s Sports Bar & Grill
Readers’ Recommend: IceHouse Sports Bar
Readers’ Refer: Ref’s Sports Bar & Grill
Best Throwing Axe Place
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Flying Timber Axe Throwing
Readers’ Choice: Craft Axe Throwing – Omaha, Axe Games | Axe Throwing
Best Tourist Attractions
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Readers’ Choice: The Old Market, Lauritzen Gardens
Readers’ Refer: Omaha Performing Arts, Hollywood Candy
Best Wine Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Spirit World
Readers’ Choice: La Buvette Wine & Grocery, Wine, Beer, and Spirits
Readers’ Recommend: Vino Mas, Twisted Vine