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The results are in for the 2016 Best of Orlando reader’s poll and Orlando has spoken. Here you’ll find Orlando’s best bars, clubs, bands, DJs and more, all determined by you, the readers. If you don’t see your personal favorites here, maybe this will lead you to a few new places to try!
Best Bar
1. Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
2. Redlight Redlight, 2810 Corrine Drive, 407-893-9832, redlightredlightbeerparlour.com
3. Dancers Royale, 5221 E. Colonial Drive, 407-281-0120
Photo via Will’s Pub/FacebookBest Trivia Night
1. Curtis Earth, earthtrivia.com
2. The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, facebook.com/thegeekeasy
3. Tasty Trivia, tastytriviaorlando.com
Photo via emerald_emperor/InstagramBest Wine Bar
1. The Wine Room on Park Avenue, 270 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-696-9463, thewineroomonline.com
2. The Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden, 1800 N. Orange Ave., 407-228-4992, also 116 E. First St., Sanford, 407-732-6956, imperialwinebar.com
3. Eola Wine Company, 430 E. Central Blvd., 407-481-9100, eolawinecompany.com
Photo via thewineroomonline.comBest Folk/Country Act
1. Laney Jones, laney-jones.com
2. Oak Hill Drifters, oakhilldrifters.com
3. Terri Binion, erribinionmusic.com
Photo via Darin BackBest Pub
1. Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
2. Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub & Eatery, 544 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-2050, fiddlersgreen.pub
3. The Harp and Celt, 25 S. Magnolia Ave., 407-481-2928, harpandcelt.com
Photo via esbenwillems/InstagramBest Punk Act
1. Wet Nurse, facebook.com/wetnurse
2. The Attack, theattack.us
3. Golden Pelicans, goldenpelicans.bandcamp.com
Photo via Wet Nurse/FacebookBest Dive Bar
1. Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors, 1001 N. Mills Ave., 407-896-6975, wallysonmills.com
2. Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
3. The Hideaway Bar, 516 Virginia Drive, 407-898-5892, thehideawaybar.net
Photo via blazin05/InstagramBest Electronic Act
1. Moon Jelly, soundcloud.com/moonjellyband
2. Miss Fit Toys, soundcloud.com/missfittoys
3. Ben Briggs, benbriggs.net
Photo via essentialvoid/InstagramBest Pop Act
1. Uke-A-Ladies, facebook.com/ukealadies
2. Marc With a C, marcwithac.com
3. Moon Jelly, soundcloud.com/moonjellyband
Photo via Uke-A-Ladies/FacebookBest Dance Club
1. Pulse, 1912 S. Orange Ave., 407-649-3888, pulseorlandoclub.com
2. Independent Bar, 70 N. Orange Ave., 407-839-0457, facebook.com/independentbarorlando
3. Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-425-7571, parliamenthouse.com
Photo igstorres/InstagramBest Club Night
1. Mac & Cheese at Independent Bar
2. Body//Talk, bodytalkparty.org
3. Girl the Party, girltheparty.com
Photo via Independent Bar/FacebookBest Soul Act
1. The Sh-Booms, theshbooms.com
2. Eugene Snowden, thejointchiefs.com
3. Kaleigh Baker, kaleighbaker.com
Photo via The Sh-Booms/FacebookBest Bartender
1. Jen Harton, Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave., facebook.com/lilindiesorlando
2. Dave Merkli, Tanqueray’s Bar, 100 S. Orange Ave., 407-649-8540, facebook.com/tanqueraysbar
3. Lee Courtley, Independent Bar, 70 N. Orange Ave., 407-839-0457, facebook.com/independentbar
Photo by Jon YehlingBest Reggae/Ska Act
1. The Supervillains, thesupervillains.com
2. Savi Fernandez Band, savifernandezband.com
3. Kash’d Out, kashdout.com
Photo via We The Seeds/FacebookBest Gay Bar
1. Pulse, 1912 S. Orange Ave., 407-649-3888, pulseorlandoclub.com
2. Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-425-7571, parliamenthouse.com
3. Southern Nights, 375 S. Bumby Ave., 407-412-5039, southernnightsorl.com
Photo via jonaustinm/ InstagramBest Hookah Lounge
1. Kush Ultra Lounge and Hookah Bar, 23 S. Court Ave., 407-843-5874, kushultralounge.com
2. Natura, 12078 Collegiate Way, 407-482-8599, facebook.com/NaturaUCF
3. King Tut’s Lounge, 448 S. Alafaya Trail, 407-384-4434, facebook.com/KingTutsOrlando
Photo via kushultralounge/InstagramBest Local Music Festival, Series or Recurring Event
1. Free Fringe Outdoor Stage, Orlando Fringe Festival, orlandofringe.org
2. Florida Music Festival, floridamusicfestival.com
3. Southern Fried Sunday, facebook.com/southernfriedsunday
Photo via orlandofringe.orgBest Bar To Meet Your Tinder Match
1. The Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden, 1800 N. Orange Ave., 407-228-4992, also 116 E. First St., Sanford, 407-732-6956, imperialwinebar.com
2. Sportstown Billiards, 2414 E. Robinson St., 407-894-6258, sportstownbilliards.com
3. The Courtesy, 114 N. Orange Ave., 407-450-2041, thecourtesybar.com
Photo via kerri_coons/InstagramBest Metal Act
1. Meka Nism, meka-nism.com
2. Gargamel!, gargamel.net
3. Sci-Fried, sci-friedband.com
Photo via Meka Nism/FacebookBest Singer-Songwriter
1. Kaleigh Baker, kaleighbaker.com
2. Marc With a C, marcwithac.com
3. Terri Binion, terribinionmusic.com
Photo via Kaleigh Baker/FacebookBest Happy Hour
1.The Hammered Lamb, 1235 N. Orange Ave., 407-704-3200, thehammeredlamb.com
2. Santiago’s Bodega, 802 Virginia Drive, 407-412-6979, santiagosbodega.com
3. Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
Photo via morbidly_o_reese/InstagramBest Rock Act
1. Gary Lazer Eyes, garylazereyes.com
2. Thomas Wynn and the Believers, thomaswynnandthebelievers.com
3. The Woolly Bushmen, thewoollybushmen.bandcamp.com
Photo via Gary Lazer Eyes/FacebookBest DJ
1. DJ Nigel John, soundcloud.com/nigel-john
2. The Angel of Boom, realradio.iheart.com
3. Jesse Derr
Photo via Nigel John/FacebookBest Strip Club
1. Dancers Royale, 5221 E. Colonial Drive, 407-281-0120, facebook.com/DancersRoyale1
2. Rachel’s Orlando, 8701 S. Orange Ave., 407-858-9800, rachelsorlando.com
3. Thee Original Doll House Orlando, 5570 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-858-1319, dollhousestripclub.com
Photo via Dancers Royale/FacebookBest Karaoke
1. Big Daddy’s, 3001 Corrine Drive, 407-644-2844, bigdaddysorlando.com
2. DJ Di, djdi.com
3. Rising Star Karaoke, Universal CityWalk
Photo via bigdaddysorlando.comBest Hip-Hop Act
1. Solillaquists of Sound, solilla.com
2. D-Rugg Da Mohawk Don, reverbnation.com/druggdamohawkdon
3. Luscious Lisa, lusciouslisa.bandcamp.com
Photo via Solillaquists/InstagramBest Jazz Act
1. The Absinthe Trio, myspace.com/acidjazztheabsinthe
2. The Flying Horse Big Band, flyinghorserecords.com
3. The Cook Trio, thecooktrio.com
The Absinthe Trio/ FacebookBest Craft Beer Bar
1. Redlight Redlight, 2810 Corrine Drive, 407-893-9832, redlightredlightbeerparlour.com
2. World of Beer, various locations, worldofbeer.com
3.(tie) Red Cypress Brewery, 855 E. State Road 434, Winter Springs, 407-542-0341, redcypressbrewery.com
3.(tie) The Thirsty Topher, 601 Virginia Drive, 407-491-4342, facebook.com/thethirstytopher
Photo via Redlight Redlight: FacebookBest Craft Cocktail Bar
1. Hanson’s Shoe Repair, 27 E. Pine St., 407-476-9446, facebook.com/hansonsshoerepair
2. The Courtesy, 114 N. Orange Ave., 407-450-2041, thecourtesybar.com
3. Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
Photo via Hansons Shoe Repair/FacebookBest Open Mic
1. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-975-3364, austinscoffee.com
2. Sleeping Moon Café, 495 N. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, 321-972-8982, facebook.com/sleepingmooncafe
3. The Falcon, 819 E. Washington St., 407-423-2788, facebook.com/TheFalconBar
Photo via ad_bow/InstagramBest Sports Bar
1. Miller’s Ale House, various locations, millersalehouse.com/index
2. Sportstown Billiards, 2414 E. Robinson St., 407-894-6258, sportstownbilliards.com
3. The Hideaway Bar, 516 Virginia Drive, 407-898-5892, thehideawaybar.net
Photo via matheusrach/InstagramBest Live Music Club
1. The Social, 54 N. Orange Ave., 407-246-1419, thesocial.org
2. House of Blues Orlando, 1490 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, houseofblues.com
3. Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org
Photo via foundation-presents.comBest Poolside Bar
1. Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Drive, Longwood, 407-862-1500, wekivaisland.com
2. Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-425-7571, parliamenthouse.com
3. Hard Rock Hotel, 5800 Universal Blvd., 407-503-2000, hardrockhotels.com
Photo via Wekiva taylorlp31/Instagram
