February 14, 2020

Our friends at 417 Magazine love celebrating southwest Missouri. That’s why they put together their annual Best of 417 list.

Best of 417 features the area’s favorite bars, restaurants, date nights, hikes, cheap eats and more. The 417 Mag crew selects the categories, the public votes for its favorites.

And we are excited to say that there are lots of favorites in Downtown Springfield!

Cider Days captured first place for Best Annual Event. It’s Historic Walnut Street sibling Artsfest took third. Speaking of which, don’t miss out on the 40th annual Artsfest May 2 & 3. Cider Days returns Sept. 19 & 20.

Downtown Springfield took third in Best Springfield Neighborhood. Our dynamic mix of retail, entertainment, office and living spaces continues to make it one of the best places to live, work and play in the Queen City.

We can’t thank the readers of 417 Magazine enough for voting for us in these three categories. We are also so appreciative of the support shown for the places, experiences, food, drink, services and shops that make our neighborhood a great place for everyone. 

Here are more Best of 417 winners from Downtown!

FOOD & DRINK

Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar was named one of the 5 Best Springfield Fine Dining Restaurants. The downtown mainstay was second for Best Steaks and third for Best Restaurant Service. Need something to sip on while you eat those steaks? Flame took first place for Best Wine Menu.

Are hamburgers more your speed? Downtown Springfield swept that category, with Black Sheep Burgers + Shakes taking first place, followed by Grad School and Bair’s All-American Sports Grill. Black Sheep also took home top honors for Best Springfield Casual Restaurant and Best Gluten-Free Options.

The Order at Hotel Vandivort captured a pair of honors — second place for Best Cocktail Menu and third place for Best Place for Brunch.

Other Downtown Food & Drink honors went to:

First Place

417 Taphouse — Best Beer Menu

Aviary Cafe — Best Place for Brunch

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe — Best Place for Breakfast

The Golden Girl Rum Club — Best Cocktail Menu

Mother’s Brewing Company — Best Local Brewing Experience

Mudhouse — Best Coffee Shop

Rama Thai Cafe — Best Thai Food

The Sub Shop — Best Sandwiches

Second Place

Best Of Luck Beer Hall — Best Beer Menu

Druff’s — Best Sandwiches

Gilardi’s — Best Italian Food

Springfield Brewing Company — Best Local Brewing Experience

The Traveling Chef — Best Caterer

Third Place

Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar — Best Springfield Casual Restaurant

Ebbets Field — Best Chicken Wings

European Cafe — Best Sweet Treats

MudLounge Coffee & Cocktails — Best Beer Menu

Scotch & Soda — Best Cocktail Menu

Tinga Tacos — Best Tacos

SHOPPING

You can burn off the calories from all that food by doing some shopping. Downtown Springfield is the home to the original 5 Pound Apparel store, winner of Best Men’s Fashion. A Cricket in the House finished second for Best Antiques.

Obelisk Home captured two honors, 2nd place in Best Home Furniture Store and 3rd place in Best Home Accessories.

PLACES & EXPERIENCES

There’s always something to do in Downtown Springfield! Want to catch live music in Springfield? The Historic Gillioz Theatre and JQH Arena took the top two spots in that category. What about dance, theatre and more? Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Springfield Little Theatre and The Mystery Hour swept the Best Live Performances in Springfield category.

Looking for some fun with your children? We’ve got some great ideas! Downtown took two of the top three spots. Discovery Center of Springfield was second and the Springfield Cardinals third. Need a kid-free outing? Mother’s Brewing Company was No. 3 in that category.

And don’t miss two of the top photo-ops in the area! Andrea Ehrhardt’s Butterfly Wings (southeast corner of South and Walnut) were the top choice. Joshua Burd’s “Go Where Your Heart Wants to Take You” sculpture, part of Sculpture Walk Springfield, took third. You can find that steel piece of art on Park Central West, near Fallstaff’s Local.

SERVICES

Want to look sharp? We’ve got some places for that. Downtown establishments took the top three honors for Best Barber Shop: Hudson/Hawk Barber & Shop, Rogue Barber Co. and Walnut Street Barber Shop.

Take care of your body at the Ozarks Regional YMCA, the second-place winner for Best Place to Work Out. The Ward Downtown YMCA is located at 417 South Jefferson Ave.

Ozark Greenways, Inc. finished third in Best Place to Work Out. The Jordan Creek Greenway runs through Downtown, as does The Link. There are also on-street bike paths. Ozark Greenways is also one of our newest neighbors, making its office home at Boonville and Chestnut Expressway!

EDITORS’ PICKS

Downtown Springfield spots also showed up quite a bit in the 417 Magazine Editors’ Picks. That includes the Best Mobile Mood-Improver, Flower and Plant Trucks. Both Ozark Mtn Flower Truck and Hickory Lane Plants have appeared at Downtown Springfield events. Keep your eye on their social media to see where you can find them next.

Here are the rest of the Editors’ Picks: 

Best Community Heart: Springfield-Greene County Library

Best on-the-go helper: carGO

Best Literary Personal Shopper: Pagination Bookshop

Best Sweet Collaborative: Ice Cream Sandwiches at Druff’s – teamed up with Prairie Pie

Best Place for a Cardinals Pre-game: Hold Fast Brewing

Best Big City Feature: Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory

Best Cheerleader for Walkability: Ozark Greenways

Come check out Downtown Springfield for some of the Best of 417!