It’s official: Carnation is the best city on the Eastside.
425 Magazine announced the winners of its 2025 Best of 425 awards May 1, a yearly tradition that asks residents across the Eastside to recommend and vote on their favorite places to shop, eat, play and more. This year’s awards received more than 22,000 votes.
But for the first time, a Snoqualmie Valley town has been named Best City.
“We are honored and humbled by this award,” Carnation Mayor Adair Hawkins said in a news release. “It’s a reflection of the incredible people who live and work here, our dedicated city staff and the many community members who make Carnation such a special place. This award belongs to all of you.”
This was a triumphant year for Carnation, as 15 Carnation businesses also won Best of 425 titles. But it was also a big year for the Snoqualmie Valley as a whole: 50 Valley businesses won a best of title this year.
Falling River Meats, a North Bend butcher shop that opened in 2023, won best deli, its first “best of” award.
“Outside of the pure shock, it’s incredibly exhilarating that all the hard work that [chef Justin Fitch] and my staff and I have put into curating what’s available for sale and making the sandwiches has generated that type of response,” shop owner Christeena Mazolf said. “Just a heartfelt thank you [to our customers]. We go there every day, we put the amount of effort in to bring these great inventions and sandwiches to life, for them. We’re so happy that it’s resonating.”
Best of 425 Snoqualmie Valley winners
Alpine Coachworks (Snoqualmie), best collision repair
Alveare Winery (Carnation), best winery
Amarillo Barbecue (Duvall), best barbecue
Amy Paoletti of Alveare Winery (Carnation), best bartender
Barzen’s Blooms (Carnation), best florist
Blake’s Pizzeria (Carnation), best pizza
Carnation Elementary, best public elementary school
Carnation Tattoo Co., best tattoo artist
Cedarcrest High School (Duvall), best public high school
Charlotte Glaves of South Fork (North Bend), best chef
Darci’s Dinky Donuts (Duvall), best donut
Dog Valley Grooming (Carnation), best dog groomer
Dr. Matthew Bruner of Bruner Orthodontics (Duvall), best orthodontist
Dr. Sarah Low of Duvall Advanced Family Eye Care, best eye doctor
Dr. Victoria Baker-Hall of Evergreen Health (Duvall), best family doctor
Duvall Distillery, best distillery
Eastside Property Solutions (Duvall), kitchen and bath remodeler
Fall City Library, best library
Falling River Meats (North Bend), best deli
Fireweed Cannabis Co. (Snoqualmie), best cannabis shop
Frontier Pest Control (North Bend), best pest control
Grateful Bread (Duvall), best bakery
Il Paesano Ristorante Italiano (North Bend), best Italian food
India Belly (Snoqualmie), best Indian food
Infusion Bar & Grill (Snoqualmie), best sports bar
Ixtapa Family Mexican Restaurant (Carnation), best Mexican restaurant
Last Lite Photography (Carnation), best wedding and event photographer
Morgan Henley Presents (Carnation), best event planner
Mount Si Golf Course (Snoqualmie), best golf course
North Bend Theatre, best movie theater
Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie), best museum
Pet Place Market (North Bend), best pet store
Rain City Tree Works (Snoqualmie), best tree services
Remlinger Farms (Carnation), best birthday party venue & best wedding and events venue
Salish Lodge and Spa (Snoqualmie), best day spa and best Northwest resort
Sam’s Noodle Town (Carnation), best Vietnamese food
Sno-Valley Senior Center (Carnation), best retirement community
Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel, best casino & best concert venue
Snoqualmie Modern Dental Care, best children’s dentist
Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Festival, best family-friendly event
South Fork (North Bend), best breakfast and best outdoor dining and best unique eats and best kid-friendly restaurant
TDC Automotive (Duvall), best auto repair
Thai Duvall, best Thai food
The Grange (Duvall), best cocktail
The Nursery at Mount Si (North Bend), best garden shop
THING Festival (Carnation), best festival
Tolt Middle School (Carnation), best public middle school
Treehouse Point (Fall City), best Northwest romantic getaway
Vista Prime Steaks and Seafood (Snoqualmie), best fine dining and best steak
Volition Brewing (North Bend), best brewery
