The Electric is celebrating what makes Great Falls Great and unique with its local businesses and places.
The focus is on local businesses, but we know some have locally owned franchises.
It’s the seventh annual contest and The Electric is turning nine this summer.
We’ve kept most of the same categories as last year, with a few new ones.
This year, we used the same format as our first year, with every category as a write-in. The business/person/place/item/activity with the most votes wins.
This contest was created and curated entirely by The Electric. It’s free to participate and no business is asked to pay anything, nor do we place ads within our contest. Businesses are encouraged to share the contest and ask their fans to vote, but that’s entirely up to them.
Voting was open Aug. 14-21.
Here are your 2026 Great Falls Greats winners:
Best Restaurant: Magpie
Best Bar: Magpie
Best Coffee Shop: Crooked Tree
Best Bakery: Hempl’s
Best Dive Bar: Sip ‘n Dip
Best Greasy Spoon: Tracy’s Family Diner
Best Local Shop: Hometana
Best Brunch: Magpie
Best Breakfast: Tracy’s Family Diner
Best Breakfast Burrito: Magpie
Best Waffles: Tracy’s Family Diner
Best Event: Great Falls Farmers’ Market
Best Group Activity: Plinko at Digital Karma
Best Trivia: Magpie
Best Pizza: Fire Pizza
Best Fries: Magpie
Best Steak: TIE: Rib and Chop House and Beef N Bone
Best Burgers: Roadhouse Diner
Best Food Truck: Purple.Gold
Best Fried Thing That’s Not Fries: coconut cauliflower at Magpie
Best Ethnic Food: Xóchitl
Best New Local Restaurant That Opened 2024/2025: Xóchitl
Best Tacos: Magpie
Best Barbecue: Smoked.
Best Burrito: Magpie
Best Lunch Spot: Magpie
Best Doughnuts: Hempl’s
Best Pie: Double Barrel Coffee House Cafe
Best Milkshake: Ford’s Drive In
Best Cupcakes: Cakes by Carr
Best Desserts: Frosted Goose Bakery
Best Happy Hour: Dante’s
Best Margarita: Xóchitl
Best Bloody Mary: Elevation 3330
Best Caeser: Magpie
Best Specialty Cocktails: KellerGeist
Best Craft Beer: Mighty Mo
Best Wine Selection: 5th and Wine
Best Local Brewer: Mighty Mo
Best Seasonal Beer: Mighty Mo
Best Mimosa: Magpie
Best Bartender: Larry Phillips at KellerGeist
Best Non-Coffee Drink: Soda Station
Best Specialty Coffee: Crooked Tree
Best Barista: Jesse at Al Banco
Best Women’s Boutique: GRAE + CO
Best Quirky Gifts: TIE: Hometana and Dragonfly Dry Goods
Best Home Goods: Pizazz
Best Florist: My Viola
Best Photographer: Matt Ehnes
Best Maker Space: TIE: The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers and Brush Crazy
Best Specialty Classes: Pizazz
Best Bookstore: Cassiopeia Books
Best Butcher Shop: Central Avenue Meats
Best Local Clothing Store: Daydream Boutique
Best Thrift Store: Goodwill
Best Outdoor/Recreation Store: Bighorn Outdoor Specialists
Best Pet Store: Fetch
Best Tattoo Place: Digital Karma Tattoo
Best Date Night Spot: Magpie
Best Dog Friendly Spot: Magpie
Best Girls Night: Magpie
Best Patio Sitting and Sipping: Magpie
Best Workout/Gym: The Peak
Best Salon/Barber: Wicked Hair Co.
Best Museum: C.M. Russell Museum
Best Art Gallery: C.M. Russell Museum
Best Local Band/Musician: Midnight Fistfight
Best Place for Dancing: The Wild Hare
Best Kids Activities: honey hippo. Play Cafe
Best Golf: Anaconda Hills Golf Course
Best Walking/Running Route: River’s Edge Trail
Best Hike: Sluice Boxes State Park
Best Picnic Spot: Giant Springs State Park
Best Scenic Photo Spot: Giant Springs State Park
Best River Activities: Floating
Best Instagrammable Location: Downtown murals
Best Selfie Spot: Downtown murals
