The South’s Best Shops 2017

Southern Living

That's right, we take shopping seriously in the South. Whether it’s offering a glass of tea at the register or connecting customers with local makers, the shops on this list are so beloved, customers feel like “regulars” the same way they do at a bar or restaurant and even newcomers feel like they’ve been welcomed into a friend’s living room.

RELATED: The Best Shop in Every Southern State

Some of the winners on our list are owned by Nashville royalty, from actress Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James, her country-preppy line of clothing and accessories, to Hank William’s granddaughter Holly Williams and her modern take on a vintage general store. Other winners have been building loyal followings like Anna Rifle Bond’s Rifle Paper Co., which launched the illustrator and her floral designs into superstardom, and Erin Reitz and Kelly Clarke Speake’s The Commons in Charleston,  which has become just as much of a destination for visitors as the city’s restaurants.

The paintings, intricate jewelry, and textiles displayed at ShopSCAD aren’t your typical goods; they’re the work of the students from Savannah College of Art and Design. The Art of Simple is no basic beachside shop; it’s a Seaside staple that features an eclectic collection of home items, from enamelware trays to milk glass cake stands.

RELATED: The South's Best Shop 2017: The Paris Market & Brocante

But our winner, The Paris Market, stands as our community's favorite (and our staff’s too) for its ability to blend Southern hospitality with European aesthetics. Whether it’s scooping lavender buds into cloth sacks near the cash register, finding an instant dose of aromatherapy through their candle collection, or admiring the mix of french antiques in the basement level, this shop and all of our winners provide not only an escape, but inspiration– and just that certain something we didn’t know we needed.

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1. The Paris Market and Brocante

Wynn Myers

Savannah, Georgia

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2. Draper James

Courtesy Draper James

Nashville, Tennessee

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3. ScreenDoor

Robbie Caponetto

Asheville, North Carolina

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4. ShopSCAD

Savannah, Georgia

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5. White’s Mercantile

Hector Sanchez

Nashville, Tennessee

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6. Charleston GardenWorks

Kate Thornton

Charleston, South Carolina

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7. Rifle Paper Co.

Courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.

Winter Park, Florida

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8. The Commons

Courtesy of The Commons

Charleston, South Carolina

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9. Uncommon Objects

Art Meripol

Austin, Texas

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10. The Art of Simple

Courtesy of The Art of Simple

Seaside, Florida

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The South's Best Winners 2017

We poured through your more than 22,000 online votes to bring you the best-of-the-best Southern spots. Check out our roundup of the best restaurant, hotel, island, inn, resort, barbecue, bar, shop, museum, brewery, city, and tailgate in the South. Each of these Southern gems is absolutely worth the trip – from the picturesque views of the Outer Banks to the juicy pulled pork of Southern Soul Barbecue. Sip on a cold brew at Wicked Weed Brewery, have a nightcap at Callaghan's, or find your next heirloom at The Paris Market & Brocante. Take a vacation to Asheville to stay at the extravagant Inn on Biltmore Estate, or enjoy the picturesque history of Savannah at the charming Foley House Inn. If you're in town (or, making the trip!), stop in at one of these local favorites chosen by our readers.

View all of the South's Best 2017 winners here. 

SOUTH’S BEST BAR
Callaghan’s Irish Social Club; Mobile, AL

SOUTH’S BEST BARBECUE
Southern Soul Barbeque; St. Simons Island, GA

SOUTH’S BEST BREWERY
Wicked Weed Brewing; Asheville, NC

SOUTH’S BEST CITY
Charleston, SC

SOUTH’S BEST HOTEL
The Inn on Biltmore Estate; Asheville, NC

SOUTH’S BEST INN
Foley House Inn; Savannah, GA

SOUTH’S BEST ISLAND
Outer Banks, NC

SOUTH’S BEST MUSEUM
Smithsonian; Washington, D.C.

SOUTH’S BEST RESORT
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Nashville, TN

SOUTH’S BEST RESTAURANT
Commander’s Palace; New Orleans, LA

SOUTH’S BEST SHOP
The Paris Market and Brocante; Savannah, GA

SOUTH’S BEST SMALL TOWN
Beaufort, SC

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