Best of El Cerrito 2025
Celebrating What Makes El Cerrito Special
The Best of El Cerrito is a program of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce and the Best of City Contests team.
Businesses: register here for your free custom badge.
Get Recognized in the Best of El Cerrito Contest!
In 2023, El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce’s Best of El Cerrito campaign sparked a sensation, as more than 20,000 votes poured in for businesses in categories as diverse as “Best Hair Salon” to “Best Real Estate Agent” and “Best Donut Shop.” By popular demand, the program is returning for 2025.
As a local business, you work hard to serve our community—now it’s time to get the recognition you deserve! The Best of El Cerrito contest is a chance for customers to vote for their favorite restaurants, boutiques, salons, real estate professionals, service providers and more. With over 100 business categories recognized, this is your opportunity to boost your visibility, attract new customers, and strengthen your connection with the community.
🏆 Sign up today and receive a FREE “Nominate Us” digital badge to show your participation! Encourage your loyal customers to nominate your business and help it stand out. Every vote is a testament to the impact you’ve made in El Cerrito.
After a round of nominations followed by a round of voting, winners will be recognized with an array of online and offline marketing, including a window cling, award certificate, email blasts, social media posts, a best of magazine, and an invitation to an award party held at El Cerrito Honda.
Ready to nominate and vote? That’s done on the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce Ballot Page.
Don’t miss out—get involved, spread the word, and let’s celebrate local success together!
What is the Best of El Cerrito?
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Supporting our local businesses is more important than ever. The Best of El Cerrito Program celebrates small businesses and businesses of all sizes that make this place special. This is done by encouraging you, the community, to nominate and vote for your favorites.
Each business that wins is recognized with a “Best of” logo and promoted through plaques, window clings and certificates as well as through print, social and digital marketing. By voting, you help lift these businesses and our local economy.
How do I vote for my favorites?
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Visit the Best of El Cerrito Ballot here. The Best of program is carried out in two phases: a nomination and voting phase. During the nomination phase, you can write in your favorite business for each category on our nomination page. After the one-month nomination phase, you get to vote through our digital ballot. It’s easy to register and vote for your favorites.
How does a business participate?
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Businesses are nominated by the public. If you are an El Cerrito based or an El Cerrito-serving business, you can register for a free Best of El Cerrito digital badge to help you get out the vote. We’ll provide you with a custom “nominate us” badge that can be shared with your customers. If your business is nominated and reaches the second voting round, then you’ll also be eligible to request a vote for us badge
How are winners chosen?
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Businesses with the most votes from the public after the voting phase are the winners.
As a business, why should I participate?
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There’s no cost to businesses to participate. The program’s goal is to raise awareness of El Cerrito area businesses and to encourage shopping locally. If you run a local business here in or around El Cerrito, we invite you to fill out the above form and we’ll send you a custom nominate us or vote for us badge (depending upon the program phase).
Winners will receive an array of benefits including window clings for your storefront, digital assets showing your business was voted as the best, and an invitation to an award celebration.
During the contest, there will also be options to advertise within the program to increase visibility.
Optional recognition awards will also be made available after the contest to help promote winners including featured listings in a Best of El Cerrito, a website listing winners by category and custom award plaques.
Are there options for El Cerrito Businesses to sponsor the program?
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Yes. To keep the program free for all businesses in the El Cerrito area, the program is supported by sponsors. Please view the Best of El Cerrito sponsorship information or contact us to to learn about our sponsorship packages.
2025 Best of El Cerrito Sponsors
Easy to vote software
Our voting software makes it easy for people to vote. They simply login once and don’t need to remember a password. Voter fraud prevention features ensure that there’s only one vote per login.
Promote Shopping Local
With the increase of online shopping, promoting shopping local is more important then ever for your community’s retailers. Increase awareness of local businesses in and around your area and create civic pride in your community.
Increase Visibility
The El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce has a large mailing list and social media presence that can extend your business’ marketing beyond your followers and subscribers.