Southern Living announces the winners of its eighth annual South's Best Awards, recognizing readers' favorite Southern destinations and experiences. For the eighth year in a row, Charleston, South Carolina has been voted the South's Best City, and for the first time, Wilmington, North Carolina claims the top spot for the South's Best City on the Rise. In-depth coverage of the winners appears in the April issue of Southern Living, on sale March 22 and on SouthernLiving.com.

This year's South's Best Awards survey results reveal the South's Best Cities on the Rise, plus the Best Cities, Best Small Town in Every State, Best New Restaurants, Best BBQ in Every State, and more.

"From the beaches and charm of Wilmington, North Carolina, our top city on the rise, to the hidden desert gem of Marfa, Texas, this year's South's Best Issue celebrates the places and experiences that define our beloved region," said Sid Evans, Editor in Chief of Southern Living.

Highlights of Southern Living's 2024 South's Best Awards survey results are as follows:

South's Best Cities – Top 10

1. Charleston, SC
2. Savannah, GA
3. Nashville, TN
4. New Orleans, LA
5. Asheville, NC
6. Greenville, SC
7. Atlanta, GA
8. Austin, TX
9. Raleigh, NC
10. Orlando, FL

South's Best Cities on the Rise – Top 10

1. Wilmington, NC
2. Franklin, TN
3. Spartanburg, SC
4. Huntsville, AL
5. Columbia, SC
6. New Braunfels, TX
7. Bowling Green, KY
8. Cary, NC
9. Alpharetta, GA
10. Bentonville, AR

Best New Restaurants - Winner in Each State

Alabama: 1856 (Auburn)<
Arkansas: Nosh Nola (Bentonville)
Florida: Norman's (Orlando)
Georgia: Brochu's Family Tradition (Savannah)
Kentucky: House of Marigold (Louisville)
Louisiana: Miss Shirley's Chinese Restaurant (New Orleans)
Maryland: Little Donna's (Baltimore)
Mississippi: Sambou's African Kitchen (Jackson)
North Carolina: Salted Melon (Charlotte)
Oklahoma: Nātv (Broken Arrow)
South Carolina: Vern's (Charleston<
Tennessee: The Pink Hermit (Nashville)
Texas: Veracruz Fonda (Austin)
Virginia: Birdie's (Richmond)
West Virginia: The Vandalia Co. (Charleston)

Best Barbecue Joint - Winner in Each State

Alabama: Big Bob Gibson's (Decatur)
Arkansas: Wright's Barbecue (Various)
Arkansas: Wright's Barbecue (Tampa)
Georgia: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q (Atlanta)
Kentucky: Moonlite Bar-B-Que Inn (Owensboro)
Louisiana: The Joint (New Orleans)
Maryland: Smokehouse BBQ Shack (Mechanicsville)
Mississippi: The Shed BBQ Joint (Ocean Springs)
North Carolina: Lexington Barbecue (Lexington)
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Joe's Bar-B-Cue (Various)
South Carolina: Henry's Smokehouse (Greenville)
Tennessee: Peg Leg Porker (Nashville)
Texas: Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Virginia: Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que (Williamsburg)
West Virginia: Rollin' Smoke BBQ (Charleston)