
Welcome to our third ever Best of YMM – Best Places 2022!

When Moe Farhat secured the former Gold’s Gym spot on the lower floor of a downtown apartment building, rumours immediately started to fly. Moe tried to keep it a secret as long as he could, but it soon proved fruitless – everyone and their cat knew Fort McMurray was getting it’s first bowling alley since the aging McMurray Bowl closed its doors in Gregoire more than a decade prior.
This wouldn’t be your run-of-the-mill bowling alley though. The Alley uses some of the most cutting-edge technology in the game today. Add in the ever-popular arcade, and the recently opened Laser Tag next door and it’s no wonder residents have flocked to The Alley in droves.
This year, Fort McMurray voted The Alley as Best Entertainment Centre for the second straight year. It also picked up a brand-new category, Best Date Night, by edging out local restaurants The Keg and Surekha’s On the Snye. Local realtor Paige Cyr from loves hitting the arcade on date night with her husband Corey, especially to challenge him to their favourite game Mario Kart. Local musician Kevin White agrees, but Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s Akshaya Lakshmi prefers a more physical challenge on date night with the basketball hoops! Perhaps even more impressive for only being two years into the game, The Alley was voted Best Pizza narrowly preventing long time community staple Hu’s Pizza from getting back-to-back wins (although Hu is looking to fight harder next year).
best barber shop
thickwood barber shop
700 Signal Rd, 780-750-9939
thickwoodbarbershop.ca
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Fade 99 Barbershop
- Millenium Barber Shop
- MVP Modern Barbers
- Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop
- YMM Barber Shop
best hair salon
Spoiled Rotten Beauty Boutique
122 Millennium Dr, 780-714-5070
spoiledrottenboutique.ca
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Head Case Artistry
- Orange Lily Hair & Body Studio
- Razor’s Edge Hair Studio
- The Beauty Cellar
- The Hair Loft
best spa
achieve wellness spa
112 Riverstone Ridge #206, 780-750-3391
achievewellnessspa.com
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Allure Medi Spa
- Be-You-tiful Skin Care
- FOY Medi Spa
- Higher Health Acupuncture & Massage Therapy Clinic
- Layers Wellness & Spa
best entertainment centre
the alley
15-8528 Manning Avenue, 780-972-9900
thealleyymm.com
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Boston Pizza
- Earls Kitchen + Bar
- Mr Mikes Steakhouse Casual
- Surekha’s On The Snye
- The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
best fitness centre
macdonald island park
1 MacDonald Drive, 780-791-0070
macdonaldisland.ca
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- 9Round Fitness
- CrossFit Crude
- Exhale Yoga & Barre
- Gym Nation
- Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre
best flower shop
THE FLOWER STUDIO
4-412 Thickwood Boulevard Bay, 780-791-4262
theflowerstudioflorist.ca
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Caribou Flowers Plants and Gifts
- flora.boreal
- Save On Foods
- Sobeys
- The Personal Florist
best coffee shop
avenue eatery & cafe
8102 Fraser Ave Bay 5, 587-276-1270
facebook.com/avenuecoffeeymm
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Firebag Coffee Company
- Mitchell’s Cafe
- Second Cup
- Starbucks
- Tim Hortons
best patio
fort mcmurray golf club bear & Buffalo
1 Real Martin Dr, 780-743-5577
fortmcmurraygolfclub.com
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Earls Kitchen + Bar
- East Village Pub & Eatery
- Mr Mikes SteakhouseCausal
- Surekha’s On The Snye
- The Banquet
best grocery store
sobey’s Thickwood
210 Thickwood Blvd, 780-743-9339
sobeys.com
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Independant
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Save on Foods Downtown
- Save on Foods Stonecreek
- Save on Foods Thickwood
best jewellery store
prestige jewellers
1124-9713 Hardin St, 780-790-9750
prestigejewellers.ca
Readers’ Choice Runners-up
- Absolutely She
- Canadian Jewellers
- Michael Hill
- Paris Jewellers
- Peoples Jewellers