The 605 Best

It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it. The 605 team travels all around South Dakota, finding hidden gems and statewide staples. 

The 605 Best Awards are given to people and businesses who 605 feels deserve some recognition, whether it’s eating BBQ by the Missouri River in Chamberlain or celebrating Independence Day in Lennox.

Readers and followers also take a vote for the 605 Best People’s Choice Awards. Here are the winners of 2025. 

BEST BAR // The Orion Pub

ORIONPUB.COM // (605) 271-1481 // 127 W 10TH ST, SIOUX FALLS

In the early days of Sunny’s Pizzeria in Sioux Falls, owner Jon Oppold was working every lunch shift. Patron Thomas Hentges would come in now and again to watch a Twins game, and conversations would often lead to, “If we opened a bar…”

“Fast forward to a couple of years, and I was hanging out at Glacial Lakes Distillery having a chat with someone who had looked at the space The Orion Pub currently occupies and decided it was too small for the concept he was trying to open,” recalled Oppold. “I was unaware the space was even available.”

He got the building owner’s info and scheduled a showing.

“I liked what I saw in the space and—in a kismet coincidence—Thomas, who worked at Miner Brewing Company at the time, posted on Facebook that day that Miner was closing and he was going to be out of work soon,” he said.

Oppold immediately reached out to him to see if he was interested in opening the bar they had talked about. They signed a lease that week and “were off to the races.”

The entrepreneurial pair recognized the downtown craft cocktail, craft beer, and elevated food scene was rapidly growing, but something was missing—the feeling of a neighborhood bar. Their concept was a downtown “old school, no frills, cozy, working-class establishment.”

“We knew there was an audience for that,” said Oppold.

The skinny-but-long space seats 49 people, and specializes in offering classics on tap like Hamm’s, Coors Banquet, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Grain Belt, Miller High Life, and Old Style. The Orion Pub also serves local beer from breweries such as WoodGrain Brewing Co., Covert Artisan Ales, Severance Brewing Co., Fernson Brewing Company, Remedy Brewing Company, and more.

“Selfishly, it’s all stuff we like to drink as well,” laughed Oppold.

As Sioux Falls didn’t have a classic pub downtown filled with rich history, Hentges and Oppold had to create it themselves.

“It just felt so obvious there was a place for a little unpretentious, retro neighborhood bar in downtown Sioux Falls, and we wanted to create a space that felt like it’s been there for decades,” said Oppold.

They curated the space with nostalgic décor, used bar furniture, ‘70s-style wood paneling, and unique artifacts that showcased people and places in Sioux Falls history.

Along with brews, The Orion Pub serves six varieties of 12-inch pizzas from Sunny’s. They also offer classic bar snacks in single servings, like pickled eggs, pickled sausages, and pub mix.

Oppold said, “I mean, you can’t have a classic pub without something pickled in a jar ready to eat on a moment’s notice, right?!”

As Hentges and Oppold created a bond over their Minnesota sports fandom prior to the opening of the bar, The Orion Pub has become a place for Minnesota sports fans to watch Vikings, Timberwolves, and Twins games.

“I recall a trip to the Twin Cities where I watched a Vikings game in a bar full of their fans and it was such a blast,” said Oppold. “I wanted to try and recreate that environment of comradery at the pub.”

Though it’s popular during those particular games, The Orion Pub is anything but a sports pub—it’s your neighborhood bar.

“It’s a place of shared connection where memories are made amongst your friends and neighbors,” said Oppold.

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BEST WAY TO SELF CARE // ivclub

IVCLUB.COM // (605) 271-0715 // 345 S REID ST STE 123, SIOUX FALLS

Since 2015, ivclub (iv&co) has been modernizing and elevating the elective IV therapy and vitamin space in Sioux Falls.

“The clinical value was barely established, but the delivery model lagged behind—uninspiring environments, inconsistent quality, and limited accessibility,” said owner Jenny Haiar.

ivclub was created to close that gap and introduce a standard of care and experience aligned with “Ritz-Carlton–level” service and operational excellence; along with offering the safest, experienced, and highest standard as a medical professional, says Haiar.

Located in The Bancorp Building at Cherapa Place, the buildout inspiration was Restoration Hardware-meets-medial-spa. Haiar says clients can expect a restorative, concierge-style environment the moment clients walk in with amenities like massage chairs, weighted blankets, aromatherapy, curated beverages, private bays, and a “norush” service model.

“Our RN’s collectively have over 100 years of inpatient, outpatient, ER, L&D, and ICU experience.”

Along with elective IVs and vitamins, clients can also experience neurotoxin injections (Botox, Jeuveau, and Xeomin), performed exclusively by Haiar as the RN provider. Other services include Genetic Testing, Health Coaching, BrainTap Therapy, Lab Testing, and more.

Haiar also has a professional background in wine as a certified sommelier, which lends itself to curated events that she says merges hospitality, education, and wellness.

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BEST CONCIERGE EXPERIENCE // Shortgrass Resort

SHORTGRASSRESORT.COM // (605) 340-5797 // 19343 SHORTGRASS LANE, SPEARFISH

No templates. No generic answers. Completely bespoke.

Shortgrass Resort’s concierge experience in Spearfish is built around one idea: “What does this specific guest need to make this stay unforgettable?”

Owners and world travelers Dr. Rachel MK Headley and Jared “Cappie” Capp opened the lodging experience in 2024 on 52 acres with the idea to create a customizable, luxurious retreat.

“Because we’re not a huge resort we can say yes to the creative, personal things—and that’s what makes it special,” said Capp.

Guests have requested anything from a private hot tub setup under the stars to a last-minute photographer for a proposal.

“We’ve arranged sunrise coffee service in a special location, personalized tours, guest-only access to local experiences, personal meditation and yoga sessions, and quietly coordinated celebrations so a guest could pop the question at just the right moment,” said Capp.

Headley and Capp have worked on homes and creative projects for years, and say when they found the piece of land outside of Spearfish they couldn’t pass it up.

“[The land] invited us to be creative,” said Capp. “The landscape itself was an inspiration—the soul, the wide-open sky, and the kind of stillness that’s getting harder to find.”

Nothing on the property is mass produced, and the couple’s hands have touched almost every part of the resort. Headley designed the overall vision—from the layout to the custom art on the walls—and Capp built everything from the ground up.

“There’s a soul to the place because it wasn’t created by committee, it was created by two people who care about every detail and want guests to feel taken care of from the second they arrive,” said Capp.

There are eight bungalows on the property with large French doors and a private deck to roast marshmallows and see the stars. Each room includes designer furniture and spa essentials (along with a Japanese Smart Toilet).

Guest experiences include guided nature and history walks on the property, tours of their on-site botanical greenhouse, hammocks tucked into the trees, and access to tubing or “wild swimming” on the Redwater River.

There is also a wellness room for group or individual sessions and massage services.

“Evenings often center around our fireside, where we host live music, storytelling, and the occasional perfectly-cooked s’more,” said Capp.

Curated experiences include cooking classes, mixology workshops, bird-watching outings, native plant tours, and other immersive nature-forward moments designed to help guests slow down, reconnect, and feel inspired by the landscape and wider region.

Also on site is Meander—a high-end restaurant built around a slow-food philosophy, which Capp describes as thoughtful, seasonal, intentionally-crafted meals that match the pace of the resort.

Dinners are in the style of a multi-course, chef’s tasting menu and typically take around two hours to complete.

“We continue to welcome diners who are not staying overnight with us during the resort season, and we’re open much of the winter for Meander reservations only,” said Capp.

Reservations are required for security gate access, so they encourage guests to book ahead.

Since opening, Shortgrass Resort has been growing, but Headley and Capp are committed to staying intimate.

“We’ll never be a massive resort—that’s not who we are,” said Capp. “Every addition we make is designed to enhance the experience, and peacefulness and connection remain at the center of all decisions.”

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BEST WAY TO EXPLORE HISTORY // Historic Adams House

DEADWOODHISTORY.COM // (605) 578-3724 // 22 VAN BUREN ST, DEADWOOD

Get the real story with Deadwood History, Inc. (DHI) where they “engage, inspire, and preserve” the Wild West of South Dakota with five unique properties, one being the Historic Adams House.

“At the Historic Adams House, visitors step into an elegant Victorian home that preserves the business and personal side of Deadwood’s past—the lives, losses, and resilience of three of the community’s leading families,” explained DHI communication director Rose Speirs.

Built in 1892, the Queen Anne-style home is known for its oak interiors, hand-painted canvas wall coverings, stained-glass windows, thorough 19th century plumbing, electricity, telephone service, and original furnishings.

Oh, and that it sat silent for more than 50 years after W.E. Adams’ death in 1934 when his widow Mary Adams suddenly left, leaving everything intact, including the cookies in the cookie jar.

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Did You Know?
The Adams House was purchased by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission in 1992 and restored as a house museum in 2000.

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Guests can tour the gorgeous home to learn about the past and get an inside look into what it was like in early Deadwood. But beware, as it gets a little “haunting” during spooky season in October with Paranormal Investigations.

“Paranormal Investigations let guests explore Deadwood’s Historic Adams House after dark, blending history, storytelling, and hands-on investigation of reported paranormal activity using state-of-the-art equipment with Black Hills Paranormal Investigations in Rapid City,” said Speirs.

Other DHI properties include Days of ‘76 Museum, The Brothel Deadwood, Homestake Adams Research and Culture Center, and the Adams Museum.

W.E. Adams was a pioneer businessman in Deadwood and founded the Adams Museum with the purpose of preserving and displaying the history of the Black Hills and donated the building to the city.

It’s these properties that help make an impact on locals and visitors alike.

“Our main goal is to educate and entertain guests at our properties in ways that leave a lasting impression,” said Speirs. “We aim to help visitors understand the significance of Deadwood’s history and its role in the broader story of our country, making the past both engaging and meaningful.”

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Fundraise with Calamity Jane
Feb. 27 | 6-9 p.m.

Celebrate Calamity herself with musical entertainment by The Lonely Rangers and Deadwood Alive’s Andy Mosher as Marshal Con Stapleton at the Days of ‘76 Museum. Heavy hors d’oeuvres catered by Catering by Dave, cash bar, and auctions. Cost is $50 per person.

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BEST SOUTH DAKOTA-INSPIRED ARTIST // Eleazar Evangelista

ELEPAINTINGS.COM

Oil painter Eleazar Evangelista is a Sioux Falls artist who is inspired by the wildlife of the Black Hills and the surrounding plains.

“My primary goal is to convey the essence of these landscapes and their inhabitants in my art,” she described.

In order to capture the natural beauty of South Dakota, Evangelista says she immerses herself in nature, taking photographs and sketching the scenes and creatures she encounters. Whenever she gets the chance, you can find the artist observing bison herds at Custer State Park where she has served as an Artist in Residence.

“Watching how the herd interacts and navigates the Hills fills me with inspiration as they engage in their daily routines, from grazing to exploration,” said Evangelista.

She then brings these intimate moments back to the studio, where she translates the adventures into vibrant oil paintings.

Art enthusiasts may have seen her work at exhibits at the Center for Western Studies or at the EastBank Art Gallery in Sioux Falls (where she has also been a member for years). Evangelista has received awards at several plein air events in both the Black Hills and De Smet.

“These experiences have been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to connect with art enthusiasts and fellow artists who share a passion for celebrating South Dakota’s distinct charm,” she said.

Art runs in Evangelista’s blood, who grew up with her mother as an artist. This, she says, let her observe the creative process slowly.

“She often took me to various galleries, fostering my deep appreciation for art from an early age,” said Evangelista. “I have always found joy in drawing and painting, and my mom consistently encouraged me to follow my passion.”

Evangelista will wrap up 2025 by finalizing larger pieces for exhibition next year, and recently announced a Small Works sale on her website. This sale will run December 3-8 and will showcase small, original oil paintings, along with a collection of limited edition prints.

Additionally, Evangelista will host a Sip and Sew event at EastBank Art Gallery December 12 and 13. Event attendees will craft quilted potholders while sipping wine and savoring charcuterie.

“These delightful creations will make wonderful gifts and/or charming holiday décor,” said Evangelista.

Looking into 2026, Evangelista says she’s grateful for South Dakota embracing her personally, along with her artwork.

“My creations showcase the breathtaking beauty of this area, resonating with many locals and visitors alike,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a thriving and growing arts community here.”