As Monsieur Gustave put it, “There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity.” Say what you will about Instagram and its users’ insufferable practice of constantly posting pictures of their food, but make sure you stop just short of Cupcake Royale, because their page is one of those faint glimmers. In a world filled with pictures of violence and terror, it’s a simple antithesis to the carnage. With so much pastel ice cream and sugary confections, your eyeballs might just get diabetes; browsing these photos is a surefire way to brighten even the dreariest days. instagram.com/cupcakeroyale/

First runner-up: SeattleMet

Second runner-up: Hellovelouria

Honorable mention: Uglybabyshop, Schwartz Brothers Bakery

Read about the rest of the Best of Seattle Reader Poll winners here. If you didn’t get a chance to vote this go-round, make sure your voice is heard next year. Email us at bestofseattle@seattleweekly.com and we will let you know when nominations open for BoS 2017.