Guidebook for Traverse City
Restaruants and Cafes
Favorite coffee stops.
Poppycocks
128 E Front StGood food and drinks in a casual atmosphere. Also a kids menu.
Red Ginger
237 E Front StDelicious food, great atmosphere. A little more high end.
Casual, great beer, good food. Try the Blackend Salmon Ceasar salad.
85 locals recommend
North Peak Brewing Company
400 W Front StCasual, great beer, good food. Try the Blackend Salmon Ceasar salad.
The pie of course! Also good for a coffee, quick breakfast or lunch.
34 locals recommend
Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 W Front StThe pie of course! Also good for a coffee, quick breakfast or lunch.
Great ambiance, and the food is excellent. Italian inspired, farm-to-table restaurant when you want something a little more special. Walk around the Mercado Shops (connected to the Restaurant) before of after your meal.
132 locals recommend
Trattoria Stella
830 W Eleventh StGreat ambiance, and the food is excellent. Italian inspired, farm-to-table restaurant when you want something a little more special. Walk around the Mercado Shops (connected to the Restaurant) before of after your meal.
Excellent food, good service and the coffee is amazing. Also the interior decor is appealing. You can eat in the bar or the restaurant.
60 locals recommend
PepeNero
700 Cottageview DrExcellent food, good service and the coffee is amazing. Also the interior decor is appealing. You can eat in the bar or the restaurant.
A Classic in TC. Good pub food with lots of taxidermy. Casual.
28 locals recommend
Sleder's Family Tavern
717 Randolph StA Classic in TC. Good pub food with lots of taxidermy. Casual.
Great place for take out or eat in burgers. Pro tip: call ahead and order to beat the line. If you call ahead, you can skip up to the front to pick up.
45 locals recommend
Slabtown Burgers
826 W Front StGreat place for take out or eat in burgers. Pro tip: call ahead and order to beat the line. If you call ahead, you can skip up to the front to pick up.
Great sandwiches and provisioning for picnics. Wine, bread, olives, cheese and hard to find culinary items.
32 locals recommend
Folgarelli's Market & Wine Shop
424 W Front StGreat sandwiches and provisioning for picnics. Wine, bread, olives, cheese and hard to find culinary items.
Our go to for ready made pick up sandwiches and salads (and soup in cool months). The turkey "Gobbler" is their top seller, and the rustic pasta is one of my favorites. Great for a picnic.
21 locals recommend
Mary's Kitchen Port
539 W Front StOur go to for ready made pick up sandwiches and salads (and soup in cool months). The turkey "Gobbler" is their top seller, and the rustic pasta is one of my favorites. Great for a picnic.
Great place for beer, thin crust pizza and live music. Our kids also enjoy the hook game. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. In my opinion, it's the best place to enjoy live music in TC. Check their website for music schedules.
55 locals recommend
The Workshop Brewing Company
221 Garland StGreat place for beer, thin crust pizza and live music. Our kids also enjoy the hook game. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. In my opinion, it's the best place to enjoy live music in TC. Check their website for music schedules.
Great morning walk from the loft, and yummy coffee. If you want a coffee to go, you'll need to bring your own mug. Otherwise have a cup and sit in or out on the patio.
34 locals recommend
Higher Grounds Trading Company
806 Red DrGreat morning walk from the loft, and yummy coffee. If you want a coffee to go, you'll need to bring your own mug. Otherwise have a cup and sit in or out on the patio.
Yummy coffee, small little sweet bites to go with. Also you can sit by the river and see across to the bay.
29 locals recommend
Morsels
321 E Front StYummy coffee, small little sweet bites to go with. Also you can sit by the river and see across to the bay.
Small coffee shop with a great outdoor patio. Good morning walk up to the GT Commons (old State Hospital). Next to Left Foot Charley's.
34 locals recommend
Higher Grounds Trading Company
806 Red DrSmall coffee shop with a great outdoor patio. Good morning walk up to the GT Commons (old State Hospital). Next to Left Foot Charley's.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun to walk around the Commons, and then you can stop in for a glass of wine or cider and sit outside and enjoy the sun. They do have some small charcuterie style plates for snacking. Also there is a sandbox the kids can play in.
54 locals recommend
Left Foot Charley Winery
806 Red DrFun to walk around the Commons, and then you can stop in for a glass of wine or cider and sit outside and enjoy the sun. They do have some small charcuterie style plates for snacking. Also there is a sandbox the kids can play in.
Great place for beer, thin crust pizza and live music. Our kids also enjoy the hook game. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. In my opinion, it's the best place to enjoy live music in TC. Check their website for music schedules.
55 locals recommend
The Workshop Brewing Company
221 Garland StGreat place for beer, thin crust pizza and live music. Our kids also enjoy the hook game. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. In my opinion, it's the best place to enjoy live music in TC. Check their website for music schedules.
Essentials
Tom's Food Market
13940 S W Bay Shore DrFull service meat counter - deli meats, cheese, fish, meat, etc, plus other essentials within walking distance.
18 locals recommend
Maxbauer's Meat Market
407 S Union StFull service meat counter - deli meats, cheese, fish, meat, etc, plus other essentials within walking distance.
Cheese, wine and great snacks. This is mainly a higher end meat/grocery market and wine shop.
34 locals recommend
Burritt's Fresh Markets
509 W Front StCheese, wine and great snacks. This is mainly a higher end meat/grocery market and wine shop.
Entertainment & Activities
National Writers Series , Interlochen and the TC Film Festival hold events at this location.
32 locals recommend
City Opera House
106 E Front StNational Writers Series , Interlochen and the TC Film Festival hold events at this location.
Movie tickets are half of what they are at the multiplex, popcorn and drinks too. Walk here for a movie and enjoy dinner or drinks at one of the nearby restaurants. Pro tip: sit upstairs in the balcony.
105 locals recommend
State Theatre
233 E Front StMovie tickets are half of what they are at the multiplex, popcorn and drinks too. Walk here for a movie and enjoy dinner or drinks at one of the nearby restaurants. Pro tip: sit upstairs in the balcony.
Great little theater on the bay about a 10 minute walk from the Loft. Cheap tickets and popcorn and about 100 recliner seats. Very cozy!
56 locals recommend
Bijou by the Bay Movie
181 E Grandview PkwyGreat little theater on the bay about a 10 minute walk from the Loft. Cheap tickets and popcorn and about 100 recliner seats. Very cozy!
Great hike with amazing views.
Stop in for lunch/dinner at Friendly's in Empire or bring a picnic and check out Empire Beach afterwards.
Next stop, dune climb at SBD.
39 locals recommend
Sleeping Bear Dunes Overlook
Great hike with amazing views.
Stop in for lunch/dinner at Friendly's in Empire or bring a picnic and check out Empire Beach afterwards.
Next stop, dune climb at SBD.
Arts & Culture
Old Town Playhouse
148 E Eighth St TCFF movie venue about an 8 minute walk from our loft.
Lots of different events here in this beautifully restored space. Only about a 7 minute walk. Check the website for programming.
32 locals recommend
City Opera House
106 E Front StLots of different events here in this beautifully restored space. Only about a 7 minute walk. Check the website for programming.
Sightseeing
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Great little community near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or to wander around the small town. Where M-22 dead ends, keep going (Manitou Trail) and you'll end up at a public access on Lake Michigan.
83 locals recommend
Glen Arbor
Great little community near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or to wander around the small town. Where M-22 dead ends, keep going (Manitou Trail) and you'll end up at a public access on Lake Michigan.
Food scene
Yummy Latin influenced food. Casual dine-in or take out. Located in the Villages at Grand Traverse (old historic state hospital grounds). Grab take out and walk over to Left Foot Charlie's for a glass of wine or cider.
51 locals recommend
Spanglish
1333 Yellow DrYummy Latin influenced food. Casual dine-in or take out. Located in the Villages at Grand Traverse (old historic state hospital grounds). Grab take out and walk over to Left Foot Charlie's for a glass of wine or cider.