Traverse City - Eat, Drink & Play
Food Scene
Delicious Asian Fusion food, and unique cocktails. A great wait staff with an Uptown ambiance.
143 locals recommend
Red Ginger
237 E Front StDelicious Asian Fusion food, and unique cocktails. A great wait staff with an Uptown ambiance.
amical
229 E Front StSimply wonderful food.
My favorite restaurant in Traverse City. The quality of their food has never let me down.
A great option for vegetarians and vegans
72 locals recommend
Poppycocks
128 E Front StMy favorite restaurant in Traverse City. The quality of their food has never let me down.
A great option for vegetarians and vegans
Excellent place to dine in or out. Breakfast is to die for. Get there early as they don't take reservations and there is a wait.
65 locals recommend
The Towne Plaza
203 Cass StExcellent place to dine in or out. Breakfast is to die for. Get there early as they don't take reservations and there is a wait.
Sorellina has a great Happy Hour.
Their food is excellent, especially the Sorellina Salad
30 locals recommend
Sorellina
250 E Front StSorellina has a great Happy Hour.
Their food is excellent, especially the Sorellina Salad
One of the finest restaurants in Traverse City. Make reservations LONG before you plan to arrive. Menu is always changing. This is a definite must if you are a true foodie.
67 locals recommend
The Cook's House
115 Wellington StOne of the finest restaurants in Traverse City. Make reservations LONG before you plan to arrive. Menu is always changing. This is a definite must if you are a true foodie.
Well worth the gorgeous drive out on Old Mission Peninsula.
Wonderful raw bar, if you are into that sort of thing. the Boathouse is a local favorite for special occassions.
54 locals recommend
Boathouse Restaurant
14039 Peninsula DrWell worth the gorgeous drive out on Old Mission Peninsula.
Wonderful raw bar, if you are into that sort of thing. the Boathouse is a local favorite for special occassions.
Arts & Culture
State Theatre
233 E Front StJust great movies.
Bijou by the Bay Movie
181 E Grandview PkwyThe little sister to The State Theater.
Local thespians, always entertaining.
Check the schedule to see what is playing
29 locals recommend
Old Town Playhouse
148 E Eighth StLocal thespians, always entertaining.
Check the schedule to see what is playing
Music House Museum
7377 US-31A fun place to spend a rainy afternoon.
A very easy walk from my house. The museum, located on NMC campus, has a rotating collection of art and sculpture, one of the largest Alaskan Inuit displays and even a childrens area. Don't forget to check out their gift shop.
The auditorium offers concerts duing the winter months.
30 locals recommend
Dennos Museum Center
A very easy walk from my house. The museum, located on NMC campus, has a rotating collection of art and sculpture, one of the largest Alaskan Inuit displays and even a childrens area. Don't forget to check out their gift shop.
The auditorium offers concerts duing the winter months.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun, unique gathering of Food Trucks. Great cocktail menu inside.
172 locals recommend
The Little Fleet
448 E Front StFun, unique gathering of Food Trucks. Great cocktail menu inside.
What a warm, dark speak easy to snuggle up to your sweetie in. The cocktails are expertly crafted.
Opens at 5PM
52 locals recommend
Low Bar
128 S Union StWhat a warm, dark speak easy to snuggle up to your sweetie in. The cocktails are expertly crafted.
Opens at 5PM
This transformed historic train weigh station that was once occupied by a cherry warehouse in the 1800’s, is now home to the Parlor. Crafted cocktails with a prohibition era feel. You most likely will find music on Friday and Saturday night. The food is good, too!
60 locals recommend
The Parlor TC
205 Lake AveThis transformed historic train weigh station that was once occupied by a cherry warehouse in the 1800’s, is now home to the Parlor. Crafted cocktails with a prohibition era feel. You most likely will find music on Friday and Saturday night. The food is good, too!
Visit the first distillery in the state of Michigan. Grand Traverse Distillery has been distilling vodka, gin, rum, whiskey & bourbon since 2006. The tasting room is located right in the heart of downtown Traverse City. Or you can tour the actual distillery, located south of town, off of 3 Mile Rd.
16 locals recommend
Grand Traverse Distillery Tasting Room
215 E Front StVisit the first distillery in the state of Michigan. Grand Traverse Distillery has been distilling vodka, gin, rum, whiskey & bourbon since 2006. The tasting room is located right in the heart of downtown Traverse City. Or you can tour the actual distillery, located south of town, off of 3 Mile Rd.
City/town information
About a 45 minute drive is a great village, Leland, also known as Fishtown. The shantys along the rivers edge are now fun boutiques. Amazing views of both North and South Manitou Islands.
145 locals recommend
Leland
About a 45 minute drive is a great village, Leland, also known as Fishtown. The shantys along the rivers edge are now fun boutiques. Amazing views of both North and South Manitou Islands.
My favorite hiking and site seeing
A must see. Incredible vistas of Lake Michigan. Tons of hiking and biking trails. Be sure to pick up your day pass in Empire.
303 locals recommend
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 W Front StA must see. Incredible vistas of Lake Michigan. Tons of hiking and biking trails. Be sure to pick up your day pass in Empire.
This place is full of history. Formerly a state psychiactric hospital, it has been restored into a bustling retail, office and condo space. Tours are available, which includes the tunnels! There are three great restaurant; Trattoria Stella, Pepeneros and Red Spire. Also located in and around Building 50 is Cuppa Joe, Pleasanton Bakery, Earthen Ales, Left Food Charlies Winery, Higher Grounds coffee roasting and Spanglish, just to name a few. Best of all is the 100 acres of hiking behind the buildings. Visit the Hippie Tree and climb up to the highest hill for a stunning view of East and West Bays. Hard to believe we have this available right in the neighborhood!
130 locals recommend
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
1200 W Eleventh StThis place is full of history. Formerly a state psychiactric hospital, it has been restored into a bustling retail, office and condo space. Tours are available, which includes the tunnels! There are three great restaurant; Trattoria Stella, Pepeneros and Red Spire. Also located in and around Building 50 is Cuppa Joe, Pleasanton Bakery, Earthen Ales, Left Food Charlies Winery, Higher Grounds coffee roasting and Spanglish, just to name a few. Best of all is the 100 acres of hiking behind the buildings. Visit the Hippie Tree and climb up to the highest hill for a stunning view of East and West Bays. Hard to believe we have this available right in the neighborhood!
Breakfast
This place is iconic. As their name says, they are known for their omelettes. The cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls are good, too!
There are two locations, downtown on Cass Ave. and just around the corner on Front Street, in the plaza across from the Civic Center
48 locals recommend
The Omelette Shoppe
124 Cass StThis place is iconic. As their name says, they are known for their omelettes. The cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls are good, too!
There are two locations, downtown on Cass Ave. and just around the corner on Front Street, in the plaza across from the Civic Center
The Towne Plaza
203 Cass StBest pancakes in town! Great outdoor dining, too.
Old time diner serving up great food, at a great price. I love their retro seating and artwork on the walls.
Sparky's Diner
1462 West South Airport RoadOld time diner serving up great food, at a great price. I love their retro seating and artwork on the walls.