MICHIGAN STATE - Traverse City, Michigan, nestled on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, is a culinary hotspot in Northern Michigan. Known for its cherries, wineries, and stunning natural beauty, Traverse City also boasts a vibrant and diverse dining scene. Whether you're seeking farm-to-table cuisine, fresh seafood, upscale dining, or a casual brewpub experience, Traverse City has a restaurant to satisfy every craving.
Traverse City's Culinary Delights: A Guide to the Best Restaurants in Northern Michigan
Here's a guide to some of the must-try restaurants in Traverse City:
1. Trattoria Stella: Fantastic Food and a Unique Atmosphere
Trattoria Stella, located in the historic Village at Grand Traverse Commons, is a standout for its fantastic food, unique atmosphere, and excellent service. This Italian restaurant offers a menu filled with authentic Italian dishes, made with fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. It is known as one of the best Italian restaurants in the area.
- Cuisine: Italian
- Price: $$$$
- Location: 830 Cottageview Dr, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Fantastic food, unique atmosphere, excellent service, historic location, authentic Italian, great for special occasions
2. Artisan Restaurant Traverse City: Attentive Service and Outstanding Food
Artisan Restaurant, located within the Delamar Hotel, is known for its attentive and knowledgeable server and outstanding food. This waterfront restaurant offers a refined dining experience with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
- Cuisine: American, New American
- Price: $$$$
- Location: 615 E Front St, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Attentive service, outstanding food, waterfront location, refined dining, seasonal menu, great for special occasions
3. Modern Bird: Unique Dishes and Excellent Service
Modern Bird is a popular spot for its great atmosphere, excellent service, and unique and delicious dishes. This restaurant offers a creative and modern take on American cuisine.
- Cuisine: American, New American
- Price: $$$$
- Location: 541 W Front St, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Great atmosphere, excellent service, unique dishes, delicious food, creative cuisine, great for a memorable meal
4. Bubba's: Amazingly Cooked and Flavorful Burgers
Bubba's is a local favorite for its amazingly cooked/creative and very flavorful burgers. This casual spot offers a menu filled with classic American fare and is a great choice for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Cuisine: American, Burgers
- Price: $$
- Location: 428 E Front St, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Amazingly cooked burgers, creative burgers, flavorful burgers, casual dining, great for a quick meal
5. The Burrow TC: Top-Notch Food and Relaxed Fun Vibes
The Burrow TC is known for its outstanding service, top-notch food, and relaxed, fun vibes. This restaurant offers a menu with a variety of options, making it a great choice for a casual meal with friends or family.
- Cuisine: American, New American
- Price: $$$
- Location: 12930 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Outstanding service, top-notch food, relaxed fun vibes, great for a casual meal, diverse menu
6. Bushell's Kitchen & Cocktails: Cool Vibe and Excellent Food and Cocktails
Bushell's Kitchen & Cocktails is a new place that is known for its cool vibe and excellent food and cocktails. This is a great spot to enjoy a meal and a drink in a stylish and inviting atmosphere.
- Cuisine: American, Cocktail Bar
- Price: $$$
- Location: 127 S Union St, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Cool vibe, excellent food and cocktails, great for a night out, stylish atmosphere, craft cocktails
7. The Filling Station Microbrewery: Great Food, Good Beer, and Long Waits
The Filling Station Microbrewery is a popular brewpub known for its great food, good beer, and excellent service, although it can have long waits due to its popularity. This spot offers a lively atmosphere and a menu that pairs perfectly with their house-brewed beers. It is known for their pizza.
- Cuisine: Brewpub, Pizza, American
- Price: $$
- Location: 642 Railroad Pl, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Brewpub, great food, good beer, excellent service, long waits, lively atmosphere, pizza
8. Rare Bird Brewpub: Out-of-This-World Pretzels, Portobello Fries, and Banh Mi
Rare Bird Brewpub is a brewpub that is known for having food that is "out of this world". Particularly, they have pretzels, portobello fries and their Banh Mi sandwich. They are known for their beer as well.
- Cuisine: Brewpub, American
- Price: $$
- Location: 229 Lake Ave, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Out-of-this-world pretzels, portobello fries, and Banh Mi sandwich, brewpub, great beer selection, unique menu items
9. PepeNero: Friendly Staff and Outstanding Food and Drinks
PepeNero is an Italian restaurant that is known for its friendly staff, great service, and outstanding food and drinks. This is a great spot for a special occasion or a memorable meal, with a menu that features authentic Italian dishes.
- Cuisine: Italian
- Price: $$$$
- Location: 700 Cottageview Dr Suite 100, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Friendly staff, great service, outstanding food and drinks, authentic Italian, great for special occasions, romantic setting
10. S2S Sugar to Salt: Elegant Plating, Phenomenal Flavor, and a Modern Layout
S2S Sugar to Salt is a breakfast and brunch spot known for its elegant plating, phenomenal flavor, and pleasant modern seating layout. This restaurant offers a unique and delicious dining experience. It is known for having some of the best breakfast in the area.
- Cuisine: American, Breakfast, Brunch
- Price: $$$
- Location: 1371 Gray Dr suite 300, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Elegant plating, phenomenal flavor, pleasant modern seating layout, great for breakfast or brunch, unique dining experience
11. Hexenbelle: Unique, Thoughtful, and Well-Crafted Food
Hexenbelle is a cafe that is known for its unique, thoughtful, and well-crafted food, plus a modern yet cozy atmosphere. This is a great spot to enjoy a delicious meal and a coffee in a relaxed setting.
- Cuisine: Cafe, American
- Price: $$
- Location: 144 Hall St Suite 107, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Unique food, thoughtful dishes, well-crafted food, modern yet cozy atmosphere, great for a casual meal, great coffee
12. Red Spire Brunch House: Delicious Food in a Beautifully Restored Building
Red Spire Brunch House is a popular breakfast and brunch spot known for its friendly wait staff and delicious food served in a beautifully restored building. This is a great place to start your day with a delicious and satisfying meal. It is known as one of the best brunch spots in the city.
- Cuisine: Breakfast, Brunch, American
- Price: $$
- Location: 800 Cottageview Drive Suite #30 Mercato, Main Entrance, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Friendly wait staff, delicious food, beautifully restored building, great for breakfast or brunch, historic setting
13. Boathouse Restaurant: Great Drinks, Food, Service, and Ambiance
Boathouse Restaurant is a premier dining destination, known for its great drinks, great food, great service, and great ambiance. This waterfront restaurant offers stunning views and a refined dining experience, making it perfect for a special occasion. They are known for their seafood.
- Cuisine: Seafood, American, Fine Dining
- Price: $$$$+
- Location: 14039 Peninsula Dr, Traverse City, MI
- Highlights: Great drinks, great food, great service, great ambiance, waterfront location, fine dining, special occasions, seafood
Traverse City, Michigan's culinary scene is a delightful mix of flavors and styles, from farm-to-table cuisine and fresh seafood to cozy cafes and lively brewpubs. Whether you're a local or just visiting, be sure to explore these and other great restaurants and discover your own culinary favorites in this beautiful Northern Michigan city!
Attributions: Restaurant information is based on publicly available information from online review platforms, websites, and local guides.