Guidebook for Grand Rapids
Food Scene
My favorite restaurant in the area. Great drinks. Farm fresh, delicious food. Modern atmosphere.
46 locals recommend
Terra GR Restaurant
1429 Lake Dr SEMy favorite restaurant in the area. Great drinks. Farm fresh, delicious food. Modern atmosphere.
One block away. Great pizzas. They also have delicious cocktails if you're not into beer!
62 locals recommend
Harmony Brewing Company
1551 Lake Dr SEOne block away. Great pizzas. They also have delicious cocktails if you're not into beer!
One of the best restaurants in Grand Rapids. Unique dishes. A little pricey, but worth it. Would recommend calling for a reservation to be safe.
29 locals recommend
Grove
919 Cherry St SEOne of the best restaurants in Grand Rapids. Unique dishes. A little pricey, but worth it. Would recommend calling for a reservation to be safe.
Delicious coffee shop! Great vibe. The owner, Lori, is so great. A few seats outside and many inside. Lots of magazines if you're looking to just relax and read.
21 locals recommend
The Sparrows Coffee & Tea & Newsstand
1035 Wealthy St SEDelicious coffee shop! Great vibe. The owner, Lori, is so great. A few seats outside and many inside. Lots of magazines if you're looking to just relax and read.
An Eastown staple. People come from all over to get Yesterdog. My favorite is the Ultradog. :)
41 locals recommend
Yesterdog
1505 Wealthy St SEAn Eastown staple. People come from all over to get Yesterdog. My favorite is the Ultradog. :)
If you go to Reserve make sure you look at the beautiful water painting hanging above the bar. This piece was the first ArtPrize grand winner.
26 locals recommend
Reserve Wine & Food
201 Monroe Ave NWIf you go to Reserve make sure you look at the beautiful water painting hanging above the bar. This piece was the first ArtPrize grand winner.
Personally I think Maru is the best sushi in town. It has a nice modern atmosphere and is located right in the East Hills neighborhood. (+ They do take reservations.)
60 locals recommend
Maru Sushi & Grill
927 Cherry St SEPersonally I think Maru is the best sushi in town. It has a nice modern atmosphere and is located right in the East Hills neighborhood. (+ They do take reservations.)
Tasty tacos and margarita's that take your tastebuds straight to Mexico. I love it here. It's a great spot to sit outside on a nice day!
90 locals recommend
Donkey Taqueria
665 Wealthy St SETasty tacos and margarita's that take your tastebuds straight to Mexico. I love it here. It's a great spot to sit outside on a nice day!
If you're looking for a cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast sandwich - this is the spot. Bonus: it's only about a 2 minute walk from my house.
GR Bagel
423 Norwood Ave SEIf you're looking for a cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast sandwich - this is the spot. Bonus: it's only about a 2 minute walk from my house.
One of my favorite brunch spots. It's got all your classic breakfast faves, the staff are super nice and it's located right in the East Hills neighborhood.
19 locals recommend
Cherie Inn
969 Cherry St SEOne of my favorite brunch spots. It's got all your classic breakfast faves, the staff are super nice and it's located right in the East Hills neighborhood.
The Old Goat is in Alger Heights so if you're trying to check out different neighborhoods this would be a fun spot to hit. They opened in 2015 and have great food, good drinks and a nice atmosphere.
17 locals recommend
The Old Goat
2434 Eastern Ave SEThe Old Goat is in Alger Heights so if you're trying to check out different neighborhoods this would be a fun spot to hit. They opened in 2015 and have great food, good drinks and a nice atmosphere.
Derby Station is right in East Grand Rapids' gaslight village. Tasty food. Also a good place to watch a game or enjoy a beer. A great walk on a nice night!
Derby Station
2237 Wealthy St SEDerby Station is right in East Grand Rapids' gaslight village. Tasty food. Also a good place to watch a game or enjoy a beer. A great walk on a nice night!
Unique flavors of locally made ice cream. A little pricey but DELISH!
14 locals recommend
Furniture City Creamery
958 Cherry St SEUnique flavors of locally made ice cream. A little pricey but DELISH!
Essentials
Awesome spot for wine, cheese, beer, liquor, specialty grocery items.
54 locals recommend
Martha's Vineyard Fine Wine & Gourmet Grocery
200 Union Ave NEAwesome spot for wine, cheese, beer, liquor, specialty grocery items.
Great grocery store. Nice deli options. Starbucks located inside.
16 locals recommend
D&W Fresh Market
1814 Breton Rd SEGreat grocery store. Nice deli options. Starbucks located inside.
Shopping
Tiny but super cute shop! Dann & Chip are artists who create fun (and often funny) gift + home items. Worth stopping in!
22 locals recommend
Rebel
1555 Wealthy St SETiny but super cute shop! Dann & Chip are artists who create fun (and often funny) gift + home items. Worth stopping in!
Although Hunt & Gather is kind of located on the "outskirts" of town it is a GREAT shop with unique vintage/modern items, and it's a shared space with local abstract painter, Jeff Kraus.
Hunt & Gather
Although Hunt & Gather is kind of located on the "outskirts" of town it is a GREAT shop with unique vintage/modern items, and it's a shared space with local abstract painter, Jeff Kraus.
The Downtown Market should be on your list - they have a creperie, an awesome seafood spot called Fishlads where you can get a delicious fish sandwich, authentic Mexican, sushi, Slows BBQ, etc.!
98 locals recommend
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
435 Ionia Ave SWThe Downtown Market should be on your list - they have a creperie, an awesome seafood spot called Fishlads where you can get a delicious fish sandwich, authentic Mexican, sushi, Slows BBQ, etc.!
The Cakabakery is a walkable bakery with amazing cupcakes and other sweet treats. Plus, it's located in a windmill(!) and is owned by an awesome guy named Jason. This is an Eastown gem.
Cakabakery
919 Fulton St EThe Cakabakery is a walkable bakery with amazing cupcakes and other sweet treats. Plus, it's located in a windmill(!) and is owned by an awesome guy named Jason. This is an Eastown gem.
Located in a former auto shop, this boutique offers a curated selection of women’s clothing and accessories. I love shopping here!
Lee & Birch
759 Wealthy St SELocated in a former auto shop, this boutique offers a curated selection of women’s clothing and accessories. I love shopping here!
Hand crafted art and apparel with designs based around woodcuts and the outdoors. Each product is handmade here in Grand Rapids and each run is a limited edition. Cute, fun gifts!
11 locals recommend
Woosah Outfitters
738 Wealthy St SEHand crafted art and apparel with designs based around woodcuts and the outdoors. Each product is handmade here in Grand Rapids and each run is a limited edition. Cute, fun gifts!
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a good spot to go if you want to check out the West Side. They make great spirits + mixed drinks. I'm friends with the owners so I'm partial, but it really is a fun, new spot! :)
29 locals recommend
Long Road Distillers
537 Leonard St NWThis is a good spot to go if you want to check out the West Side. They make great spirits + mixed drinks. I'm friends with the owners so I'm partial, but it really is a fun, new spot! :)
Pyramid Scheme is kind of a hipster bar with pinball/etc. but it is also a concert venue and they bring great acts to town. Worth checking out, if you like intimate concerts!
41 locals recommend
The Pyramid Scheme
68 Commerce Ave SWPyramid Scheme is kind of a hipster bar with pinball/etc. but it is also a concert venue and they bring great acts to town. Worth checking out, if you like intimate concerts!
Visitors from around world always seem to want to visit Founder's Brewing! They also frequently have good music at night so I would check that out if you like breweries!
176 locals recommend
Founders Brewing Co
235 Grandville Ave SWVisitors from around world always seem to want to visit Founder's Brewing! They also frequently have good music at night so I would check that out if you like breweries!
If you like to dance, this is a great spot to be on Friday nights. They usually have good DJs and it's a lot of young people. It's kind of a hole-in-the-wall but that's part of the charm. ;)
8 locals recommend
Rocky's Bar & Grill
633 Ottawa Ave NWIf you like to dance, this is a great spot to be on Friday nights. They usually have good DJs and it's a lot of young people. It's kind of a hole-in-the-wall but that's part of the charm. ;)
If you're in the mood for a glass of scotch or a martini in a dark, quiet bar, this is the spot. Located in the Amway Grand Plaza the Lumber Baron Bar is a favorite for a quiet cocktail.
Lumber Baron Bar
187 Monroe Ave NWIf you're in the mood for a glass of scotch or a martini in a dark, quiet bar, this is the spot. Located in the Amway Grand Plaza the Lumber Baron Bar is a favorite for a quiet cocktail.
Sightseeing
You can do a self-guided walking tour through Heritage Hill to see some of the beautiful homes in this historic district. A fun thing to do on a nice day!
35 locals recommend
Heritage Hill
You can do a self-guided walking tour through Heritage Hill to see some of the beautiful homes in this historic district. A fun thing to do on a nice day!
Alexander Calder's sculpture, "La Grande Vitesse" is a Grand Rapids icon. It's located in Calder Plaza and worth seeing if you're exploring downtown.
17 locals recommend
Calder Plaza
300 Monroe Ave NWAlexander Calder's sculpture, "La Grande Vitesse" is a Grand Rapids icon. It's located in Calder Plaza and worth seeing if you're exploring downtown.
Arts & Culture
The Grand Rapids Art Museum is located in the city center and always has wonderful exhibits. Highly recommend!
163 locals recommend
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
11 Sheldon Ave NEThe Grand Rapids Art Museum is located in the city center and always has wonderful exhibits. Highly recommend!