Guidebook for Grand Rapids
Food Scene
Great burgers, tots, and drinks. This is our favorite restaurant in the city. $10-15 per person
8 locals recommend
Blue Dog Tavern
638 Stocking Ave NWGreat burgers, tots, and drinks. This is our favorite restaurant in the city. $10-15 per person
One of the best "authentic" Mexican restaurants in the city. Nothing fancy, but the food is incredible. I recommend the quesadillas with spicy pork, but anything on the menu will amaze. $10-15
El Granjero Mexican Grill
950 Bridge St NWOne of the best "authentic" Mexican restaurants in the city. Nothing fancy, but the food is incredible. I recommend the quesadillas with spicy pork, but anything on the menu will amaze. $10-15
This is a brewery, but some of the best food in the city is here. The duck nachos are really good, the burger has no equal, and the beer is the best in the city. Fantastic service, cool atmosphere. Try a sour! $15-25
96 locals recommend
Brewery Vivant
925 Cherry St SEThis is a brewery, but some of the best food in the city is here. The duck nachos are really good, the burger has no equal, and the beer is the best in the city. Fantastic service, cool atmosphere. Try a sour! $15-25
Great brunch and dinner menu with an outdoor patio. $15-20 per person.
21 locals recommend
Graydon's Crossing
1223 Plainfield Ave NEGreat brunch and dinner menu with an outdoor patio. $15-20 per person.
Some of the best breakfast in the city, conveniently within walking distance. There's a 45 minute wait after 9:00 AM. $10
10 locals recommend
Westsider Cafe
1180 Walker Ave NWSome of the best breakfast in the city, conveniently within walking distance. There's a 45 minute wait after 9:00 AM. $10
Excellent food. Very little wait time compared to Westsider Cafe and the food is comparable. $10
Cheshire Kitchen
Excellent food. Very little wait time compared to Westsider Cafe and the food is comparable. $10
Maru Sushi & Grill
927 Cherry St SEBest sushi in GR $20
Sightseeing
This is a beautiful pedestrian bridge downtown. Great views of the city
11 locals recommend
Blue Bridge
Blue BridgeThis is a beautiful pedestrian bridge downtown. Great views of the city
This is a hidden park off the Medical mile. Great views of the city and a nice place for a picnic or a yard game. On-street parking.
8 locals recommend
Lookout Park
801 Fairview Ave NEThis is a hidden park off the Medical mile. Great views of the city and a nice place for a picnic or a yard game. On-street parking.
Drinks & Nightlife
Brand new bar on Bridge St. Reasonable drink prices. No food- They only serve popcorn.
11 locals recommend
Steel Cat Bar
640 Bridge St NWBrand new bar on Bridge St. Reasonable drink prices. No food- They only serve popcorn.
Large beer selection, excellent German/Polish menu, ciders and other drinks. One of the gems of the Westside!
22 locals recommend
Harmony Hall
401 Stocking Ave NWLarge beer selection, excellent German/Polish menu, ciders and other drinks. One of the gems of the Westside!
This place consistently gets awards for being one of the best beer bars in the US. This is a great place to start a night. There are a lot of great bars up and down Ionia.
65 locals recommend
HopCat
25 Ionia Ave SWThis place consistently gets awards for being one of the best beer bars in the US. This is a great place to start a night. There are a lot of great bars up and down Ionia.
Essentials
This is a local pharmacy with many of the basics you may need for your stay: Eggs, milk, toiletries, drinks, etc. If they don't have it, head down the road to Meijer.
HomeTown Pharmacy - Grand Rapids Walker
1181 Walker Ave NWThis is a local pharmacy with many of the basics you may need for your stay: Eggs, milk, toiletries, drinks, etc. If they don't have it, head down the road to Meijer.
Meijer
746 E 16th StMeijer is a "nice-Walmart". Superstore with groceries.
Arts & Culture
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NEBeautiful sculpture park
Grand Rapids Children's Museum
11 Sheldon Ave NEThis is a great starting point for Art Prize. Typically, there's parking under the highway along Schribner, which is the street to the west of the museum. That is a one-way street so come in from the south.
77 locals recommend
The Gerald Ford Presidential Museum
303 Pearl St NWThis is a great starting point for Art Prize. Typically, there's parking under the highway along Schribner, which is the street to the west of the museum. That is a one-way street so come in from the south.
Getting Around
Grand Rapids Station
440 Century Ave SWRoute 18 will take you to this house. This operates Monday through Saturday. Check Ridetherapid.org for times. The stop by the house is "Walker and Pine". When leaving the house, go left on walker 100 feet to the West. One way fare is $1.50. They take cash.
8 locals recommend
Central Station
300 Ellsworth Ave SWRoute 18 will take you to this house. This operates Monday through Saturday. Check Ridetherapid.org for times. The stop by the house is "Walker and Pine". When leaving the house, go left on walker 100 feet to the West. One way fare is $1.50. They take cash.
Parks & Nature
Great riverside park with nice views of the city. Easy walk to downtown as well.
16 locals recommend
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
220 Front Ave NWGreat riverside park with nice views of the city. Easy walk to downtown as well.
This park is huge! Plenty of space for yourself and only 4 miles away.
39 locals recommend
Riverside Park
2001 Monroe Ave NEThis park is huge! Plenty of space for yourself and only 4 miles away.