Paul & Elizabeth’s Grand Rapids Guidebook
Food scene
Charcuterie & French-style goods from Nantucket Baking company are served at this stylish contemporary cafe. Coffee brewed is from Madcap - roasted in small batches since 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the Heritage Hill neighborhood and an easy walk from our Airbnb. Reserve A-Frame huts with heaters during the winter!
22 recommandé par les habitants
Lyon Street Cafe
617 Lyon St NECharcuterie & French-style goods from Nantucket Baking company are served at this stylish contemporary cafe. Coffee brewed is from Madcap - roasted in small batches since 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the Heritage Hill neighborhood and an easy walk from our Airbnb. Reserve A-Frame huts with heaters during the winter!
Modern market filled with many awesome restaurants. Aperitivo is a great wine bar and you can bring your food from other vendors there to eat with your wine (and you can sit outside). Fish Lads is the best, freshest fish in town. Rak Thai makes some awesome Pad Thai on the cheap. Tacos El Cunado has great Mexican food and some of the best guacamole around. Top it off with Love's for an awesome scoop of ice cream.
98 recommandé par les habitants
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
435 Ionia Ave SWModern market filled with many awesome restaurants. Aperitivo is a great wine bar and you can bring your food from other vendors there to eat with your wine (and you can sit outside). Fish Lads is the best, freshest fish in town. Rak Thai makes some awesome Pad Thai on the cheap. Tacos El Cunado has great Mexican food and some of the best guacamole around. Top it off with Love's for an awesome scoop of ice cream.
The oldest operating bar and restaurant in downtown GR. Casual charm and down to earth atmosphere, famous for the city's best burgers, three different styles of award winning chili. Private outdoor patio weather permitting.
6 recommandé par les habitants
Cottage Bar
18 La Grave Ave SEThe oldest operating bar and restaurant in downtown GR. Casual charm and down to earth atmosphere, famous for the city's best burgers, three different styles of award winning chili. Private outdoor patio weather permitting.
Great restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner. Wood fired pizza oven (their breakfast pizza is awesome). If they are busy look for seats at the first-come, first-served bar area. Outside seating highly desired on sunny days!
46 recommandé par les habitants
Terra GR Restaurant
1429 Lake Dr SEGreat restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner. Wood fired pizza oven (their breakfast pizza is awesome). If they are busy look for seats at the first-come, first-served bar area. Outside seating highly desired on sunny days!
Hip younger joint with one of the largest whiskey/bourbon selections in town (100's). Great burgers (& vegetarian options). Bring your quarters for their lobby of vintage pinball games!
79 recommandé par les habitants
Stella's Lounge
53 Commerce Ave SWHip younger joint with one of the largest whiskey/bourbon selections in town (100's). Great burgers (& vegetarian options). Bring your quarters for their lobby of vintage pinball games!
Brewery specializing in Belgian and French style beers along with the best pretzels and beer cheese in GR. Pretzels by Nantucket Baking Co. Very good menu for dinner as well. Outdoor seating is nice on warm days. Location is a renovated historic church - very cool.
96 recommandé par les habitants
Brewery Vivant
925 Cherry St SEBrewery specializing in Belgian and French style beers along with the best pretzels and beer cheese in GR. Pretzels by Nantucket Baking Co. Very good menu for dinner as well. Outdoor seating is nice on warm days. Location is a renovated historic church - very cool.
Could be a sightseeing spot, too, just to see the vintage 70's design, furniture and 3" shag carpet on the ceiling above the bar! Walk or Uber recommended as their drinks are amazing. Real old-time craftsmanship bartenders.
21 recommandé par les habitants
Buffalo Traders Lounge
950 Fulton St ECould be a sightseeing spot, too, just to see the vintage 70's design, furniture and 3" shag carpet on the ceiling above the bar! Walk or Uber recommended as their drinks are amazing. Real old-time craftsmanship bartenders.
Indoor and outdoor dining. Fairly new restaurant of the year in GR 2 years ago. "Modern gastropub with a meat-heavy menu of globally inspired fare, 100+ whiskeys & draft beer." Vegetarians will find enough to eat here, too. Longer walk from our Airbnb but doable. Close to several other hotspots on the NW side of downtown.
48 recommandé par les habitants
Butcher's Union
438 Bridge St NWIndoor and outdoor dining. Fairly new restaurant of the year in GR 2 years ago. "Modern gastropub with a meat-heavy menu of globally inspired fare, 100+ whiskeys & draft beer." Vegetarians will find enough to eat here, too. Longer walk from our Airbnb but doable. Close to several other hotspots on the NW side of downtown.
Some of the best beer and pizza in town. All pizzas can be made vegetarian and they are AMAZING! Baseball themed named craft beer set in a restored Victorian-era firehouse with old-time baseball decor.
49 recommandé par les habitants
The Mitten Brewing Company
527 Leonard St NWSome of the best beer and pizza in town. All pizzas can be made vegetarian and they are AMAZING! Baseball themed named craft beer set in a restored Victorian-era firehouse with old-time baseball decor.
Great coffee and low-key spot for breakfast or lunch. Unique menu items are all tasty along with some incredible baked goods. Best avocado toast in town. Indoor and outdoor seating as well (weather permitting).
23 recommandé par les habitants
That Early Bird
1445 Lake Dr SEGreat coffee and low-key spot for breakfast or lunch. Unique menu items are all tasty along with some incredible baked goods. Best avocado toast in town. Indoor and outdoor seating as well (weather permitting).
A GR staple for over 30 years! Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Easy walk from our Airbnb. "Breezy tapas spot for Mediterranean & Spanish flavors with an upbeat ambiance, plus cooking classes."
65 recommandé par les habitants
San Chez A Tapas Bistro
38 Fulton St WA GR staple for over 30 years! Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Easy walk from our Airbnb. "Breezy tapas spot for Mediterranean & Spanish flavors with an upbeat ambiance, plus cooking classes."
Great sushi in a hip location on Cherry Street (red brick paved) near some cute shops, and Brewery Vivant. Good fish! Outdoor seating option, as well as a first-come, first-served sushi bar area.
60 recommandé par les habitants
Maru Sushi & Grill
927 Cherry St SEGreat sushi in a hip location on Cherry Street (red brick paved) near some cute shops, and Brewery Vivant. Good fish! Outdoor seating option, as well as a first-come, first-served sushi bar area.
Not what you might expect from a Mexican restaurant. Located in an historic gas/service station complete with garage doors that open in good weather to the picnic table area outside. No reservations available so be prepared to wait a bit on weekends. Bar seating is first-come, first served. Huge lineup of pure agave Tequilas and one of the best Margaritas in GR! Amazing guacamole, queso and black bean dip for starters. Reserve a heated igloo during the winter!
90 recommandé par les habitants
Donkey Taqueria
665 Wealthy St SENot what you might expect from a Mexican restaurant. Located in an historic gas/service station complete with garage doors that open in good weather to the picnic table area outside. No reservations available so be prepared to wait a bit on weekends. Bar seating is first-come, first served. Huge lineup of pure agave Tequilas and one of the best Margaritas in GR! Amazing guacamole, queso and black bean dip for starters. Reserve a heated igloo during the winter!
Downtown GR location is the original HopCat! Colorful spot on the very busy Ionia Avenue right next to Van Andel Arena. Huge covered patio allows for outside seating most days spring-summer-fall. Very large selection of beers on tap! Easy walk from our Airbnb.
65 recommandé par les habitants
HopCat
25 Ionia Ave SWDowntown GR location is the original HopCat! Colorful spot on the very busy Ionia Avenue right next to Van Andel Arena. Huge covered patio allows for outside seating most days spring-summer-fall. Very large selection of beers on tap! Easy walk from our Airbnb.
Tasty, healthy food for dine in or takeout. Bowls, soups, salads, wraps, smoothies and other delicious stuff. Located right in the center of town. Their motto, "Eat. Energize. To provide fresh and nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go."
Freshii
146 Monroe Center St NWTasty, healthy food for dine in or takeout. Bowls, soups, salads, wraps, smoothies and other delicious stuff. Located right in the center of town. Their motto, "Eat. Energize. To provide fresh and nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go."
Restaurant in Eastown that offers a great breakfast, lunch and dinner. Can get crowded in the mornings so check out the first-come, first-served bar seating for faster access. Matchbox potatoes are amazing with the breakfast entrees. They will also hook you up with some Bailey's for your coffee or a Mimosa. Nice.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Matchbox Diner & Drinks | Eastown
1345 Lake Dr SERestaurant in Eastown that offers a great breakfast, lunch and dinner. Can get crowded in the mornings so check out the first-come, first-served bar seating for faster access. Matchbox potatoes are amazing with the breakfast entrees. They will also hook you up with some Bailey's for your coffee or a Mimosa. Nice.
Eco-friendly gastropub serves an eclectic menu plus local & European beers in a sunny space. Outdoor seating weather permitting.
104 recommandé par les habitants
The Green Well
924 Cherry Street SoutheastEco-friendly gastropub serves an eclectic menu plus local & European beers in a sunny space. Outdoor seating weather permitting.
Sourdough crust pizza. Yum! They will swap any meat item for a vegetarian alternative. Also try the Kale Caesar, yes with potato chips instead of croutons - game changer. Take-out only.
Quarantino's
Sourdough crust pizza. Yum! They will swap any meat item for a vegetarian alternative. Also try the Kale Caesar, yes with potato chips instead of croutons - game changer. Take-out only.
Locally owned, industrial-style eatery and cocktail bar featuring Long Road spirits made here in Grand Rapids. Nice vibe and excellent food!
29 recommandé par les habitants
Long Road Distillers
537 Leonard St NWLocally owned, industrial-style eatery and cocktail bar featuring Long Road spirits made here in Grand Rapids. Nice vibe and excellent food!
Sightseeing
This is where our Airbnb is located! Heritage Hill is one of the largest urban historic districts in the country. It was the first “neighborhood” of Grand Rapids and is adjacent to downtown, the medical institutions and universities, and the hip Uptown district. Heritage Hill offers Michigan’s largest and finest collection of 19th and early 20th century houses. Nearly every style of American architecture, from Greek Revival to Prairie, is represented in the 1,300 buildings that date from 1844. These were the homes of lumber barons, teachers, judges, and legislators who shaped our city’s future.
35 recommandé par les habitants
Heritage Hill
This is where our Airbnb is located! Heritage Hill is one of the largest urban historic districts in the country. It was the first “neighborhood” of Grand Rapids and is adjacent to downtown, the medical institutions and universities, and the hip Uptown district. Heritage Hill offers Michigan’s largest and finest collection of 19th and early 20th century houses. Nearly every style of American architecture, from Greek Revival to Prairie, is represented in the 1,300 buildings that date from 1844. These were the homes of lumber barons, teachers, judges, and legislators who shaped our city’s future.
Experience masterpieces of art and nature
that will delight your senses at one of the nation's
premier horticultural display gardens and sculpture parks
in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
200 recommandé par les habitants
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NEExperience masterpieces of art and nature
that will delight your senses at one of the nation's
premier horticultural display gardens and sculpture parks
in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Right on the west side of the Grand River on the west side of GR. Fairly easy walk downhill from our Airbnb. The museum has 3 floors of history in an ex-flour mill plus exhibits, a 1928 working carousel & planetarium.
91 recommandé par les habitants
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St NWRight on the west side of the Grand River on the west side of GR. Fairly easy walk downhill from our Airbnb. The museum has 3 floors of history in an ex-flour mill plus exhibits, a 1928 working carousel & planetarium.
Right across the street from the GR Museum! Presidential museum and burial site of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, and his wife Betty Ford. Nice tour of history if you have a couple hours.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
1000 Beal AveRight across the street from the GR Museum! Presidential museum and burial site of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, and his wife Betty Ford. Nice tour of history if you have a couple hours.
We say sightseeing because we tend to end up there before, during or after a walk through the neighborhood to enjoy the historic homes. Bonus if we land on nights they are doing wine tastings - always educational and enjoyable. The corner in Heritage Hill is only a few blocks over from our Airbnb. Martha's now has Martha's Pizza (takeout only) where you can grab a slice most any time of the day, Nantucket Baking Company where you can get old-world crafted fresh baked goods daily, Lyon Street Cafe for a cup of coffee and the Marcona On Lyon Mediterranean restaurant. Quite the corner! We are VERY lucky to have this in our neighborhood to walk to.
54 recommandé par les habitants
Martha's Vineyard Fine Wine & Gourmet Grocery
200 Union Ave NEWe say sightseeing because we tend to end up there before, during or after a walk through the neighborhood to enjoy the historic homes. Bonus if we land on nights they are doing wine tastings - always educational and enjoyable. The corner in Heritage Hill is only a few blocks over from our Airbnb. Martha's now has Martha's Pizza (takeout only) where you can grab a slice most any time of the day, Nantucket Baking Company where you can get old-world crafted fresh baked goods daily, Lyon Street Cafe for a cup of coffee and the Marcona On Lyon Mediterranean restaurant. Quite the corner! We are VERY lucky to have this in our neighborhood to walk to.