My Local Faves
Food
Well known for good food and great Martini's
Nice, local restaurant with great pizza. Close to home-About 1-2 miles. Between here and Grand Valley State University.
Licari's Sicilian Pizza Kitchen-No.2
3627 Baldwin StNice, local restaurant with great pizza. Close to home-About 1-2 miles. Between here and Grand Valley State University.
Vitale's Hudsonville
5779 Balsam DrClose to home. Nice environment.
Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant
1814 Baldwin StNewer, local establishment with good Mexican food!
Peppino's Pizzeria & Sports Grille of Jenison
135 Chicago DrNewer locally owned restaurant/bar. Close to home. Always pretty busy. Great burgers & beer!
The Win Tavern 33
7628 Georgetown Center DrNewer locally owned restaurant/bar. Close to home. Always pretty busy. Great burgers & beer!
Close to main campus for Grand Valley State University. Nice restaurant/bar. They have a "mimosa/bloody" bar on Sundays along with a decent brunch.
Main St. Pub - Allendale
11240 University PkwyClose to main campus for Grand Valley State University. Nice restaurant/bar. They have a "mimosa/bloody" bar on Sundays along with a decent brunch.
Stir Fry Express
1941 Baldwin StMy favorite local takeout chinese restaurant
Great place for Hibachi and Sushi. Plan a couple of hours if attending for Hibachi.
Sakura Japanese Steakhouse
3540 Rivertown Point Ct SWGreat place for Hibachi and Sushi. Plan a couple of hours if attending for Hibachi.
Kind of a hole in the wall, but a local favorite and longstanding establishment. I've only ever had breakfast. It's my dad's favorite spot and not too far from home.
New Beginnings Restaurant
1455 Michigan St NEKind of a hole in the wall, but a local favorite and longstanding establishment. I've only ever had breakfast. It's my dad's favorite spot and not too far from home.
My favorite place within driving distance for breakfast. About a 30 minute drive in Holland near the lakeshore.
26 locals recommend
The Biscuit
450 Washington AveMy favorite place within driving distance for breakfast. About a 30 minute drive in Holland near the lakeshore.
Great little indoor market area with multiple places to eat and shop. Including fresh seafood/fish market, bread shop, juice vendor, sushi vendor, sweets/pie vendor, barbecue, and more.
98 locals recommend
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
435 Ionia Ave SWGreat little indoor market area with multiple places to eat and shop. Including fresh seafood/fish market, bread shop, juice vendor, sushi vendor, sweets/pie vendor, barbecue, and more.
A pretty cool, trendy place to eat in GR. 70's themed everything. GREAT wedge salad, brussel sprouts, and macaroni!
11 locals recommend
The Commons
547 Cherry St SEA pretty cool, trendy place to eat in GR. 70's themed everything. GREAT wedge salad, brussel sprouts, and macaroni!
Great Thai food in GR. My favorite is the peanut curry! With lots of hots/spice!
8 locals recommend
Erb Thai
950 Wealthy St SEGreat Thai food in GR. My favorite is the peanut curry! With lots of hots/spice!
FABULOUS soup and sandwich shop in Grand Rapids. The menu changes daily and I've never been disappointed.
16 locals recommend
Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop
1133 Wealthy St SEFABULOUS soup and sandwich shop in Grand Rapids. The menu changes daily and I've never been disappointed.
Fricano's Pizza Tavern
1400 Fulton StGreat local favorite Pizza. About 30 minutes away.
Rockwell Republic
45 Division Ave SSushi Sushi Sushi!
Bistro Bella Vita
44 Grandville Ave SWBrewery
Great beer and sandwiches. Often they have great local/Michigan music. Can be very busy though!
176 locals recommend
Founders Brewing Co
235 Grandville Ave SWGreat beer and sandwiches. Often they have great local/Michigan music. Can be very busy though!
Neat little, locally owned "cidery" (is that even a thing....). Neat setting off a country road, cool little feel.
Farmhaus Cider Co.
5025 Stanton StNeat little, locally owned "cidery" (is that even a thing....). Neat setting off a country road, cool little feel.
Good beer, you don't want to go here for food. Not much more than super basic bar food.
White Flame Brewing Co.
5234 36th AveGood beer, you don't want to go here for food. Not much more than super basic bar food.
Coffee Shop
Closest "coffee shop". About 1-2 miles away. Locally owned and ran. Very friendly to the local neighborhood school and kids/families.
6 locals recommend
BIGGBY COFFEE
1215 Fuller Ave NEClosest "coffee shop". About 1-2 miles away. Locally owned and ran. Very friendly to the local neighborhood school and kids/families.
Ice Cream
Locally owned, local favorite. Close to home-about 1-2 miles. Between home and GVSU main campus.
What’s the scoop
3667 Baldwin StLocally owned, local favorite. Close to home-about 1-2 miles. Between home and GVSU main campus.
Outdoors
Between home and GVSU main campus south entrance. There is a large well-kept dog park that is a local favorite. Also, numerous hiking trails, a cool suspension bridge over the ravines, views/trails along the Grand River, possible Bald Eagle sightings with a nest near trails along the river. North and South Grand Ravines park connect through trails. South entrance near the red barn near 36th & Fillmore and the North entrance is off the road near the main South entrance to GVSU's main campus. Lovely safe place for a walk/hike/run
Grand Ravines Dog Park
3991 Fillmore StBetween home and GVSU main campus south entrance. There is a large well-kept dog park that is a local favorite. Also, numerous hiking trails, a cool suspension bridge over the ravines, views/trails along the Grand River, possible Bald Eagle sightings with a nest near trails along the river. North and South Grand Ravines park connect through trails. South entrance near the red barn near 36th & Fillmore and the North entrance is off the road near the main South entrance to GVSU's main campus. Lovely safe place for a walk/hike/run
Local favorite, with nice little trails/picnic areas/wooden play park that is a local hot-spot for families and children. I remember going here as a child and bringing my children there for everything from a short play-date to family reunions and community sponsored events.
Hager Park
8212 28th AveLocal favorite, with nice little trails/picnic areas/wooden play park that is a local hot-spot for families and children. I remember going here as a child and bringing my children there for everything from a short play-date to family reunions and community sponsored events.
Local county park, popular for hikers/dog walkers/fishers/nature lovers. There are numerous trailways for a nice hike, access with a boat ramp and by foot to the Grand River for fishing and other leisure/sports activities. Some nice ponds filled with fish and turtles! Nice little play park for children.
Grand River Park
9473 28th AveLocal county park, popular for hikers/dog walkers/fishers/nature lovers. There are numerous trailways for a nice hike, access with a boat ramp and by foot to the Grand River for fishing and other leisure/sports activities. Some nice ponds filled with fish and turtles! Nice little play park for children.
Great place to visit for a trip to the Lakeshore (Lake Michigan). Take a walk on the boardwalk and pier. Hit the local icecream shop, restaurants, or the Musical Fountain-largest in the US!
76 locals recommend
Grand Haven State Park
1001 S Harbor DrGreat place to visit for a trip to the Lakeshore (Lake Michigan). Take a walk on the boardwalk and pier. Hit the local icecream shop, restaurants, or the Musical Fountain-largest in the US!
Music
The Pyramid Scheme
68 Commerce Ave SWGreat spot for music!
20 Monroe Live
11 Ottawa Ave NWMy favorite music venue in Grand Rapids just because of the acts they bring in.
23 locals recommend
The Intersection
133 Grandville Ave SWMy favorite music venue in Grand Rapids just because of the acts they bring in.
Movie Theater
Celebration! Cinema
3728 Rivertown Pkwy