Our Favorite Places!
Food & Beer Scene
Grand Rapids was voted "Best Beer City in America" three times by USA Today, with the most micro-brewers per capita!
Cool mural on the side of the building, limited but delicious menu, LGBTQ friendly.
21 locals recommend
Graydon's Crossing
1223 Plainfield Ave NECool mural on the side of the building, limited but delicious menu, LGBTQ friendly.
Mai's Thai
820 Michigan Street NortheastOur favorite Thai place.
Little Africa Cuisine
956 Fulton St EEthiopian dishes.
Wealthy Street Bakery Inc
610 Wealthy St SEDelicious baked goods, and wine on tap!
Laid-back LGBTQ bar. The rainbow-painted road nearby makes for great photos.
7 locals recommend
The Apartment Lounge
33 Sheldon Ave NELaid-back LGBTQ bar. The rainbow-painted road nearby makes for great photos.
Cute sandwich shop downtown where all the menu items are labeled by facial-hair names. Weird, but endearing.
7 locals recommend
Two Beards Deli
38 Commerce Ave SWCute sandwich shop downtown where all the menu items are labeled by facial-hair names. Weird, but endearing.
local craft brewery with must-try pepperoni pinwheels.
62 locals recommend
New Holland Brewing - The Knickerbocker
417 Bridge St NWlocal craft brewery with must-try pepperoni pinwheels.
Brewery Vivant
925 Cherry St SEPub-style ale-house, with famous duck nachos.
Donkey Taqueria
665 Wealthy St SECute little hip venue, serving up Mexican cuisine.
Black-owned business, great soul food! I recommend the mac-n-cheese stuffed chicken and waffles!
9 locals recommend
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
1059 Wealthy St SEBlack-owned business, great soul food! I recommend the mac-n-cheese stuffed chicken and waffles!
Harmony Hall
401 Stocking Ave NWCool venue, delicious food, good beer.
Bombay Cuisine
1420 Lake Dr SEGreat Indian foods.
7 Monks Taproom Grand Rapids
740 Michigan St NESO MANY beers on tap!
Sheshco Mediterranean Grill
2121 Celebration Dr NEGreat middle-eastern and Mediterranean foods. (does not serve alcohol).
Little ice cream shop with vintage candies and Coca-Cola bottles for sale.
10 locals recommend
Jersey Junction
652 Croswell Ave SELittle ice cream shop with vintage candies and Coca-Cola bottles for sale.
Chez Olga LLC
1441 Wealthy St SEUnique architecture, Caribbean flavors.
Grand Coney
809 Michigan St NE24/7 grease pit. Great for late nights & hang-overs.
Little Bird
95 Monroe Center St NWFavorite brunch place (with a bar!)
Ginza Sushi & Ramen Bar
1015 Michigan Street NortheastOur favorite sushi shop. Nice presentation.
It's a bar AND a place you can play board games! They have a wide variety of games. Buy a beer and play! Yay!
House Rules Lounge
404 Ionia Avenue SouthwestIt's a bar AND a place you can play board games! They have a wide variety of games. Buy a beer and play! Yay!
Neighborhoods
Eastown
A popular, hip part of town - great restaurants & boutiques.
There's a nice lake to sail or kayak on or go fishing. The library has a great kids' section. The neighborhood has great food and shops.
11 locals recommend
Gaslight Village
There's a nice lake to sail or kayak on or go fishing. The library has a great kids' section. The neighborhood has great food and shops.
Alger Heights
Quite little nearby neighborhood with good food and beer.
Sightseeing & Leisure
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library St NEBeautiful architecture. Great place to work or study. Helpful staff.
Located at the heart of downtown near EVERTHING, it also has ice skating in winter and concerts in the summer.
38 locals recommend
Rosa Park Circle
135 Monroe Center St NWLocated at the heart of downtown near EVERTHING, it also has ice skating in winter and concerts in the summer.
A highlight of Grand Rapids. Incredible sculptures, amazing greenhouse, concerts, children's garden, beautiful Japanese garden, great venue space, and more.
200 locals recommend
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NEA highlight of Grand Rapids. Incredible sculptures, amazing greenhouse, concerts, children's garden, beautiful Japanese garden, great venue space, and more.
Cathedral of Saint Andrew
215 Sheldon Blvd SEBeautiful architecture.
Blue Bridge
Blue BridgeIconic to Grand Rapids. Great for pictures.
Iconic to Grand Rapids. Have you even been to Grand Rapids if you haven't seen this?
17 locals recommend
Calder Plaza
300 Monroe Ave NWIconic to Grand Rapids. Have you even been to Grand Rapids if you haven't seen this?
Fountain Street Church
24 Fountain St NEBeautiful architecture.
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University
17 Fountain St NWIncredible artwork, inside and out!
Great learning environment, with a carousel and planetarium.
91 locals recommend
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St NWGreat learning environment, with a carousel and planetarium.
Belknap Park
30 Coldbrook St NEGreat view of the city.
Rumors Nightclub
69 Division Ave SLGBTQ space, great music.
Oasis Hot Tub Gardens - Grand Rapids
5041 Alpine Ave NWNice, private relaxing atmosphere with indoor and outdoor tubs.
Peaceful wetland preserve with a boardwalk throughout. Lots of wildlife (mainly deer and a number of birds.)
8 locals recommend
Huff Park
2399 Ball Ave NEPeaceful wetland preserve with a boardwalk throughout. Lots of wildlife (mainly deer and a number of birds.)
Griff's Icehouse
30 Coldbrook St NEIce skating ring - great for dates :)
Reeds Lake
Relaxing views. Good for sailing, kayaking, fishing.
The Pyramid Scheme
68 Commerce Ave SWHip , tons of pinball machines, concert venue.
Break Room Therapy
7988 Clyde Park Ave SWSMASH THINGS! A serious stress-reliever and adrenaline rush.
Inside Moves LLC
639 76th St SWClimbing Gym
Higher Ground Rock Climbing Centre
851 Bond Ave NWClimbing Gym
Terra Firma Bouldering Co.
1555 Marshall Ave SEClimbing Gym
P. J. Hoffmaster State Park
6585 Lake Harbor RdGood trails and dunes.
Holland State Park Beach
2215 Ottawa Beach RdNice beach access.
Millennium Park
1415 Maynard Ave SWNice lake for swimming, many long, bike-able trails.
Great winery and fall season delights: apple-picking, donuts, horse-drawn hay rides, corn maze.
31 locals recommend
Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery
3142 4 Mile Rd NEGreat winery and fall season delights: apple-picking, donuts, horse-drawn hay rides, corn maze.
Shopping
Rebel
1555 Wealthy St SECute and sassy unique gifts, cards, and more. LGBTQ owned.
Books & Mortar
966 Cherry St SELocally owned, nicely kept bookstore.
A number of shops and delicious foods, plus great city views!
98 locals recommend
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
435 Ionia Ave SWA number of shops and delicious foods, plus great city views!
Awesome games, comic books, graphic novels and more. The employees are great at recommending games!
6 locals recommend
Vault of Midnight
95A Monroe Center St NWAwesome games, comic books, graphic novels and more. The employees are great at recommending games!
Blue Bridge Games
954 Fulton St ETons of games, helpful employees, and a space for PLAYING games, too!
Woosah Outfitters
738 Wealthy St SECool wood-print inspired items for sale. LGBTQ owned.
A number of outdoor stalls of local farmers and artisans.
56 locals recommend
Fulton Street Farmers Market
1145 Fulton St EA number of outdoor stalls of local farmers and artisans.
Trader Joe's
3684 28th St SEThe only one for many miles around!
Plant Shop
1056 Wealthy St SEDo you like plants? This is the place for you! It's a cute, hidden gem.
Woodland Mall
3195 28th St SEShop til you drop!
RiverTown Crossings
3700 Rivertown PkwyShop til you drop! A mall with everything you need.
Coffee & Tea
Outside Coffee
734 Wealthy St SENice outside venue, associated with WOOSAH, LGBTQ owned.
The Sparrows Coffee & Tea & Newsstand
1035 Wealthy St SENice study space, great tea selection.
Tucked away, near downtown. Live performances on some nights. Good place to study or work during the day.
13 locals recommend
Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge
100 Commerce Ave SWTucked away, near downtown. Live performances on some nights. Good place to study or work during the day.
Pretentious and obnoxiously hipster, but good coffee (even if it's over-priced.) But super well-known, so you should go.
50 locals recommend
Madcap Coffee Company
98 Monroe Center St NWPretentious and obnoxiously hipster, but good coffee (even if it's over-priced.) But super well-known, so you should go.
The Bitter End Coffee House
752 Fulton St WTiny 24/7 shop
Common Ground
1319 Fulton St ELaid-back socialization & study space.
Global Infusion
143 Diamond Ave SEGreat tea selection & global wares for sale.
City/town information
Second largest city in Michigan, voted "Best Beer City in America" three times by USA Today. Many LGBTQ inclusive spaces. Home of ArtPrize, the largest international jurored art competition.
35 locals recommend
Grand Rapids
Second largest city in Michigan, voted "Best Beer City in America" three times by USA Today. Many LGBTQ inclusive spaces. Home of ArtPrize, the largest international jurored art competition.
Known for their Dutch heritage and their Tulip Festival in the spring, this town is a nice place to shop, eat, and visit the beach.
80 locals recommend
Holland
Known for their Dutch heritage and their Tulip Festival in the spring, this town is a nice place to shop, eat, and visit the beach.
Saugatuck
Known to be very LGBTQ friendly.