Guidebook for Grand Rapids
Food Scene
Madcap Coffee Company
98 Monroe Center St NWCool, hip vibe located downtown.
Best Café Miel in the city. Modern, minimalist décor with pastries from the bakery next door.
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Lyon Street Cafe
617 Lyon St NEBest Café Miel in the city. Modern, minimalist décor with pastries from the bakery next door.
Old school hang-out with local art for sale. Great tea selection, too. News stand with unique journal and magazines for sale, too.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
The Sparrows Coffee & Tea & Newsstand
1035 Wealthy St SEOld school hang-out with local art for sale. Great tea selection, too. News stand with unique journal and magazines for sale, too.
Heartside neighborhood (artist community) location with lounge chairs to curl up in or big tables to spread out at.
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge
100 Commerce Ave SWHeartside neighborhood (artist community) location with lounge chairs to curl up in or big tables to spread out at.
As soon as it opened, it became a neighborhood hot-spot. Unique local fare, vegetarian and gluten-free options abound. Mediterranean influenced and inspired fare.
91 abantu bendawo batusa
Marie Catrib's of Grand Rapids
As soon as it opened, it became a neighborhood hot-spot. Unique local fare, vegetarian and gluten-free options abound. Mediterranean influenced and inspired fare.
Quaint breakfast spot in Cherry Diamond district. Several cozy dining areas, simple and smart cuisine.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Cherie Inn
969 Cherry St SEQuaint breakfast spot in Cherry Diamond district. Several cozy dining areas, simple and smart cuisine.
Unique and flavorful food combinations, readily cater to dietary restrictions, best wait staff (super friendly and knowledgeable), fun vibe. Outdoor seating.
104 abantu bendawo batusa
The Green Well
924 Cherry Street SoutheastUnique and flavorful food combinations, readily cater to dietary restrictions, best wait staff (super friendly and knowledgeable), fun vibe. Outdoor seating.
Sublime specialty menu in a warm and cozy place. Price point is higher but worth it. Outdoor seating in warmer months.
29 abantu bendawo batusa
Grove
919 Cherry St SESublime specialty menu in a warm and cozy place. Price point is higher but worth it. Outdoor seating in warmer months.
A fresh take on Italian fare. Beautiful mansion setting makes for a unique dining experience with many cozy rooms. Calamari appetizer is a favorite as is the Tiramisu.
12 abantu bendawo batusa
Paddock Place
1033 Lake Dr SEA fresh take on Italian fare. Beautiful mansion setting makes for a unique dining experience with many cozy rooms. Calamari appetizer is a favorite as is the Tiramisu.
Farm to table gourmet meals, or fresh, simple wood-fired pizzas (gluten-free available). Friendly staff, cool vibe. Outdoor seating.
46 abantu bendawo batusa
Terra GR Restaurant
1429 Lake Dr SEFarm to table gourmet meals, or fresh, simple wood-fired pizzas (gluten-free available). Friendly staff, cool vibe. Outdoor seating.
Secret spot in below-ground site. Cook delivers great food and is a friendly host.
Go Jo Ethiopian Cuisine & Deli
421 Norwood Ave SESecret spot in below-ground site. Cook delivers great food and is a friendly host.
Hip modern Mexican offerings served in a former service station. Best guacamole and chips in the city! Favorites: Taco de Panza (porkbelly) and Taco al Pastor (marinated pork shoulder). Dozens of tequila options!
90 abantu bendawo batusa
Donkey Taqueria
665 Wealthy St SEHip modern Mexican offerings served in a former service station. Best guacamole and chips in the city! Favorites: Taco de Panza (porkbelly) and Taco al Pastor (marinated pork shoulder). Dozens of tequila options!
Authentic creole fare tucked in a unique setting in Eastown, a 10 minute walk away. Service is friendly but not fast- but so worth the wait! Too many favorite dishes to list!
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Chez Olga LLC
1441 Wealthy St SEAuthentic creole fare tucked in a unique setting in Eastown, a 10 minute walk away. Service is friendly but not fast- but so worth the wait! Too many favorite dishes to list!
Feel like pizza at home? Order in! Quick delivery of your basic pizza that's out of the "big box."
Rinaldi Pizza & Sub Shop
966 Fulton St EFeel like pizza at home? Order in! Quick delivery of your basic pizza that's out of the "big box."
Drinks & Nightlife
Reminiscent of "Cheers" but for the modern man and woman. Simple, inspired menu with local offerings that changes seasonally. Great service, specialty cocktails, lots of beer options.
104 abantu bendawo batusa
The Green Well
924 Cherry Street SoutheastReminiscent of "Cheers" but for the modern man and woman. Simple, inspired menu with local offerings that changes seasonally. Great service, specialty cocktails, lots of beer options.
Large, open venue. Local brewer with excellent sandwiches in up-n-coming section of town. Two levels, outdoor balcony.
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Harmony Hall
401 Stocking Ave NWLarge, open venue. Local brewer with excellent sandwiches in up-n-coming section of town. Two levels, outdoor balcony.
Local brewery 10 minute walk away. Superb wood-fired pizza, light salads, cool vibe.
62 abantu bendawo batusa
Harmony Brewing Company
1551 Lake Dr SELocal brewery 10 minute walk away. Superb wood-fired pizza, light salads, cool vibe.
HopCat
25 Ionia Ave SWHuge beer list, great cheese soup, "crack fries."
Duck Nachos. Hearty burgers. Cheese board. Great beer. 10 minute walk.
96 abantu bendawo batusa
Brewery Vivant
925 Cherry St SEDuck Nachos. Hearty burgers. Cheese board. Great beer. 10 minute walk.
Good beer. Live music. Outdoor beer garden. Beer goods: t-shirts, mugs, key chains. Huge!
176 abantu bendawo batusa
Founders Brewing Co
235 Grandville Ave SWGood beer. Live music. Outdoor beer garden. Beer goods: t-shirts, mugs, key chains. Huge!
Essentials
Great market & deli with for fresh fruits & veggies, cheeses and meats. Big selection of wine, beer by the bottle and liquor. Best gourmet pizza in town!
54 abantu bendawo batusa
Martha's Vineyard Fine Wine & Gourmet Grocery
200 Union Ave NEGreat market & deli with for fresh fruits & veggies, cheeses and meats. Big selection of wine, beer by the bottle and liquor. Best gourmet pizza in town!
Nothing fancy but it's in my backyard so very convenient. Your basic grocery store.
33 abantu bendawo batusa
Family Fare Supermarket
1415 Fulton St ENothing fancy but it's in my backyard so very convenient. Your basic grocery store.
Open market. 2 blocks away. Meat, veggies, eggs, pastries, greens. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
56 abantu bendawo batusa
Isitimela sabaFundi beFulton Street
1145 Fulton St EOpen market. 2 blocks away. Meat, veggies, eggs, pastries, greens. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
Arts & Culture
Great art. Great location. Modern feel. Gift shop.
163 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Museum yabantwana yaseGrand Rapids
11 Sheldon Ave NEGreat art. Great location. Modern feel. Gift shop.
Beautiful venue. Great shows.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre And School Of Theatre Arts
30 Division Ave NBeautiful venue. Great shows.
UICA
17 Pearl St NWMuseum. Local cinema, indie flicks. Gift shop.
Interesting exhibits. Cool carousel. Heart of downtown, on the river.
91 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Museum Yomphakathi YaseGrand Rapids
272 Pearl St NWInteresting exhibits. Cool carousel. Heart of downtown, on the river.
DeVos Performance Hall
303 Monroe Ave NWParks & Nature
Beautiful gardens, sculptures and art exhibits.
200 abantu bendawo batusa
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 E Beltline Ave NEBeautiful gardens, sculptures and art exhibits.
Paved trail for biking, walking or running around Reed's Lake. 20 minute walk from my house.
Reeds Lake Trail
Reeds Lake TrailPaved trail for biking, walking or running around Reed's Lake. 20 minute walk from my house.
Shopping
Spirit Dreams
1430 Lake Dr SEBooks. Jewelry. Local art. Rocks and gemstones.
Lee & Birch
708 Wealthy St SEFresh, fun, trendy.
Gourmet food, wine & beer plus housewares. Helpful, friendly staff. Good place to stop for a picnic-on-the-go.
18 abantu bendawo batusa
Art of the Table
606 Wealthy St SEGourmet food, wine & beer plus housewares. Helpful, friendly staff. Good place to stop for a picnic-on-the-go.
Clothing Matters
141 Diamond Ave SELargest organic and fair-trade clothing shop around. Friendly and informed staff.
Fair-trade everything: coffee, tea, spices, chocolate. Scarfs, carved earrings, jewelry, journals. Best chai in the city! Favorite gift shop.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Global Infusion
143 Diamond Ave SEFair-trade everything: coffee, tea, spices, chocolate. Scarfs, carved earrings, jewelry, journals. Best chai in the city! Favorite gift shop.
Getting Around
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1100 Plainfield Ave NEThey will pick you up! 2 miles from my house.