I'll admit it—I don’t like coffee, but the vast array of coffee shops in Grand Rapids is one of my favorite attributes from the city. The cozy, aesthetically pleasing watering holes are scattered from the West Side to Eastown and everywhere in between. The places I’m sharing with you are my go-to places for yummy drinks and treats, and places to sit and catch up with friends or spend an entire day working on homework. There are so many coffee shops in Grand Rapids I couldn’t come up with an exhaustive list, but here are my top three favorites. LYON STREET CAFE Tucked into the middle of the Heritage Hill Neighborhood, Lyon Street Cafe could not be more charming. The white subway tile and brick walls, textured ceiling, and wooden tables create the most enjoyable coffee-drinking atmosphere. Not to mention, the baristas are friendly and very helpful when you need to make a tough decision on which pastry to order (Lyon Street gets their pastries from Nantucket Baking Company and you do NOT want to miss out on them). The aroma of coffee wafts through the small cafe, and there are several beverages, including espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate, loose leaf tea, and pour over coffees. You truly cannot go wrong here. The hot drinks will warm you from the inside out on these cold winter days, and if you choose to visit in the summer you can find plenty of cold drinks too! Lyon Street Cafe is best for sitting and studying the day away, or catching up with a friend. The tables are small, though, so groups of more than 3 will have to spread out. Make sure to add Lyon Street to your list of coffee shops to hit, though. There's not another place like it in GR! FERRIS COFFEE Ferris Coffee has two locations—the original one on Winter Ave. and a second location that recently opened in the Trust Building. The Winter Ave. Ferris Coffee location is part coffee shop and part candy/nut store. Ferris is worth the trip to the West Side solely for the industrial modern feel and unique drinks, but the dark chocolate covered peanuts should not go un-purchased. Like Lyon Street, the staff is friendly and you’ll leave Ferris feeling more hipster vibes than ever. For the summer months the Winter Ave. location has a wonderful patio, and one of the walls is made of garage doors that are opened on warm days. If your life is centered around the major downtown area of Grand Rapids, check out the brand new Trust Building location! It will not disappoint. The hot chocolate at Ferris rivals any other in GR, a hot, creamy drink with more of a dark chocolate flavor. A fall favorite at Ferris is also steamed cider, which pairs perfectly with a fresh donut, scone, or muffin from Rise Grand Rapids (an all gluten free bakery). Both Ferris locations sell Rise products daily. THAT EARLY BIRD CAFÉ
Located in the heart of Eastown on Lake Drive, That Early Bird Café is both the coffee shop where you want to sit and catch up with old friends and the coffee shop where you want to spend a day working on homework. While parking can be a little difficult—patrons find themselves parking on side streets with a little walk back to the coffee shop—the interior boasts two large sections. One features long tables and booths (with plenty of outlets for computer chargers), the other two person tables and a counter lining three walls of windows. The tables easily lend themselves to either conversation or work, and the counter seats provide a quiet spot to sit and get things done. That Early Bird brews Rowster coffee—a fellow local product—and boasts several specialty drinks including lattes, mochas, espressos, and macchiatos. The first thing you notice about the food at That Early Bird is that it is perfection. Whether it’s the half-chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookie adorned with fresh peanuts just-so, or the colorful Avocado Hash, the food is prepared with an art to it. It is evident everything in the kitchen is prepared with love and the knowledge that every customer deserves a beautiful and tasty treat. And it’s good. That Early Bird surpasses many Grand Rapids coffee shops with its quality and selection of food. With fresh baked pastries—including gluten free and vegan options—as well as unique “real food” options, it is tough to beat.
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PIT STOP BBQ Pit Stop BBQ is perhaps the most hidden spot in Grand Rapids. It’s located in a strip mall on 28th Street in Cascade, but it’s worth the trek and you’re hard pressed to find a better BBQ joint in Grand Rapids. Only open Thursday’s and Friday’s from 11:00am to 6:30pm—the company’s main business is catering—you’ll never find Pit Stop without a line. But don’t worry, it moves fast. The charming character of the owner, the gong you have to ring on your first visit, and the insanely large portions for low prices are just some of the highlights. Pit Stop has a true family feel, and they’ll let you make just about any adjustments to your order, because they believe it’s all about the customer. My personal recommendation here is the pulled pork platter with green beans (dripping with garlic glaze and almonds) and the tangy slaw. They also have the best cornbread muffins I’ve ever had. However, you can’t go wrong with what you order. It’s all ravishing. It’s best to visit during nice weather or when you’re planning on taking the food to-go, because the only seating is picnic tables outside. Pit Stop is a favorite among nearby businessmen and women and the Cascade community. Follow their Facebook page for announcements of daily specials! You don’t want to miss out on this place. HORSESHOE SMOKEHOUSE Horseshoe Smokehouse definitely wins the award for the best BBQ eating environment in Grand Rapids. Just a block away from Founders in the heart of downtown, the checkered tablecloths and antique appliances will make you feel like you’re transported to a good old-fashioned BBQ joint in the South. The aroma when you walk in is mouth-watering, and every meat option is worth ordering. The meat comes plain with your choice of homemade sauces—don’t worry, you can try them all—and there are several different options for customizing your meal. A must have at Horseshoes are the waffle fries. The portions are large, so you can share with a friend or a date, and they even have 16 beers on tap so you can find the perfect flavor to complement your meal. Horseshoe is busy during weekends and lunch rushes, but is a great quiet spot to grab dinner on a weeknight! Go on down to Horseshoe Smokehouse, your taste buds will thank you for it. SLOWS BBQ Slows BBQ differs from the others I’ve mentioned so far because it is part of a chain rather than a single store. Slows originates from the Detroit area, but has been a huge hit since it opened its Grand Rapids location in the Downtown Market in August 2015. Like all restaurants that serve good BBQ, you’ll probably have to wait a few minutes for your food, but it’s worth it. Customers order the meat by the pound straight from the carver (or you can get it on a bun), and from there you can test out all the sauces on your meat. Seating options are long, communal tables, or smaller tables to create either a familial vibe or something more private. Like Horseshoe, they have several beers on tap at the bar, as well as a few ciders. They’re open for long hours, so whether you want lunch, dinner, or a later evening snack, Slows has got your back! So you’re a poor college student. You can’t afford weekly concerts or fancy dinners or nights out at the bars and clubs downtown. You’re not out of luck in Grand Rapids. This city is home to several cheap and even some free forms of entertainment, keeping your budget in check and your social life flourishing. From sporting events to nature and art, I’ve got you covered. SPORTS-GRIFFINS & GRAND RAPIDS DRIVE With the Grand Rapids Griffins opening their season in early October and the Grand Rapids Drive (NBA Pistons Affiliate) kicking off their season in just 3 days on November 11, these two Grand Rapids based sports team are a great place to spend an evening! Both teams play on a variety of nights but offer great ticket prices. For hockey fans (or people in need of a fun evening activity), Griffins’ tickets lowest price is $16 for a single game. BUT if you attend a Wednesday game and the home team wins, you get a free ticket to come back the following Wednesday! The Griffins also offer $2 beer and $2 hot dogs for every Friday game, a great deal for all wanting an inexpensive night out! Similarly, the Grand Rapids Drive is a great option for a well-priced night, this time at a basketball game. Tickets for General Admission are as low as $5 for most games, with Wednesday games lowered to $2. In fact, Wednesday’s this season are $2 Wednesdays for the basketball team, with $2 tickets, $2 beer, and $2 large popcorn. Looks like you’re going to need that mid-week homework break. The Griffins play at Van Andel Arena and the Drive play at the Deltaplex Arena. Check their websites or Facebook pages for season schedules. HIKING TRAILS There are too many hiking trails in the West Michigan area to list them all, but whether you catch them in the glory of the bright colored leaves or snow-covered bliss, hiking is one of Michigan’s best free activities. Though elevation isn’t a huge challenge in the Mitten, there are many stunning sights. Lose yourself in the woods at the Cascade Peace Park Trail in Ada or soak in the beauty of Lake Michigan at Rosy Mound State Park or Saugatuck Dunes State Park. They’re free, easy to access, and they’ll get you out of the house on the beautiful cool days! FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARK
Calling all nature and art enthusiasts: check out Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on the East Beltline. From the Sculpture Park’s 30 acres of works of art connected by paths, water, and meadows, to the Japanese garden offering peace and beauty, to the many seasonal exhibits (i.e. Butterfly Exhibit and Holiday Exhibition, and Summer Concert Series), The Frederik Meijer Gardens are worth the visit. With student tickets priced at only $11 (with student ID), this inexpensive and beautiful Grand Rapids attraction makes for a great place to spend a day on your own, or a spectacular date or outing with friends. Halloween has come and gone, and now that you’re officially sick of candy, it’s time to see what other sweet things there are in Grand Rapids to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are some of my top picks of shops that sell solely desserts and sweets in Grand Rapids. I must, however, lead with one disclaimer, and say that since these are all local specialty shops, they’re all a little pricier than your average cookie from the grocery store bakery. LE BON MACARON Paris meets Grand Rapids in this quaint shop on Cherry Street. Le Bon Macaron prides itself on the elegance of Paris and creating luxury macarons for all occasions. Le Bon Macaron sells to customers to sit and eat in the café area of the shop, or allows them to be taken to go in spectacularly wrapped gift boxes. The airy pastries come in a huge variety of flavors, ever changing with the seasons and what flavors the bakers want to experiment with. Some of the most classic flavors are chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel, rose lychee, jasmine, and lemon raspberry. Their current seasonal collection is in for the holidays, featuring pumpkin, chocolate cinnamon, champagne, and candy cane, among others. The treats, offered at $2 per macaron, are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with buttercream filling. They’re delectable, and melt in your mouth. You’ll definitely leave wanting more (and a trip to the home of the macaron in Paris). MOKAYA Three words: A chocolate boutique. Yes, you read that right. Although, upon entry into Mokaya it might be unclear whether the associates sell chocolate or art. One look at their store, Instagram feed or website, and you’ll see creations from dark chocolate bars with intricate coat-of-arms-type designs to colored hedgehog and turtle shaped chocolates and truffles. They don’t stop there, though. They create confections, pastries, drinks, ice creams, and frozen treats. That isn’t the extent of Mokaya’s cool factor. Mokaya sources all their chocolate from Latin American countries for fair trade prices and they try to get the rest of their products locally. Every product is made in the Grand Rapids shop and each one is created by hand. These delicious treats are well worth a trip to Wealthy Street! CAKABAKERY
Another fantastic treat spot on Wealthy is the Cakabakery. Tucked in Eastown and owned by Jason Kakabaker, the Cakabakery creates unique treats for all occasions. Whether you need wedding desserts, a birthday cake or a special holiday gift, they create it all. You can order ahead or go to the shop on Wealthy to buy some of the tastiest treats in Grand Rapids. I recommend going in and getting one of their chocolate chip cookies—they could win awards. The Cakabakery also uses locally sourced ingredients, and caters well to food allergies and preferences. Gluten Free and Vegan options are both on the menu and available to be ordered. |