Some of our local faves:
Restaurants
Farm Club - Not to be missed! And basically around the corner! For a local beer (or wine) and literal farm-to-table food at a picnic table on the patio overlooking their farm. They also have a great marketplace with beers to-go, grab-n-go food, fresh veggies and home decor. Pro tip: they don’t take reservations and waits can be long during peak season. Get there early to put your name on the list and have a drink at the outdoor bar while you wait.
Modern Bird - for excellent modern food and hospitality in a lively glowing dining room downtown (reservations recommended).
The Riverside Leland - for an upscale meal on the deck, in the dining room or martini at their U-shaped bar with a view of the river (reservations recommended).
Bubbie’s Bagels - for outrageous bagel sandwiches (or the lox and fixin’s to make your own) and Stockist coffee.
The Little Fleet - for a food truck extravaganza with an amazing bar, great in day or night.
The Burrow - for happy hour food specials and drinks at their huge circle bar in an upscale dining environment.
Supper Glen Arbor - make reservations two weeks out for a special fine dining experience in a historic mill on the Crystal River.
Nittolo’s Pizza (Lake Leelanau) - for pizza to-go or on their landscaped patio.
Artisan at the Delamar Hotel - enjoy their expansive patio on the bay for drinks or dinner, they often have live music.
Trattoria Stella - one of Traverse City’s best, Italian food and great drinks in a historical dining room at the Grand Traverse Commons (reservations recommended).
Spanglish - for traditional Mexican food for takeout or curbside pickup. Try the pork tamales.
Fiddleheads (Lake Leelanau) - for breakfast while spinning vinyl
Glendale Burger Shop (on M22 between here and downtown Traverse) - for the best version of fast food smash burgers and fries for dine in or takeout. Stop here on your way out of town or after a night of too much fun.
Dalzell Dairy (Sutton’s Bay) - for ice cream on Sutton’s Bay’s main drag, a block from the water
9 Bean Rows (On 204 between Lake Leelanau and Sutton’s Bay) - for croissants, bread, sandwiches and wood fired pizza on a farm.
Hop Lot (Sutton’s Bay) - for beers in their massive outdoor beer garden
Faro (Northport) - for brunch or wood-fired pizza and negronis in their back patio.
Coffee
Lakeview Hill Farm Market - you can walk!
Mundo’s (Multiple locations in Traverse City)
Hive Coffee Co. (Sutton’s Bay)
Higher Grounds (Grand Traverse Commons or Nobo Market)
Groceries
Lakeview Hill Farm Market (basically across the street) - fresh organic veggies harvested that morning and other local products.
Farm Club Marketplace
Sara Hardy Farmers Market (Wednesdays and Saturday mornings in season) - Downtown TC off of Union Street
Gallagher’s Farm Market - local fruit and veggies, donuts and baked goods
Oryana West - food coop open to all, great produce and selection of natural food items
Burritt’s - for meat, fish, wine, gourmet & specialty food items
Hansen’s (Sutton’s Bay) - traditional small town grocery store
Tom’s West Bay - traditional grocery store
Wineries
Here’s the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail map and these are some of our favorites:
Mawby
Shady Lane
Brengman Brothers
Two K’s (cider)
Aurora
Tandem Ciders (cider)
45 North
Green Bird (Northport)
Dune Bird
Left Foot Charly
BOS Wine Garden - if you feel like a day trip to Elk Rapids!
Wine tour driver:
Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours
Request driver John Bails, if he’s available.
Beaches
Good Harbor Bay Beach - our absolute favorite!
North Bar Lake
Empire Beach
Platte River Beach
Van’s Beach (Leland)
Sutton’s Bay Beach (good for kids)
Hiking
Clay Cliffs Natural Area
Whaleback Natural Area
Empire Bluff Trail (pro tip: when you get to the top, keep walking to your left beyond the boardwalk on the dunes and you will get an even more amazing view.)
Leelanau State Park (turn on the road just past the Woolsey Airport to get to the hiking trails. There are huge dunes with beach access to Lake Michigan at the end of the trail.
DeYoung Natural Area
Other
TART Trail for biking, walking or cross-country skiing...access on our corner across S. Lake Leelanau drive.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for gorgeous views of Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan without having to hike to the top.
Jacob’s Farm (on M72)- for the fall farm experience with cider, donuts, pizza, drinks, a corn maze, hay rides and u-pick depending on the season.
Exploring the towns of Leelanau County
If you go to…
Sutton’s Bay...don’t miss Poppy Things boutique, Hive for coffee, Front Porch for home decor and gifts, Dalzell Dairy for Ice Cream.
Northport...don’t miss New Bohemian Café for coffee and a sandwich, Faro for brunch or wood-fired pizza, Fingers Crossed for cocktails, The Mitten for a beer, Porcupine boutique, Friday morning Farmers Market (in season), Friday evening music in the park (in season).
Leland...don’t miss Fishtown of course... Village Cheese Shanty for a sandwich, The Cove for fish & chips and a bloody mary, Rick’s for a dockside drink, Carlson’s Fishery for fresh and smoked fish, Mad Cap for coffee, Au Sable for curated home decor.
Empire...don’t miss Grocer’s Daughter for handmade chocolates and gelato... Empire Bluff Trail for a hike with a great view of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Glen Arbor...don’t miss Art’s Tavern for a beer and fried smelt... The Mill for a gorgeous cafe experience in an old historic mill on the Crystal River, Good Harbor Grill for brunch and Crystal River to canoe or tube down the river.