10 Best Restaurants in Traverse City

In a charming white weatherboard building only moments from the bay, The Cook’s House is a 26-seat restaurant that highlights local farm-to-table produce. Helmed by chefs who previously worked under Michelin-starred legends, this culinary institution is known for its unique artisan plate, think Muscovy duck, hand-harvested honeycomb, and foraged wild mushrooms.

The dining room is impeccable yet inviting with its contemporary artwork, white linen tablecloths, and fine crystal glassware. Diners can also watch the chefs prepare their dishes through an open kitchen window. What’s more, The Cook’s House serves up special events on a regular basis like collaborative dinners and culinary classes. Check the official website for all the latest updates.

Spacious, bright, and always welcoming, S2S Sugar to Salt bills itself as both a breakfast restaurant and catering kitchen that feeds Northern Michigan’s hungry community. Utilizing seasonal ingredients, this down-to-earth venue offers visually compelling dishes with a unique culinary twist, as well as freshly squeezed juices and perfectly brewed coffee.

We love the blue cornmeal and quinoa pancakes served with preserved peaches and bruleed apples, as well as the soft-boiled eggs with charred New York strip and creamy parmesan polenta. S2S Sugar to Salt also excels with its homemade sausages filled with delicious ingredients like feta cheese, Andouille pork, and hand-picked garden oregano.

Set in a stylish vintage railway depot, The Filling Station Microbrewery offers a nostalgic pub-style experience with craft beers on tap, as well as a selection of seltzers and ciders. Grab a table to soak up the pleasant old-world atmosphere, or seat yourself on the platform terrace for drink in the sun and views of the tracks.

Order the gourmet Memphis Line pizza with fresh cilantro, smoked gouda, and roast chicken, and pair with a Bullet Train Lager or an Iron Junction Bourbon Stout. If you’re bringing the family, there’s also a small but satisfying kids’ menu to keep those hunger pangs at bay. It features delicious mac ‘n’ cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

For exquisite Italian dishes inspired by time-honored traditions, nothing beats a visit to Trattoria Stella. Featuring an ever-evolving menu and a carefully curated wine collection, this beautiful restaurant comes with one unique twist: it’s tucked away in an 18th-century insane asylum.

Reserving a table here is highly recommended because it’s beloved by critics and foodies alike. Order the chicken saltimbocca with prosciutto di Parma ham, the house-made fettuccini with char-grilled quail spiedino, and the pear and apple torta served with refreshing vanilla ice cream.

For a contemporary and charismatic take on Mexican tacos, head to Mama Lu’s restaurant in the heart of downtown. First, take a seat on a turquoise bar stool for a salt-rimmed Margarita and a shot of mezcal tequila, before heading to a table for a belly-busting chow down.

Mama Lu’s tacos are stuffed with mouthwatering ingredients like ginger-braised pork shoulder, avocado crema, pan-fried shrimp, and cascabel salsa. You can also order authentic Latin side dishes like rice and beans, and mayo-slathered sweetcorn. Finish with a plate of churros dusted in cinnamon and sugar.

Sleder's Family Tavern is a legendary American saloon with an interior to match its storied past. As the oldest continually operating restaurant in Michigan, this 1882 haunt offers a historic dining experience in an all-wood interior featuring vintage booths, taxidermized animal heads, and gorgeous old-school lamps.

Visit for ice-cold beers at Sleder’s 21-foot (6 meters) mahogany bar before tucking into baskets of deep-fried shrimp, burgers with blue cheese dressing, finger-licking Slabtown ribs, and cherry barbecued chicken. The tavern also offers a well-stocked kids' menu to keep your little ones satiated including hot dogs, nachos, and grilled cheese sandwiches. 

The Good Bowl might feature a simple, low-key interior but its delicious Vietnamese cuisine boasts a wealth of complex flavors. Come here for classics like pho Saigon, papaya salad, and aromatic clay pot chicken while discovering new dishes that will tempt the tastebuds including Banh Mi tofu sandwiches.

Tourists on the go should keep their eyes peeled for The Good Bowl’s food truck on the Traverse City streets while dumpling enthusiasts can swing by the eatery on Sundays for its popular dim sum specials. The fluffy bao buns filled with makrut lime chicken and the scallion pancakes drizzled with ginger soy sauce are highly recommended.

For hard ciders, specialty cocktails, and farm-to-table meals in homey surroundings, head to Taproot Cider House in the heart of Traverse City. The food here is feel-good, with a focus on hearty stroganoffs, juicy hamburgers, and hand-tossed pizzas topped with tasty ingredients like Italian sausage, kalamata olives, and artisan cheeses.

Those with a sweet tooth will adore the restaurant’s apple cider donuts, which are served with candied walnuts and thick whipped cream, and the chocolate-chip cookies that are baked in-house. The restaurant accepts pick-up orders every day from 5 pm, so you can enjoy Taproot’s menu in the comfort of your hotel.

With its black and white checked tablecloths, upholstered white booths, and paintings that are reminiscent of a Parisian art gallery, Amical brings European bistro dining to Traverse City. Every evening, you can enjoy delicious dishes from this esteemed downtown haunt, as well as a fabulous selection of wines from carefully selected vineyards. 

To start, order a scrumptious appetizer like the jumbo lump crab cakes before digging into a delectable main course like the walnut-crusted pork chops. The house-made desserts are also undeniably noteworthy. We love the raspberry creme brulee and the hazelnut brown butter tart.