Grand Rapids To-Do List

I love Marie Catribs. That is a first stop when I hit town. Best base for a day of drinking you will find. I also think you should hit Brewery Vivant one evening for dinner and beers.

 

Later at night, go to the BOB

 

I like eating at the breweries. Vivant and Founders both have great food, I have been told by legitimate experts that Mitten Brewing has awesome pizza. If you manage to leave Vivant without eating, Cherry St Deli is right across the street and has a damn impressive sandwich menu.

 

Perrin brewing, just north of town, is a good stop. Reasonable priced food(typical bar fair for the most part), good beer and friendly staff. Vivant does have good food, but not cheap-$10-12 for a burger. They also have some more exotic/eccentric type foods like duck confeit.The burger is bit more than the run of the mill burger though, and is worth it. Founders and hop cat are a must, if you are here during the week, hopcat has a $6 burger and beer special from 4-6p and $3 michigan pints from 3-4p. If I am not in the woods deer hunting, I would up for grabbing a pint sharing a bottle or two, just send me a convo. Hope you have a great time!

 

If you make it to Marie Catribs for breakfast then Brewery Vivant is right around the corner for some Belgian-inspired beers and absolutely great food (duck confit nachos are a must-try). And Harmony Brewing is in the same neighborhood - great pizza and pretty good beers.

 

Food
Breakfast: Cherie Inn, Brandywine, or any of the New Begginings restaurants
Lunch: Mitten Brewery, Vivant, Marie Catrib's, Greenwell, Two Beards Deli
Dinner: Founders, Hopcat, Erb Thai (if you like Thai Food)

Beer
Looks like there is most points covered. But I do recommend The Pyramid Scheme. Tons of pinball machines and a lot of Shorts beers on tap. Also Stella's Lounge. Over 200 whiskeys and old school arcade style video games that are all a quarter to play. They also have very good food.(won best burger in GR two years ago)

 

Gotta recommended Pyramid Scheme for some rarer Short's brews...and pinball.

 

Head south to Kalamazoo

 

The BOB... Avoid the BOB. Many other great places for a BA to enjoy in GR for these festivities.

 

Also thought I'd throw in Logan's Alley on Michigan Ave outside of downtown for a bar. Pretty small bar with a good craft selection, but has amazing AMAZING! Bloody Marys. I've spent many a Saturday/Sunday morning in there nursing a hangover. Plus they have food as well.

 

for a good breakfast go to Wolfgang's, no alcohol but great coffee and amazing food! http://www.mattwolfgang.com/

 

Our bachelor party went there and we thought it was great, it had something for everyone.

 

The BOB is for tourists. Don't go there.

 

Wolfgang's is great for breakfast. Do yourself a favor and take one afternoon and go to Lake Michigan. If you haven't seen it before people are shocked at how big it is. Even though it is November, it is still cool. You can hit Odd Side Ales in Grand Haven or New Holland in Holland.

 

How are you getting there? Are you driving from Florida? If so I would roll all the way up I-75 and go to Kuhnhenn first, then Dark Horse, then Bell's, the GR. On the way back you can hit up Three Floyds.

 

I can confirm that The Mitten has excellent pizza (the heater ftw). Ate there back in July. The Mitten loves baseball which should be a plus with the tigers in the ALCS. If i recall correctly, the tap handles are handles from baseball batts.

 

Don't mean to thread jack but I'm staying at the Hilton by Grand Rapids airport on 28th st. this coming Sunday-Tuesday. Is there any good beer bars and/or breweries in walking distance from there? I've been to dt Grand Rapids a few times and definitely plan on heading there while I'm in town but I'd like to find somewhere right around our hotel as we'll only have 1 car. Thanks for your help/input