Specific Brew Recommendations for Traverse City

Although out from town a bit and you can get most of there stuff Shorts is a great spot for families with pretty good grub and they usually have some brewery only bottles and taps that you can get crowlers of

 

I'm intrigued to hear of the family friendliness of those places, as well as any other places. I'll be heading up the 2nd week of August.

I will say that I took my kids to 7 Monks last year for lunch with no problem.

 

big fan of the food at both filling station and JP on old mission. The beer selection is slim at JP but the scenery is worth it. The beers are decent at the filling station as well. One place you do not want to miss out on is Tandem Ciders. The wife and I always stop there. Our favorite place in TC.

 

I went to hop lot in suttons bay, was very happy with the food and beer selection. Kid friendly with a great outdoor area to hang out in. I would add that to your list if possible.

 

7 Monks, you're sure to find something there you've never had. Best tap list in town, top 10 in the state for that matter. Kid friendly (we took our 2-year old there), good food, it really is a place not to be missed if you've never been there.

 

Workshop is the best brewery in TC. Hop Lot has awesome beer as well.

 

Definitely go to work shop brewing company.. Chill spot and some great brews!!

 

Yep gotta say shorts. Not exactly TC, but when u are that far north...close enough. I'll be there mid July on my way to the annual UP trip. Can't wait.

 

Workshop makes some fine beers, I like it. Hop Lot and RareBird have fixed some problems with their water chemistry, and are making good beers now.

 

Hop Lot- As has been mentioned this is a great place. Large outdoor area with yard games. Food is very good. Best beer for me is the Leelenau Exchange, one of the best stouts around. Goes great with a s'more that you can make yourself at their always burning fire.

Tandem Ciders- This place is great and isn't too far from Hop Lot if you are already out that way. Very kid friendly, they even offer a kid play area. Some of the best cider you will find anywhere.

Workshop- Great food and good beer. Good variety of beer with most styles being offered. I really like their Bourbon Nitro Porter. All of the food ive had here has been enjoyable. Very kid friendly with some books, board games, and arcade type stuff.

Terra Firma- Very interesting beer options. Kinda like Shorts in the way they use some more unusual stuff to brew. I always enjoy their stuff. I like that they offer small 3oz pours for any beer so you can try many. They also fill 16oz growlers which makes it easier and cheaper to take home multiple beers.

Right Brain- Pretty cool atmosphere. Some fun food options. I'm never blown away by their beer but its ok to good. A lot of the same stuff you can get in stores.

Brewery Ferment- Small but cozy. Some board games for all ages. The beer is all over the spectrum from super spicey stouts to fruited sours. Mitten Wit is my favorite regular there but there is always stuff rotating. They offer bottles in a lot of their stuff now. Grab their Sour Hibiscus is they still have it.

Rare Bird- Food is outstanding. Their beer is ok but their guest taps are usually quite good. Some decent guest stuff in bottles too. If you like french themed food the right next to there is Patisserie Amie. One of the better restarants in town if you are into that. It is however pretty small. I take my daughter there but I wouldnt say it goes out of its way to be kid friendly.

Filling Station- Pizza is fantastic. Wide range of beer to choose from you wont find elsewhere.

Jolly Pumpkin- Food is great. Beautiful drive to get out there. Beer is mostly what you will find in stores but there is usually one or two on tap that is less common. Lots of good wine options in the area if that is your thing.

7 Monks- Best beer bar in the state in my opinion. Food is outstanding. Staff is great. Most diverse beer selection I have found and most knowledgable staff Ive encountered. I go here more than anywhere else and bring my daughter very often. Be sure to carefully look in the cooler as there will likely be some bottles that arent on the list and you never know what you might find. They also fill crowlers here.

Firefly- Great diverse food menu. Diverse seating options as well. Good beer menu.

Scalawags- Quality fried seafood. Very kid friendly.

Lake Ann Brewing- My home town spot. Beer is simple and straightforward but very well done. Hops are great and the vanilla porter is a favorite as well. No food but the restaurant next door brings food over and its damn good. Nice outdoor area. Small park with a nice play area across the street.

Ill add more later. Gotta go to work.

 

Seven Monks was amazing. I went there both nights I was in town on business. Great selection, friendly staff, prices aren't too outrageous.

Unfortunately my travel partner wasn't into craft beer as much as I was, so I couldn't talk him into going to all of the places I was interested in.

Mackinaw Brewing Company has great specials on Tuesdays. I believe it's $3 all day for a 20 oz beer. They aren't great, but definitely decent. Their food is pretty good as well.

 

I would agree with what @fishmich said. Tandem is great, small but off the beaten path and has great ciders! Also while on ciders, Taproot opened a little while back which is a cider bar on Front Street, has some beers as well. Also if you like food trucks, and they have tap room with good beers on, Little Fleet is a must stop!

 

Great job by @fishmich - this thread should be referred to now whenever anyone is looking to go to the TC area. I especially appreciate the kid-friendliness references.

I will have to give Hop Lot another try this year - I wasn't too impressed last year, but have heard other comments about them getting into more of a groove this year. It is a great outdoor space, for sure.

I'll also echo the comments about Patisserie Amie - we have taken our kids there a couple times and it works out OK, even if they don't really focus on catering to kids. We go there for breakfast, though, so there are probably more kid-friendly options (waffles with whip cream and berries are a hit).

 

Eggs Benedict @ Patisserie Amie for the win. I would not recommend breakfast with kids on weekends though due to long wait to sit down.
I will also add Bubbas for a great burger (even better with a touch of a hangover) and kid friendly when i have been there for lunch.
One of the best restaurant in the state imo is Trattoria Stella, unfortunately not very kid friendly although i have seen well behaved children dining.
If you go to Jolly Pumpkin take the drive to 2 Lads Winery for a spectacular views and pictures. Then take the main road back to town for more nice views.

Have a great trip

 

We've only gone to Amie on the weekends, actually. It's never been too bad for us waiting. I think we are generally there earlier than most people, though, since our kids wake up early.

Bubba's is decent, and there is some day that kids eat free - can't remember which it is.

Stella is great, and I wouldn't take my kids there yet (3 y/o and 5 y/o), but when they get to the 10 range, I think I'd be fine taking them (unless they've turned into complete crazies at that time).

 

Bubbas has a really nice breakfast menu also. Their chicken and waffles are ridiculously good. Stella is great but you pay $$$$. Their burgers are great also, dont forget to look at the specials board in the back as there is usually some silly burger concoction. Last one i had there was a 1/2lb burger between two grilled cheese sandwiches, lol. Also a good beer selection.

To expand on more stuff for the OP, someone above mentioned Little Fleet and I agree. The environment is great, love the diversity of the food trucks and the quality of food is always good from the ones I have had. They also usually have a smaller but very nice selection of brew.

If you like coffee then check out Higher Grounds. It has become my favorite roaster and is also the roaster Shorts uses for its coffee brews. Left Foot Charlies right next door has some really good cider and some solid wine. These two places share a little sandbox out front which is cool for the kids.

The Elf Cafe is right by these places and is a great place for the kids. Its an indoor play area mixed with a coffee/lunch cafe. they serve sandwiches and bakery type stuff. Awesome place especially if you run into a rainy day or something like that.

Splash pad in Clinch Park is fun for kids in the summer.

A place I never visit anymore is Mackinaw Brewing. Their beer is just bad and while the food can be good but there is too much good food and beer in this town to bother going there.

North Peak is kinda the same for me but their beer is certainly more tolerable.

Pangeas is a solid pizza spot right downtown that offers some craft beer and is pretty kid friendly although if pizza is your thing then the Stone Oven next to Lake Ann Brewery or the Filling Station are your best options. Pangeas is nice cuz its right downtown so if you are doin' the beach thing and dont want to drive it's a nice option. Pleasanton bakery is great too if you are in the commons area near Left Foot Charlies.

Tripel_Threat, if wine is your thing at all then let me know as I have plenty of suggestions for that as well. If you couldn't tell, I really like this town/area.

Where are you staying while here?