The 10 Best Restaurants in Traverse City

Traverse City is a foodie town! If you're staying in Traverse City, whether for business or pleasure, you're in luck! There's so much good food that you'll never want to skip a meal. Knowing the best places to find eats and the insider spots to a delicious meal can help you enjoy your time in our magnificent city. Here's what you need to know.

Why We Say Traverse City is a Foodie Town

Traverse city is called a foodie town because it's packed with great restaurants, wineries, distilleries and more. You can learn more about Traverse City on the city's travel website. Midwest Living named Traverse City a Top Five Food Town, while Bon Appetit named it one of the top five foodie towns in the country! Chef Mario Batali calls Traverse City a "modern gastro-paradise."

There's just no better place to live for eating good food.

The Best Restaurants

Of course, it's important to know where the locals eat. The best restaurants may not be the restaurants with the biggest signs - they might be the ones off the beaten path in little hideaways. Here's where we recommend that you eat while you're here.

1. Trattoria Stella

Featuring Italian fare with a farm-to-table philosophy, Trattoria Stella is known for its curated wine list in old-world environs. Many of the pastas are hand-made, and all dishes feature a beautiful presentation.

2. The Cooks' House

This chef-owned destination for sustainable fare is housed in an understated space. Not only will you enjoy delicious (petite!) food but you can come to Cooks' House for cooking classes as well.

3. Blue Tractor BBQ

This hearty, old-school restaurant features American eats with a local touch. Blue Tractor BBQ is served in the old saloon of a historic building, so you can enjoy the beauty of history as well as the delicious food.

4. Amical

Amical is an acclaimed space for European fare like lamb meatball tagliatelle and duck confit. Amical offers seasonal and themed menus amid a bright, bistro-style decor.

5. Apache Trout Grill

Known for its seafood and ribs, this cozy spot offers a chic hunting lodge feel and bayside patio dining. Most entrees on the menu seem like basic fare, but all are made from the best ingredients. Apache Trout Grill offers a delicious take on traditional food.

6. The Filling Station Microbrewery

Expect to enjoy flatbreads and salads paired with house-brewed beers at this cozy outpost in a vintage train depot. Filling Station Microbrewery offers is a good place for snacks and food with family or friends.

7. Mama Lu’s

Mama Lu's serves gourmet tacos with savory sauces and sides, paired with margaritas and beer. All that served in a cozy, colorful space makes Mama Lu's a comfortable place to eat on a Saturday night.

8. Pepe Nero

This upscale restaurant and lounge with swanky decor serves Southern Italian cuisine. All food at Pepe Nero is served in a former chapel, for a lovely (and almost spiritual) dining experience.

9. Arts Tavern

Arts Tavern is technically in Glen Arbor (not Traverse City) but it's totally worth it. This cozy pub features American bar food and beers along with an outdoor patio for people-watching.

The Best Restaurant

So, we've named nine restaurants - what's the tenth? That might just be the one in your room at Tamarack Lodge. With a full-sized kitchen and many with views of Lake Michigan, you'll enjoy a peaceful dinner with your travel companions and a view not to be missed. Pick your spot and come stay with us!