I am in love with historic small, quaint towns. Not sure why, but it just feels like home. Holland, MI was no different. It’s just this perfect little strip of small shops with an air of elegance. And if you drive a little ways from that area, you can be on a beach, in front of real dutch windmills next to a small replica of a dutch village, or sitting on a dock enjoying a cocktail in the summer sun. Add in some delicious restaurant options and you have yourself a lovely food trip to Holland, MI. Just take a look for yourself!
Please note: All restaurant names link over to a Google Map location that you can save on your phone for even easier planning
Boatwerks Restaurant
Last summer, Joe surprised me with a little weekend getaway for my birthday and this was on his list of places to visit. We weren’t that hungry when we first got to this gorgeous waterfront restaurant and since it was my birthday, we thought it was the perfect opportunity for a liquid snack!
We started off at their lovely indoor bar while waiting for an outdoor table. While chatting with the friendly bartender, he offered to make us a drink not on the menu. It was a whiskey and blueberry mix. I can’t recall exactly what’s in it or what the bartender’s name was, but just goes to show their willingness to go above and beyond to ensure us out-of-towners were having the best experience at their restaurant. After working up an appetite at the bar, we were seated on Boatwerk’s terrace on the Macatawa River with a relaxing waterfront view.
WE DRANK Mystery blueberry drink, beers (GF for me)
WE SHARED Mule Kick Burger with sweet potato fries (me) and beer battered onion rings (him)
Crust 54
Who goes to Michigan and eats Chicago-style pizza? This girl, right here. And the verdict? It was awesome! The best part is that it was deep dish AND gluten-free, a rarity even in Chicago! This pizza place also offers stone-fired thin, which is handmade to order and oh so cheesy! We wanted to be sure that we didn’t get too full so we decided that sharing was indeed caring.
WE SHARED Pepperoni gluten-free deep dish
New Holland Brewing Pub | on 8th
After strolling through the downtown Holland area for a while, we decided it was time to take a break. This awesome local brewery has a cute outdoor beer garden and a very chill vibe. They had great live music too. Their musician was playing a guitar and singing cover songs which he would modify the lyrics for and create hilarious and quirky covers of old favorites. My favorite was singing The Joker in a Kermit the Frog voice. This place holds a special place in my heart – it’s where I first tried a gin mixed drink and it was amazing (see below).
I DRANK Gin lavender drink ( I am not a gin drinker at all and this was one of the best drinks I’ve ever had)
HE DRANK All their IPA beers
The 205 Coffee Bar
This small coffee shop has a cool rustic, industrial flair giving an instant feeling that everything they make is so damn good. That first impression was right! The owners were both working up front that day and they were the sweetest.
One owner is obsessed with coffee and the other with kombucha so they married these two and offer both! The latte I got from there was deliciously and beautifully blended – and dairy-free! The kombucha is Holland-brewed and it is good. With the same benefits as the store-bought variety, their version is less carbonated.
Holland Farmer’s Market
Yup. It’s official. I’m obsessed with farmer’s markets! We got to the Holland Farmer’s Market a little to close to closing time (blame it on the birthday celebration the night before), so some of the vendors were closing up shop or ran out of product. Even so, we still got a chance to see what it had to offer. From beautiful floral stands to homemade condiments, this farmer’s market is a place you need to visit next weekend you’re in Holland.
Cultured Love
I discovered my love for sauerkraut at this little stand and I’m never going back. The only negative to finding this brand is that they don’t ship or offer their products in Illinois stores. We got to try most of their varieties and our favorites were Purple Hot & Spicy, Dillyicious, and Curryosity. We bought only one bag (unfortunately!) and finished it within a week of our return home, initiating my need to learn to make it at home.
Sanse Filipino Cuisine
The Holland Farmer’s Market food court was, fortunately, wide open – and we were ready with an appetite. This small food court had a lot of flavor to offer! We didn’t get to try all the vendors, but we picked up some small bites from this little Filipino stand. We also got to chat with the owners and ate our meal with the owner’s good friend. I love small towns.
Let me know how your trip to Holland, Michigan goes! I’d love to hear where you eat.
