No. 07
Sandwich Shop
The Village Cheese Shanty
Fishtown · Leland
The Cheese Shanty sits right on the docks in Fishtown, Leland's beloved historic waterfront district — a tiny, friendly cheese and sandwich shop with water on three sides and a line that wraps around the block on summer weekends. The smoked whitefish is sourced from Carlson's Fishery right next door, and the sandwiches are made to order: creative, fresh, and worth every minute of the wait. Van's Beach is a five-minute walk if you want to eat outside.
VibeCasual, charming, and genuinely local — a Fishtown institution
What to GetThe smoked whitefish sandwich. Then a piece of cheese to take home.
Insider TipCall ahead to place your "custom" order — you'll get your perfect order and skip the line when you arrive.
No. 06
Farm-to-Table
Farm Club
Leelanau Peninsula · 7 Miles from Downtown TC
Farm Club is a farm, restaurant, brewery, bakery, and marketplace rolled into one. Co-founded by Gary Jonas of The Little Fleet and Nic and Sara Theisen of Loma Farm, it opened in 2020 as the next evolution of an already successful CSA program. Their head brewer, Corey Valdez, left a career as an organic chemistry professor in NYC and a stint at Jolly Pumpkin to run the tanks here. The kitchen grows 90% of its own vegetables and herbs, even in winter — fermenting, pickling, and drying the summer harvest to build through the cold months. The menu changes constantly. No reservations, first-come first-served. Easily accessible from downtown TC via the TART trail by bike.
VibeUnhurried, community-minded, and genuinely beautiful — a warm place to linger over honest food
What to GetWhatever is listed as the farm special. The fresh pasta and the canned beers are always worth it.
Insider TipCome on a weekday. Weekends are packed and the wait gets real. Bike out on the TART trail if you can.
No. 05
Pizza
Two Sons Pizza
Downtown Traverse City · Inside The Coin Slot Arcade Bar
The best pizza in TC — New York-style, 20-inch pies sold by the slice, with cold-fermented hand-stretched crust, house sauce, and ingredients that are legitimately good. Two Sons is located inside The Coin Slot, a fantastic arcade bar with outdoor seating — which means you can order a pie, grab a beer, and play pinball. It's one of the best setups in downtown TC and the pizza is what earns the ranking.
VibeCasual, fun, and social — great pizza inside a great bar, with games to make it even better
What to GetThe Grand Pepperoni or the Meatball — get a slice of each to start, then order a full pie with the group.
Insider TipShow up, order a full pie, and eat it with friends between games of pinball. That's the move.
No. 04
Italian
Pepenero
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons · Traverse City
Voted Michigan's best Italian restaurant by 5 Reasons to Visit — and if you've been, you know why. Chef Giorgio Lo Greco opened it inside the first floor of a former 19th-century hospital chapel at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, preserving the original stone and brick while transforming the space into something that genuinely feels like a Sicilian trattoria. Everything from the pasta to the sauces to the ragu is made in house daily. The menu rotates seasonally, drawing from local farms and imported Italian artisan producers.
VibeElegant, intimate, and unhurried — one of the best dining rooms in northern Michigan
What to GetWhatever fresh pasta is on the board. Save room for the panna cotta.
Insider TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Make a reservation — they fill up fast especially in summer.
