THE MAGIC OF SUTTONS BAY
Updated September 2025.
*This blog has transitioned to a hobby blog, so updates are less frequent than before. As the travel industry is constantly evolving, please be sure to check with any place or restaurant directly before you visit to ensure the latest information.*
I first wrote about Suttons Bay back in 2019, gave it an update in 2021, and this summer I noticed it had become one of my most frequently read blogs. When I revisited recently, I was amazed at just how much this sweet little village has grown and changed since my last update, so it only felt right to update it again! Now that I’ve lived in Traverse City for almost a decade, I’ve fallen more and more in love with the surrounding villages and towns that are just a short drive away. Suttons Bay remains one of my absolute favorites. Just 20 minutes from Traverse City, this charming village has it all: beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water, unique shops, delicious food, and enough wineries and breweries to keep you busy all day.
Below is the perfect jam-packed day itinerary if you are visiting Suttons Bay in the summer, but I also included some pictures of the places in the fall and winter to show Suttons Bay is also a great place to visit year round, it’s just a bit more magical in the summer.☺️ I snagged this picture from the Suttons Bay Marina website to show the gorgeous colors in the West Traverse Bay!
KAYAK or SUP AT SUTTONS BAY BEACH
Suttons Bay Bikes rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and conveniently, the beautiful public Suttons Bay Beach sits right behind their building—perfect for heading straight out on the water! You can pick up rentals right downtown, or take advantage of their free delivery service to hotels and vacation rentals in West Traverse City, Leland, Northport, Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Cedar, Maple City, and Glen Arbor.
Be sure to call ahead for reservations. I highly recommend booking in advance, as their rentals go quickly. For an unforgettable experience, start your morning paddling at sunrise on Suttons Bay Beach. And if early mornings aren’t your thing, no worries—you can always enjoy the water later in the day.
GRAB A COFFEE OR TEA AT HIVE COFFEE CO.
The arrival of Hive Coffee Co. in Suttons Bay is what truly inspired me to update this blog post. I loved Mundos in this spot, so I was thrilled to see that someone bought their equipment and even continues to use Mundos as their roaster. After checking it out, I can honestly say it’s somehow even cuter than before. You can feel the pride the new owners have poured into the space. It’s so warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed.
Hive offers plenty of seating, excellent drinks, and a tasty breakfast and lunch menu. Be sure to check their Instagram for the latest updates and specials.
I absolutely loved my waffles and solstice matcha, and the people next to me were raving about their soup and grilled cheese! Whether you settle in with a coffee inside or grab your drink to-go for a stroll around the charming village, Hive is a must-stop in Suttons Bay.
SUTTONS BAY FARMERS MARKET
Open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May through October, the Suttons Bay Farmers Market is an absolute must-visit. Everything sold here is grown or made within 60 miles of town, which makes it a true taste of the local community. And if you’re lucky, you’ll spot Bardenhagen Farms strawberries—hands down the best strawberries and strawberry jam I’ve ever had!
BREAKFAST AT 45th PARALLEL or 9 BEAN ROWS
45th PARALLEL
There are a few great breakfast joints in Suttons Bay but our current favorite is 45th Parallel Cafe. If you’re here between April and June and it’s been a successful season, definitely order the Morel Mushroom Omelet. It. Is. To. Die. For. But if you are visiting out of morel season don’t worry, there are plenty of wonderful omelets and breakfast, we also love the Smoked Bacon and Potato Omelette and the Chorizo Omelette. Keep in mind the portions are pretty big!
9 Bean Rows
Another must-visit breakfast spot and bakery: 9 Bean Rows. When I say these are some of the best pastries in Northern Michigan, I really mean it! It’s just a three-minute drive from town, and absolutely deserves a visit.
You can grab something to go or settle in and enjoy a sit-down meal. Some of my favorites include the cheddar and bacon scone, ham and cheese croissant, biscuits and gravy, and the croque monsieur. Every pastry is seriously sp delicious!
EXPLORE THE SHOPS IN TOWN
You can walk the whole village in Suttons Bay in just 10 minutes if you don’t stop, but good luck with that, there are so many adorable shops each way you turn.
There are many shops to choose from, but my personal favorite is Poppy Things. This is the perfect shop for plant needs, art, and gifts.
A fun and kooky store in Suttons Bay called Bayside Gallery is a must visit as well, you’ll find a ton of unique decor for your home and garden. Pictured below, but you obviously can’t miss it when driving throught the village.
LUNCH AT STREETSIDE GRILLE OR BAY BURRITO CO
Streetside Grill and Bay Burrito Co. are both fantastic spots for a casual, satisfying lunch in Suttons Bay. Whether you’re in the mood for fresh, flavorful burritos or classic grill favorites, you can’t go wrong stopping at either one.
STREETSIDE GRILLE
I started coming to Streetside Grille because they served a Bourbon Cider I loved called “Whiskey Business”, but then I tried their food and fell in love with this bar and grill even more! Their fish tacos, pork belly tacos, mussels and lobster roll are my favorites. Their menu seems to change often so make sure you look online for a current one before getting your hopes up for a certain item.
BAY BURRITO CO.
Bay Burrito Co.. is another great lunch spot in Suttons Bay, serving up fresh burritos, bowls, tacos, and quesadillas with plenty of flavor. I love their cilantro-lime crema, and the portions are generous enough to keep you full for a day of exploring. They even have gluten-free options and you can either enjoy your food there or head down to enjoy it lakeside If you’re looking for a giant burrito, quesadillas, or tacos, this is the place.
GRAB ICE CREAM
No trip to Suttons Bay is complete without an ice cream stop in the village. Two local favorites you’ll want to check out are Dalzell Dairy and Norm & Irv’s Ice Cream Shop. Dalzell Dairy carries on a beloved local family tradition, serving up everything from creamy scoops and soft-serve to vegan options, all in a space filled with hometown charm and history. Just down the street, Norm & Irv’s offers a cozy, classic ice cream shop vibe with plenty of flavors to choose from—perfect for an evening stroll or a sweet treat after dinner. Whichever you choose, you’ll get that small-town Suttons Bay magic in every scoop.
DAY DRINKING OPTIONS
For the afternoon/early evening chunk of your day, my recommendation would be to book a wine tour with Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours! This is the company I worked for and it is located in Traverse City but will pick you up and drop you off right in Suttons Bay. This way you don’t have to worry about driving to each place and you can hit more than a couple of stops. If you don’t feel like a wine tour, then just hop in the car and head to try one or two of these drinking establishments. From Suttons Bay, they are all within 10 minutes and here they are in alphabetical order.
GILCHRIST FARM
One of the newer spots in Suttons Bay is Gilchrist Farm. This farm-to-table restaurant and winery celebrates the best of Northern Michigan with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a thoughtful, seasonal menu. Pair your meal with one of their handcrafted wines for the full experience. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely lunch, a special dinner, or just stopping by to take in the beautiful setting, Gilchrist Farms is a must-visit for food and wine lovers.
When I visited in early summer, they were serving fresh strawberries paired with a frozen margarita-style wine—absolutely delightful! Later in the season, I enjoyed a delicious potato soup and a fresh beet salad. The menu is always seasonal, so there’s something new and tasty to try every time. Check out their Instagram to see what’s on their menu that day!
HOP LOT BREWING CO
Switching from wine to beer here, Hop Lot Brewing Company is the place to be, enough said. They offer such a welcoming environment and when you pull up you will immediately think, “I want to join this party!” They have a few fire pits with benches around them. Hop Lot even offers outdoor seating all year round and set up igloos in the winter!This place has so many “summer in Northern Michigan feels” all wrapped into one awesome brewery.
To top it off Hop Lot is also family friendly. There is a large yard right behind the fire pits for your kids to run around while you enjoy a beer catching up with friends and family.
MAWBY
Mawby is doing something different than anyone else up here in Northern Michigan and are specializing in sparkling wine! They have something for everyone to enjoy; including Dry(brut), Semi Dry (extra sec), Semi Sweet(sec) and Sweet (demi sec). Their most popular bottle is the SEX Dry Brut. And I am sure you can see why, people never get sick of saying “Omg, I can’t wait to try some sex!”My favorites were the Sex (of course), Wild and Talismon.
This bubbly is great on its own or in a mimosa and on Sunday’s they sell their special Mawbosa’s (includes: their Detroit bubbly topped with frozen orange juice topped with a little sex !) Mawby is a bit off the main road and offers beautiful countryside views from their tasting room. They also have some cider to try if you aren’t as interested in bubbly as I am!
SUTTONS BAY CIDERS
Suttons Bay Ciders is my all-time favorite place to drink in Northern Michigan. Their location is up on Hilltop Road off of M22 and they take the cake for the best view of West Bay.
I have taken so many people here that say “Oh we can go because my wife likes ciders, but they are definitely not for me.” Then they come out saying, “Holy shit I loved that place, and ended up loving at least a few of their ciders!” The view is incredible year round but it’s definitely my favorite in the fall!
My favorites are Mosaic and Power Island. I love the huge window right when you walk in, even the view from where you order your cider is amazing.They recently started bottling their ciders as well so you can take some home with you!
DINNER AT MARTHA’S TABLE OR WREN
It’s too hard to choose between the two so I’ll let you do that after reading a bit more about them and going to their websites to check their menus!
MARTHA’S TABLE
Martha’s Leelanau Table is a European-style bistro and cafe that has been around for about fifteen years in Suttons Bay. Martha not only makes wonderful meals and pastries from scratch using Leelanau produce, but she also used to lead a tour to Europe every year for new experiences and inspiration.
Her food is some you definitely don’t want to miss! Everything I’ve ever tried here is delicious.
They also have live music most nights which is always a plus!
WREN
Wren is a farm to table restaurant located right in the heart of Suttons Bay. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular restaurants in the area and a lot of Traverse City locals will even drive the 20 minutes away from our awesome food scene to eat here!
Their menu is always changing with the seasons and their dishes are always unique and wonderful.
End your day in Suttons Bay with a sunset cuddle session on the beach, a movie at the adorable local theater, or head back into Traverse City for a night out! Either way, I know you won’t regret your visit to Suttons Bay. Have you been? What’s your favorite thing to do in Suttons Bay? You can also read more Michigan related blog posts, HERE.
