Prior to moving to Chicago three summers ago, I was hesitant to agree that Michigan is a vacation spot (and a place I would spend a lot of time).
Before COVID, we had ventured to South Haven with family and Saugatuck with friends and I started seeing people take the most incredible trips to northern Michigan. In June, Kevin’s parents were putting the finishing touches on a lake house close by, which became our safe haven during a time when we couldn’t travel far. We were making the two-hour drive every other week and holing up in the house, working remotely, and drinking wine on the beach after sending our final e-mails of the day.
Once Michigan started opening up, we started venturing out to bars, breweries and restaurants around the area. We have so many more to explore, but this is a compilation of our favorites thus far. Would love to hear any favorites you might have!
restaurant / bar
greenbush brewing co. (sawyer)
journeyman distillery (three oaks)
three blondes brewing (south haven)
beer church brewing (new buffalo)
waypost brewing co. (fenville)
coffee / dessert
cafe julia (south haven)
bunde’s bakery cafe (south haven)
sherman’s dairy bar (south haven)
Many of the places on our list are right off I-94, making them the best road trip rest stops, whether you’re heading up to the tip of the mitten, or want to spice up a two hour drive to southwest Michigan.
greenbush brewing co. in sawyer
First on our list is Greenbush Brewing Co, right off the highway in Sawyer, MI. They have a robust beer list and southern-style barbecue, with a few surprises like gumbo and pizza. Between the taproom and their annex, they’ve done a great job at implementing outdoor seating during this time and we felt extremely comfortable dining here when we were still nervous to dine out in Chicago.
They serve the full menu in the taproom, so if it’s your first time, make sure you head there. Their beer list is always changing, but my usual favorite is the Sunspot, a hazy Hefeweizen. I am salivating thinking about how delicious a cold Sunspot in a glass would be right now.
For your meal, their bbq is top notch, but I cannot recommend the gumbo more. The flavor was incredible. Kevin also tried their beet and quinoa salad and it was also really good (for a beet and quinoa salad). You also can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches.
If you’re a fan of charcuterie like me, they have a meat and cheese deli station in the Annex where you can select from a wide variety of meats and cheeses and create your own board to eat there, or take to go. This station is pure genius. They also have bottles and cans of your favorites (and a few that aren’t on the tap menu) that you can grab to go. They brew specialty beers in small batches, so they always have some fun surprises in the fridge.
journeyman distillery in three oaks
Pardon me if I sound ridiculous in my review of Journeyman Distillery, but I am absolutely obsessed. We’ve gone a couple times this summer and between the drinks, food, service and how empty it’s been, we always talk about how great it is. Journeyman is a little further off the highway in Three Oaks, but worth the drive.
Unlike Greenbush, Journeyman only has indoor seating through their restaurant, Staymaker. Fortunately we’ve targeted our stop to be mid-afternoon on a weekday, vs. a Friday or Sunday night. Both times, we’ve been maybe one of three parties in the massive industrial space and have felt really safe.
We always kick off our visits with a cocktail, and since Journeyman distills their own whiskey, vodka, gin and specialty liqueurs, you know these are all delicious. After indulging in my classic favorites, an aviation and their take on a gimlet, one sip of Kevin’s “Blood Pressure” was all I needed to be a whiskey convert. This cocktail includes their smoked featherbone bourbon, allspice dram, simple syrup, house bitters and the kicker… a blood orange ice cube. The ice cube melts while you enjoy the drink and every sip tastes different as more of the blood orange flavor comes through. I haven’t tried another cocktail since, but Kevin has tried a few including the bloody mary.
The food menu at Journeyman is just as great as the cocktails. Both times, I’ve indulged in the Heritage Angus Cheeseburger (top 10 best burgers I’ve had) and Kevin has loved the Nashville Hot Tofu Sandwich. Their fries are addicting and the Peanut Butter Cream Pie is the perfect dessert to wrap up your meal.
We haven’t tried any of their other activities, but they have distillery tours and mini golf. The distillery is also a popular wedding venue and has rental properties attached, that would be perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties.
three blondes brewing co.
There’s nothing I love more than supporting female-owned businesses, and Three Blondes Brewing is one of our favorite spots in South Haven. Owned by three sisters, this brewery always has adventurous and innovative beers and ciders on the menu and the food is impressive too.
Three Blondes is located outside of the South Haven downtown area (just off the highway) and has a nice outdoor patio with plenty of parking. We’ve been a few times during COVID and have always been one of a few parties on the massive patio, where tables are spaced really nicely.
Their beer menu is always changing, so most times we’ll do a flight and try the new brews. Our classic favorites are Wake and Lake, an American light lager, Rubia Picante, a jalapeño/lime blonde ale (their specialty) and Just Took a DNA Test, Turns Out I’m 100% That Beer, their wildly popular, IPA. They also had a hazy IPA earlier in the summer that was a huge hit with our party.
I dream about their burger, which includes their fried jalapeño bottle caps, bacon, pomegranate bbq and southwest sauce. Also included on my top 10 list. As you’ve noticed on this list, Kevin has been eating vegan for awhile now, which can be tricky at breweries, distilleries and brew pubs. Fortunately, Three Blondes will have weekly featured dishes on their Instagram and last time we were there, they had vegan tostadas that were pretty good.
beer church brewing co.
If you’ve ever driven through New Buffalo, you can’t miss Beer Church Brewing Co., a brewery and pizzeria located in a restored church. They specialize in Neapolitan pizza (my personal favorite) and do small batch craft beer.
Their tap list is always changing and full of quirky, creative options. At the time of writing this, options like Witney Juice-ton, a Belgian Wit IPA, and Tulaluraluralu, an Irish Red Ale are on the menu. We’ve only grabbed beers and a pizza on their outdoor patio, but the interior is also interesting and not what you’d expect inside a restored church.
We’re hoping to further explore the New Buffalo area, but Beer Church is a wonderful surprise and a great stop on your Southwest Michigan itinerary.
waypost brewing co.
Major props to our friends Justin and Sam, who always know the best spots in Michigan. This is our recent favorite given the outdoor seating and relaxed atmosphere. Waypost is a bit further north in Fennville, but well worth the drive for an afternoon spent at their picnic tables. I can’t wait to spend a lazy summer afternoon here drinking their saison and farmhouse IPAs.
cafe julia
A staple in downtown South Haven, Julia’s is the perfect morning stop for coffee, pastries or sandwiches to take to the beach. The weekend farmer’s market also happens in the parking lot next to Julia’s so you can grab your coffee and walk through the market on Saturdays.
bunde’s bakery cafe
Located on the north side of South Haven, Bunde’s is a cute bakery that serves Starbucks coffee. They seem to only be open on the weekends during this time, but the location is perfect to grab coffee and a pastry on your way to the beach if you’re staying on the north side. I highly recommend grabbing a cinnamon bun.
sherman’s dairy bar
Another classic staple of South Haven, this ice cream shop always has a line out the door and serves massive cones of ice cream. You can also grab a pint or gallon to go and you can’t go wrong with any of their flavors. Be sure to grab a bowl with your cone and I recommend sharing the cone with friends, family or anyone nearby before it melts…
Sherman’s is also located right off the highway, so if you’re heading north, it’s a great stop for a treat.
If you have any favorite spots in Southwest Michigan, or other parts of the mitten, share them in the comments! We’re excited to further explore the area while international travel is limited.
