Local Food Tour: The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Spend your afternoon strolling, sipping and savoring at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons! This historic and beautiful location offers a taste of Traverse City, all within walking distance. Here are some of the stops to include in your next tour:

Earthen Ales

Drop by Earthen Ales for a can or growler to-go of locally-brewed beer! Try their mainstay “Up North” IPA, the Juniper Rye. Inspired by the traditional Finnish sahti, this brew is reminiscent of a northern Michigan forest with its pine-forward flavor featuring Simcoe hops.

You can start your tour early by visiting Earthen Ales online

Higher Grounds Trading Co.

Higher Grounds is a must-stop when in the Village. Try one of their craft coffee drinks while you’re there, but be sure to pick up a fresh-roasted bag of their Justice Blend to-go. A perfect medium roast with nuances of vanilla and citrus, this ‘breakfast blend’ will make you want to head back for more.

Find more details here.

Spanglish

Next door to Higher Grounds is Spanglish, which offers great Mexican bites from tacos to tortas. Make sure to order their lighter vegetarian Three Sisters Tamale, which features squash as the main ingredient, alongside beans, red bell pepper, and sweet corn.

You can check out their whole menu here

Pleasanton Bakery 

Head over to Pleasanton Bakery for a slice of a perfect Margherita pizza, straight from the wood-fired brick oven. Their house red sauce and fresh mozzarella is topped with an arugula salad for a great bite.

You can find their entire pizza lineup online.

Red Spire Brunch House

If brunch is your jam, Red Spire serves up a classic Eggs Benedict that can’t be beat. Using local muffin bread from Bay Bread Co. and farm fresh poached eggs, they finish their dish with homemade hollandaise, and offer fresh fruit or crispy hash browns on the side.

For a full menu, head to their website. 

Cuppa Joe

A great stop for, well, a cup of joe, Cuppa Joe also offers a full breakfast and lunch menu, alongside their famous blueberry lime scones. They’ve been baking them for 18 years using locally sourced blueberries and a tart lime glaze, and it’s a great sweet stop for your tour!

You can visit them online prior to your visit here.

We’ve only scratched the surface of Village at Grand Traverse Commons food options! Other great eats at the Village include elevated brunch and charcuterie at S2S, homemade pasta and Italian favorites at Pepe Nero, local products featured in Italian dishes at Trattoria Stella, and great to-go bites for the healthy eater at Fuel Your Tomorrow. You can taste an array of locally produced wines at Left Foot Charley and even stop by the farmers market to pick up more local goods to take home. Where are you stopping first?

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, 1200 W Eleventh St, Traverse City, MI 49684