Best of Traverse City
Where locals eat in Traverse City
Start with U&I Lounge in West Front Street area, downtown for the gyro, Moomers Homemade Ice Cream in Long Lake Road, on a dairy farm for A flight of flavors, or Cherries Moobilee and Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern in Delamar Traverse City, East Front Street for dinner with a view of the bay. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.
- U&I LoungeWest Front Street area, downtown · lounge
Get: The gyro
One of the town's longest-running places, 90 years old last year, on Northern Express's 2026 Iconic Eats for its gyro. More a bar than a restaurant.
- Moomers Homemade Ice CreamLong Lake Road, on a dairy farm · ice cream
Get: A flight of flavors, or Cherries Moobilee
- Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & TavernDelamar Traverse City, East Front Street · hotel restaurant
Get: Dinner with a view of the bay
- Aerie Restaurant & LoungeGrand Traverse Resort, Acme · hotel restaurant
Get: Dinner high in the tower, with the wine list
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Ask Chef for morePlan my Traverse City food tripPlan it with your groupWhere locals eat in Traverse City: questions people ask
What are the local restaurants in Traverse City?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with U&I Lounge (West Front Street area, downtown), Moomers Homemade Ice Cream (Long Lake Road, on a dairy farm) and Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern (Delamar Traverse City, East Front Street). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At U&I Lounge, get the gyro. At Moomers Homemade Ice Cream, get A flight of flavors, or Cherries Moobilee. At Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern, get dinner with a view of the bay. At Aerie Restaurant & Lounge, get dinner high in the tower, with the wine list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Traverse City: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Traverse City
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 14, 2026.