13 Best Cafes near Freeland

“My favorite Saturday morning stop!!“

“The croissants were wonderfully flaky. The most perfect crunch on the outside and delectable softness on the inside. Flavor: 10/10; Dubai and Lemon Custard 👌 Customer service: 10/10; I came for a croissant and was easily convinced on trying a delicious coffee- Flat White… yum! Atmosphere: 10/10; small, but inviting and comfortable. Will definitely be back and will definitely be recommending!“

“They have the best lattes. I’ll take the time and drive the extra miles to come here rather than Starbucks. Good prices too and everyone is always nice.“

“Dow Gardens in Midland, MI is truly a gem and a place that exceeded my expectations. From the moment we walked in, the grounds were spotless and extremely well cared for. One of the features I really appreciated was that nearly every plant and tree was tagged, so not only do you get to enjoy the beauty of the gardens, but you also learn along the way. For someone who enjoys plants and landscaping, this is a wonderful touch that makes the visit both relaxing and educational.

We covered about 3.5 miles walking through the gardens, which felt like just the right amount to take in the highlights without being overwhelming. The trails are easy to follow, and as you go, you’ll come across a variety of landscapes—from open, colorful flower beds to shaded paths and beautifully designed garden sections. The colors throughout were simply stunning, and as you can see from the photos I’ve added, it’s an incredible place for photography.

About halfway through our walk, we stopped at the café located right inside the gardens. It’s a nice break spot that offers beverages, coffee, ice cream, chips, and a few other snacks. It really adds to the experience, especially on a warm day when you need to cool off or recharge before continuing your walk.

If you’re bringing kids, they do have a dedicated play area within the gardens, but honestly, the canopy walk seemed to be the biggest hit with the younger visitors. I saw so many kids excited and full of energy while crossing it. I had thought the canopy walk would be a little longer based on photos I’d seen beforehand, but even though it was shorter than I expected, it was still absolutely worth experiencing.

Another major plus is that the gardens are handicap accessible, which makes it possible for people of all ages and mobility levels to enjoy. That’s something not every botanical garden offers, and it really stood out to me.

Overall, Dow Gardens offers the perfect mix of natural beauty, education, and accessibility. Whether you’re a local or just visiting Midland, it’s a place I highly recommend. Plan on spending at least a few hours here to fully enjoy the trails, the café, and the canopy walk. It’s a wonderful way to spend a day surrounded by nature.“

“Small town feel. Great food and great prices, personal service who treats everyone like regulars, seating for 1 to 8 without much trouble. Only open for breakfast and lunch. The service is exceptional with whoever is working on any given day with an atmosphere of care rather than burden.“

“One of my favorite breakfast spots!“

“This place is great i do recommend for breakfast lunch and dinner great costumer service and super sweet employees“

“Good food with a nice environment“

“Although the environment is super nice I sat and waited 10 mins to have them start my order while they were just talking.“

“I really just wanna take time out to think all the young lady working at the front desk. Her attitude was great and the service was amazing. Great attitude. Great space me and my company will definitely be returned. Thank you so much, Allie. You have a good rest of the day“

“I absolutely love this place! I’ve been twice and both times everything I tried was delicious!!! I highly recommend!!!“

“There is one issue and others have same issue with is they close so early at 2pm it's very hard to dine here finding them open. Which automatically make us go to other places. So you need longer hours just do. Otherwise it's a top notch place with incredible food and seating area.“

“They remembered and even corrected my order when I forgot to ask for cream! Always friendly and good service.“