8 Best Cafes near Interlochen

“I have yet to meet a student at Interlochen that doesn't have at least two or three good things to say about the Melody Freeze, or MoFro in the 'student dialect'. I can confirm, after numerous firsthand experiences, that all the good things the students say are true!I mean really, how can you go wrong, it's got thick milkshakes, good coffee, fruity smoothies, wonderful soft serve ice cream, delicious pizza and so many more things it's easy to lose count... The prices are 'reasonableish', the staff is friendly & fast and the things you hear the students talking about while you wait in line with them are usually worth the few $ you're spending anyway!If you stay at the Stone Hotel, on campus, they give you a token to use at the MoFro, I highly suggest using it, no matter the Season. Whether staying on campus or dropping in for the day, you will be pleasantly surprised by the selection and happy with whichever treat you choose, I'm nearly certain of it. Enjoy!

Kid-friendliness: This would be a great place for kids. The menu is easy to see, there is plenty of room to run around while waiting and most everything you can order is filled with sugary goodness...

Parking: The parking on campus is plentiful, but not near the Melody Freeze as it's a 'walk up' kinda place, at least 100ft from the nearest parking spot...

Wheelchair accessibility: The Melody Freeze and most of the Interlochen campus would be considered wheelchair accessible.“

“My wife and I were looking for a taste of home while we were away on honeymoon. We decided to come by Hexenbelle for its food and drink. We not only found the familiar flavors of fresh bread, savory olive, and creamy labneh, but we found a warmth from the surrounding atmosphere and staff. We were immersed in light toned woods, lush green plants, and ample sunlight, as if we were relaxing in a sunroom or a garden.

We had an opportunity to speak to the owner, Chris, who welcomed us and gave us his attention despite also running the kitchen. Chris has been doing a great service to bring hearts and minds together for peace, prosperity, and freedom, both within Traverse City and for the Palestinian people. His love and passion shows in every dish he crafts, and we are forever grateful for the warmth, friendship, and hospitality that he extended us.

Hexenbelle is truly a rare and valuable gem amongst the many cafes and eateries in the area. I believe Hexenbelle is the best and only choice for authentic Palestinian cuisine and hospitality in Traverse City.

Dishes tried:
-Shakshouka
-Foul Muddamas
-Bayd bil Labneh
-Hummus and Pita
-Palestinian Rice Bowl
-Coconut Curry Fried Rice

Drinks tried:
-Damascus Gate
-Mocha
-Bee Change

Dietary restrictions: Halal“

“While searching for a place to grab a quick bite before I had to be to the school to get my son, I found Identity. And I'm so glad I did! When I walked in, I wasn't bombarded with questions, I was able to walk over to the cooler and look at their selection. I didn't see anything in there that I wanted, however it looked fresh and yummy. But I didn't want a sandwich. When I approached the counter I was met with a happy male employee. He showed me where the daily specials were and handed me a menu too. I was able to quickly glance over the menu with ease. It was big bold letter with prices attached. I ordered the quesadilla after being told it would take less than 5 minutes to make. This was important, I had to get to the school. He quickly went to the back and made my dilla and it's delicious!! I added black beans to it and the cost was still under my price point!

Vegetarian options: Every option you can get without the meat and it would be just as good. However they do have a black bean substitute. They had at least one vegetarian option in every section. This was needed as I am also a vegetarian.

Kid-friendliness: They have a children's menu. The menu is roughly 5 items long. Long enough to give options but not too long that children are flustered. (:“

“My Mom had the chili & black bean burger. She loved both! I had the French dip and I was great- the chips seemed homemade. A very quaint space too, but small so while we only waited about ten minutes, I would recommend reservations. Though there is plenty of shopping to keep you busy should you need to wait longer.“

“The food here? Delicious! We had a southwestern-style egg scramble that hit all the right notes — eggs, potatoes, salsa — the whole shebang was seriously yummy.

But here’s the kicker: they served it in Styrofoam. Yep, in 2024, when we’re all trying to do our part to save the planet, they chose the most environmentally unfriendly packaging out there. I was hoping for a bit more eco-awareness, especially since the owner loves to talk about all his globe-trotting adventures. Seems like he cares about the environment... except when it comes to his own backyard. It's like he's on a mission to kill the planet one Styrofoam container at a time. Hope I'm wrong here. Will be back but not for the Styrofoam.

Come on, folks — keep the deliciousness, ditch the Styrofoam!“

“Have been buying Asiago Roasted Garlic bread for years. Great Bread toasted loaded with real garlic cloves. However the last loaf lacked any Garlic at all. Very disappointed is this the new norm to be expected or was this an aberration? The latter I would hope otherwise we will be opting for a new bakery. Have a nice day ?☀️“

“Small quaint makes good memories“

“Probably one of the best iced mochas around! The chicken pesto sandwich was great and the breakfast burrito was yummy. Only issue is that one of the staff members was not as good as the other staff at the time. The staff member who took our order didn’t get it put in correctly, which we shrugged off initially. Later, we asked for a refill of water and the same staff member said that they “could” give us a refill, but that there is a water fountain in the hallway… weird experience with that employee. Oh well, the rest of the experience was decent.“