14 Best Cafes in Traverse City

“It’s worth your salt to try Identity Brewing. Your first impulse may be to say “What’s up with the biscuit sandwiches?” Biscuits is a clever choice. They taste good. And they maintain their structural integrity when stacked with cuban, club, veggie, and chicken fixins’. That’s as opposed to, say, the buns used by Traverse City hot dog joints, which fall apart before they’re half eaten. Try the Chicken Cordon Bleu biscuit sandwich. Pair it with a pint of Strait Up if you like an IPA, or Amanda’s Folly if you prefer a soft blonde ale. And if you visit Identity between the rushes, chat with the staff. They’re good eggs. The guy we talked with has some of the best body art I’ve seen since the Navy. The gal will tell you she’s got a tat, too. Fair warning: she doesn’t. She gets tickled when she tells men she has a tattoo, then sees their eyes roam across her neck, hands, and ankles looking for it.“

“Gluten Free and so much more! Such a wonderful new-ish restaurant, bakery, and gathering space in TC! I had the Pixie Pancakes with fresh berries and cloud icing - really so very good, And it didn't taste Gluten-Free! The texture was perfect! I haven't tried the carrot cake yet, but I'm certain it will be amazing. Outside of the food, the atmosphere was so inviting and cozy,, but spacious and plenty of seating. Tons of games and unique touches everywhere you looked. Already looking forward to my next trip there!“

“We held our outdoor wedding vows and celebration here and couldn’t have been happier! We wanted a casual, indoor/outdoor venue that would provide our guests with a laid back atmosphere to connect and celebrate. This venue was perfect for us! We also loved that we were able to rent out the upstairs apartment for the weekend, too. It was so convenient and made set up easier on the day of.“

“Outstanding coffee and food with a great atmosphere and friendly staff!“

“The food was delicious! Raymond our server was kind, pleasant, friendly and very efficient. I cannot say enough to adequately describe our visit on 5/7/26. If you’re in the mood for breakfast or lunch I would highly recommend you stop here! Great food GREAT service!!“

“Wonderful service and good food 🍲“

“This is my favorite Restaurant in Traverse City! The food is so good, I found myself coming in 3-4 times a week! I highly recommend this place!“

“Fresh food, nice selection, lovely café atmosphere! Enjoyed my stop here!!They could use to reconfigure the insider perhaps to allow more tables. But it is a lively fun family friendly atmosphere. A very nice energy!! Coffee was good, but not great—a bit over milky. Nice food selection - and everything seems freshly made right there. Portion sizes are reasonable…not too big. A bit pricey, but a nice sunday morning gathering spot.“

“The best chicken soup you can get in TC!!!!“

“Come here every year over New Year’s Eve and if you are coming now, the outdoor pool isn’t even close to up to temp. It is a big disappoint after the 5 hour drive and no one in hospitality bothered to tell anyone staying here about the pool not being warm considering it’s the main attraction to this place“

“Best Iced Pumpkin Latte I've had!!“

“Small quaint makes good memories“

“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 ?☀️“