My husband and I are both experienced travelers and avid home cooks. We dabble in international dishes and make complicated desserts and homemade breads. One of us is even a serious hobbyist about smoking meat. Which is why we love dining out while traveling. It allows us to enjoy meals—we hope and are so gratified when they deliver—that are better than we can make at home. Of course, the break from the work related to cooking is a welcome perk, too.
And happily, the food in and around the Saugatuck, Michigan, area delivers. For this reason, among many, we love and repeatedly return to this west coast Michigan town three hours from where we live in Chicago. Combined with its considerable other charms, which I detail in this series of articles, Saugatuck’s dining scene is outsized to its small-town scope. Perhaps only Lake Michigan, which sits a hop, skip, and jump from town, is bigger. Hyperbole aside, when you visit Saugatuck, expect to enjoy meals from expert chefs passionate about turning out farm-to-table goodness at more eateries than you can fit in a weekend stay. I share our favorites below to help you make the most of your visit.
All recommendations are within Saugatuck or a five to seven-minute drive in neighboring Douglas.
1. The Southerner
Cuisine: Southern comfort food
Location: 880 Holland St., Saugatuck
We’ve been fans of The Southerner, a beloved local fixture serving Southern comfort food on the banks of the Kalamazoo River since we stumbled upon it with little kids the year it opened in 2015. And we have been returning hungry and faithfully ever since. Dine on our favorite dishes like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and mac and cheese, served with knock-your-socks-off sides like collard greens, beans, butter pickles, and biscuits with honey butter. Its light-filled, shabby chic dining room interior and peaceful river views make it a perfect spot for a meal that might inspire your own annual pilgrimage, too. We eat here at least twice on every visit.
Must-try dish: Nashville Hot Fried Chicken with homemade Biscuits and Honey Butter.
Tips for first-timers: The Southerner does not take reservations. So, expect a wait. Grab a cocktail or local brew from its takeout window to sip and relax at a picnic table. We love playing cards while we wait. If you want to beat the line, check The Southerner’s website. If their waitlist is open, enter your name before heading out to cut down your wait.
See us enjoy The Southerner over ten years in this quick highlight clip on Instagram.
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2. Pennyroyal Cafe & Provisions
Cuisine: Farm-to-table
Location: 3319 Blue Star Hwy., Saugatuck
I do not know how Pennyroyal does it, but they have a dreamy menu where I would be overjoyed to order and eat every item. Even better, they execute each dish with precision and finessed flavor every time. We come for their brunch, typically ordering skillets, scrambles, pancakes, and a pastry. If the weather is good and the wait at this popular spot is not too long, we will hold out for an outdoor table in their gorgeous and tenderly cared-for garden.
Must-try dish: “Twice Baked Potato” Bird’s Nest Hash Skillet and a Peach Hazelnut Muffin.
Tips for first-timers: The art gallery owner of next-door Roan & Black, which shares a gravel parking lot with Pennyroyal, will tow your car if you park in his spaces. Follow the Pennyroyal parking lot signage to keep your vehicle in the same space. Pennyroyal does not take reservations for brunch, but it does for dinner. Expect a wait for brunch and lunch. Find a space to kick back and relax in their back garden next to their market and outdoor bar while you wait.
3. Isabel’s Market & Eatery
Cuisine: Gourmet market & deli
Location: 310 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas
When you want gourmet food without a wait and easy parking, head to Isabel’s Market & Eatery on the west side of the Blue Star Highway. Enjoy an aesthetically pleasing combination of a gourmet market and deli offering various pre-prepared foods and snacks. Whether grabbing a quick breakfast to enjoy on the outdoor patio or picking up ready-made sandwiches or ingredients for a picnic, Isabel’s has all the elements and fancy eats to keep you covered. The menu features a range of sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.
Must-try dish: Mountain-berry muffin, donut cone, and homemade baguette.
Tips for first-timers: Select your food from Isabel’s self-serve counter and order a drink from their coffee bar. Then, head to the back of the store, where you can shop for more snacks, and to its checkout counter to pay. Check Isabel’s website for reduced open days and hours after Labor Day.
4. The BARge
Cuisine: American
Location: 528 Water St., Saugatuck
Right on the water and in the heart of town, The BARge, with open-air seating, serves casual upscale American mains and appetizers with unbeatable views of the Kalamazoo River, especially from its roof deck. It’s our favorite spot for a leisurely afternoon drink and snack while watching the boat traffic. Menu options range from burgers and tacos to fresh seafood. The outdoor seating and fun atmosphere are ideal for groups and a night out.
Must-try dish: The Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer, served on wonton chips, and the Mahi Mahi Tacos.
Tips for first-timers: Expect a wait on busy weekends. Put your name in and walk around town while you wait.
5. Ida Red’s Cottage
Cuisine: Breakfast & brunch
Location: 645 Water St., Saugatuck
On the north end of town, Ida Red’s Cottage is a breakfast and brunch spot known for homestyle cooking. Its menu offers classic breakfast items like pancakes, omelets, waffles, and lunch options starting after 11 AM, like sandwiches, pasta, and soups. And where it shines brightest? It’s delicious and warm homemade muffins, perhaps the best I’ve had anywhere. My recommendation—get more than one, you will not be disappointed. Its cottage-like setting with indoor and outdoor seating adds charm, making it an in-demand spot for morning and midday eats.
Must-try dish: Its scrambles, particularly its all-vegetable Milano Scramble, plus whatever freshly baked muffins they still have available.
Tips for first-timers: We have always waited at least an hour here during summer and fall visits. Once we put our name in for a table, like with The BARge, we use our time to walk around town. Ida Red’s is also typically open only until 2 PM and on limited weekdays, which can change seasonally. Check its Google listing (Ida Red’s has no website or social media) to see the latest hours, or call its phone number to confirm open info.
6. Pizza Mambo
Cuisine: Pizza & Italian
Location: 10 1/2 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas
Mainly takeout, though with a handful of small tables indoors and two picnic tables outside, Pizza Mambo is an Italian joint that will exceed your expectations. In addition to having tasty pie slices on par with those we’ve eaten while living in New York City, flavorful breadsticks, and fresh salads with high-quality ingredients, it’s clear that there is no skimping when it comes to either taste or technique. You can feel the pride the chefs have not only in the food but also in the service, which is friendly, chatty, and welcoming to all.
Must-Try Dish: Any of its Pizzas, House-Made Breadsticks, and the House Salad with garbanzo beans.
Tips for first-timers: When you pick up your order from Pizza Mambo or dine-in, let them upsell you to get their reasonably priced homemade desserts—these are made in-house and genuinely delicious. Pizza Mambo is closed on some weekdays. Check its website for hours before you plan to order or dine in.
Within our family, there is some debate on whether the pizza from Pizza Mambo or the nearby Back Alley Pizza Joint is better. Since I’m writing the article, my preference—Pizza Mambo—gets top nod.
7. Douglas Root Beer Barrel
Cuisine: Classic American
Location: 455 Center St., Douglas
Part roadside novelty, part American classic, come to the Douglas Root Beer Barrel for the experience of ordering up a Chicago-style hot dog or brat with all the toppings from people working in an honest-to-goodness oversized barrel. Then enjoy it with a craft root beer on tap, chips, and desserts, like sundaes or floats, outdoors on a picnic table on spacious grounds. The Root Beer Barrel is especially perfect for families who appreciate giving their kids room to roam paired with foods they love.
Must-try dish: The Chicago Dog with all the toppings and a Root Beer Float.
Tips for first-timers: The hours here can be spotty and somewhat irregular, even in the summer. Check its Facebook page, which shares open times before you go. In the fall, it is mainly open on weekends only. If looking for parking, when the few spots on Center Street are full, look for more parking in their lot or diagonal spots on Ferry Street.
8. Phil’s Bar & Grille
Cuisine: American
Location: 215 Butler St., Saugatuck
In the heart of the action on Butler Street, Phil’s Bar & Grille is a downtown Saugatuck institution known for its lively bar atmosphere and upscale eats with indoor and outdoor seating. Dine here for favorites like burgers, fish tacos, pasta, and seafood. Phil’s, which is open seven days a week, does not take reservations and, given its popularity with visitors and locals, nearly always has a wait.
Must-try dish: Goat Cheese Croquette and Portobello Mushroom Fries.
Tips for first-timers: Seating indoors can be loud during busy times. Request an outside table if you prefer a lower noise level.
9. Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Location: 236 Culver St., Saugatuck
Most dining in the Saugatuck area is relaxed, casual, and low-key. Coast 236 does not vary from this formula extravagantly but offers a refined and modern take on American cuisine. The fine-dining menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, and its dishes are creative and beautifully presented. Come here to celebrate special occasions or to indulge in an upscale dining experience in its airy and elegant interior, further enhanced with impeccable service.
Must-try dish: Its Six- or Nine-course Tasting Menu.
Tips for first-timers: Coast 236 offers a fine dining experience on par with Chicago or New York, and prices will reflect this, and reservations are required.
10. Saugatuck Brewing Company
Cuisine: American brewery
Location: 2948 Blue Star Hwy., Douglas
When you want high-quality pub fare and local craft brews and want to avoid parking in town or putting your name in for a long wait, head to Saugatuck Brewing Company. Get a table on its spacious outdoor patio or inside its restaurant, which is open-air on nice days. Expect efficient service and good eats like burgers, vegetarian sandwiches, salads, and sides like Street Corn Salad that pair perfectly with its in-house collection of lagers, ales, and stouts.
Must-try dish: Bavarian Jumbo Pretzel and Double Smash Burger.
Tips for first-timers: Saugatuck Brewing shares a parking lot with the 24,000-square-foot Saugatuck Antique Pavilion. Try to overlap your visit with the antique mall hours for fun shopping.
3 more notable places to try.
If you’re looking to explore even more of the culinary scene in and around Saugatuck, here are three additional recommendations:
Outside Coffee Co. at Woosah Outfitters
450 W. Center St., Douglas
We come to Outside Coffee to fuel up with a pastry or cold brew before visiting nearby beaches like Douglas Beach Park or Oval Beach. Order from its takeout window or inside the counter within the very shoppable Woosah Outfitters retail space. Enjoy your drink on swings or seats in their idyllic playground-like outdoor space.
SaugaTaco
650 Water St., Saugatuck
New on the scene in Saugatuck and next to the river. Stop by SaugaTaco for fast-casual, super fresh, and inventive street tacos and Tex-Mex specialties enjoyed in their spacious indoor seating area or on outside tables.
Everyday People Cafe
11 Center St., Douglas
A short drive from Saugatuck, dine at the Everyday People Cafe for creative American cuisine and a constantly changing menu. Enjoy pasta, seafood, and mains like chicken and lamb, along with attentive service in an inviting atmosphere on the main street in Douglas.
Related reading.
If you plan to visit the Saugatuck area, love Midwest road trips, or like to cook, check out my related articles below.
- 31 Things to Do in Saugatuck, MI, You Will Love
- Where to Stay in Saugatuck: 8 Amazing Areas
- The Best Places to Stay in Saugatuck for Families
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park: All You Need to Know
- Oval Beach in the Fall: Your Complete Guide
- Douglas Beach Park, MI: Everything You Need to Know
- Hiking Mt. Baldhead in Saugatuck, MI: What You Need to Know
- Saugatuck, MI Best Walks: Crow’s Nest Trail
- Fall Trip: 10 Wonderful Family Things to Do in Saugatuck
- Your Family Will Love These 30 Road Trips Near Chicago
- 27 Best Global Cookbooks That Travelers Will Love
Love to read? Check out the books about or set in Michigan I recommend.
Feedback & questions.
Did this article help? Do you have questions about an upcoming visit? Or, want to share updates to the information? Please post in the comments below, and I will respond.
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