4 Top-Rated Alpena Restaurants

We have the insider scoop on the best Alpena restaurants! After spending three days in the gorgeous lakeside city, we tasted, sipped and devoured an amazing amount of delicious treats!

If you haven't visited Alpena Michigan lately, this lakeside town in northern Michigan is the ultimate destination for all things outdoors: hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, exploring and fossil hunting.

Alpena is less than two hours from Mackinaw City, so be sure to visit soon!

Utilize this map to plan your day and to discover our favorite stops, restaurants and fun in Alpena!

Cabin Creek Coffee

Address: 201 N. 2nd Ave, Alpena, Michigan

Cabin Creek Coffee is a quaint coffee and sandwich shop sure to delight your senses! We greatly enjoyed our coffees and cheesy chicken wraps!

View this post on Instagram

Whoot!! We just had sandwiches and coffee directly from the angels! I mean seriously, that gooey cheese on our Toasted Tuscan Chicken Wrap was to die for!! . So then, it was whispered that the vanilla chai was killer...not being one to pass up a good thing, I went for it (and a caramel iced coffee). Freakin’ awesomeness! . . . #cabincreekcoffee #downtownalpena #visitalpena #travelmichigan @visit_alpena #coffeeshop #bestcoffee #alpenamichigan #alpenami #michigan #michigander #michigancoffee #michigancoffeeshops #puremichigan #visitmichigan #getinmybelly #tuscanchicken #coffeeislife☕️ #coffeeshop #puremittigan #michiganawesome

A post shared by Michigan Travel+Food Adventure (@travelingmichigan) on Jul 13, 2019 at 10:48am PDT

Downtown Scoops

Address: 1202 W. Chisholm St. Alpena, Michigan

Hankering for something sweet? Be sure to pop into Downtown Scoops for some delicious handmade ice cream at the quaint downtown corner shop.

Downtown Scoops, Alpena, Michigan

Chris loved his caramel ice cream and devoured it before I got a pic but I can't blame him as I enjoyed most of mine before we remembered to take a photo of the cold creamy goodness!

Downtown Scoops is located near all the shops and Thunder Bay Tasting Room! (Just sayin')

Downtown Scoops, Alpena, Michigan

Thunder Bay Winery Tasting Room

Address: 109 N. 2nd Ave, Alpena, Michigan

Thunder Bay Winery Tasting Room is wonderful spot to grab a comfy seat on one of the many couches near the huge windows overlooking the downtown area or pull up a stool at the wine tasting counter.

Thunder Bay Winery Tasting Room, Alpena, MI

Here's a cool tip we discovered: Order a wine flight at Thunder Bay Winery Tasting Room and if you like, ask for the menu at the next door Fresh Palate Gourmet and Nucleus Lounge! You can eat lunch or dinner right in the tasting room!

Laughter and cheerful banter is the norm at Thunder Bay Winery Tasting Room. If you love tasting a wide variety of wine, be sure to stop in! The Pinot Grigio was my favorite!

View this post on Instagram

We arrived in Alpena yesterday! Spending 3 days in this lovely lakeside city to let off some stress after a crazy couple of weeks. . Thunder Bay Winery and Vineyards in Alpena definitely has some great wines! They are a family owned and operated vineyard and winery that has 11 varieties of wine grapes as well as multiple varieties of fruit trees and berry bushes. We tried a flight which is an awesome way to sample a wide variety of local wines. The pino was my favorite! Grab a glass and enjoy some local local music! Have you been to Alpena? Loved all the suggestions in my previous post, keep ‘em comin! . . . . #visitalpena #michiganwinery #michiganwineries #wineries #wineriesinmichigan #downtownalpena #alpenamichigan #alpenami #michigan #greatlakesstateofmind #greatlakesstate #gogreatlakesbay #michigander #michiganstate #michiganwinetrail #visitmichigan #michiganmade #michiganphotography #michigansummer #michiganunsalted

A post shared by Michigan Travel+Food Adventure (@travelingmichigan) on Jul 13, 2019 at 5:39am PDT

Fresh Palate Gourmet and Nucleus Lounge

Address: 109 N. 2nd Ave, Alpena, Michigan

Awesome menu options and craft draft beers all served in a very cool rustic bar with huge windows offering a view of downtown Alpena. Amazing offerings of soups, small plates and fresh offerings.

Fresh Palate Gourmet and Nucleus Lounge, Alpena Michigan

Chris ordered a full meat pizza that he loved and I ordered the EZP RAV which was spinach, artichoke, brussels, butternut squash, goat cheese, ravioli and pesto marinara. SERIOUSLY FREAKIN' GOOD.

Fresh Palate Gourmet and Nucleus Lounge, Alpena Michigan

We loved eating at Fresh Palate! The servers were so friendly and the bar tender was super chatty. It made for an awesome evening after some wine tasting!

If You Love Pizza...

Check out our Best Michigan Pizza article!

Follow Us on Instagram

TravelingMichigan

View this post on Instagram

This pizza was seriously awesome at The Fresh Palate in Alpena, Michigan. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Awesome menu options and craft draft beers all served in a very cool rustic bar with huge windows offering a view of downtown Alpena. Amazing offerings of soups, small plates and fresh offerings. Oh yeah, and amazing pizza! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #thefreshpalate #nucleuslounge #downtownalpena #visitalpena #travelmichigan @visit_alpena #coffeeshop #bestcoffee #alpenamichigan #alpenami #michigan #michigander #michigancoffee #michigancoffeeshops #puremichigan #visitmichigan #getinmybelly #puremittigan #michiganawesome #pizza #pizzas #pizzamania #michiganfoodie #foodieblogger #foodiebloggers

A post shared by Michigan Travel+Food Adventure (@travelingmichigan) on Jul 24, 2019 at 6:00am PDT