Whether you’ve just come from a day at Van’s beach, hiking Whaleback Nature Area or exploring historic Fishtown, Leland has some of the best food finds and dining views in Northern Michigan. From thick sandwiches and whitefish dinners to elegant steaks and riverside fine dining, you can find a spot that will meet your summer dining needs.
COVID NOTICE: Some restaurants are only open for curbside pickup and delivery during COVID-19. Call ahead or check online before ordering.
1. The Riverside Inn
302 River St. | 231.256.9971
Nestled on the banks of the Leland River, you’ll be hard pressed to find better views for dinner than at the Riverside. With a fine-dining menu filled with delicacies like steamed mussels, juicy beef tenderloin and fresh seared scallops, you’ll dine in serene beauty along the Leland River.
2. Bluebird Restaurant & Tavern
102 E. River St. | 231.256.9081
The Bluebird offers both a classic tavern atmosphere iwith favorites like pizza, fried chicken and fish favorites, as well as elegant options in their dining room with a full salad bar and fresh caught whitefish dinners, also enjoyed at their outdoor patio along the Leland River.
3. The Cove
111 W. River St. | 231.256.9834
Located in historic Fishtown along the Leland River, The Cove offers favorites like the Chubby Mary cocktail to pair with one of Carlson’s fresh-caught fish dinners, a cooked-to-perfection burger with fries or a fresh garden salad. The rushing waters of the dam are the perfect place to catch a great sunset dinner in Leland.
4. Bogey’s 19th Hole
565 Pearl St. | 231.256.7504
For a hilltop sunset view of Lake Leelanau, Bogey’s is the perfect place to enjoy a fresh burger or fish dinner, right on the edge of the Leland Country Club’s green. Bogey’s offers delicious Alfredo pasta and a wide selection of beers and spirits for you to enjoy from this Leland hilltop.
5. Village Cheese Shanty
199 W. River St. | 231.256.9141
One of the most famous food-stops in Fishtown, the “Cheese Shop” creates delicious sandwiches named after the beauty and hotspots in northern Michigan, like the Sand Dune or the top selling Northshore. Pick from their list of favorites or create your own on their famous pretzel bread, then chow down along the Leland River.
6. Trish’s Dishes
407 Main St. | 231.994.2288
A fresh take on hot sandwiches and homemade soups, Trish’s Dish’s uses local ingredients to create delicious paninis and cold sandwiches that perfectly pair with Trish’s local favorite, tomato bisque soup. With rotating soups and gourmet coffee, enjoy their creations on an outdoor patio along Leland’s Main Street.
Olivia Fellows was a 2020 intern at MyNorth Media. She will graduate from Grand Valley State University in 2021 with a Communications and Multi-Media Journalism degree, and serves as the News Editor for GVSU’s The Lanthorn.