Absolutely loved our experience at SidebarGR -- hands down the best speakeasy in Grand Rapids! From…read morethe moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, classy hideaway that feels both exclusive and inviting. What really stood out was the bartending -- not just the skill, but the passion. After hearing the bartender's take on the Old Fashioned, I let him make it his way -- and it might be one of the best I've had. Balanced, bold, and beautifully smooth. Two of my friends described what they were in the mood for, and the bartender crafted custom cocktails for each of them -- both drinks were spot on and had them raving the rest of the night. If you're in Grand Rapids and want a cocktail experience that goes beyond the ordinary, SidebarGR is a must. Expert mixology, great atmosphere, and personalized service that makes you feel like a regular -- even on your first visit.

I've known about this bar for a while but finally went for the first time recently and it wasn't…read morefull! To find the entrance, go down the stairs towards Big O's Pizza and instead of turning right, take a left and you will see Sidebar's subtle entrance. It's dim lit and quite cozy in there. Limited seating and some spots at the bar were open and we took a seat up there. We did notice to the right of the bar there is a small additional area with more seating but still not a lot. I really enjoyed the espresso martini from here. The drink was so smooth and had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend. We only stayed for one drink but I would definitely come back for another sometime. The bartenders were also really kind and having a good time with everyone in there! Really loved the atmosphere and our experience while we were there.

I'd heard their espresso martini is one of the best in Grand Rapids and boy it lived up to the…read morehype! The vibe in here is swanky yet approachable. Soft seating and warm but dark and intimate, perfect for date night or a bar crawl with friends. The menu is expansive with something for everyone's taste. The servers and bartenders are super knowledgeable and happy to help make a selection if you know what you normally like. The espresso martini has a salted bite to it while being robust and smooth. Very strong without overpowering. My husband got the root beer float option and it was a fun whimsical interactive option that he enjoyed, it was stronger with more of a strong alcohol taste but still enjoyable. Definitely a great option for folks in Grand Rapids and we will be back for more!

Such a cool cocktail bar with a fun vibe! It's in the perfect location on bridge street right next…read moreto so many other good restaurants and bars. I like coming here for post dinner drinks because the cocktails are truly an experience here! The service has always been great and they're very patient whenever me or my friends ask what certain things ar ein a cocktail.

Bartender was fantastic. We had a wonderful time after we found the place (lol)…read moreDrinks were some of the best we had on our GR vacation this weekend. Great interior as well.

Walked in on a Friday at 11:15 on a busy night in the city. The bar was less than half full, and…read moreone seat at the bar. I was stopped by the hostess before I could get to the bar, informing me there was a 50 minute wait. "At the bar?" I asked? She said, yes, we were one of four parties to turn and leave. Made no sense at all. I guess they are t prepared for a half busy Friday night. Such a shame.

I Don't Care is a speakeasy tucked inside the Amway that leans hard into the hidden-bar concept…read more There are no signs and you need to put a code on the key pad outside to get in, and the only way to get that code is by signing up for their mailing list. That said, it is pretty painless. You can sign up on the spot and the email with the code comes through within minutes, so it does not slow things down too much. They offer outdoor seating even in the winter, and while it is technically heated, you will still need a coat. It was cold enough that we chose to sit inside instead, but the interior was also chilly. Every time the door to the patio opened, a draft of cold air rushed in, which made the space feel colder than expected. The drinks are on the expensive side, but the quality mostly backs up the price. I ordered the Donna's Kiss and it was absolutely worth it, very well made and delicious. My friend had a Moscato that was sweet and easy to drink. We also ended up getting two free shots of tequila because they liked our vibes , which was a nice and unexpected bonus! Definitely a great move on their behalf because it just goes to show that the staff there were super welcoming and that makes me want to come back (probably when it's warmer!!).

It's okay. Fun place. But we were sitting in the bar already and were told if we didn't leave by 8…read moreour tab would include a cover charge for a DJ. I'm sorry but if we are already there, adding a cover charge to our bill is a bit much.

loved this place! The bartender was amazing we probably could have sat and talked with him all…read morenight lol. The drinks were super good and the vibe of this place is just so cool. Highly recommend!

Love love love. A super fun place to go inside the amway. Their espresso martini was pretty high up…read moreon our list. We made some new friends and the bar tenders were so fun! We will definitely be back here!

Absolutely amazing multi-course dinner and drinks at Allora. Hands down one of the most creative,…read morefreshest and best meal we've had in a long time. Every course was beautifully/ thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious! We can't wait to go back, perfect for an unforgettable date night. The quality was truly superb. Special shoutout to our incredible server Brendon - he made the whole evening feel so special, fun and created an amazing dining experience! Also can't stop dreaming about the desserts!

The girls needed to get together & we decided for a birthday to finally try Allora after months of…read moreanticipation. We got a reservation for 8:30pm, which was one of only a few available. We got there at 8:15 & were told our table was being cleared and it would be a few minutes. We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink, which was a lovely setting. The bartenders were attentive, drinks were delish! By 8:45, we wondered if we had been forgotten. By 8:55, the host stopped to tell us our table was still getting prepared. At 9:10, we finally had a table! They did bring us complimentary prosecco since our table wait was 40 minutes past the reservation time. Our server, Levi, was phenomenal. He gave great recommendations and walked us through the menu & style wonderfully. Our food was also delicious. Nothing disappointed on the menu! All in all, the food was spectacular, the space is gorgeous, and service once seated was amazing. The only star taken away was for the issue of timeliness, which could easily be due to the rush of a Friday night. We hope to return in the future!

This place has some very unique breakfast dishes mostly waffle based. We stopped in here with a…read moresmall group and were seated promptly. Our server was prompt and we ordered a few of the crazy fun dishes. I had the Love me tender dish which was a waffle with peanut butter, caramelized banana, bacon and a maple bourbon syrup. Oh my this was good. The rest of my group had amazing dishes as well and we had a great time. When in Grand Rapids, stop in here for a fun unique breakfast.

Any time is a good time for waffles. They're a vehicle for so many sweet and savory ingredients, in…read moremy opinion. So when my family and I were walking around downtown Grand Rapids and needed a place to eat breakfast, we popped into Social Misfits because their menu is basically 90% waffles. My kids love waffles. Every kid loves waffles. Waffles it is! This is a great restaurant for families (because ... waffles), but also a great restaurant for adults because they have a nice selection of creative cocktails in the evening, and coffee in the morning. Social Misfits is basically waffles, alcohol and caffeine, in that order. When we visited in the morning, the adults opted for coffee (really great black coffee!) and the kids both opted for the Little Lad, a waffle topped with strawberries, blueberries and chantilly cream (basically whipped cream, but a little sweeter and whipped a little longer). Both of my children ate most of their waffle, which is a big thing, considering they usually eat like birds. We also got the Son of a Biscuit, which was a garlic parmesan waffle topped with chicken sausage gravy and a fried egg. You could add fried chicken to the mix for an extra $6 (we did not). This one was fine, but the egg was way overcooked! Oh well. Lastly: We got the Ol' Blue Eyes, a waffle topped with blueberry compote, lemon curd, whipped ricotta and graham cracker crumbs. This one tasted amazing, but there was so much blueberry compote and lemon curd that it made the waffle a bit soggy. I think the chef was feeling generous with the toppings, but homie needed to hold back a tad. Sometimes, a little bit goes a long way! Fifty percent less gloppy stuff would have made this waffle dish 100% better. If you ain't really about that waffle life, then not to worry. Social Misfits also has a few "not waffles" items on the menu, like salads, sandwiches and a couple of bar snacks. But I think if you visit this restaurant, you need to just embrace waffles. There are more than a dozen different waffles on the menu. They're all fun and well-thought-out. Pick one and eat waffles for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

One of the best cocktail bars in town in my opinion! I have been there more times than I can count…read moreand I've always had a great experience and great drinks! They have a secret menu where you can get a dice and roll to try all of their drinks and once you try all of them you can name a drink on their menu - cool concept! One of my favorite parts is the unique glasses that they use to display the drinks. It's a swanky cocktail lounge vibe with a nice big patio that is perfect for Michigan summers.

It was a sunny, warm day so we were looking for a patio to enjoy the weather and have a cocktail…read moreand found less traveled. Their outdoor space is great, lots of seating and in a great part of cherry street (ice cream shop right across the street was tempting!). We were seated right away and our server was super helpful with my many questions and gave us some great recommendations and walked us through the menu because there are quite a lot of options and can be kind of intimidating. We had the Midwest old fashioned and a raspberry Tom Collin's, which I believe is a seasonal drink. They do have rotating menus, so it gives you something new to come back for. Good option for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Great ambiance, delicious food, and really good service. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly as…read morewas the potato gratins. Great overall dining experience

We've been dying to try GinGin's for ages and finally scored a 7:00 reservation for last night and…read moreit ABSOLUTELY lived up to the hype. The atmosphere is bustling, but dark and romantic. Service was top notch from start to finish. Plates were cleared between each course, we were checked on often but not too much and felt super taken care of. The tart strawberry mocktail was one of the best I've ever had, refreshing and perfectly balanced. We started with the truffle arancini- it sits on top of a bed of black pepper aioli which was to die for. The gem salad was fresh- loved the addition of crispy prosciutto&mandarins. I had the double waygu burger with fries(highly recommend asking for a side of the black pepper aioli for your fries!!) while my husband had the hanger steak frites. Both were cooked perfectly and SO flavorful. We were stuffed, but had to finish with the tiramisu. It came in a chilled glass- so appreciate the attention to detail. I'll be thinking about this meal until I can come back for more!

It's a solid spot to meet up before/after a show or if you're otherwise hanging at the Amway. I've…read morebeen here at least a dozen times. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly--and fast. They know their cocktails and they're remarkably consistent with the mixes. My old fashioneds tasted the same every time I've gone. Very limited menu, but it'll do the trick when you're in a rush (or if the Lumberbaron Bar has already closed its kitchen). I like the pizzas, especially the mushroom. Don't let the name fool you. It also comes covered with savory cubes of bacon and fresh greens. It's good! I also like the wide open layout. You never feel crowded. Great place to spread out for a cocktail and light bite.

What an amazing experience!!! We came here for one of their monthly events. We found out about it…read morethat day and the tickets were no longer available. But we took our chances and the manager was able to get us in! So glad he did. They have these types of tastings every month. December will be a champagne pairing. I definitely plan to come back for that! They did a beautiful presentation. We got to try three different scotches which were paired with delicious small plates of food. Afterwards, we went to the bar area and had a drink. The service here was impeccable. The food was delicious and the signature cocktails were delightful! The hotel itself is gorgeous and I was happy we got to experience it all decked out for Christmas!