The atmosphere is a vibe! The drinks were great! The staff were fun and knowledgeable. Willing to…read moreteach us things and engage.

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.

Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok!…read more The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA.

i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they…read morereally become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends.

Everyone seemed to enjoy! Smashburger, fish tacos, crab cake, and apple Brie grilled cheese were…read moreall a hit.

The environment is very hip and cool. Loved that the kitchen stays open late. The menu is simple…read moreand my burger was amazing. The staff were not very friendly or concerned with getting food orders in. I order a drink and it wasn't made correctly- I didn't complain but just part of the noticing about service. As a table of one I think there are clear signs diners give when ready to order- menu down, sitting silently, making eye contact with server. Yet, I was walked by more than 10 times. Finally, I had to ask to please order and she seemed inconvenienced by this request. Got a burger and subbed fries for Brussels. Holy sweet mother those Brussels were amazing. ( This may also be the third review in which I am talking sprouts...) These Brusselsprouts came with a pepper chili sauce- it was freaking amazing!!! The waitress told me these are going off the menu and I have strong feelings they should stay! The kitchen was fantastic! I want to rate higher. Kitchen 5- service 1.

Always a fun vibe. Music and videos playing. Great pour on the drinks. Bartenders and always…read moresmiling and popcorn always popping!

My new favorite dive bar in Grand Rapids! I went with a group and we had a blast. Not only was the…read moremusic hopping, there were music videos playing on the TVs. The drinks were very affordable and there was even popcorn. The bartenders were friendly and helpful.

We came to Founders for lunch with a small group to celebrate a special milestone, and it was the…read moreabsolute perfect spot for it. The vibe was so laid-back and welcoming. We ordered a bunch of beer flights for the table, which was such a hit. It had our whole party laughing, comparing our favorites, and just having a genuinely incredible time together. The food hit the spot perfectly for our group, but the flights really made the afternoon so fun and interactive. If you are looking for a great atmosphere to just kick back, laugh, and celebrate with a group, you cannot beat Founders. We had the best time! :)

There's no hostess for tables so it's a free for all for seating and meals. Once we found a spot to…read moresit for drinks, they were good. It was difficult to get a refill though since the line to get drinks was probably 15+ patrons deep so I'd recommend double fisting. Food was okay. The roast beef sandwich had good flavor, but definitely was skimpy on the roast beef. I did get a beer for $1.5 with purchase though. My wife's gluten free cheeseburger was good. Fun atmosphere and ambiance Second time back and the Cuban was good!

We were in from out of town and looking for something to do near our hotel…read more Looks small when you first walk in, but is a great time! The workers were very friendly and drinks were good. There are also free games in the back area.

I brought my daughter to play mini putt putt before walking to a Griffins game. While they allow…read morekids and were more than happy to let us play, it's definitely geared towards adults. The course is fun and challenging but definitely way too hard for a 4 year old, but she had fun trying. There was a little bit of a wait to start the course but they had other things to do like darts, N64, connect four, and of course, a bar. Overall, I probably wouldn't bring a kid back but it would be fun for a date night or with a group of friends.

Fun place to go on a night out with friends! Drinks can be expensive but the dj always plays great…read moresongs!

Such a great spot to check out when you're in the Grand Rapids area! The music was awesome, and the…read moredance floor was perfect for actually getting up and dancing. Definitely recommend!

Can't speak for the food but the beer and cocktail I got were great. The staff were super friendly…read moreand helpful in recommending what to get. I liked the vibe and it seemed like a decent place to grab a drink

We visited HopCat as a walk-in on a busy evening around 5:30, and the wait time was a bit over an…read morehour, which was totally understandable with several events happening downtown. Luckily, I was able to snag a reservation for 6:45, so we found a few things to do nearby while we waited. Once we returned, we were seated upstairs, which I actually prefer. It's noticeably less crowded and quieter than the main floor, making for a more relaxed experience. The menu offers a great variety, and their draft list is especially impressive for beer lovers. This time, I ordered one of their meal deals with mac and cheese, along with pretzels and beer cheese. Portion-wise, it did feel a bit small, but for the price of the deal, it made sense. That said, the flavor was a bit underwhelming. The mac and cheese and beer cheese dip both lacked that rich, cheesy taste I was expecting. The mac and cheese also had quite a bit of topping/breading, and the sauce was fairly loose, almost soupy in consistency. Since this was my first time ordering it, I'm not sure if that's typical. Overall, it's still a great downtown spot that offers something for everyone. The service was prompt and helpful, which definitely added to the experience.