Summertime and the living’s easy in your Sanctuary of the Great Lakes!

Nothing like relaxing on the patio with some good eats and a cold beverage, right? If you want to skip the effort and mess of cooking at home this summer, here are some great spots for outdoor dining in Alpena:

Downtown Alpena: 

  1. The Bulldog – Conveniently located downtown right next door to Bob’s Bullpen comic shop, this place has every hot dog you can imagine!
  2. Cabin Creek Coffee – Tables and chairs are set up for you to enjoy a custom latte with a delicious lunch. 
  3. Thunder Bay Winery- Offers prime outdoor seating in downtown Alpena- and you can order cuisine from the neighboring Fresh Palate while sipping wine!
  4. Mangos Tequila Bar- Has a cute and quiet outdoor space in the Chisholm St. pocket park with a fantastic view of the ‘Make a Splash’ fish mural!
  5. HopSide Brewery – A brand new brewery located in the heart of downtown Alpena with outdoor seating available in the back of the building.
  6. Red Brick Tap & Barrel – A recently renovated outdoor patio space is now available to eat and drink during the warmer months at Red Brick Tap & Barrel in downtown Alpena.
  7. 808 Bowlz & The River St. Vault Smoothery – Another food truck located in the River Street Vault next to Red Brick Tap & Barrel except this one serves up flavors of the Hawaiian Islands. Bonus – grab a yummy smoothie or a sandwich from the Vault, adjacent to the food truck.
  8. PIFCider – serving up 12 different rotating taps of farm-fresh hard cider, Presque Isle Farms Cider is more similar to wine than the traditional sweet ciders you may be used to. Hungry? Try out a charcuterie board, some fresh baked goods, or the Sherwood Pita Wagon located on-site (seasonally).
  9. Thunder Bay Winery – specialty drinks and a wide selection of Thunder Bay wine can be enjoyed at the winery’s outdoor space on 2nd Avenue. You may also order your lunch/dinner from Fresh Palate, next door, and eat at the winery.

Alpena City Limits:

  1. The Owls Nest-  A great variety of gourmet hamburgers and appetizers (need we say more?!)
  2. The Court Yard – A newly constructed patio for outside dining awaits at this popular dinner spot.
  3. Hungry Hippie (Hippie Dome)– Providing fun, healthy options with a front-row view of Lake Huron across the street.
  4. Austin Brothers Beer Company- Enjoy your Michigan craft beer in the beautiful weather in their newly renovated outdoor section at Austin Brothers Beer Company.
  5. Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe- Serving up high-quality, handmade specialty brats on a bun with a variety of toppings. 
  6. The Old Polish Corner – Still in the downtown area, just a few blocks out, this new restaurant serves up authentic Polish and American cuisine and just added a beautiful outdoor space for dining in the warm weather months.
  7. Pompeyos- A brand new outdoor deck for patrons to enjoy Mexican cuisine along with a Lake Huron view.
  8. Uncle Mike’s food truck – A family-owned & operated food trailer serving delicious eats to N.E. Michigan. This food truck rotates in location, please just their Facebook page for up-to-date daily locations. Seasonal.

Hubbard Lake:

  1. Churchill Pointe Inn- A beautiful restaurant and inn with outdoor seating that overlooks pristine Hubbard Lake. Open seasonally May – October.

Ossineke:

  1. Connie’s Cafe – Enjoy a famous Connie’s breakfast or lunch in their screened patio section.

Long Lake:

  1. Sandbar & Grill – Drive up by car or by boat to the Sandbar & Grill docks and enjoy a pizza, burger, or a delicious appetizer after a day in the sun.

Did we miss you? Email nicole@visitalpena.com to get added to the list!

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