Make a weekend of it
A few of our favorite places to stay, eat, drink, and wander while you're in town for Lyla's baptism. Spots marked Near venue are a short hop from East Church. Drive times are approximate — tap Directions on any spot for exact routing.
There aren't hotels in East Grand Rapids itself, so the closest options are downtown (~9 min) or out by the airport. Here's a range by area and price.
A 36-room boutique hotel on the Thornapple River in charming Ada Village, with refined rooms and walkable riverside dining and shops.
Good for: a quiet upscale stay · couples · a scenic home base east of the city
Grand Rapids' historic landmark hotel on the river, pairing a classic grand lobby with modern rooms, several restaurants, and a spa.
Good for: a walkable downtown stay · special-occasion comfort · on-site dining
A sleek 23-story riverfront tower downtown with floor-to-ceiling views, a pool, and a well-regarded steakhouse.
Good for: modern rooms · river views · walkable to restaurants & breweries
A stylish lifestyle hotel on the lively Ionia Avenue strip downtown, walkable to restaurants, bars, and the riverfront.
Good for: a modern downtown stay · walkable nightlife · younger crowd
A LEED Gold boutique hotel right on the Monroe Center walking street, with a relaxed, design-forward vibe in the heart of downtown.
Good for: a mid-range downtown stay · walkability · design lovers
A dependable, family-friendly chain hotel near the airport and 28th Street shopping, with free breakfast and easy parking.
Good for: flying guests · families · budget-friendly with free parking
From lakeside decks near the venue to West Side favorites and stylish downtown dining.
A beloved waterfront spot on Reeds Lake with a famous lakeside deck, wood-fired pizzas, and easygoing American fare.
Good for: lakeside lunch or drinks · sunny days on the deck · a short hop from the church
A laid-back East Hills gastropub doing creative American plates, a great weekend brunch, and a solid cocktail list.
Good for: brunch · casual dinner · a walkable bite near the venue
An intimate "earth to table" restaurant with a seasonal, locally sourced menu and a quietly elegant room. Dinner only; closed Sun–Mon.
Good for: a special dinner · date night · farm-to-table fans
An upscale steakhouse in Gaslight Village with premium cuts, seafood starters, and a deep wine and cocktail list.
Good for: a steak dinner · celebrating · groups near the venue
A relaxed Gaslight Village favorite serving New American plates from a well-crafted menu, with a full bar. (Closed Sun.)
Good for: an easy lunch or dinner near the venue · casual date night · a well-stocked bar
A whiskey-and-smoked-meats house known for house-cured charcuterie, wood-fired proteins, and one of the biggest whiskey lists in the state.
Good for: meat lovers · whiskey flights · a lively night out
A newer West Side favorite from the Butcher's Union team, serving steaks, fresh seafood, and handmade pasta.
Good for: an elevated dinner · seafood & pasta · West Side dining
A stylish downtown New American spot in a soaring, light-filled space, known for an excellent brunch, seasonal plates, and cocktails.
Good for: a memorable brunch · a stylish downtown dinner · drinks before or after
Casual, fast, and tasty — several right in Eastown, a few minutes from the church.
A buzzing Eastown spot known for crispy fried-chicken sandwiches and a great patio.
Good for: a fast, tasty bite near the venue · fried chicken · patio hangs
A Grand Rapids institution serving classic hot dogs, voted the city's best for decades.
Good for: a cheap, iconic bite · hot dogs · a quick walk from the venue
A takeout smash-burger joint using Michigan craft beef, plus fried-chicken sandwiches and house-made sodas.
Good for: a quick burger · takeout · a casual lunch
Grand Rapids is one of the best beer towns in the country. Brewery Vivant is the closest to the church.
Belgian-inspired beers poured inside a beautifully restored 1948 chapel, with a full European-leaning food menu. The first LEED-certified microbrewery in the U.S.
Good for: a memorable drink near the church · dinner + beer · the gorgeous room
A craft taproom in a century-old former garage on Wealthy St, specializing in wild and barrel-aged sour ales. Closed Mon.
Good for: sour & wild ale fans · a near-venue taproom · trying something different
A cozy Eastown neighborhood brewery known for house beers and excellent wood-fired pizza.
Good for: pizza + beer near the venue · a casual neighborhood pint
A vintage baseball-themed brewpub in a restored 1890s firehouse, famous for craft beer and hand-tossed pizzas.
Good for: pizza + beer · families & groups · a fun casual night
A riverside brewery pairing craft beer with coastal-Mexican food, right along the Grand River.
Good for: beer + tacos · riverfront seating · a relaxed afternoon
A smaller, well-reviewed craft taproom with an inventive, rotating beer list. Closed Mon–Tue.
Good for: beer nerds · a quieter taproom · trying something new
One of America's most famous breweries (KBS, All Day IPA) with a big beer-hall taproom, live music, and a beer garden.
Good for: the iconic GR beer stop · big groups · live music
The original HopCat — a buzzing beer bar with a massive tap list and the famous "Cosmik" fries.
Good for: a huge beer selection · downtown bar-hopping · those fries
Craft cocktails on the Wealthy St corridor near the venue, plus a couple of iconic downtown spots.
The Eastern Kille distillery's cocktail bar (EK Wealthy), with craft drinks built around their house-made gin, bourbon, and vodka.
Good for: serious craft cocktails · date night near the venue
A moody craft cocktail bar from the Long Road Distillers team, with a seasonal menu and a roll-the-dice secret cocktail. Closed Sun–Mon.
Good for: an intimate cocktail night · a patio drink near the venue
A warm Eastown champagne-and-cocktail bar serving bubbles, craft cocktails, and small bites.
Good for: bubbles & cocktails · a cozy date night near the venue
The most ambitious tiki bar in the Midwest — two floors of vintage tiki decor and an extensive craft tiki cocktail menu.
Good for: a wow-factor cocktail destination · special-occasion drinks
A divey local favorite with 250+ whiskeys, craft cocktails, arcade games, and famous stuffed burgers.
Good for: whiskey lovers · casual late-night drinks
Grand Rapids' first distillery, with scratch-made cocktails using their own house bitters, syrups, and vermouth.
Good for: from-scratch cocktails · a distillery visit
A cozy, dimly lit craft cocktail lounge known for inventive drinks and a speakeasy feel.
Good for: intimate craft cocktails · a quiet date night
A stylish West Side cocktail room with a deep, creative drink menu and a lively bar scene.
Good for: craft cocktails · a night out on Bridge St
The Detroit distillery's Grand Rapids tasting room (inside 7 Monks), pouring cocktails built on their own spirits.
Good for: spirit-forward cocktails · trying a Detroit favorite
A hidden, intimate downtown cocktail bar with an inventive menu and a hush-hush, speakeasy vibe.
Good for: a special-occasion cocktail · an intimate downtown drink
A bourbon-focused bar and American restaurant with a big whiskey selection and live music.
Good for: bourbon & whiskey lovers · drinks with live music
The Sparrows and Squibb are both an easy walk from the church — perfect before or after the ceremony.
A cozy neighborhood coffeehouse-and-newsstand institution since 2007, just up the street from the church.
Good for: morning espresso steps from the venue · a relaxed pause
A calm, father-daughter-run coffee bar that doubles as a wine bar, about a block from the venue.
Good for: quiet coffee (or a glass of wine) within walking distance
A small-batch specialty roaster hand-roasting coffee on Wealthy St since 2005.
Good for: serious specialty-coffee fans
The east-side café and roastery of Grand Rapids' nationally acclaimed coffee roaster, a short hop from the church.
Good for: a great espresso near the venue · beans to take home
A warm, lounge-style downtown coffee bar with a relaxed hangout vibe.
Good for: lingering downtown coffee · casual meetups
Reeds Lake is right by the venue; the rest are a short drive for a walk, a bike ride, or a half-day outing.
A scenic lakeside park on Reeds Lake with walking paths and a boat launch, plus the connecting EGR trail — the easiest stroll near the venue.
Good for: an easy walk near the church · lake views · stretching your legs
A 158-acre botanical garden and world-class outdoor sculpture park (Rodin, Oldenburg) — Grand Rapids' top attraction.
Good for: a half-day outing · gardens & art · all ages
A hillside zoo with more than 2,000 animals, a treetop ropes course, and a chairlift — a fun outing if you've got extra time in town.
Good for: families & kids · a half-day outing · animal lovers
A large riverfront park along the Grand River with shaded walking and biking paths, lagoons, and picnic spots.
Good for: a riverside walk or bike · picnics · quiet green space
A scenic downtown riverfront walk linking parks and public art, anchored by the iconic blue pedestrian bridge.
Good for: a downtown stroll · photos · connecting the east & west banks
One of the nation's largest urban parks — about 1,400 acres with a beach, splash pad, and roughly 18 miles of trails along the Grand River.
Good for: a beach day · long trail walks · families
Grand Rapids is a short drive from the Lake Michigan shoreline — these classic beach towns make a great day out if you're in town for the weekend.
A classic Lake Michigan beach town with a state-park beach, a long pier and lighthouse, a boardwalk, and a nightly musical fountain.
Good for: a full beach day · sunsets on the pier · boardwalk strolls
Sugar-sand beaches at Holland State Park and the iconic "Big Red" lighthouse, plus a charming Dutch-themed downtown.
Good for: the famous lighthouse · beach + downtown · photos
An artsy lakeshore town known for Oval Beach (one of the country's best), galleries, and a walkable harbor downtown.
Good for: beach + arts · a relaxed day trip · galleries and dining
Pere Marquette Beach is one of the largest free public beaches on the lake, with wide sand and a lighthouse-lined channel.
Good for: a big open beach · channel walks · a low-key day
A postcard beach town with a red pier lighthouse, wide South Beach, a walkable downtown, and a maritime museum.
Good for: a scenic longer day trip · lighthouse + downtown · blueberry country