{"id":4940,"date":"2026-05-30T10:43:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=4940"},"modified":"2026-05-30T10:43:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:43:33","slug":"on-the-lake-michigan-coast-of-indiana-and-southwest-michigan-new-spots-to-eat-drink-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=4940","title":{"rendered":"On the Lake Michigan coast of Indiana and southwest Michigan, new spots to eat, drink, shop"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The resort area of southwest Michigan along Lake Michigan is wildly popular with Chicagoans in summer and fall for good reason. The coastal stretch offers sophisticated dining and shops, breweries, wineries, beaches, sunsets on Lake Michigan and a vacation vibe wherever you go.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t been in a couple of years, you\u2019ll find Indiana\u2019s coast, home of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park, is worth more than a hiking or gas-station stop. <\/p>\n

Though the towns along the lake are small and don\u2019t have centers of commerce, many exciting new places have sprung up on U.S. Route 12, the scenic drive that skirts the lake\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n

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Beverly Shores and Michigan City, Ind. <\/b><\/h3>\n

Miles from Chicago: 54<\/p>\n

Sadly, the orange Studebaker that for years served up excellent wood-fired pizza is no longer parked in Beverly Shores, a small lake community famous for its collection of historic homes from the 1933-34 Chicago World\u2019s Fair. The only way to get a South Shore Ovenworks<\/u><\/b><\/a> pie now is to reserve the food truck for a private event.<\/p>\n

Console yourself with shopping. The founder and former owner of Cowboys and Astronauts, a men\u2019s store in Andersonville, has opened Blanket Fort<\/u><\/b><\/a> (1 E. Dunes Highway), a design studio and shop in Beverly Shores. Matthew Buccilla describes his style as \u201cvintage modern meets-cozy cabin-meets Japanese wabi-sabi.\u201d His bona fides include designing spaces around the world for furniture maker Herman Miller. Blanket Fort, located in a cool midcentury building, is open the first and third weekends of the month.<\/p>\n

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The Heron, a French restaurant in Michigan City, Ind.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Neighboring Michigan City has seen an explosion of new restaurants, including The Heron<\/u><\/b><\/a> (522 Franklin St.) which thankfully has strayed from the usual New American\/Italian playbook and instead focuses on French food. A great happy hour from 4-6 p.m. (even Fridays!) features $10 martinis and deeply discounted wine and beer.<\/p>\n

Up the street is Rocco\u2019s Tavern<\/u><\/b><\/a> (827 Franklin St.) from the family who owns Cafe Farina next door and Farina\u2019s Supper Club in Michiana. Rocco\u2019s makes you feel like you\u2019re in a Rush Street steakhouse.<\/p>\n

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Interior of Rocco\u2019s Tavern in Michigan City, Ind. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A reservation-only 12-seat Lebanese restaurant, C.12<\/u><\/b><\/a>,<\/b> (132 E. 6th St.) just opened in the lower level of a 100-year-old Masonic Temple. It\u2019s owned by longtime area restaurateur Momahed \u201cMoe\u201d Mroueh. Diners sit around a horseshoe-shaped counter with an open kitchen. There\u2019s one seating a night, offering a prix-fixe tasting menu ($65).<\/p>\n

Also below ground is The Nightingale<\/u><\/b><\/a> (1108 Franklin St.), a moody spot with small lamp-lit tables, great old-school cocktails, and live music, mostly jazz and blues. It\u2019s open only occasionally so check before you go.<\/p>\n

Cellar Door <\/u><\/b><\/a>(1901 Franklin St.) opened last year in an historic building that once housed Harmony Bar. Cellar Door is everything you want in a classic neighborhood tavern \u2014 friendly service, carved wooden bar, games (10-pin bowling! Vintage pinball!), patio \u2014 and then add good wine and creative food. The head bartender and chef came from the well-regarded Hummingbird Lounge in New Buffalo.<\/p>\n

A few new shopping options have popped up in Michigan City, too: The Wren<\/u><\/b><\/a> (410 Wabash St.), a gift shop with a focus on sustainable, natural products, is across from Lighthouse Place Outlet Mall. Abigail Hayden Interiors & Design<\/u><\/b><\/a> (607 Franklin St.) is a charming shop in the Arts District, filled with home accessories and art, as well as the owner\u2019s own line of upholstered furniture.<\/p>\n

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The Standard 1208 in Michigan City, Ind. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Standard 1208<\/u><\/b><\/a> (1208 E. Second St. at U.S. 12), formerly called Unsalted No Sharks and located in downtown Michigan City, has opened in an old Standard Oil station across from Burn <\/u><\/b><\/a>\u2019<\/u><\/b><\/a>Em Brewing<\/u><\/b><\/a> (1215 E. Second St.). In addition to cool gifts and souvenirs, The Standard serves Italian sub sandwiches, great for taking to the beach. A second location just opened in New Buffalo (19 N. Whittaker St.).<\/p>\n\n

Michiana, Ind. <\/b><\/h3>\n

Miles from Chicago: 67<\/p>\n

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The bar at Tavern on Twelve in Michiana, Ind. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Heading north on Route 12, Swells: A Dive Bar<\/u><\/b><\/a> <\/b>(3201 U.S. 12), cooks up four kinds of pizza: tavern style, Detroit style, deep dish and hand-tossed (New York style) and manages to do it all extremely well. There are soups, salads and sandwiches, too. It\u2019s the sort of place where groups come to watch their team on TV. A dive bar with Veuve Clicquot on the menu? Sign me up.<\/p>\n

Just up the road is Tonelli\u2019s Tavern on Twelve<\/u><\/b><\/a> (3103 U.S. 12), from the owner of Michigan City\u2019s popular Tonelli\u2019s, which closed a few years ago. This property has hosted a few restaurants in recent years (Blind Pig, Trip\u2019s Tree House), but Tonelli\u2019s seems to have found a groove in its 12 months in business, serving up classic Italian red-sauce fare at decent prices.<\/p>\n\n

New Buffalo and Union Pier, Mich.<\/b><\/h3>\n

Miles from Chicago: 70<\/p>\n

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Farmette, a provisions store on the outskirts of New Buffalo<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Across the border in Michigan, you might think not much changes in the little towns along Red Arrow Highway save for the time change. But many new restaurants and shops have opened, and a couple of longtime favorites have shuttered.<\/p>\n

Just past all the new cannabis dispensaries on Route 12 (some 18 or so with more on the way), Farmette<\/u><\/b><\/a> (18439 U.S. 12) on the outskirts of New Buffalo has become an instant favorite, with an in-house bakery specializing in sourdough, a coffee and drinks bar, and specialty food shop with a well-stocked freezer and refrigerator case, as well as produce and flowers in season (much of it grown on site). The owner tended Rick Bayless\u2019 garden in Chicago once upon a time.<\/p>\n

New Buffalo is home to arguably the hottest restaurant along this coast: PostBoy<\/u><\/b><\/a> (207 N. Whittaker St.), which opened in fall of 2024. Heading the kitchen is James Galbraith, who founded Benton Harbor\u2019s foodie favorites Houndstooth and Anemel. Galbraith previously worked under Chicago chefs at Intro, Blackbird, Elske, S.K.Y., Bellemore, and Boka. There\u2019s a hopping patio and indoor\/outdoor bar; be sure to reserve ahead. This place gets jammed.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for food to take to your Airbnb or vacation home, <\/b>Angela\u2019s Provisions<\/u><\/b><\/a> (225 N. Whittaker St.) has homemade soups, pastas, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and salads, made to order or stocked in the fridge\/freezer case.<\/p>\n

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Bookshore in New Buffalo, Mich. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The perfect hostess gift for discerning hosts is at Bookshore,<\/u><\/b><\/a> which features big, gorgeous art books meant for a coffee table \u2014 or any surface. It\u2019s owned by the same family that runs the popular tourist draw Stray Dog restaurant.<\/p>\n

Harbor Country\u2019s biggest news lately was the closing of Greenbush Brewing Company in Sawyer, a popular spot for 12 years. But beer lovers have other options.<\/p>\n

The newest of the lot, which opened last fall, is Mangata Beer Co.<\/u><\/b><\/a> (15936 Red Arrow Highway) in Union Pier, a sister operation of the award-winning Transient Artisan Ales <\/u><\/b><\/a>(4229 Lake St.) in Bridgman. This tasting room focuses on easy-drinking, lower-alcohol beers such as pilsners, lagers, saisons and Belgian ales, all created at Transient\u2019s brewhouse.<\/p>\n\n

Sawyer and Three Oaks, Mich. <\/b><\/h3>\n

Miles from Chicago: 80<\/p>\n

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Longstory, a restaurant in Three Oaks, Mich. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Fulcra Brewing Company<\/u><\/b><\/a> (13400 Red Arrow Highway) opened last July in a two-room bungalow in Sawyer, the dream of two home brewers (one a Dark Matter Coffee alum.) Fulcra focuses on balanced, drinkable brews. A beer garden has just opened; look for live music, food trucks or restaurant pop-ups, the owners say.<\/p>\n

Three Oaks saw the closing of its popular pizza take-out, Patellie\u2019s, last winter. But while pizza lovers mourned the loss, the owners used the space to expand their wine and beer store. P.+E. Bottle Shop<\/u><\/b><\/a> (28 N. Elm St.) now carries cheese, bread, crackers, olives and prepared food \u2014 all the stuff that goes great with wine. And speaking of wine, there\u2019s now a much-expanded selection of wine and craft beer.<\/p>\n

For breakfast or lunch, two Chicago transplants have reopened the popular Viola Cafe<\/u><\/b><\/a> (102 N. Elm St.), which was closed for a few years. Along with their chef, former Chopping Block owner Shelley Young, they\u2019ve put a Southern twist on it. Think po\u2019 boys, beignets, meat loaf, greens, fried green tomatoes and mac \u2019n\u2019 cheese alongside breakfast classics.<\/p>\n

Three Oaks had not had a stylish dinner spot for dinner until recently, with the opening of Longstory<\/u><\/b><\/a> (8 Maple St.) in December 2024. The restaurant has had some bumps, with chef changes and the like, but is popular with locals, who gather for happy hours and order from the New-American-with-an-accent menu of chicken shawarma, Tuscan kale salad, polenta torte, grilled fish, New York strip, roasted beets and more.<\/p>\n

Inside the popular boutique Goods & Heroes<\/u><\/b><\/a> (7 Maple St.), a former clearance room has become a store within a store, GH Yarn Haus,<\/u><\/b><\/a> which specializes in natural fibers and holds knitting get-togethers and classes.<\/p>\n

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Dreihart Winery, a wine tasting room, in Three Oaks, Mich.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A small wine tasting room (capacity: 25) opened in spring 2025 just off Three Oaks\u2019 main drag. Dreihart Winery<\/u><\/b><\/a> (6 Linden St. E.) is an offshoot of 6 Linden,<\/u><\/b><\/a> which sells local meat, produce, eggs and cheeses, along with imported pastas and such. Winemaker Gottfried Hart, a charming man with a few stories to tell, is usually pouring. A former co-owner of Hickory Creek Winery in Buchanan, he\u2019s one of several area winemakers who understands that Michigan can produce dry, complex wines similar to those from Austria and his native Germany. Grab some smoked trout rillette to pair with your wine.<\/p>\n

Jan Parr, a former Chicago journalist, lives in the middle of the Indiana Dunes, in Beverly Shores. She writes about local happenings at <\/i>DunesDiva.com<\/u><\/i><\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n