Traverse City Date Night
8 stops · about 4 hours · Updated October 12, 2026
Build a date night in Traverse City, MI around dinner, a cocktail and something sweet, with timing that fits each stop. Modern Bird serves seasonal American cooking in a historic building, with local produce, small plates and vegetarian options; its Tuesday-through-Saturday dinner hours run from 5 to 9 p.m. Reserve dinner there, or make an earlier reservation at Forrest, A Food Studio, the natural wine shop and cozy eatery with table service that closes at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The Towne Plaza brings a seasonal, pork-centric menu and leafy outdoor seating to a daytime date, with listed hours ending at 2 p.m.
For cocktails, choose Oakwood Proper Burgers for its casual, vintage-style setting and on-site bar, or Nolan's Cigar Bar for craft cocktails and staff-assisted cigar pairings; Nolan's admits guests 21 and older. Finish with candy and bottled sodas in innovative flavors at Rocket Fizz, open until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For a bakery takeout option, buy something sweet earlier at Water's Edge Sweet Tooth, which closes at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon Saturday.
Dinner
evening
Stop 1
Forrest, A Food Studio
5.0(73)Traverse City
Forrest combines a natural wine shop with a cozy eatery, offering dinner with table service, an on-site bar and required reservations.
Stop 2
Modern Bird
4.8(325)Traverse City
Modern Bird anchors dinner with seasonal American cooking, creative use of local produce and craft cocktails in a historic building.
Stop 3
The Towne Plaza
4.7(1113)Traverse City
The Towne Plaza offers a seasonal, pork-centric menu, vegan and vegetarian options, and leafy outdoor seating for a daytime date.
Cocktails
evening
Stop 4
Oakwood Proper Burgers
4.9(1567)Traverse City
Oakwood Proper Burgers supplies cocktails and happy-hour drinks from an on-site bar in a casual, vintage-style setting with a fireplace.
Stop 5
Nolan's Cigar Bar
4.9(596)Traverse City
Nolan's Cigar Bar offers craft cocktails, whiskey, bourbon and Scotch, plus staff-assisted cigar and drink pairings for guests 21 and older.
Stop 6
TC Cycle Pub
4.8(249)Traverse City
TC Cycle Pub earns consideration with a 4.8 Google rating from 249 reviews, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking.
Something sweet
night
Stop 7
Rocket Fizz - Soda Pop & Candy Shop
4.8(341)Traverse City
Rocket Fizz supplies the sweet stop with a large candy selection and bottled sodas in innovative flavors, with quick visits listed.
Stop 8
Water's Edge Sweet Tooth
4.8(92)Traverse City
Water's Edge Sweet Tooth provides a bakery takeout option on S Union St, with in-store shopping and a free parking lot.
