Van and Leigh's Guidebook to Lansing
Food Scene
Lansing Brewing Company
518 E Shiawassee StGood beer, progressive menu.
The Peanut Shop was opened in 1937 as a Planters store and is still roasting nuts in house today. The shop also has unique candies and chocolates to purchase! A must place to visit when in town!
6 locals recommend
The Peanut Shop
117 S Washington SquareThe Peanut Shop was opened in 1937 as a Planters store and is still roasting nuts in house today. The shop also has unique candies and chocolates to purchase! A must place to visit when in town!
Lansing's First Distillery! A small-batch, handcrafted distillery. They offer whiskey, barrel-aged whiskeys, white whiskeys and vodka.
13 locals recommend
American Fifth Spirits
112 N Larch StLansing's First Distillery! A small-batch, handcrafted distillery. They offer whiskey, barrel-aged whiskeys, white whiskeys and vodka.
Meat BBQ
1224 Turner RdSouthern BBQ. All about the meat with traditional side dishes.
Known for creative wood-fired pizza creations. They also offer appetizers (we recommend the duck fries), salads and dessert donuts. Everything is all house-made.
17 locals recommend
The Cosmos
1200 N Larch StKnown for creative wood-fired pizza creations. They also offer appetizers (we recommend the duck fries), salads and dessert donuts. Everything is all house-made.
One of the hosts' favorites! Soups, sandwiches and salads. The Soup Spoon Cafe also offers a variety of wonderful breakfast dishes.
42 locals recommend
Soup Spoon Café
1419 E Michigan AveOne of the hosts' favorites! Soups, sandwiches and salads. The Soup Spoon Cafe also offers a variety of wonderful breakfast dishes.
Capital City BBQ
1026 W Saginaw StA local favorite. Call in your order ahead of time to shorten your wait time.
Authentic Mexican cuisine prepared from scratch. Nine varieties of meats for filling.
20 locals recommend
Pablo's Old Town Mexican Restaurant
311 E Grand River RdAuthentic Mexican cuisine prepared from scratch. Nine varieties of meats for filling.
Visit Fabiano's to satisfy your sweet tooth! After 95 years, they are still coming up with new and satisfying products!
Fabiano's Homemade Candies
1427 E Michigan AveVisit Fabiano's to satisfy your sweet tooth! After 95 years, they are still coming up with new and satisfying products!
Unique combinations of flavors! Pick your favorite and take home a bag.
7 locals recommend
Cravings Gourmet Popcorn
1221 Turner RdUnique combinations of flavors! Pick your favorite and take home a bag.
Deep-fried food at its best! A Host favorite. We have tried almost everything here and love it all! A must visit if you are looking for fish and chips, fried mushrooms, french fries, and much more!
Olympic Broil
1320 N Grand River AveDeep-fried food at its best! A Host favorite. We have tried almost everything here and love it all! A must visit if you are looking for fish and chips, fried mushrooms, french fries, and much more!
Authentic Mexican cuisine. Try the topopo salad. It is a restaurant specialty and in your hosts' opinion, the best thing on the menu!
7 locals recommend
El Azteco
1016 W Saginaw StAuthentic Mexican cuisine. Try the topopo salad. It is a restaurant specialty and in your hosts' opinion, the best thing on the menu!
There are a few vendors in this venue as well as a full service bar. The Shuffle is situated on the Grand River and is walkable from our Shiawassee location.
Browndog® At The Shuffle
There are a few vendors in this venue as well as a full service bar. The Shuffle is situated on the Grand River and is walkable from our Shiawassee location.
The Old Bag of Nails in Lansing is a well-rated fish and chips restaurant, known for its popular Gaylord Stack Burger, Fish & Chips, and Chicken Tender Basket.
The Old Bag of Nails Pub - Lansing
The Old Bag of Nails in Lansing is a well-rated fish and chips restaurant, known for its popular Gaylord Stack Burger, Fish & Chips, and Chicken Tender Basket.
Batter Up Bistro combines old-world methods with seasonal flavors, high-quality food, energetic staff, and great customer. Locally sourced flour and other grains from a small local mill just south of Lansing. Bread and pastries are made daily in small batches by hand with no preservatives. Stop in for a quick bite to eat or a slower, more homey dine-in experience. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they offer a full bar.
Batter Up Bistro
Batter Up Bistro combines old-world methods with seasonal flavors, high-quality food, energetic staff, and great customer. Locally sourced flour and other grains from a small local mill just south of Lansing. Bread and pastries are made daily in small batches by hand with no preservatives. Stop in for a quick bite to eat or a slower, more homey dine-in experience. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they offer a full bar.
Creative comfort foods & craft cocktails served amid colorful industrial decor. They also offer a creative weekend brunch.
15 locals recommend
The People's Kitchen
2722 E Michigan AveCreative comfort foods & craft cocktails served amid colorful industrial decor. They also offer a creative weekend brunch.
Charming, rustic spot for New Orleans–inspired drinks & French-Creole fare like gumbo & pork confit.
15 locals recommend
The Creole Burger Bar & Southern Kitchen
1218 Turner RdCharming, rustic spot for New Orleans–inspired drinks & French-Creole fare like gumbo & pork confit.
Coffee
Blue Owl Coffee
1149 S Washington AveBlue Owl has some of the best coffee in the area!
Blue Owl Coffee Old Town
1236 Turner RoadOne of the best cups of coffee around!
Another great coffee shop! They also offer delicious pastries and donuts!
22 locals recommend
Strange Matter Coffee
2010 E Michigan AveAnother great coffee shop! They also offer delicious pastries and donuts!
Another great cup of coffee! Enjoy a pastry or donut with your coffee.
22 locals recommend
Strange Matter Coffee
2010 E Michigan AveAnother great cup of coffee! Enjoy a pastry or donut with your coffee.
Host Favorites
One of the best breakfast places in town! Highly recommended by the hosts!
19 locals recommend
Good Truckin' Diner
1107 S Washington AveOne of the best breakfast places in town! Highly recommended by the hosts!
A must visit historic shop! Fresh roasted nuts, candies and chocolates are all available. A host favorite.
6 locals recommend
The Peanut Shop
117 S Washington SquareA must visit historic shop! Fresh roasted nuts, candies and chocolates are all available. A host favorite.
Take a hike along the 5 miles of natural trails. Woldumar Nature Center hosts events throughout the year. Check the calendar to see if there are any special events during your time in town!
Woldumar Nature Center
5739 Old Lansing RdTake a hike along the 5 miles of natural trails. Woldumar Nature Center hosts events throughout the year. Check the calendar to see if there are any special events during your time in town!
Things to Do
Great interactive museum! A must visit when visiting the area. The museum offers new and exciting exhibits to experience encouraging visitors to play, create and challenge their understanding of science.
33 locals recommend
Impression 5 Science Center
200 Museum DrGreat interactive museum! A must visit when visiting the area. The museum offers new and exciting exhibits to experience encouraging visitors to play, create and challenge their understanding of science.
Home of the Lansing Lugnuts, Lansing's minor baseball team. Check the schedule to see what is happening at the stadium. Not only baseball is hosted, but also concerts and other events from time to time.
8 locals recommend
Cooley Law School Stadium
505 E Michigan AveHome of the Lansing Lugnuts, Lansing's minor baseball team. Check the schedule to see what is happening at the stadium. Not only baseball is hosted, but also concerts and other events from time to time.
Rhinos, tigers, lions, penguins, snow leopards, and many other species can be seen at the zoo! Take a picnic and enjoy the playground or take a walk along the river trail.
37 locals recommend
Potter Park Zoo
1301 S Pennsylvania AveRhinos, tigers, lions, penguins, snow leopards, and many other species can be seen at the zoo! Take a picnic and enjoy the playground or take a walk along the river trail.
Bike or walk the Lansing River Trail. Along the bank of the Grand River, the path is paved and spans several miles from one end of town to the other.
9 locals recommend
Lansing River Trail
Lansing River TrailBike or walk the Lansing River Trail. Along the bank of the Grand River, the path is paved and spans several miles from one end of town to the other.
Fenner Nature Center offers opportunities to learn about nature year round. From the Maple Syrup Festival to the Earth Day Celebration. Check the calendar for what is happening while you are in town!
8 locals recommend
Fenner Nature Center
2020 E Mt Hope AveFenner Nature Center offers opportunities to learn about nature year round. From the Maple Syrup Festival to the Earth Day Celebration. Check the calendar for what is happening while you are in town!
Check out the R E Olds Transportation Museum. 25,000 square-foot museum features vehicles from the 1886 Olds Steam Carriage to some of the last Oldsmobiles made. The museum rotates the automobiles on display. Call ahead for the current hours open to the public.
15 locals recommend
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
240 Museum DrCheck out the R E Olds Transportation Museum. 25,000 square-foot museum features vehicles from the 1886 Olds Steam Carriage to some of the last Oldsmobiles made. The museum rotates the automobiles on display. Call ahead for the current hours open to the public.
Call to schedule an hour-long guided tour or you can request a booklet and take a self-guided tour. We recommend a guided tour to get the most of your visit.
26 locals recommend
Michigan State Capitol
100 N Capitol AveCall to schedule an hour-long guided tour or you can request a booklet and take a self-guided tour. We recommend a guided tour to get the most of your visit.
Take a walk through campus and locate the faculty, alumni and student designed, fabricated or engineered sculptures. See how many of the 600 pieces of public art you can located while you stroll the sidewalks of campus.
Lansing Community College - Arts & Sciences (A&S)
419 N Washington SquareTake a walk through campus and locate the faculty, alumni and student designed, fabricated or engineered sculptures. See how many of the 600 pieces of public art you can located while you stroll the sidewalks of campus.
Learn about women in Michigan's history in the first US museum to focus on women's accomplishments! Admission is free.
Michigan Women Forward HERStory
105 W Allegan StLearn about women in Michigan's history in the first US museum to focus on women's accomplishments! Admission is free.
Michigan Hall of Justice
925 W Ottawa StOne-hour guided tours are free. Call ahead to schedule your tour.
Reveals Michigan's history from prehistoric times through the late 20th Century. Discover Michigan's copper history or go through the one-room schoolhouse.
14 locals recommend
Michigan History Center
702 W Kalamazoo StReveals Michigan's history from prehistoric times through the late 20th Century. Discover Michigan's copper history or go through the one-room schoolhouse.
A small quaint theater with local and traveling artist events.
Check out their calendar for up-coming events.
The Robin Theatre
1105 S Washington AveA small quaint theater with local and traveling artist events.
Check out their calendar for up-coming events.
Looking for a unique experience? This is it. Have coffee while hanging out with cats and kittens. They also host events. Check out their calendar for up-coming activities. If you are looking to adopt a cat, this is a great resource!
Constellation Cat Cafe
Looking for a unique experience? This is it. Have coffee while hanging out with cats and kittens. They also host events. Check out their calendar for up-coming activities. If you are looking to adopt a cat, this is a great resource!
Shopping
Grocery store with locally made products as well as some of your commercial favorites. The Market has an in-house deli and coffee shop to make your shopping trip a complete outing with coffee and a pastry or lunch!
6 locals recommend
Capital City Market
600 E Michigan AveGrocery store with locally made products as well as some of your commercial favorites. The Market has an in-house deli and coffee shop to make your shopping trip a complete outing with coffee and a pastry or lunch!
Absolute Gallery and Custom Framing
536 E César E. Chávez AveLocally owned shop!
Grace Boutique of Old Town
509 E Grand River RdUnique Finds.
Unique finds - clothing, jewelery and crafts! Be sure to say hello to the "doggie in the window"!
Polka Dots Boutique
1207 Turner RdUnique finds - clothing, jewelery and crafts! Be sure to say hello to the "doggie in the window"!
It is fun to browse around this store. As titled, you will find
"Sweary Goods" here. Hide the eyes of young babes if you wish!
Bad Annie's Sweary Goods
1209 Turner RdIt is fun to browse around this store. As titled, you will find
"Sweary Goods" here. Hide the eyes of young babes if you wish!
Mother & Earth Baby Boutique
100 E César E. Chávez AveUnqiue gifts for babies and children.
Established in 1865, Kositchek's still offers personal service to its customers with integrity and quality in mind.
Kositchek's Menswear
113 N Washington SquareEstablished in 1865, Kositchek's still offers personal service to its customers with integrity and quality in mind.
Purchase a Michigan product at this quaint General Store. One of your hosts' favorite shops to find unique gifts and snacks.
Old Town General Store
408 E César E. Chávez AvePurchase a Michigan product at this quaint General Store. One of your hosts' favorite shops to find unique gifts and snacks.
Feels like a museum! You will find everything from pet supplies to exotic pets when you visit this shop. This is a family-owned pet store. You will find knowledgeable staff to assist you in finding the right products or helping to pick out the perfect pet for you and/or your family. If you are not in the market for a pet or supplies, it is still a fun place to visit.
Preuss Pets
1127 N Cedar StFeels like a museum! You will find everything from pet supplies to exotic pets when you visit this shop. This is a family-owned pet store. You will find knowledgeable staff to assist you in finding the right products or helping to pick out the perfect pet for you and/or your family. If you are not in the market for a pet or supplies, it is still a fun place to visit.
Metro Melik 517
Local art with a creative and friendly owner.
Sightseeing
Beautiful place to hike. You may catch a glimpse of rock climbers as this is a popular place for local climbers to practice their sport.
The Ledges Trail - East Trailhead
Beautiful place to hike. You may catch a glimpse of rock climbers as this is a popular place for local climbers to practice their sport.