ArtRat’s ArtPrize restaurant guide
ArtRat understands starving artists, and we know that making the rounds of ArtPrize 2022 can be hungry work.
Fortunately, our Heartside neighborhood offers a bounty of amazing restaurants within a 5-minute walk of our gallery (46 Division Ave. South).
Come for the art, and then stay for dinner! (After all, food is art, too.)
Below are some of our favorite neighborhood eateries! Did we miss one of your top picks? Write us at matthew@artrat.us so we can experience it, too.
Plus: Click here for ArtRat's interactive restaurant map!
ArtRat's picks:
Brick And Porter (47 Monroe Center St. NW) 11-10pm all week, 11-12pm weekends. Stop by this casual and energetic hub with tons of outdoor seating for craft beer and juicy burgers, and friendly staff!
GRNoir (35 Division Ave. S) 3-10pm, Wednesday - Saturday. Get fresh and fancy for a luxe experience at Grand Rapids’ only jazz bar. Enjoy their extensive wine list and delicious small plates while treating your ears to live jazz from 7:30 - 9:30pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Luna (64 Ionia Ave. SW) 4-9pm weekdays, open at 11am weekends. Luna calls itself “the love child of Latin American and West Michigan cultures.” Satisfy your taste for tacos in a casually stylish setting. You could even enjoy a margarita flight with your ArtPrize crew.
Max’s South Seas Hideaway (58 Ionia Ave. SW) 4-10pm weekdays, 2-10pm weekends. This tiki wonderland is truly one of Grand Rapids’ hidden gems. Enjoy their Polynesian inspired dishes and take a vacation to their extensive rum bar featuring so many delicious cocktails! Reservations are recommended.
MeXo (118 Fulton St. E) 11-9pm Wednesday - Saturday, 10-3pm Sunday. … ¡Tequila! (And mezcal, too.) Want a taste of Mexico before Spain invaded? A modern take on pre-Columbian Oaxacan cuisine native to Mexico, including mole! There’s plenty of art and industrial vibes to be savored in this intimate eatery.
Monsoon (55 Monroe Center St. NW) 11-10pm Monday - Saturday, 11-5pm Sunday. An innovative twist on traditional Vietnamese cuisine! Go and visit one of GR’s newest restaurants, and introduce your tastebuds to flavors from the other side of the globe at this stylish spot.
Rockwell Republic (45 Division Ave. S) 11-11pm Monday - Saturday, 10-3pm Sunday. A hip, high-ceilinged eatery offering a collection of American and Asian-inspired fare made with locally sourced ingredients, and plenty of tasty cocktails!
San Chez (38 Fulton St. W) 9-9pm weekdays, 9-10pm Friday & Saturday, 9-2pm Sunday. This lively and inviting restaurant will treat you to a tapas-style feast of Spanish and Mediterranean flavors. Or stop in before 2pm for a great brunch menu!
Social Misfits (43 Fulton St. W) 8-10pm weekdays, 8-11pm Friday & Saturday, 9-4pm Sunday. Get down with your weirdest self at this creatively cozy establishment featuring sweet or savory waffles and boozy milkshakes! You can even get your evening coffee in to help you take on the rest of your ArtPrize adventure.
Stella’s Lounge (53 Commerce Ave. SW) 4-12am Sunday - Thursday, 12pm-1am Friday/Saturday. A mainstay of Grand Rapids rock ‘n’ roll since the 20th century. Dive into this pub-grub headquarters with great vegetarian options and full bar, then try your hand at some classic ‘80s arcade games.
Bon appétit!
— ArtRat