University of Michigan · Ann Arbor
Where to eat in Ann Arbor
25 places, verified against each business’s own website in September 2026, grouped by the part of town you will actually be standing in.
Business listings are free. Featured is a paid placement, always labelled, and it does not change the order of this page.
Main Street and downtown
Frita Batidos
Cuban-inspired street food in a bright, casual room downtown. A relaxed choice for a family meal when a formal sit-down dinner would feel like too much.
Aventura
Spanish tapas and shared plates on Washington Street. A lively option for families who want a nicer meal downtown without a formal dining room.
Pacific Rim
Contemporary pan-Asian cooking on West Liberty Street downtown. A calm room, and a good middle ground when the group cannot agree on one kind of food.
Cafe Verde
A small cafe inside the People’s Food Co-op, serving coffee alongside the co-op’s local and organic groceries. Useful for a quick stop rather than a sit-down meal.
First Bite
Breakfast and lunch with vegan, organic and gluten-free options clearly marked. A practical morning meeting point, or when the group has mixed dietary needs.
Amadeus
Central European cooking in a downtown room modelled on an old Viennese cafe. A change of pace from the usual campus options.
The Ravens Club
A Main Street supper club with classic cocktails, scratch cooking and live jazz. Better suited to parents and older students than to a group with younger siblings.
Slows Bar BQ
Barbecue and craft beer on Washington Street, the Ann Arbor outpost of the Detroit original. A solid group choice when everyone wants something substantial.
The Earle
French and Italian country cooking in a basement dining room off Main Street, with a long wine list. Suited to a milestone dinner rather than a casual weeknight.
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
A downtown brewpub on Washington Street with its own beer and a full food menu. Takes reservations, which helps on a home football weekend.
Spencer
A small wine shop and restaurant on Liberty Street, with a patio for snacks and wine. Better for two or three people than for a large family booking.
House of Chimney Cakes
Hungarian chimney cakes and ice cream made on site. A dessert stop rather than a meal, and an easy thing to do with a group after dinner.
Pretzel Bell
American comfort food and cocktails downtown, reviving a campus name that first opened in 1934. Leans into Michigan history, which visiting families tend to enjoy.
The State Street corridor
Sava’s
A State Street institution since 2007, popular with students, faculty and visiting families alike. Dependable for a real meal out within walking distance of campus.
Mani Osteria and Bar
Wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta downtown, open since 2011. Family-friendly by design, which makes it one of the easier bookings for a larger group.
Slurping Turtle
Japanese noodles, sushi and small plates such as bao and gyoza. Useful when half the group wants ramen and the other half wants sushi.
Comet Coffee
A coffee stop in Nickels Arcade, just off State Street. Best treated as a meeting point before or after something else rather than a destination in itself.
Taste of India Suvai
Indian cooking on the State Street corridor, with dine-in and online ordering. A straightforward choice close to campus when you want something other than bar food.
Hola Seoul
Korean street food in a casual setting near campus: bulgogi tacos, kimchi fries and Korean fried chicken. Quick, and built around dishes meant to be shared.
Jamaican Jerk Pit
Jamaican and Caribbean cooking on Thayer Street, a short walk from Central Campus. Worth knowing when the group wants something other than standard campus food.
Pita Kabob Grill
Halal Mediterranean food near campus: shawarma, kabobs and pita wraps, for dine-in or takeout. A quick, uncomplicated option between other plans.
TK WU
Chinese cooking on Liberty Street, for dine-in, takeout or delivery. A dependable downtown option when you want a proper meal without a long booking process.
New York Pizza Depot
New York style pizza by the slice on East William Street, minutes from Central Campus. The obvious answer when a full sit-down meal is not the plan.
Near Downtown, west along Jackson Avenue
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Full-service restaurant serving traditional regional American comfort food in a casual room. A good sit-down option for visiting families, a short drive west of downtown and campus.
Kerrytown and the Farmers Market
Miss Kim
Korean cooking in Kerrytown, part of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. A short walk from the Farmers Market, so it pairs well with a Saturday morning.
Own or manage a business here?
Claim or update this listing, free. Corrections are always free, and a listing never depends on payment.
Photo credits
UniversityParent is not affiliated with the University of Michigan and these photographs were not supplied by the university. Each is used under the licence shown.
- State Street commercial buildings, Ann Arbor. Photo by w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized by UniversityParent; this cropped version is offered under the same licence.
Business details are verified against each business’s own website. Discovery data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License. Lodging search is provided by Stay22.