Guide to Ada, Michigan | Things to Do, Restaurants & Shopping

Restaurants

At Gravel Bottom Brewery, there’s a perfect pour waiting for everyone.

Photo by Bryan Esler for Experience GR.

Starbucks

The Ada Starbucks offers all the signature roasts and light bites you expect from the Seattle-based coffeehouse chain. Located in the Ada Fresh Market grocery store. 6am-7pm daily. 444 Ada Dr SE.

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery

Serving a wide range of beer styles, from crisp lagers and hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and seasonal brews, all brewed on-site to ensure the freshest flavors. Gravel Bottom also makes its own hard cider and seltzer, and it has a few wines on the beverage menu, as well. The casual pub food menu includes sharables, handhelds and flatbreads. 3-10pm Tue-Thur, 3-11pm Fri & Sat and noon-8pm Sun. 452 Ada Dr SE.

Fruition Acai & Juice Bar

Local health-conscious restaurant offers fresh food, fast – including acai and avocado bowls, fresh smoothies, toasts and bagels. 8am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat and 10am-4pm Sun. 460 Ada Dr SE.

MudPenny

This “honestly good” restaurant and coffee bar serves breakfast and lunch, including a generous selection of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and keto items. In addition to a wide variety of coffee drinks, MudPenny offers beers, cocktails, wines and non-alcoholic beverages. Open 7am-3pm Mon-Fri and 8am-3pm Sat & Sun. 496 Ada Dr SE.

Ada Garage Bar & Grill

Elevated bar food plus killer cocktails and a vast selection of beers and wine greet guests at the Ada Garage Bar & Grill. Daily drink specials, live music performances, ample outdoor seating and big-screen TVs tuned to the hottest sports events add to the fun. Sunday brunch is a favorite. 11am-11pm Mon-Thur, 11am-midnight Fri & Sat and 11am-10pm Sun. 518 Ada Dr SE.

Nonna’s Trattoria

A huge wraparound porch (with seating!) is the first thing you’ll notice about Nonna’s, but you’ll likely leave raving about the food. The owners’ love of European cuisine is evident throughout the extensive menu, from the French omelettes at breakfast to the Italian meatballs at dinner. There’s a wonderful Sat and Sun brunch, too, and an ample wine and cocktail list. 7am-9pm Mon-Fri, 7:30am-9pm Sat and 8am-2pm Sun. 584 Ada Dr SE.

Nonna’s Pantry

This more casual sister restaurant to Nonna’s Trattoria features fresh, made-from scratch sandwiches, soups, pastries, coffee and grab-and-go items. Many dishes are gluten-friendly, dairy-free and vegetarian. Nonna’s Pantry is open from 7am-6pm Mon-Fri and 7:30am-2pm Sat. 591 Ada Dr SE.

Scooper’s Ice Cream Shoppe

Scooper’s offers 50+ flavors made by local creamery Hudsonville Ice Cream along with shakes, slushies, malts, sundaes, sorbets and other ice cream specialties. Grab an outdoor seat or stroll around town with your goodies. 3-9pm daily in season. 591 Ada Dr SE.

Jam ‘n Bean

Stop in Jam ‘n Bean for craft coffee and tea, gourmet popcorn, Michigan-made maple syrup , ice cream and more. 10am-6pm Mon, 8am-6pm Tue-Thur, 8am-8pm Fri and 9am-8pm Sat. 590 Ada Dr SE.

Schnitz Ada Grill

Deli by day, grill by night. Schnitz is justly known for its specialty sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads, served from 11am-4pm Mon-Sat. But it also shines at night with a menu of comfort-food entrées and appetizers (and a representative sample of those incredible sandwiches). Dinner is serve from 4-9pm. Great drinks and happy hour specials plus a comfy patio. 597 Ada Dr SE.

Foxtail Coffee Co.

This cozy space is the first Michigan location of a Florida-based purveyor of responsibly sourced beans and artisanal coffee be beverages. The menu includes espresso beverages, cold brew, hot and iced teas, and light breakfast food. 6:30am-9pm Mon-Sun. 7399 River St SE.

The Post Tavern

Coming in 2024, The Post Tavern will serve locally crafted tavern fare and locally brewed craft beers inside the new Ada Hotel. 7415 River St SE.

The Rix

A second Ada Hotel restaurant is named after Rix Robinson, considered the founding father of Ada, and will include a third-floor terrace for outdoor seating. 7415 River St SE.

Myrth

James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Berglund sources local ingredients from West Michigan famers to craft wood-fired artisan pizzas, freshly made pasta, panini, desserts and more at Myrth. Enjoy your meal with a cocktail or two on the outdoor patio. 11am-9pm Mon-Fri and 4:30-9pm Sat & Sun. 7423 River St SE.

Donuts and coffee at Sprinkles in Grand Rapids

Photo by Brian Craig for Experience GR

Sprinkles Donut Shop

Sprinkles is a family-owned donut shop that makes its own donuts, icings and fillings every day. Choose from a wide variety of cake donuts, yeast donuts, cookies and other sweet treats. Enjoy your selections with coffee or milk in the shop – there’s plenty of seating – or take them to-go. 6am-3pm Tue-Sat and 7am-1pm Sun. 452 Ada Dr SE.

Zeytin

Zeytin has been serving authentic Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine in Ada since 2006. The restaurant caters to all customers, with a semi-fine dining room and casual spaces – including a sports bar – for lunch, after-work and family groups. (There are also some American-style food selections for domestic palates.) Take advantage of Tue-Fri happy hour specials and outdoor seating whenever weather allows. 11am-9pm Tue-Sun. 7437 River St SE.

Luna of Ada

Luna offers fresh Mexican fare made with as many local ingredients as possible. Enjoy authentic tacos (available with eight different proteins), quesadillas and tortas or opt for a salad and New York strip steak. The beverage menu emphasizes margaritas, tequilas, mezcals, beer and wine. 11:30am-9:30pm Mon-Sat and 3-8pm Sun. 7471 River St SE.

Vitale’s Pizza of Ada

A long-standing Italian restaurant, pizzeria and pub from a local family, Vitale’s offers an extensive lunch and dinner menu along with a wide array of adult beverages. 11am-10pm daily. 6650 Fulton St E.

Dirty Shame Bar & Grill

This “five-star dive bar” boasts a large food menu along with daily specials and affordable drinks. The Dirty Shame hosts music bingo on Tue evenings, karaoke on Weds and live music on Fri & Sat. 10am-midnight Mon & Tue, 10am-2am Wed-Fri, 11am-2am Sat and noon-8pm Sun. 8124 Fulton St E.

Kamchi Rice & Noodles

Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese dishes are offered at Kamchi, and you can build your own noodle bowls, too. Delicious boba drinks. 11am-2pm and 4-8pm Tue-Fri. 6747 Fulton St E.

Lalos Mexican Grill & Bar

Choose from lots of traditional Mexican dishes at Lalos, including vegetarian selections, and wash them down with Mexican soft drinks, margaritas and other specialty cocktails. Outdoor seating available. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Thur, 11am-10:30pm Fri, 11:30am-10:30pm Sat and 11:30am-9pm Sun. 6749 Fulton St E.

Brody’s Be Café

Both a coffee shop and a cause, Brody’s provides meaningful employment to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The menu includes coffee, of course, as well as smoothies, shakes, baked goods and more. 7:30am-3pm Mon-Fri and 9am-noon Sat. 7257 Thornapple Dr SE.

Papa K’s Pizza

Papa K’s is an unpretentious serving dine-in and takeaway pizzas, subs, pastas and more. 3-8pm daily. 497 Pettis Ave.

Downtown Social District

Visitors aged 21+ can purchase alcoholic beverages from participating establishments and consume the outdoors in the Social District Commons Area stretching from Ada Drive to Legacy Park. Hours of operation are noon-10pm Sat & Sun. See the Social District Map.

Hotels

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Ada Hotel

Coming in 2024, the three-story Ada Hotel is set offer 36 guest rooms, two restaurants, a lounge and a fitness center. The name is borrowed from a historic hotel that was located in the village in the early 1900s. 7415 River St SE.

Museum & Art

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Ada Covered Bridge

The Ada Covered Bridge is a 125-foot wood pedestrian bridge connecting Ada Village on one side of the Thornapple River with Leonard Park on the other side. Originally constructed in 1867, it was the main thoroughfare across the Thornapple River prior to 1930. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge now is a reconstruction of the original bridge that was destroyed by fire in 1979. Ada community leaders recently announced plans for expanded park space on both sides of the river with the bridge at the center: Ada Covered Bridge Park will include a splash pad, kayak launch, pickleball court, river outlooks, walking trails and more. Construction could begin in 2025. 7490 Thornapple River Dr SE.

Ada History Center

The Ada History Center includes the Averill Historical Museum, Ada Historical Society activities and offices, event spaces, a historic barn and a variety of gardens. The Museum is housed in an 1870s farmhouse that features permanent exhibits on Ada history and temporary exhibit space that changes annually. There’s also a gift shop. The Museum is open 1-4pm Fri & Sat from March-December, or by appointment. 7144 Headley St SE.

Shopping

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Stay on-trend with pieces from Gina's Boutique.

Photo by Addison Causley for Experience GR

Clothing

Croft Haus. Women’s clothing and accessories, home décor & gifts. 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat and 11am-3pm Sun. 452 Ada Dr SE #140.

Laurel & Jack. Apparel for women, men, tweens, teens, kids and babies, plus home décor and unique gifts. 11am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat and 10am-4pm Sun. 488 Ada Dr SE.

Gina’s Boutique. Women's apparel in contemporary styles, plus jewelry & other accessories. 1-am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat and 11am-4pm Sun. 496 Ada Dr SE #104.

Tip Toes. Clothing, accessories, toys and books for newborns to age 14. 10am-6pm Mon-Fri and 10am-5pm Sat. 496 Ada Dr SE.

The James Boutique. Women’s clothing and accessories. 9am-9pm Mon-Thur, 9am-6pm Fri, 9am-5pm Sat and 11am-4pm. 550 Settlers Dr #102.

Beyond by Bill & Paul’s. Outdoor-inspired, leisure-focused clothing and accessories for all ages. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat. 551 Settlers Dr # 100.

Runway Angels Consignment Boutique. Designer and luxury pre-owned fashion for women. 11am-6pm Tue-Fri and 11am-4pm Sat. 7199 Thornapple River Dr SE.

Village Kids Consignment Boutique. Specializing in boutique brands for children. 9am-6pm Tue-Fri and 10am-3pm Sat. 6739 Fulton St E.

Food

Ada Fresh Market. Grocery store offering a wide variety of produce, meat, seafood, deli items and artisan baked goods. 6am-9pm daily. 444 Ada Dr SE.

Ada Farmers Market. Shop for fresh farm goods every Tue from summer through fall. 9am-2pm. 7239 Thornapple River Dr SE.

Health & Beauty

Skin CoLAB. Luxury skin care treatments and medical aesthetics for both men and women. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri and 9am-noon Sat. 460 Ada Dr SE # 140.

Ada Village Pharmacy. Full-service pharmacy and wellness center. 9am-6pm Mon-Fri. 7505 River St SE # 108.

Cascade Optical. Boutique for high end, exclusive, unique and original eyewear since 1993. 550 Settlers Dr.

Siren & Proper. Lash lounge and brow bar. 9am-8pm Tue-Thur, 9am-6pm Fri and 9am-3pm Sat. 7270 Thornapple River Dr SE Suite A.

Sporting Goods

Grand Rapids Bicycle Co. Local bike retailer and service shop. 10am-6pm Tue-Fri and 10am-4pm Sat. 597 Ada Dr SE.

The Classic Equestrian. High-quality, high-fashion apparel, tack, gifts and more. 10am-7pm Tue & Thur, 10am-6pm Wed & Fri and 10am-4pm Sat. 396 Pettis Ave SE #110.

Home Décor & Gifts

Peacock Alley Needlepoint. America’s oldest needlepoint-only shop. 10am-4:30pm Mon-Fri and noon-3pm Sat. 452 Ada Dr SE #120.

Croft Haus. Women’s clothing and accessories, home décor & gifts. 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat and 11am-3pm Sun. 452 Ada Dr SE #140.

Pursuit Paper & Gift. Stationery and paper goods. 11am-6pm Mon-Fri and 10am-5pm Sat. 496 Ada Dr SE #106.

Lima-United by Love. Make your own candles, body scrubs and body butters. 10am-3pm Wed-Fri. 2899 Thornapple River Dr SE.

Heather Lane Pottery. Wide range of handmade and handpainted pottery goods. 11am-6pm Tue-Fri and 11am-6pm Fri. 7199 Thornapple River Dr S.

Shop for beautiful home decor and chic clothing at Croft Haus.

Photo by Addison Causley for Experience GR

Miscellaneous

The Artisan Fox. Floral boutique offering bouquets, arrangements and individual stems. 11am-4pm Tue, 10am-4pm Wed-Fri and 9am-1pm Sat. 452 Ada Dr SE #115.

Plumfield Books. Locally owned and operated general bookstore. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat and 11am-3pm Sun. 574 Ada Dr SE.

Godwin Ada Village Hardware. Full-service hardware, plumbing and outdoor power equipment store. 7:30am-6pm Tue-Fri and 8am-4pm Sat. 577 Ada Dr SE.

Mulick Floral Shop & Gifts. Flower arrangements, plants and gifts. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri and 10am-2pm Sat. 7175 Headley St SE.

Things to Do With Kids

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Ada Indoor Country Club

Indoor golf facility provides patrons with a private and comfortable place to hit the virtual links on Golf Digest’s top-ranked premium simulators. Ada Indoor Country Club offers both member and non-member rates. 396 Pettis Ave SE.

Amy Van Andel Library

With 27,000 square feet spread over two floors, the Amy Van Andel Library features an abundance of sunlit space and a large courtyard where people can relax, read, learn and meet up with others. This Kent District Library branch offers traditional hard-copy books and periodicals as well as access to digital materials and experiential learning opportunities for all ages. 725 Headley St SE.

Blok Orchard

With acres of apple trees, peach trees, cherry trees, blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes and vegetable gardens, Blok Orchard offers nothing but the freshest fruits and veggies at its farm market during and beyond growing season. Many crops are available for u-pick. 6365 4 Mile Rd.

Honey Creek Farm Market

Shop Honey Creek for a full complement of fresh-picked fruits and vegetables, delicious cider and donuts, and unique Michigan gift items. Open mid-summer through October. 3100 Honey Creek Ave NE.

Green Wagon Farm

This certified organic farm stocks its year-round farm store with a variety of fresh greens, herbs and fruiting vegetables as well as fresh flower bouquets and dried flower wreaths. Green Wagon offers farm tours on select summer dates and a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program offering weekly pickup of farm-grown items. 4960 Quiggle Ave SE.

Victoria’s Tree Farm

Cut your own Christmas trees at Victoria’s Tree Farm over three weekends starting the Fri after Thanksgiving. Choose from Blue Spruce, White Spruce and Canaan Fir varieties. Visit the gift store for unique holiday items. 9990 Vosburg Ln NE.

Events

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Grand Rapids Triathlon

Michigan’s largest triathlon and one of the country’s Top 5 Best Triathlons for Beginners, the Grand Rapids Triathlon takes place in Ada over two days every June. Saturday is newbie-friendly day with Super sprint and sprint distances. Sunday trends towards more experienced athletes with Olympic and half distances. Both days features triathlon, duathlon, aquabike, relay and swim-only events.

Beers at the Bridge

The Beers at the Bridge Summer Concert Series includes three live musical performances – on Fridays in June, July and August – plus food and drinks available for purchase. Also in Legacy Park, 7430 River St. SE.

Music on the Lawn

Music on the Lawn is annual summer concert series offering 10 weeks of live performances by regional bands. Hosted in Legacy Park, 7430 River St. SE.

Ada Business Association

Charged with promoting the Ada business community and enriching the quality of life for residents, the Ada Business Association hosts family-friendly events throughout the year, including the Pumpkin Prowl (October) and Tinsel, Treats & Trolleys (year-end holidays).

Discover Ada

Discover Ada was founded in 2020 with a goal of supporting and promoting Ada Village, its businesses and the people who call it home. It serves the community through such events as the Grand Rapids Triathlon, Women’s Night, Rides on River Street and the Fall Festival. Visit Discover Ada on Facebook for a full list of events.