Group Restaurants

Grand Rapids is home to more than 1,000 restaurants serving a diverse range of cuisines and price points. Our vibrant restaurant scene is largely responsible for our ranking as one of America’s Top 20 Foodie Cities. That same survey named Grand Rapids the most affordable foodie city in the U.S.!

Many of our restaurants are group-friendly, equipped and eager to accommodate groups of 45 or more. Top choices include:

• The Grand Rapids Downtown Market, housing 20+ restaurants and artisan food vendors under one roof, so everyone in your group can find something to satisfy their taste.
• Bistro Bella Vita, an airy downtown spot offering a wide range of farm-to-table homestyle Mediterranean dishes, has a private room accommodate up to 80 seated guests.
• The B.O.B., a Big Old Building in downtown Grand Rapids with a restaurant, craft brewery, live music venue, nightclub and stand-up comedy club. Multiple event spaces can hold 20-2,000 people.
• ​SILVA, a downtown “dinnertainment” venue with three private rooms accommodating 28-100 guests, which can be combined with indoor bocce ball courts to host up to 400 people.
• Blue Water Restaurant, offers “down-to-earth-dining” in a beautiful lakeside setting 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, has a dedicated private space (The Blu Bar) for groups up to 50.
• Pietro’s Italian Restaurant is located in the 28^th St. shopping, dining and entertainment corridor, with public or private dining for groups as large as 120.
• Founders Brewing Company, the largest brewery in Beer City USA, seats groups up to 65 in a second-floor space with a fully staffed bar and full food service.
• New Holland Brewing - The Knickerbocker is a downtown brewpub offering a number of rooms and spaces to accommodate parties of 20 or more people.

Other area restaurants offer private dining rooms and banquet spaces ideal for smaller groups.

Breweries with Great Food

Founders Brewing and The Knickerbocker lead a cavalcade of local craft breweries that serve meals every bit as delicious as their beers. Several of them offer Flights of Flavor food and/or drink pairings that can earn you points toward free merchandise when you use the Flights of Flavor app to check into them.

Founders and The Knickerbocker also offer behind-the-scenes brewery tours, which make for an ideal group activity before or after your meal. Check out our suggested beer itinerary for  more group-friendly ale adventures in Beer City USA (aka Grand Rapids).

Cooking Classes

A hands-on cooking class is another great way to dig deeper into the culinary scene of Grand Rapids during your group tour.

• The Local Epicurean offers a range of Italian-inspired cooking classes and three-course meal experiences seven days a week. This activity is best for small groups.
• Thought Design hosts both private cooking parties and public cooking classes that engage all five senses for a memorable occasion.
• Motherland Cooking Xperience creates unique cooking experiences that bring together authentic African food, live music, storytelling and wine. 
• Spruced Studio presents private classes in charcuterie design and cookie decorating.
• Sweet Details GR offers public and private classes in cookie, cupcake and cake decorating.