Just half a mile north of the city’s main convention campus sits another spot that is great for hosting meetings and events. It’s ideal for those who want to be close to downtown and have downtown amenities, but without as much hustle and bustle as the city center.
Often referred to as the North Monroe neighborhood, this end of downtown Grand Rapids has everything conference goers could need: food, lodging, outdoor recreation, entertainment, and transportation.
A hotel with meeting space
The Embassy Suites by Hilton adds 250 suites to the city’s hotel inventory and features flexible meeting spaces for up to 250 people.
Fun fact: Each of the five meeting rooms is named after historic furniture companies that used to thrive in the Furniture City.
Embassy Suites is an upscale Hilton brand: All rooms are suites, there is a complimentary made-to-order breakfast, and free cocktails and snacks every evening. The hotel has a fitness center, but you can also request a Five Feet to Fitness suite, which features a variety of workout equipment right in the room.
And while the seven-story hotel offers a lounge with outdoor seating, Big E’s Sport Grill, and a café, it’s also just a short walk away from a diverse collection of other restaurants, breweries, parks, and cafes, some of which offer meeting space or other attractions.
City Built Brewing Co. is only a three-minute walk North of the Embassy Suites hotel.
Photo by Jason Ley
Craft beer and more
City Built Brewing Company is a three-minute walk north of the hotel, offers a Puerto Rican-inspired menu, and has a private meeting room that accommodates 36 people seated or up to 50 people standing.
City Built is also the perfect spot for meetings and conference attendees to relax with a board game and a craft beer – or a hard seltzer, hard cider, kombucha or mocktail!
Linear Restaurant is one of several great dining spots at the north end of downtown Grand Rapids
Photo by Bob Neumann for Experience GR
Bar food, tapas, bakeries
Several restaurants are within walking distance of the area, featuring a variety of styles to meet the interests of any meeting or conference attendees.
The Garage Bar & Grill has a casual atmosphere focused on high-quality traditional bar food and drinks at a reasonable price with DJs and occasional live music on weekends. On select Wednesdays and Saturdays, Garage Bar & Grill hosts outdoor block parties.
Chicago Beef Joint provides an authentic taste of the Windy City with Italian beef, Italian sausages, Polish sausages and Chicago hot dogs, plus beer and cocktails. You can also enjoy live music five nights a week – six, if you count Karaoke Mondays.
Brickyard Tavern is an upscale American tavern in a historic building with an elevated patio overlooking the courtyard pool and fountain of Boardwalk Condominiums.
Linear Restaurant offers river views, outdoor seating, and a seasonal, sustainable menu in a comfortable modern atmosphere. It has space to accommodate large parties or events.
The SpeakEZ Lounge is a casual, prohibition-style pub with an eclectic menu and weekend brunch that also offers live local music every other Wednesday and on select Fridays. It’s also one of the best places to catch a soccer game, as it prioritizes that sport over others.
For those looking for an espresso drink or a sweet treat, the Field & Fire Café is just north of the hotel and is open for breakfast and lunch. Its menu focuses on organic, local ingredients. South of the hotel, Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea serves up specialty coffees, tea and light fare into the early evening.
Noodlepig, right next door to Sweetwaters, is a fast-casual restaurant specializing in authentic, made-from-scratch Japanese ramen bowls and boba tea.
Just across the Sixth Street Bridge, an 1886-era wrought-iron truss bridge over the Grand River, you’ll find 5 Knives Café, an artisanal breakfast and lunch spot with grab-and-go options and an outdoor deck.
Sixth Street Park boasts plenty of green space and opportunities for meeting attendees to stay active.
Photo by Experience GR
Green space, get moving
The North end of Grand Rapids is home to two parks bordering the Grand River: Sixth Street Park and Canal Street Park. Both offer easy access to green space for people or pets, playgrounds, or even fishing. A connected walking path along the river offers a bit of nature in an urban setting. Visitors will also find fitness stations at parks along the Grand River, as well as plenty of other fitness options like barre classes, yoga, Zumba and more. Higher Ground Rock Climbing Center offers indoor challenges, including team-building programs.
Just a few blocks east of the Grand River is Lookout Park, which provides a great view of the city.
Many destinations North of downtown are on the DASH North route.
Photo by Experience GR
Here to there
North Monroe is separated from the hustle and bustle of the city’s core, but for those wanting to head downtown, it’s only a 15-minute walk along the river, a five-minute bike ride (Lime bikes and scooters are available for rent in the Grand Rapids area), or a quick hop on the free shuttle service.
The Downtown Area Shuttle, or DASH, travels in both directions, taking you either away from or closer to most of the city’s attractions.
The service runs from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Monday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Find local goods and groceries at Bridge Street Market.
Photo by Experience GR
Necessities
Fido & Stitch is only one block away from Sixth Street Park, to meet the needs of any pet owners. The neighborhood does not have its own grocery store, but Bridge Street Market is a 20-minute walk away, or it can be accessed via the counterclockwise DASH service or a quick trip in a cab or rideshare service. The reasonably priced, upscale store will meet all your grocery needs, plus it offers an extensive beer and wine selection.
Bridge Street Market sits amidst the Bridge Street Entertainment District, which features 30+ restaurants and bars.
More food-and-drink establishments are located on West Leonard Street, another 20-minute walk or free DASH ride from North Monroe.
Learn more
Want to hear more about planning an event in the Grand Rapids north downtown area? Contact the Convention Services team at Experience Grand Rapids.
