What is vacation without a refreshing drink in your hand? Having a cocktail before you take a trip around Mackinac on the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours or sitting by the waterside as you take in the amazing views that the island has to offer, can make some of the best Mackinac memories.
Here are the five best places to grab a drink on Mackinac Island.
Millie’s on Main
To those familiar with Mackinac, you’ve probably stopped into Millie’s to try their fresh fried whitefish or pastie. But Millie’s is the perfect place to grab a beer or their refreshing Cucumber Gimlet. Stop by Millie’s on your way down to the Mackinac Carriage Tours or just while taking an afternoon stroll on Main. Millie’s pub style interior has the warm and welcoming feel that keeps vacationers coming back each year.
Pink Pony
There’s no better place to have a drink on Mackinac than down by the water, and the Pink Pony may have the best outdoor dining option on the island. Named by The Daily Meal as to having “one of America’s 10 best restaurants for outdoor dining,” the Pink Pony is your island oasis. With live entertainment and the breeze from the water all you need is the Pink Pony’s Rum Runner. But if rum’s not your style the Pony has a wide range of cocktails you can try, as well as over 20 beers on draft.
The Gate House
Just a short walk down from the Grand Hotel, the Gate House is one of Mackinac’s most beautiful drinking spots. With an outdoor patio that’s great for those chilly nights on the island, you can curl up with a loved one by the fireplace and have a night cap. Or you can enjoy the patio in the morning with the Gate House’s classic or pickled Bloody Mary.
A refreshing beer from The Gate House. Image courtesy of The Gate House.
The Carriage House (Hotel Iroquois)
Looking for that quiet evening out? The Carriage House at Hotel Iroquois is the perfect place for an evening of fine dining and a few glasses of wine by the water. The view alone is worth your time but with an extensive list of wines, the Carriage House is that romantic evening out on Mackinac. With their sunken bar and the incredible Victorian-style design and layout The Carriage House is part of what Conde Nast named Traveler’s “Best Small Hotel in the World.”
Horn’s Gaslight Bar & Restaurant
Live music, dancing, and margaritas, that’s what a night out at Horn’s Gaslight Bar is like. With live acts performing almost every night, Horn’s is the place to be if you’re feeling a night out on the town dancing and listening to music. This historic pub used to serve as a pool hall and snack shop during the prohibition era, soon after becoming the Gaslight Bar that tourists and islanders have come to know and love. Choose from their wide selection of beer and cocktails and dance the night away.