Where to Eat on Mackinac Island: A 906 Club Dining Guide

The 906 Club includes six Mackinac Island restaurants offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, outdoor dining and convenient coffee stops. Members earn 10% back on eligible purchases at the 1852 Grill Room, Mary’s Bistro Draught House, Seabiscuit Café, Pancake House, Ice House BBQ and Starbucks on Mackinac Island.

Each restaurant offers a different way to experience the island. This guide will help you choose where to eat based on your plans, location and the kind of meal you are craving.

Mackinac Island Restaurants at a Glance

Location	Best known for	Meals and experiences
Pancake House	Classic breakfast in a nostalgic downtown diner	Breakfast and lunch
Seabiscuit Café	Equestrian atmosphere in the heart of Main Street	Breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks
Starbucks	Familiar coffee and convenient food on the go	Coffee, beverages and quick bites
Ice House BBQ	Smoked barbecue and stone-fired pizza in a hidden garden	Seasonal outdoor dining and takeout
Mary’s Bistro Draught House	Waterfront dining and Mackinac Island’s largest beer selection	Lunch, dinner, late-night drinks and live music
1852 Grill Room	Historic waterfront dining at Island House Hotel	Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, happy hour and dinner
Ryba’s Fudge Shops	Handcrafted Mackinac Island fudge and confections	Fudge, ice cream and sweet treats

Restaurant hours and operating dates change seasonally. Check each restaurant’s website before visiting for its current schedule and menu.

Where to Eat Breakfast on Mackinac Island

Pancake House

Pancake House has served breakfast in downtown Mackinac Island since 1963. Located at 7245 Main Street and attached to Ryba’s Fudge Shop, it is across from the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau Welcome Center.

The colorful diner is known for classic pancakes, waffles and familiar breakfast favorites. Breakfast is served throughout the restaurant’s operating hours, so guests do not have to be early risers to enjoy a stack of hotcakes.

Pancake House also serves lunch and offers takeout, making it a convenient option before a bike ride or afternoon of exploring downtown.

Best for:

• Classic pancakes and waffles
• Families with children
• Breakfast later in the day
• A quick meal near downtown attractions
• Dine-in or takeout

View the Pancake House menu

Seabiscuit Café

Seabiscuit Café serves breakfast in an equestrian-themed dining room at 7337 Main Street. The café is within easy walking distance of the ferry docks, downtown shops and many of Mackinac Island’s best-known attractions.

Its exposed brick, wood details and horse-racing décor give breakfast a setting that feels distinctly different from a traditional diner. After breakfast service, Seabiscuit continues serving lunch, dinner, drinks, and late-night food options.

Best for:

• A full-service breakfast on Main Street
• Groups with different breakfast preferences
• A historic and distinctive atmosphere
• Guests staying near downtown

Explore Seabiscuit Café

1852 Grill Room

Located inside Island House Hotel, the 1852 Grill Room serves breakfast in a historic dining room overlooking the Mackinac Island marina. Large windows offer harbor views while guests enjoy a relaxed start to the day.

The restaurant is open to the public, so you do not need to be staying at Island House Hotel to dine there. Reservations and current hours are available through the restaurant’s website.

Best for:

• A relaxed sit-down breakfast
• Harbor views
• Historic atmosphere
• A special start to an island day

View the 1852 Grill Room

Where to Get Coffee on Mackinac Island

Starbucks on Mackinac Island

Starbucks is located at 7308 Main Street in downtown Mackinac Island. It offers the familiar beverages and quick food options visitors know, all in a location convenient to the ferry docks and Main Street attractions.

Stop before an early island adventure, pick up a drink for a waterfront walk or grab something convenient on the way to the ferry.

906 Club members can earn and redeem rewards on eligible purchases at this locally operated Mackinac Island location.

Best for:

• Coffee on the go
• Familiar beverages
• Quick breakfast items and snacks
• A convenient downtown stop

Where to Eat Lunch on Mackinac Island

Ice House BBQ

Ice House BBQ is a seasonal outdoor restaurant tucked behind Island House Hotel at 6966 Main Street. Follow the path to the left of the hotel to find its garden setting near the Mackinac Island marina.

The menu centers on homestyle smoked barbecue and hand-tossed stone-fired pizza. Umbrella-shaded tables and a setting removed from the busiest part of Main Street make Ice House feel like a hidden retreat, even though it is only a short walk from downtown.

Ice House also offers takeout, allowing visitors to enjoy barbecue or pizza elsewhere on the island.

Best for:

• House-smoked barbecue
• Stone-fired pizza
• Outdoor dining
• Families looking for a relaxed meal
• Takeout near the marina

Ice House operates seasonally and may adjust service because of weather. Check current dates and hours before visiting.

Explore Ice House BBQ

Seabiscuit Café

Seabiscuit’s central location makes it an easy lunch stop during a day downtown. Guests can step away from Main Street’s activity without traveling far from the shops, ferry docks or waterfront.

The restaurant serves sandwiches, salads and Mackinac Island favorites in its horse-racing-inspired dining room. Online takeout is also available.

Best for:

• Lunch in the center of downtown
• A casual sit-down meal
• Takeout
• A distinctive Mackinac atmosphere

View the Seabiscuit Café menu

Mary’s Bistro Draught House

Mary’s Bistro Draught House serves lunch at 7463 Main Street. Its waterfront patio overlooks the Straits of Mackinac, giving guests a front-row view of the water and passing boats.

The menu includes casual favorites such as chicken tenders and stone-fired pizza. Mary’s is also known for its wide draft selection, making lunch an opportunity to try a Michigan beer or tasting flight.

Indoor reservations are accepted. Patio tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Best for:

• Waterfront lunch
• Outdoor patio seating
• Craft beer
• Casual food
• Groups with a variety of tastes

Explore Mary’s Bistro Draught House

Where to Eat Dinner on Mackinac Island

1852 Grill Room

The 1852 Grill Room offers a casually sophisticated dinner experience inside historic Island House Hotel. The dining room and terrace overlook the marina, creating one of Mackinac Island’s most distinctive waterfront dinner settings.

Executive Chef Phil Kromer leads the restaurant’s culinary program, with seasonal menus that highlight dishes suited to the time of year. The whitefish is a signature choice for guests looking to enjoy a Michigan favorite.

Dinner is accompanied by live piano music, adding to the restaurant’s classic Island House atmosphere. Reservations are recommended.

Best for:

• Date night
• Celebrations
• Fine dining without a formal dress code
• Michigan whitefish, steaks, and chops
• Waterfront views
• Live piano music

Make a reservation at the 1852 Grill Room

Mary’s Bistro Draught House

Mary’s serves dinner in a lively waterfront setting that works well for couples, families and groups of friends. Guests can pair casual favorites with a rotating selection of beer, wine and cocktails.

Mary’s also hosts live music on select evenings during the season. The bar remains open later than the restaurant’s dinner service, making it a popular place to continue the evening after a day of sightseeing.

Best for:

• Casual waterfront dinner
• Mackinac Island’s largest beer selection
• Stone-fired pizza and chicken tenders
• Live music
• Late-night drinks

See what is happening at Mary’s

Seabiscuit Café

Seabiscuit transitions easily into an evening restaurant and bar after serving breakfast and lunch. Its cozy dining room, historic brick and racing memorabilia create a casual setting for dinner downtown.

The restaurant also serves cocktails and offers takeout for guests who would rather enjoy dinner elsewhere.

Best for:

• Casual dinner on Main Street
• Cocktails
• A horse-racing-inspired atmosphere
• Takeout
• An easy downtown location

Explore Seabiscuit Café

Where to Get Fudge on Mackinac Island

Ryba’s Fudge Shops

No visit to Mackinac Island is complete without fudge, and Ryba’s has been part of that tradition for four generations.

Guests can watch fudge makers pour, work and shape fresh batches on marble slabs in the shop windows before choosing a favorite flavor to take home. Classic chocolate and peanut butter share the cases with nut-filled varieties and limited-time seasonal flavors.

Ryba’s signature pink boxes make it easy to enjoy a slice during your visit or bring a taste of Mackinac Island home. Additional sweets, including brittle, caramel corn and other handcrafted confections, are also available.

Multiple Ryba’s locations can be found along Main Street, making it easy to stop for fudge while shopping or exploring downtown.

Best for:

• Handcrafted Mackinac Island fudge
• Watching fudge being made
• Seasonal fudge flavors
• Edible souvenirs
• Gifts to bring home
• Ice cream and sweet treats

Where to Experience Afternoon Tea on Mackinac Island

Rose’s Afternoon Tea is served daily at 3 p.m. inside the 1852 Grill Room during its seasonal operating period. The experience is named for Rose Van Allen Webster, who became proprietor of Island House Hotel in 1892 and helped transform it into a center of Mackinac Island social life.

Guests select a tea and enjoy a tiered presentation of savory bites, house-made scones with clotted cream and lemon curd, and an assortment of sweets. Champagne, specialty cocktails and a Children’s Tea are also available.

Afternoon Tea is open to the public, and hotel accommodations are not required. Reservations are required in advance. Seating is limited.

Learn more about Rose’s Afternoon Tea

Which Mackinac Island Restaurant Should You Choose?

Best restaurant for a classic breakfast

Choose Pancake House for hotcakes, waffles and familiar breakfast favorites served in a nostalgic downtown diner.

Best restaurant for breakfast with a view

Choose the 1852 Grill Room for a relaxed breakfast overlooking the Mackinac Island marina.

Best restaurant for outdoor dining

Choose Ice House BBQ for smoked barbecue and stone-fired pizza in a secluded garden, or Mary’s for a patio directly beside the water.

Best restaurant for craft beer

Choose Mary’s Bistro Draught House for Mackinac Island’s largest selection of draft beer and cocktails.

Best restaurant for a special dinner

Choose the 1852 Grill Room for seasonal cuisine, harbor views and live piano music in a historic setting.

Best restaurant for a quick coffee

Choose Starbucks on Main Street for familiar drinks and convenient food on the go.

Best restaurant for eating downtown throughout the day

Choose Seabiscuit Café, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks in the heart of Main Street.

Earn Rewards While Dining on Mackinac Island

906 Club members earn 10% back on eligible dining purchases at all six participating restaurants.

Your account is connected to your phone number, so there is no card or app to carry. Provide your number at checkout to earn rewards, then use your available balance like cash at participating 906 Club businesses.

Rewards earned through eligible purchases do not expire. The complimentary $5 reward received when joining is valid for one year from its date of issuance.

JOIN 906 CLUB FOR FREE

Frequently Asked Questions About Dining on Mackinac Island

What restaurants participate in 906 Club?

Participating restaurants include the 1852 Grill Room, Mary’s Bistro Draught House, Seabiscuit Café, Pancake House, Ice House BBQ and Starbucks on Mackinac Island.

Where can I eat breakfast on Mackinac Island?

Pancake House, Seabiscuit Café and the 1852 Grill Room serve breakfast. Starbucks offers coffee and convenient food on the go.

Which Mackinac Island restaurants have waterfront views?

The 1852 Grill Room overlooks the Mackinac Island marina from inside Island House Hotel. Mary’s Bistro Draught House offers indoor dining and a waterfront patio beside the Straits of Mackinac.

Where can families eat on Mackinac Island?

Pancake House is a casual breakfast and lunch option, while Ice House BBQ offers a relaxed outdoor setting. Mary’s and Seabiscuit also serve approachable menu choices in casual environments.

Can visitors who are not staying at Island House Hotel eat at its restaurants?

Yes. The 1852 Grill Room and Ice House BBQ are open to the public. You do not need to be an Island House Hotel guest.

Which Mackinac Island restaurants offer takeout?

Pancake House, Seabiscuit Café, Mary’s Bistro, and Ice House BBQ offer takeout. Availability and ordering methods may change during the season, so check each restaurant’s website before ordering.

Where can I buy Mackinac Island fudge?

Ryba’s Fudge Shops have multiple locations along Main Street on Mackinac Island. Guests can watch fudge being handcrafted in the shop windows and purchase freshly made slices, gift boxes and other confections.

Do Mackinac Island restaurants accept reservations?

The 1852 Grill Room accepts reservations. Mary’s accepts reservations for indoor seating, while its waterfront patio is first-come, first-served. Reservation policies at other restaurants may vary.

How much do 906 Club members earn at restaurants?

906 Club members earn 10% back on eligible dining purchases at participating restaurants. Members can later redeem those rewards like cash at participating 906 Club businesses.

Explore Mackinac Island One Meal at a Time

A day on Mackinac Island can begin with pancakes downtown, pause for barbecue in a hidden garden and finish beside the water. Each 906 Club restaurant offers its own atmosphere and specialties, giving you a new dining experience to enjoy every time you visit.

Join 906 Club before your next trip and earn rewards while discovering your new favorite place to eat on Mackinac Island.