New Buffalo, Michigan Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat & Drink

New Buffalo, Michigan is one of the most popular weekend getaways from Chicago, and for good reason. There are great restaurants, good beaches, and wineries close enough to make a real weekend out of it. It’s about 90 minutes from downtown Chicago and sits right at the Michigan–Indiana border, just off I-94. We recommend just taking I-94 instead of the Chicago Skyway, the Skyway toll costs $8.10 to save maybe 8 minutes, and once you factor in the tollbooth wait, you probably won’t save any time at all.

We lived in Chicago for over 10 years before leaving on our world trip, so we’d already explored New Buffalo plenty and got to revisit it recently as part of our loop around Lake Michigan. If you want to see the whole trip, check out our Lake Michigan Road Trip Itinerary! It was just as magical this time as it was the first time we went.

Where to Stay

We stayed in nearby Union Pier rather than New Buffalo itself, and we’d recommend doing the same or staying in another small beach town nearby to save money over staying in New Buffalo itself. Thanks to its proximity to Chicago and its popularity, room prices in New Buffalo proper get expensive fast in summer. The Marina Grand Resort, right in the heart of downtown, can run as high as $600/night on summer weekends, and even the Holiday Inn just outside of town runs close to $300/night. 

We stayed at the Gordon Beach Inn in Union Pier instead, a quaint little inn just a 6-minute drive from downtown New Buffalo, for $125/night. There are also many AirBnBs in the small beach towns that are an option if you book further out in advance (think a few months) or prices are cheaper in shoulder season. Booking in spring or fall is a great way to still see the area, have a chance of good weather, and not have the insane prices that summer brings.

Whichever way you book, a summer weekend in New Buffalo is exactly the kind of trip where a points-earning credit card can help pay for itself. If you’re not already using one strategically, our credit card 101 guide walks through how to pick one and start earning toward trips like this.

Where to Drink In Town: Beer Church

For drinks directly in New Buffalo, Beer Church is a must. It’s a Civil War–era church converted into a brewery and pizza place, and it’s every bit as funky as that sounds. The beers have church-themed names (Pontius Pilate IPA and Judas Dark Cherry Sour being some of the best named), and some of the original church décor is still inside. The beer itself isn’t the best we’ve had, but it’s absolutely worth a stop for the atmosphere and theme alone.

Where to Drink Nearby: Wineries

The wineries aren’t in New Buffalo itself, most are a 25–30 minute drive toward Baroda, Michigan. If you like wine, they are absolutely worth the detour. Some of our favorites are:

• Dablon Vineyards: Great views overlooking the vineyards from the tasting room, a cozy fireplace atmosphere, and they grow their own Tempranillo (!) alongside other strong European varietals.
• Round Barn: Decent wines at decent prices, with a lively party atmosphere, this place is great for large groups or bachelor/bachelorette parties. Also has a distillery on-site so that some folks can drink whiskey while others drink wine.
• Tabor Hill: Good wines and a large, cozy tasting room. Their sparkling wine holds its own against Champagne from France and it’s a short drive from Round Barn.

New Buffalo, Michigan Food

Back in New Buffalo, we grabbed breakfast at Issa Vibe Café and loved it. We had a delicious breakfast sandwich and great coffee, plus a nice sunroom that’s perfect for getting some work done or taking an informal business meeting.

Stray Dog Bar & Grille is a downtown staple. It has a great rooftop, a lively atmosphere, and food that’s solid too. Drink prices are reasonable, around $7 for a beer and $10–12 for most cocktails. The rooftop is the star of the show and can get crowded in summer, but it’s worth the wait.

Brewster’s is a nicer Italian spot that is also downtown. It’s good for a date night or a fancier meal if you want a break from the bar food elsewhere.

Beaches

The beach situation in New Buffalo is a little trickier than your average lake town. Most of the beaches are tied to specific neighborhoods, so the rules vary depending on where you’re staying. We stayed in nearby Union Pier, and our hotel gave us access to Gordon Beach, where we were able to have a bonfire but the public beaches in New Buffalo itself do not allow fires. If a beach bonfire is on your list, confirm with your hotel or AirBnB ahead of time whether it’s allowed.

We’ve had fires on a few different beaches in the area, and it’s one of our favorite things to do here! Definitely recommend building it into your trip if you can.

Planning Other Midwest US Adventures?

Check out our loop around Lake Michigan road trip or if you’re looking for more information about Chicago, check out our Chicago travel guide.

If you have questions about planning your New Buffalo Michigan trip, reach out to us on Instagram @checkedouttocheckin, we’re happy to help!

P.S. – This post contains affiliate links for the gear and lodges we love. If you make a purchase or book directly through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the blog running!