Door County Food & Drink Guide: Top Stops for Tastings and Pubs

Dubbed the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” Door County, Wisconsin, is an ideal getaway any time of year. Winter brings ice fishing and cross-country skiing, spring welcomes hiking, summer invites swimming and camping, and fall offers spectacular foliage. The peninsula also boasts a lively, hyperlocal food and drink scene shaped by its farming, lakes and maritime traditions. Below are six standout spots to visit while exploring the outdoors.

Renard’s Cheese

This family-owned creamery, founded in 1961 and now run by a third generation of cheesemakers, credits the region’s nutrient-rich soils for lush pastures and high-quality milk. The shop offers a wide range of cheeses from classic cheddar and muenster to smoked string and inventive mash-ups like Colby Jack blended with bleu. Cheese curds are a must-try—available in yellow and white as well as flavored varieties such as Cajun, garlic, dill and ranch. Their characteristic squeak comes from the proteins and calcium structure, making them a quintessential local snack. The store also carries oils, jams, spreads and other local pantry items, so you can stock up for picnics or take home tastes of Door County.

Door County Coffee & Tea

Door County Coffee & Tea focuses on quality, selecting beans from the top 2 percent of global harvests to ensure exceptional flavor. Their approach to flavored coffees uses a maceration process that rolls flavors onto the beans rather than spraying them, producing a deeper, truer taste—especially notable in blends made with locally grown tart cherries. The café serves a full range of drinks plus breakfast and lunch dishes; a hearty example is the Kitchen Sink bake, served with waffles, bacon, egg and cheese—perfect fuel for a day of sightseeing.

Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club

One of Door County’s charming supper clubs, Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club is a fourth-generation establishment known for classic regional comfort food. Menu highlights include batter-fried lake perch, prime rib and bone-in pork chops. The restaurant also serves local takes on the Cherry Brandy Old Fashioned, a sweeter cocktail that’s popular throughout the county. After dinner, guests can enjoy the retro six-lane bowling alley, originally a dance floor in the 1960s—a fun, nostalgic addition to the dining experience.

The White Gull Inn

The White Gull Inn is famed for its weekly outdoor fish boils, a centuries-old tradition introduced by Scandinavian settlers. Fresh whitefish from Lake Michigan is cooked over an open fire in a large pot with salt and small red potatoes. When the fish oils rise, the Master Boiler briefly ignites the flames with a splash of kerosene to force the oils out of the cauldron, completing the cook. Guests then dine in the restaurant on the fish and potatoes served with lemon, melted butter, coleslaw, homemade bread and cherry pie—an entertaining meal that pairs culinary history with comforting flavors.

Hatch Distilling Co.

Hatch Distilling grew from founder Chris Roedl’s interest in beekeeping and local ingredients into a craft distillery that highlights Wisconsin honey and heirloom grains. Their American single malt whiskey, Doc Wahl, is made from three varieties of malted barley and aged in new American white oak barrels for at least two years. The distillery’s gin features botanicals like white spruce tips alongside juniper, while the Fellowship Bourbon uses high-rye spice and heirloom grains. Tastings include flights of spirits plus meads and ciders, offering a clear sense of local terroir in distilled form.

Coyote Roadhouse

Located on the north end of Kangaroo Lake, Coyote Roadhouse is a relaxed, popular lunch and casual-dining spot. Appetizers like a loaf of French fried onion rings and fried cheese curds—the local answer to mozzarella sticks—are commonly shared at every table. The menu also includes burgers, steaks and quesadillas, and their Friday all-you-can-eat fish fry features deep-fried grouper with classic sides. With a broad beer selection of bottled and draft options, it’s an easygoing place to refuel after lake activities or a hike.