If you are staying near Baw Beese Lake, the best food strategy is to think in two delicious directions: eat lakeside when you want a view, then head toward downtown Hillsdale for the town’s biggest concentration of cafés, restaurants, sweets, and casual gathering spots. The lake area itself is peaceful and residential, but downtown is only a short drive away, and the Baw Beese Trail helps connect the recreational area with the center of town.
Here are the spots I would put at the top of a Baw Beese Lake food itinerary.
The 1910 at The Hills: Hillside Dining With a Lake View
For the most distinctive meal in the Baw Beese Lake area, start at The 1910 at The Hills, located at 1990 Ash-Te-Wette Beach Drive. This is the area’s signature lakeside restaurant, with indoor dining, seasonal outdoor seating, cocktails, and views across Baw Beese Lake. It is open to the public, so you do not need to be a golfer or club member to stop in.
The menu leans upscale-casual American, with burgers, wings, sandwiches, salads, bowls, seafood, steaks, shareable appetizers, and rotating dinner features. Expect roughly $12–$30 per person for an entrée, depending on whether you choose a sandwich or a more substantial dinner.
- Best for: sunset dinners, casual celebrations, cocktails, and visiting guests
- Cuisine: American comfort food, burgers, seafood, steaks
- Price range: $$–$$$
- What to order: beer-cheese nachos, a burger, wings, or one of the weekly dinner specials
- Local advantage: guests can arrive by boat, thanks to public dock space
The setting is the real star here. After a day of swimming, boating, fishing, or walking near the lake, The 1910 feels like the natural place to stretch out over dinner instead of rushing back into town.
The 1910 Pub: The Casual Post-Activity Favorite
The pub side of The 1910 is a little more relaxed and is especially appealing after golf, a day outdoors, or an afternoon when you simply want burgers and drinks without making dinner formal. The menu highlights casual American favorites, including burgers, wings, and comfort food, with beer, wine, and classic cocktails available at the bar.
Plan on about $10–$20 per person for a casual meal. It is a good choice for families, groups, and anyone who values a scenic table over a trendy dining room.
Downtown Hillsdale: The Main Food Cluster
For the widest variety, drive from the lake toward the downtown core, particularly the blocks around N. Howell Street, S. Howell Street, Union Street, Broad Street, and Hillsdale Street. Several of the city’s food destinations sit within a compact, walkable area, making it easy to turn lunch or dinner into a small downtown food tour. A city event map identifies many of these restaurants and cafés, including Jilly Beans, Rough Draft, The Local Eatery, The Hunt Club, Hillsdale Brewing Company, Coneys & Swirls, and Handmade Sandwiches.
Jilly Beans Coffee Shop
At 18 N. Howell Street, Jilly Beans is a cozy choice for coffee, baked goods, lunch, specialty drinks, and a relaxed café atmosphere. It is the kind of place that works equally well for a morning latte, an afternoon study session, or a light lunch. Older local coverage highlights its couches, community bulletin-board feel, and drinks such as mochas, Americanos, and the White Rabbit specialty beverage.
- Cuisine: café fare, coffee, baked goods, light lunch
- Price range: $–$$
- Best for: breakfast coffee, a quiet break, and a sweet snack
Rough Draft Coffee & Cocktails
At 42 Union Street, Rough Draft is one of downtown’s most versatile hidden gems. It serves espresso drinks, chai, matcha, tea, pastries, cookies, granola, overnight oats, open-face bagels, cheeseboards, wine, beer, and cocktails. Coffee prices generally run about $2–$5, while light food and desserts are usually $3–$14.
This is the place to visit when your group cannot agree on what it wants. One person can order a cappuccino, another can choose a homemade chai, and someone else can settle in with a cheeseboard or a cocktail.
Checker Records
At 28 S. Howell Street, Checker Records combines an independent music shop with a coffee bar, deli, baked goods, and espresso drinks. It is a particularly fun stop for visitors who enjoy browsing while they snack.
- Cuisine: coffeehouse fare, deli items, baked goods
- Price range: $–$$
- Why it stands out: music, coffee, and local personality under one roof
It is an ideal rainy-day destination near Baw Beese Lake: grab a flavored coffee, browse records, and make the afternoon feel like a proper small-town adventure.
Downtown Restaurants Worth the Short Drive
For a sit-down meal, keep an eye on Hillsdale Street, Howell Street, Broad Street, and Bacon Street.
The Local Eatery, at 38 N. Howell Street, is a strong choice for approachable contemporary comfort food and a more polished downtown meal. The Hunt Club, at 24 N. Howell Street, offers a pub-style atmosphere that works well for burgers, drinks, and a relaxed evening. Hillsdale Brewing Company, at 25 Hillsdale Street, is another natural stop for beer-focused dining and casual American fare. These businesses are all identified among Hillsdale’s downtown food destinations.
Expect roughly $12–$30 per person, depending on the restaurant, drinks, and entrée selection.
For something especially casual, look toward Coneys & Swirls at 44 E. Bacon Street, where classic coney-style food and ice cream make an easy family stop. Handmade Sandwiches, at 78 Hillsdale Street, is the practical pick for a quick lunch, packed sandwich, or inexpensive bite.
Bakeries, Donuts, and Sweet Stops
Hillsdale’s food culture is not just about dinner. For breakfast or a midmorning treat, look for Ethan’s Donuts, listed among the city’s restaurants, and bakery-style offerings at cafés such as Jilly Beans, Checker Records, and Rough Draft.
For a classic small-town dessert run, Coneys & Swirls is the standout. A coney, fries, and ice cream is a very Hillsdale combination: inexpensive, nostalgic, and easy to enjoy after time at Sandy Beach or a walk along the lake.
- Budget for sweets: about $3–$10
- Best time to go: afternoon, after dinner, or during warm-weather lake outings
Food Trucks and Seasonal Food Traditions
Food trucks are more likely to appear at downtown events, festivals, markets, and seasonal gatherings than as permanent daily fixtures around Baw Beese Lake. Hillsdale’s city event materials regularly frame downtown activities around food trucks, farmers markets, art, and local restaurants.
The best local tradition is the combination of Saturday farmers-market browsing, downtown coffee, and a casual lunch. The city’s seasonal farmers market is held on the historic Courthouse Square from mid-May through October, giving visitors a chance to find local produce, baked goods, and seasonal specialties before wandering toward Howell or Broad Street for a meal.
A Perfect Baw Beese Lake Food Day
Start with coffee and a pastry downtown at Jilly Beans, Rough Draft, or Checker Records. Spend late morning around the lake, the beach, or the Baw Beese Trail. Grab a sandwich or light lunch downtown, then return to the water in the afternoon. Finish with dinner and a cocktail at The 1910, where the lake-view setting turns an ordinary meal into the most memorable dining experience in the neighborhood.
That is the real appeal of eating around Baw Beese Lake: you get peaceful water, friendly downtown streets, inexpensive comfort food, independent coffee shops, and one excellent lakeside restaurant—all within an easy Hillsdale food crawl.