Door County is one of our favorite places for a weekend getaway. Beautiful nature, artistic communities and so many good places to eat and grab a cup of coffee. Just a few hours north of Madison and we are transported to what can feel more like a coastal harbor community. With each little town comes a new marina to wander through and some of the most beautiful sail boats you’ll ever see. With all the small communities boasting places worthy of your time, it’s hard to sift through when you only have just a few days. Our hope is that whether it’s your first time or your hundredth you maybe give one of these spots a try.
1. Parador – Egg Harbor, Wi
Closed since publication. 🙁
“On a trip to Spain in 2010, Larry and Rebecca were inspired by the Spanish culture, particularly the tapas style of dining. They enjoyed that eating out isn’t just about the food; it’s friends clinking glasses, a couple on their honeymoon, sun-soaked patrons recapping their days’ adventures. This is the atmosphere Larry and Rebecca hope to build at Parador, and one of the reasons that they selected the vacation locale of Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.”
https://www.paradorwisconsin.com/
Quick Recommendations: Patatas Bravas, Charred, Cauliflower, Bacon Wrapped Dates. *Menu regularly changes so ask the staff for a recommendation*
This is one of our other must stops in Door County. Courtney and I are both fairly light when it comes to spending but when you enter a place like Parador, you have to try a bit of it all. The cool thing about foods of other cultures is the spices used, the styles of cooking all lead to different flavors and outcomes. Parador always delivers an experience for your taste buds. Mix those flavors with the atmosphere and you really do feel like you’re no longer in Door County. It just has that natural celebrate life and gratitude atmosphere that Spain exemplifies.
2. Bearded Heart Coffee – Baileys Harbor, Wi
I think we could start by just sending you to their website and you’d see why it’s on the list. They’re doing it and they’re doing it well. This is Courtney’s Door County must stop. She loves this place. It’s easy to see why. She can always give the low down on a coffee shop’s latte scene, meanwhile, I’ll keep it coming with what the situation is when it comes to a shop’s black coffee. Bearded Heart recently upgraded from a small shop in Baileys Harbor to a much larger space. Enjoy the tables on the lawn in the warmer seasons or stop in and find a spot in the cooler times.
Coffee pour and toast photos sourced from: http://www.beardedheartcoffee.com/
3. 5th and Jefferson – Sturgeon Bay, Wi
If you looked up “eclectic” in a dictionary, this place has got to be the definition. It’s funky but in only good ways. The food and coffee are both enough to bring you in but if you’re a fan of interesting places, you could spend a day in this place rather easily looking around at the things they’ve used to decorate it. Somehow, this mash-up of llamas and tiny hula girls and a bathroom that has a tub full of flamingos taking a bubble bath just works together to make morning coffee a little more fun. Top the good coffee and atmosphere with one of their delicious breakfast burritos and you’ve started a day in Door County well. Buzzfeed and USA Today have both called this spot the best coffee shop in Wisconsin.
Photos sourced from: https://www.5thandjefferson.com/
4. MacReady Artisan Bakery – Egg Harbor, Wi
If you know me, you know I know my way around a cookie, not the baking part, but certainly the consuming. The Artisan Bakery in Egg Harbor serves up what, if I’m remembering right, is called the “Happy Hippie Cookie.” I’m a happy hippie whenever I’m consuming one of these. On top of great cookies, they make delicious bread. We brought one home for Thanksgiving a few years ago. The owner told us how to keep it and warm it for the day and even after a few days of sitting, come Thanksgiving, there wasn’t a slice remaining at the end of the meal. It’s truly an art form to make good bread from scratch therefore, these folks are artists. Delicious sandwiches can be found for breakfast and lunch on their bread. The Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwich has no shortage of good reviews.
Photos sourced from: https://macreadys.com/#Welcome
5. DCBC Eats – Bailey’s Harbor, Wi
Roll with ease from beer to beer on their tap list of favorites all while enjoying great local music. But what if like a QVC commercial there was more? They decided to take this to the next level, and thus, they opened a barbecue place. “It can’t be done,” you say, “you can’t make great beer, have great live music, and do barbecue well.” Well, hold onto your pint, they’ve hit the triple crown here in Door County. No matter the season, inside or out, DCBC is a good place to be. Their barbecue boasts great sandwiches, mac & cheese I’d like to be buried with, and a Nacho box that feeds four. Door County Brewing Company just gets better every time I make it up here.
Pictures sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/DoorCountyBrewingCo/?ref=page_internal
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