Weekend Getaway: Escaping to Door County, Wisconsin
From smoked whitefish to top-tier cocktails, Door County's dining scene features classic favorites along with new-school spots.
Welcome to the weekend! This month, our featured destination is Door County, Wisconsin. We will be spotlighting the bars and restaurants that make it such a delight to visit. Here’s what’s on tap for today’s newsletter:
Featured Destination: Fall is a great time to visit Door County, and we share an itinerary that will give you a taste of the top offerings.
Door County Field Guide: Download a complimentary copy of our Field Guide to Door County, a 20-page dining guide featuring all our restaurant and bar recommendations, formatted for your phone.
Weekend Reading List: Wisconsin picks from
DOOR COUNTY, WIS. — While Door County, a collection of small towns on a narrow peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, is a favorite Midwest summer destination, we treat it as an escape in all seasons. Fall is a beautiful time to visit; with vibrant foliage and smaller crowds, it’s easier to snag a table at places like Wickman House, and the weather is still nice enough to go for a hike. We also love it in winter. Though some restaurants and bars will have closed for the season, others stay open and you can have a very cozy weekend — not to mention take in the New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop in Sister Bay; we attended the first annual event!
But no matter when you go, you’ll eat well. There are some foods and drinks that are very classic Door County: The area is best known for cherries, from pies to ciders, and the region’s Swedish heritage is on the menu at staples like Al Johnson’s. Plus, you’ll see local whitefish served all kinds of ways, from smoked to fish boils to in taktouka (I wrote about this Trixie’s dish for Plate). Alongside these, Door County also offers cutting-edge coffee roasters, lovely wine bars, great cocktails, and food that celebrates the region while bringing in international influences.
So this month, we’ll be diving into all of it with picks for spots that we think are worth a visit. Paid subscribers will get access to our downloadable dining guide that packs in all our recommendations for where to go and what to order. Here are some of our Door County favorites to get you started.