Planning a trip to Holland, Michigan, and need gluten-free dining options? This charming beach town on Lake Michigan offers a variety of safe and delicious places to eat. Enjoy the scenic views, sandy beaches, and great shopping while savoring the best gluten-free meals Holland has to offer.
Jump to:
- My Experience
- Dedicated Gluten-Free Dining in Holland, MI
- Gluten-Free Breakfast Options
- Gluten-Free Lunch and Dinner Options
- Gluten-Free Dessert Options
- Gluten-Free Dining in the Surrounding Area
- Chain Restaurants in the Area
- Holland, Michigan Traveler's Tips
- Gluten-Free Recipes You'll Love!
- Comments and Ratings
My Experience
We recently took a trip to Holland, Michigan, and found it to be a fantastic destination for anyone with celiac disease. There were ample dining options, from dedicated gluten-free restaurants to places with great gluten-free choices, and even familiar chain restaurants for those days when you don't want to be adventurous.
One thing that stood out was how "celiac" knowledgeable the area is. Staff often asked if an order was for "celiac" rather than if it was an allergy. Being a major tourist town, they likely see more celiac visitors and have adapted well. This was a welcome change from the usual uncertainty when dining out.
Beyond dining, Holland offers charming attractions. The picturesque downtown area with unique shops and boutiques, beautiful lakeside views, and parks provide something for everyone. On my next visit, I'll be sure to explore Windmill Island Gardens and the Dutch heritage sites.
Overall, Holland, Michigan is a great destination for those with celiac disease. With its welcoming attitude and abundance of gluten-free options, it's a place where you can enjoy delicious food and wonderful experiences without the usual stress. If you're planning a trip, I highly recommend putting Holland on your list! And maybe check out these photography travel tips while you're at it, because you will not believe just how beautiful the views are in Holland, MI!
Dedicated Gluten-Free Dining in Holland, MI
Holland has two fully gluten-free establishments: Bliss Bakery and Cafe and Low Carb Grill. Bliss Bakery and Cafe offers a delightful selection of baked goods, breads, and pastries. Low Carb Grill provides a range of savory dishes, making it a great spot for a hearty low carb meal.
Gluten-Free Breakfast Options
- Bliss Bakery and Cafe: (102 South River Avenue, Holland, MI)
Bliss Bakery is a 100% dedicated, celiac-safe bakery located in the downtown area. They offer gluten-free, grain-free, and sugar-free baked goods, like breads, bagels, donuts, and much more. Check their website and Facebook page for hours and closures. They are always closed on Sunday and Monday. - Anna's House: (12450 Felch Street Holland, MI)
This place was so fantastic! We went twice on our short trip because it was that good. They have a separate allergy kitchen to prepare gluten-free items. My food was brought out separately both times and had the allergy picks in each dish. - Lemonjello's Coffee: (61 9th St Holland, MI)
A small coffee shop in the heart of downtown has some gluten-free muffins, cookies, and packaged snacks available. Alert staff of your dietary restriction and they will clean equipment before making your drink. - Bowerman's Blueberry Farm: (15793 James Street, Holland, MI)
Located inside the farm store, you will find a freezer case with gluten-free donuts made by Kind Crumbs. They also have a few pre-thawed options in a gluten-free display case by the bakery. They have a restaurant location in downtown Holland, but there are not many gluten-free options listed on the menu.
Gluten-Free Lunch and Dinner Options
- Low Carb Grill: (1180 Washington Ave, Holland, MI)
This is a 100% gluten-free restaurant with fresh, made-to-order food that is keto and diabetic friendly. They have almond flour crust pizzas, cauliflower rice bowls, zoodle bowls, and a plethora of other options to choose from. - Crust 54: (45 E. 8th Street, Holland, MI)
Even though this pizza joint preps pizza in a shared kitchen environment, they do take the gluten-free orders very seriously. They have a separate oven, utensils, and they change gloves for gluten-free orders. The staff member marked the order as "celiac" and stated that they treat all gluten-free orders carefully, but would take extra care with the celiac order. The pizza was quite large and could easily feed 2-3 people. It was pretty good as far as gluten-free pizza goes! - Mezkla: (64 W 8th st, Holland, MI)
Mezkla specializes in authentic tacos and Mexican street food. When we arrived I alerted the server that I had a gluten-allergy, etc. She informed me the only items that contained gluten were the burritos and piratas; I noticed they also had some sandwiches going out. She said the chips are made offsite and are indeed gluten-free. While others have reported this restaurant to be safe, I still got sick after eating here. I feel it was likely cross-contact. That aside, the food was very good, I just wish I had a better experience to report. - Mizu Sushi: (99 East 8th Street, Holland, MI)
Mizu Sushi is Holland's premiere sushi restaurant. They have many gluten-free options clearly marked on the menu and gluten-free soy sauce available upon request. - Poquito: (90 West 8th Street, Holland, MI)
Poquito is a tapas restaurant that specializes in small plates that are meant to be shared, with many naturally gluten-free options on the menu. - Salt and Pepper Pub: (11539 E Lakewood Blvd, Holland, MI)
This restaurant has a separate gluten-free menu with options such as salads, steak, balsamic chicken, various sandwiches and several burgers to choose from. The fries are not gluten-free but they do have garlic mashed potatoes and chips that are marked gluten-free. - Hops on 84 East: (84 East 8th Street, Holland, MI)
This restaurant has a gluten-free menu with several options including salads, brisket tacos, burgers, and pizza. They have several drink options as well. - Waverly Stone Gastropub: (20 W 8th St, Holland, MI)
Waverly Stone has a range of options including gluten-free buns, cider, cocktails, gluten-free pasta, burgers, and gyros. The menu is not clearly marked, so talk to your server about the best options. - Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant: (216 Van Raalte Ave., Holland, MI)
This waterfront restaurant has great views. There are gluten-free items marked on the menu including gluten-free buns for sandwiches, salads, and cauliflower crust pizza. While the fries and chips are in a shared fryer, they do have mashed potatoes as a side. They also have a gluten-free espresso cremé brûlée dessert.
Gluten-Free Dessert Options
- Bliss Bakery and Cafe: (102 South River Ave Holland, MI)
You'll find many gluten-free dessert options at Bliss Bakery! They have a wide selection of cupcakes, cookies, and much more to choose from! - Le Bon Macaron: (186 S. River Ave. Holland, Michigan)
While macarons are naturally gluten-free, this bakery does have some flavors which contain gluten. According to the staff they cannot make any guarantees about cross contamination but have worked with celiac customers. They recommend alerting the staff that you have celiac disease and need them to select your macarons using a clean glove or patty paper so they aren’t using the tongs that could have touched a different flavor. - Peachwave Yogurt: (6 W 8th Street Holland, MI)
Peachwave is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop. Many of the frozen yogurt flavors are marked as gluten-free. You can ask for toppings from the back to avoid the risk of cross-contact. - Captain Sundae: (365 Douglas Avenue, Holland, MI) or (247 W. 40th St., Holland, MI)
Captain Sundae has gluten-free soft serve ice cream. For dietary needs, they will clean equipment and take precautions to ensure cross-contamination does not occur. - Whit's Frozen Custard: (206 S River AveHolland, MI)
Has a list of gluten-free options and gluten-free cones available. - Kilwins: (62 East 8th Street Holland, MI)
This is a chocolate shop that also sells ice cream. They have a list of gluten-free ice cream flavors and are willing to use a fresh tub and clean scoop upon request. The fudge and other chocolates are made on shared lines with wheat.
Gluten-Free Dining in the Surrounding Area
Holland is a great area to visit because it's centrally located near some other popular towns such as Grand Rapids (about 30 miles) and Saugatuck-Douglas (about 15 miles). This can open up even more dining options. Grand Rapids features two dedicated gluten-free dining establishments:
- Papa Chops Eatery: (2222 28th St., Grand Rapids, MI)
Papa Chops is a 100% gluten-free restaurant with a large variety of options, such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches, fried foods, and salads. - Rise Authentic Baking Co.: (1220 W Fulton Street Grand Rapids, MI)
This 100% gluten-free bakery is also allergen friendly. Everything is vegan, gluten free, soy free, dye free, and free from artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Chain Restaurants in the Area
If you're not in the mood to venture out for something new, there are many chain restaurants around the area as well. Here are a few I'm sure you're familiar with:
- Chick-fil-a
- Chipotle
- Five Guys
Holland, Michigan Traveler's Tips
- Downtown: A lot of the restaurants listed are in the downtown shopping area of Holland. There is ample parking and it's a nice area to walk around.
- Check the Hours: Many of the restaurants and shops in Holland are closed on Sundays and Mondays. The downtown shops don't keep late hours, with many closing around 5:30 p.m. While the restaurants tend to stay open later, if you want to make the most of your downtown experience, go out for lunch so you can dine and shop!
- Farmer's Market: Holland has a robust Farmer's Market that runs every Wednesday and Saturday from May 15 - December 14. It's a lively experience and you can find all the best produce Michigan has to offer.
- Beaches: Several areas offer beach access in and around Holland. Holland State Park is one of the largest and easiest to access. While it requires an entry fee for parking, we preferred this beach. The free public access areas are small and often surrounded by private beaches, which can make the public area feel crowded. The entry to Ottawa Beach was also the most accessible, as some of the other beaches required a significant uphill hike on the way out.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is the personal opinion of the author and for educational purposes only. This is not medical or nutritional advice. Please consult a doctor or medical professional before making changes to your diet or regarding any health related decisions. Ingredient information was accurate at the time of posting but should always be verified by the consumer by checking the product ingredient label for the most up to date information.
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