Mackinaw Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Mackinaw Township

As tourists and consumers, we forget to look for local places. Starbucks was packed with a long line as we drove by. I wanted good coffee and excellent espresso. We stopped into this hometown place that is a dive cafe. The wonderful kind. It's a bakery / coffee / tea house and store. 3 buildings. I was surprised to see they carry an excellent roaster I personally know, Schuil's. They have been consistently a top roaster since I started drinking coffee in the early 90's.

This coffee house bakery has an espresso machine. At Starbucks, you have to order a longshot in order to get any amount of coffee beyond 2 sips. Here, the longshot is more like a small cup of coffee. It actually tasted great. I wasn't sure I would like it after feeling how big it was, but it was good. I would order that over a cup of coffee.

What I loved about this place, is that it had personality. It reminded me of my late-grandmother who I adored. As most places, it had a few people starting to camp out on their laptops, and like other gems like this, it had a group who got together to knit, read, snack, converse. Locals. This is that hometown place that is disappearing to the chains.

They have a wonderful local store inside too. A lot of books and gifts on tea, teatime, local nicknacks. I didn't capture pictures intentionally to post, so all the cool stuff is missing from what I took. I have a few things that intrigued me, rich in local history...

My wife and I come here every time we're in Mackinaw. Its just off the main road near the water so it's an interesting mix being right by all the touristy stuff but also being kinda tucked away and hidden. It seems like a lot of locals go here.

The baked goods are clearly all homemade. The donuts are hand made and it shows(they have imperfections and arent flawless) but they are SO good. Cinnamon rolls are dense, yeasty, and have a huuuge dollop of thick icing smeared along the top(perfect for heating up and eating with coffee). Their breakfast rushes are PACKED, with a line out the door but it's worth the wait.

The ladies that work there are so kindly, I feel like I'm visiting old friends. Always so sweet.

Their tea selection is also MASSIVE. Lots of different kinds of teas at various price points. They do their best to follow trends and even got the Star Wars themed teas (my friend's first time out that way adored them so much she bought two canisters of SW tea).

If you're looking for an honest business that isnt just a tourist trap in Mackinaw, please go here and support these wonderful ladies and the awesome baked good they work...

Edit-( after the owner?/manager responded I'm updating the review)

Hey Joe! Yes I did order an americano. With specific details of what I wanted in it. I won't be able to tell you who that was as she wasn't wearing a name tag. But the other girl who has a beautiful accent was very pleasant. I won't be back but thanks for the offer.

First of all- good bakery items. But they can learn customer service from the seasonal staff they hire. I skipped Starbucks to give a local business my $$. I specifically asked for a certain type of coffee. This girl at the counter seemed annoyed that I asked for something specific after paying over $5 for a small cup of coffee. Plus she charged me extra for using credit card. Ok! I'll pay but show me you have some courtesy when you're dealing with costumers who come to your shop who advertises that they can make coffee. So I ended up getting some mediocre tasteless coffee and bad taste in my mouth just because this girl at the counter decided that I asked for her arm when I ordered my coffee. I'll hesitate to go there for coffee again, however it's a no brainer for...