Best of Door County
Our favorites in every category, with the reasons why. When a place closes or changes, the list changes too — check the date on every article.
The Best Antiques in Door County
Koepsel's Meadow Lane near Baileys Harbor is our top pick — serious original-surface furniture, Great Lakes decoys, and folk art. Bay Trading in Egg Harbor is the place for architectural salvage, Shades of the Past has genuine estate silver and crystal, and the Olde Orchard mall is the easy multi-vendor browse. Most are seasonal, roughly May through October, so call ahead.
The Best Theater in Door County
Peninsula Players near Fish Creek is our top pick — America's oldest professional resident summer theater, with Broadway-caliber casts, a garden stroll, and a bonfire at intermission. Northern Sky stages original musicals outdoors in Peninsula State Park, Third Avenue PlayWorks runs professional plays year-round in Sturgeon Bay, and Door Shakespeare performs in the Björklunden garden. Most run summer, a couple year-round.
The Best Live Music in Door County
Door County Brewing's Music Hall in Baileys Harbor is the best dedicated room for live music, and the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek brings in the big touring names. Birch Creek's barn near Egg Harbor runs nightly student-and-faculty concerts all summer, Holiday Music Motel is the songwriters' hub, and Husby's Garage Bar in Sister Bay has bands most summer weekends. Most music is summer-heavy, so check calendars.
The Best Shops & Boutiques in Door County
On Deck Clothing is our top all-around pick — a homegrown apparel staple with shops in Fish Creek, Sister Bay, and Sturgeon Bay. Novel Bay Booksellers is the county's best bookstore, Ecology in Sister Bay is the eco-outfitter to beat, and Fragrant Isle's lavender farm and shop on Washington Island is the most only-in-Door-County stop. For antiques and galleries, see the notes at the end.
Door County with Kids
For families, The Farm north of Sturgeon Bay is the top pick — feed goat kids and lambs, watch chicks hatch, and roam pioneer buildings. Older kids gravitate to the zip lines and aerial park at Door County Adventure Center, Red Putter mini golf and the Skyway Drive-In are north-end classics, and Anclam Park's shallow beach is easy for little ones. Cap the day with a sundae at Wilson's.
The Best Boat & Water Tours in Door County
The Washington Island Ferry is the essential ride — 30 minutes across the Death's Door strait to a quieter island. For a narrated cruise, Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours passes lighthouses and Millionaire's Row; Lakeshore Adventures paddles clear-bottom kayaks over 1800s shipwrecks; and Door County Kayak Tours threads the Cave Point sea caves. Most run late spring through fall.
The Best Museums & History in Door County
The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is our top pick — climb its lighthouse tower for the best view of the working shipyard, then tour a retired tugboat. The Miller Art Museum (free) holds the county's fine-art collection, The Farm is the best stop with kids, and Björklunden's hand-painted stave chapel in Baileys Harbor is the most unexpected. Several are free, and hours run seasonal, so check before you go.
The Best Golf Courses in Door County
Peninsula State Park Golf Course in Ephraim is our top pick — 18 holes of public championship golf with Green Bay views right inside the state park. Idlewild near Sturgeon Bay is the stiffest test, Cherry Hills is the best stay-and-play, and Maxwelton Braes in Baileys Harbor has been playing since 1929. Most run roughly April through October, so book ahead in peak summer.
The Best Art Galleries in Door County
Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek is our top pick — a 150-artist fine-art gallery and sculpture garden that has been family-run since 1969. Plum Bottom near Egg Harbor is the other heavyweight, Popelka Trenchard Glass in Sturgeon Bay lets you watch glass being blown, and the graffiti-covered Hardy Gallery in Ephraim is the best free stop. Most run late spring through fall, so check seasons before a special trip.
The Best Sunset Spots in Door County
Door County faces west over Green Bay for most of its length, which makes sunset-watching almost unfair to other parts of Wisconsin. Anderson Dock in Ephraim is widely considered the county's most-photographed sunset spot, Ellison Bluff County Park gives you the view from above, and Sister Bay Waterfront Park, Harbor View Park in Egg Harbor, Peninsula State Park, and Sturgeon Bay's Sunset Park each cover a different stretch of the peninsula.
Cherry Everything in Door County
Seaquist Orchards Farm Market north of Sister Bay is our top stop for cherry pie, salsa, and jam -- one of the Midwest's largest tart cherry growers. Lautenbach's Orchard Country adds cherry wine to the mix, Hyline Orchard is the old-school pick-your-own experience, and Country Ovens in Forestville is the dedicated stop for dried and chocolate-covered cherries.
The Best Restaurants in Egg Harbor
The Fireside Restaurant is our pick for the best dinner in Egg Harbor -- a chef-owned Cajun and Creole supper club from a New Orleans-trained chef. Mezzanine's rooftop over the marina is the best view, Villaggios Italian Steakhouse now occupies the former Trio Restaurant building, and Ember at The Landmark and Shipwrecked Brew Pub round out the list.
The Best Kayaking & Paddling Spots in Door County
Bay Shore Outfitters is the pick if you just want a kayak for the afternoon, with locations in Sturgeon Bay, Sister Bay, and Ephraim. For a guided tour, Lakeshore Adventures' clear-bottom Shipwreck Tour in Baileys Harbor paddles you directly over 1800s schooner wrecks, and Peninsula Kayak Company, Door County Kayak, and Door County Kayak Tours cover Eagle Bluff, Death's Door Bluff, and Cave Point from the water.
The Best Supper Clubs in Door County
Sister Bay Bowl is our top pick for a classic Door County supper club -- Friday perch, Saturday prime rib, and a bowling alley attached. Alexander's of Door County in Fish Creek is the pick for a dressier night out, Donny's Glidden Lodge in Sturgeon Bay is the quiet-lake-side version, and The English Inn brings a medieval theme and a nightly Beef Wellington to the genre.
The Best Hiking Trails in Door County
Peninsula State Park has Door County's most complete trail network and Eagle Tower's view to match, but the county's best hiking spreads well beyond it. Cave Point and Whitefish Dunes pair a limestone shoreline with the state's best swimming beach, Toft Point is a quiet, mostly-empty walk through old-growth boreal forest, Newport State Park is 30 miles of trail at the wild northern tip, and The Ridges Sanctuary is flat boardwalk through rare wildflower habitat.
The Best Pizza in Door County
Della Porta in Ellison Bay is our top pick for pizza in Door County -- a wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria led by a chef from Naples. Inland in Baileys Harbor is a close second with a 24-hour fermented sourdough crust, and both Wild Tomato locations (Fish Creek and Sister Bay) cover the classic wood-fired favorite. ZaZa's in Sister Bay is the pick for carryout, and Northern Grill & Pub is the old-school Italian-American choice -- call ahead first, since some listings have flagged it as temporarily closed.
Best Restaurants in Baileys Harbor
Chives is the pick for a special dinner in Baileys Harbor — a farm-to-table kitchen growing much of its own produce for dishes like duck frites with cherry port sauce. But the town's range now runs the full table: an 1886 marina-view pub known for its Friday fish fry, a sunset-lit boathouse dining room, a 24-hour-fermented sourdough pizza spot, a lobster boil on Highway 57, and a train-themed family restaurant with a play yard out back.
Things to Do (and Eat) in Ellison Bay
Ellison Bay is a small village near the top of the Door County peninsula, past Sister Bay and before Gills Rock, and its short list holds up well: a bluff-top overlook, a scratch-made breakfast counter, a wood-fired pizzeria, and a farm-to-table splurge dinner. It's a quick, honest stop rather than a full day's destination.
Things to Do in Baileys Harbor
Baileys Harbor's best day pairs a nature walk at the Ridges Sanctuary with a climb up Cana Island Lighthouse, then winds down with dinner at Door County Brewing. All three sit within a few minutes of the village, so it's an easy day to build without much driving.
Things to Do in Jacksonport
Jacksonport's whole appeal is that its best three things to do sit within a few minutes of each other: Cave Point County Park (free, no sticker), Whitefish Dunes State Park (state sticker required), and the village's own Lakeside Park (free, no drive needed). Stay in Jacksonport and you can genuinely do all three in one day without much driving at all.
The Best Coffee Shops in Door County
Our pick for best coffee in Door County is Door County Coffee & Tea Co. in Carlsville — a working roastery with a full breakfast menu and room to sit down, not just a to-go window. This is a short list on purpose: three real favorites for now, from a full roastery experience to a couple of well-placed small-town stops in Sister Bay and Fish Creek.
The Best Waterfront Dining in Door County
The Old Post Office and Wilson's both sit right on Eagle Harbor in Ephraim, but they face the water differently enough that it's worth knowing which side of the harbor puts you closest to it. For water views farther from the crowds, Charlie's Smokehouse in Gills Rock puts you on the dock at the literal tip of the peninsula. Reserve or arrive early for a water-facing table, and check hours before a shoulder-season drive — Old Post Office and Wilson's both close for the season by late October.
The Best Restaurants in Ephraim
The best restaurants in Ephraim come down to two waterfront favorites: the Old Post Office for a traditional fish boil on Eagle Harbor, and Wilson's for a full meal at the striped ice cream parlor that's been there since 1906. Both are seasonal, so call ahead outside the summer months.
The Best Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay's small lineup of favorites starts with Donny's Glidden Lodge for a classic supper club night on the quiet lake side, with Kitty O'Reilly's downtown for a pint and pub fare and Scaturo's for coffee and a pastry before you start the day. Park once downtown and you can walk Third Avenue to reach all three.
The Best Restaurants in Sister Bay
Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is still Sister Bay's most recognizable table, goats on the roof and all, but it's no longer the whole story. The town's restaurant scene has real range now — fine dining with sunset views at Waterfront, a farm-to-table dinner house at Thyme, a steakhouse at CHOP, sushi and Friday fish fry at LURE, wood-fired pizza at Wild Tomato, a genuine supper club at Sister Bay Bowl, and a late-night standby at Husby's. These eight are the ones worth planning a meal around.
The Best Things to Do in Door County with Kids
Peninsula State Park's Nicolet Beach is the easiest all-day answer for a family trip, with calm swimming, easy bike trails, and a vehicle sticker that covers the whole day. Round out the trip with a climb-through tugboat at the Maritime Museum, the ferry crossing to Washington Island, and a sundae at Wilson's or Not Licked Yet to close out the evening.
The Best Restaurants in Fish Creek
White Gull Inn is our first call for Fish Creek dining, with a candlelight fish boil that anchors the historic inn's dining room, but the whole strip near Peninsula State Park's entrance is worth the walk. It's a walkable run of casual and classic spots — a family-run chowder kitchen, a wood-fired pizza patio, a late-night tavern, and an easygoing nightly fish boil all within a few minutes on foot. Park once early in the day — summer spots near downtown fill fast.
The Best Breweries & Bars in Door County
Door County Brewing Co. & Music Hall in Baileys Harbor is the pick for a real night out, thanks to a taproom-plus-concert-hall setup that draws touring acts and a Polka King Porter that sets the pace for the evening. Add Shipwrecked Brew Pub's Cherry Wheat in Egg Harbor, Washington Island's century-old Nelsen's Hall bitters ritual, and Fish Creek's late-night regular, Bayside Tavern, and you've got the peninsula's best nights out covered. Many spots wind down earlier than city bars do, so check music calendars ahead if live sets are the draw.
The Best Breakfast in Door County
The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek serves the pick of Door County mornings: their cherry-stuffed French toast is known for its Good Morning America best-breakfast honors. Al Johnson's Swedish pancakes and The Cookery's decades-long run are close behind, but go early in summer — the famous spots draw a wait, and the Old Post Office's harbor-view breakfast is seasonal (roughly May–October).
The Best Restaurants in Door County
Osteria Tre Tassi in Ellison Bay is our top pick for a farm-to-table splurge — a dinner worth booking ahead for in summer — alongside favorites like Sister Bay Bowl's supper club tradition, Al Johnson's multi-generational pancake dinners, and casual standbys like Wild Tomato and Bayside Tavern. Most of the county trims hours or closes entirely from November through April, so confirm before you drive.
The Best Ice Cream & Frozen Custard in Door County
Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim is one of our favorite ice cream stops in Door County — the red-and-white striped parlor has been scooping on the Eagle Harbor waterfront since 1906. Not Licked Yet in Fish Creek is our custard pick, and Door County Creamery in Sister Bay makes a goat-milk gelato worth planning around. All three lean seasonal, so aim for May through October.
The Best Beaches in Door County
Whitefish Dunes State Park near Jacksonport has the best beach in Door County — a wide sweep of real sand backed by Wisconsin's tallest dunes, with Cave Point right next door. You'll need a state park vehicle sticker to get in. If you want calmer, warmer water and lunch a short walk away, Sister Bay's downtown waterfront beach is the easy pick.
The Best Fish Boils in Door County (and How a Fish Boil Actually Works)
The best fish boil in Door County is the candlelight boil at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek — book it days ahead in summer. For a waterfront setting choose the Old Post Office in Ephraim; for a casual, kid-friendly boil in the middle of town, Pelletier's. Expect whitefish, red potatoes, a wall of flame at the boilover, and cherry pie for dessert.