Eclectic but really fun. Saturday night music was both amazing and not too loud. Had the chicken nachos ($14) and they were tasty and a nice big tray full. Good food, great atmosphere, we'll be back! read more

The Stray - Chicken nachos. Yumm. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Subjective: Since moving from the West Coast, I've been itching to find a go to local coffee shop- especially with our home espresso machine in storage and downtown being a hassle to go to. A random evening of browsing google maps and yelp perked my interest in "The Stray" and I was excited to find that it's right across Kim Nhung Superstore- coffee and grocery shopping go hand in hand! My first visit to the stray exceeded my expectations- big open indoor space with a cute outdoor seating area, many different drink choices, and most importantly, delicious coffee! I got a hot lavender latte which was light and floral without overdoing it and tasting soap like. On a whim, I also tried the cocoa nut corgi, a summer special, which tasted like a tropical island treat with coconut milk, mint and chocolate. My mixed berry mocha scone, though small, was packed enough with berries and chocolate to satisfy and may be my new favorite scone in the city. Objective: Date of most recent visit: 8/26/2022 Previous visits: 1 Takes reservations/call aheads? Don't think so Parking: Private lot Perceived capacity: Medium Perceived atmosphere: Casual Wait time to seating: Seat yourself What I/we got: Iced "cocoa-nut corgi" and mixed berry/mocha scone cost: ~$10 for drink and pastry Assessment: 5 stars- happy to have a quality go to cafe I can get my fancy coffee fix at! Plan: Will definitely return and bring others! Can't wait to check out their nighttime scene with live music and drinks. read more

The Stray - Lavender latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Recently I went to a "Chat N Splat" painting class at the Stray. I didn't even know this place was here prior to this event, and so close to my home! I walked in a side door and at the entrance I was greeted with flower boxes and a welcoming wall mural. There was a nice sized coffee bar where they also served beer on tap, craft beer cans, and wine as we made our way back to the painting location. My goodness it is a spacious venue. They had lots of cool art pieces on display (my favorite was a steampunk saxophone with gears and gadgets on it). There were some excellent food choices too! read more

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amazing atmosphere and perfect coffee. kind staff and really fun events planned here! live music, trivia, and game nights.

Great atmosphere and a fun place to watch local artists perform. I love how they support local artists. My wife and I didn't have any food, but our friends had a flat bread and nachos, both of which looked really good! read more

We have been here twice now and I think it's going to be a regular spot for us! We've only been during the day so I can't rate on the music or nightlife aspect but that seems like it would be great. Love all the art and merchandise available for purchase too. The space has a cool, relaxing vibe with artistic touches. Don't miss the cool mural on the south side of the building. I've gotten 2 different specialty lattes and both were delicious and well crafted. They also had some seasonal drinks available as well. They offer pastries and a lunch/ dinner/ appetizer menu that looks yummy! Had a piece of quiche the other day that was really tasty! The crafting of the lattes does seem to take a moment, but worth it for perfection. You're probably coming here for a great crafted beverage to relax with, not a fast fix before work. We will absolutely be back and I'm looking forward to seeing what else they offer. read more

The Stray - Quiche and Cafe miel latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Friendly staff and delicious food! This is an arts and musical space as well. Highly recommend. read more

The Stray - Cappuccino & Matcha Latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I lead a 5 man group that meets weekly, most Thursdays, during the year. One guy loves earl grey tea, other eats the breakfast sandwiches and hot chocolate. I favor the vegetable Kish, and order another to take home for a surprise for my wife. It has a artsy theme that I love. The vibe is free, open, and allows for open conversations about in topic. A piano is there to play, a spot to paint, and a cornucopia of art, handicrafts, and anything to be an encouragement. Servers are attentive, and bring out the food and drink to the table. They give you an old 45 as a marker. We love to play name that tune. So check it out. They have a creative website that includes all sorts of music events. read more

Awesome place, nice aesthetic! Not too busy when I went mid day. Love that they have local vendor products on display for sale. This place is also right across the big Asian supermarket- convenient location, easy parking (lot), multiple entrances to the cafe, lots of room inside for hanging out, meeting up with friends, studying, etc I got an iced oat latte- it was smooth and tasty! Will def go again. read more

The Stray - The Stray - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I'm always going to be a fan of a place where I don't feel obligated to drink alcohol whilst enjoying free or affordable live music. I had a light roast coffee (free 12oz refill in house) and a cookie. They sell Michigan coffee. For those who do drink, they have beer and wine for sure. The food looked pretty good, also. Everyone was nice and pleasant. The topper: they sell art from local artists! And not just paintings. Lots of other crafts for sale. Check this place out! read more

The vibes are right here. Killer coffee and food. Super kind people. Be sure to take a moment experience this place- definitely one of a kind! read more

We stumbled across this place after a trip and just wanted something new. I loved everything about it. The coffee was delicious. My husband had a excellent sandwich. The service was outstanding. We sat outside and it felt like you are removed from the world yet the parking lot was just on the other side of the wall. I am looking forward to going back. read more

This is the best cafe in Grand Rapids! Amazing drinks, events EVERYTHING you should definitely give it a try. read more

The Stray - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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11:30 am and we were looking for a nice place to have coffee...The Stray exceeded nice. From the mural on the outside to the warm and cozy inside, the staff who were friendly and made you feel welcome, and not only tasty and beautifully crafted coffee but yummy food. This is a must stop on our next trip to this side of the state. read more

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Good food fast and friendly service. Great place to meet friends. Could use a few new items on menu or maybe some specials

The ambiance is cozy and relaxing, hipster without being pretentious about it. Two things that set this place above is the food was way better than anticipated. While the menu is limited, what they do make is delicious. We had the southwest chicken chili and the chicken nachos. It was all flavorful without being overdone. The live music was also a nice experience. We will definitely be going back! read more

The Stray - Salted Caramel Latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Visiting from out of town, this place was within walking distance. Was pleasantly surprised by the ambience, the coffee drinks were delicious, and service was exceptional. We had breakfast items, and pastries and came back again the next day for more. Highly recommend! read more

We came in on a Monday morning around 10AM. The best thing about this place in the era of COVID is that it's nice and big, with actual spacious and comfortable places to hang out and talk or work where you're not crowded near other parties. It's also exceptionally clean, comfortable and well appointed with a variety of furniture. Super cute decor. I had a London fog tea latte which was super creamy and delicious, if a bit light on earl grey flavor. I also had the quiche, which was like the best quiche I've ever eaten in my life! It was broccoli, ham and cheese and holy cow- I would eat that everyday. I also had a couple bites of a very delicious chocolate chip walnut cookie. My wife's pour over coffee was rich, with balanced acidity and my sister had a cortado that she really enjoyed and a yogurt parfait which she said was good. The service on drinks is a bit slower, which honestly isn't an issue if you're not on a time crunch. I will admit to be a garbage, Starbucks going American who is used to fast, fast, fast- but this is better quality stuff, so it's worth the wait. read more

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What a great place! The atmosphere is wonderful, the drinks and food are great, the staff is excellent! I stopped here to pick up some lunch and grab something to drink during recent travel for business. I was delighted by what I found here and highly recommend it! I will definitely be stopping back on my next trip through the area! What a lucky find! read more

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Anyone that gives this place less than 5 stars- UH, come again? Because The Stray IS top-tier. I did not expect this at all on Division, and for what it is worth, the place is priceless! The entertainment, the drinks, the food and ambiance. I love every little bit of this place. Such a cool place to hang out, listen to live local musical talent, enjoy local art (what a way to showcase our people!) and indulge in carefully crafted, caffeinated beverages, bubbly spirits and wholesome food! This joint IS EVERYTHING- the owner is so cool and laid back, the staff really cares about your experience- this is a diamond in the rough among MANY contenders in Grand Rapids! I am coming back here so much! Do NOT pass up this gem- The Stray should be here to stay! read more

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This may be the best coffee shop I've been to in my life. I spend about 5 hours here. Started off with the ultimate breakfast sandwich, moved on to a local beer and then followed it up with a pour over. They were all excellent. I was able to get a ton of work done thanks to their zen atmosphere, super fast WiFi and very very friendly people. read more

Outstanding coffee house and small music venue. Food and coffee are excellent. Great vibes day or night.

The coffee was delicious. The food was delicious. The service was excellent. The ambiance was amazing. Definitely the place to go.

Cool vibe with the mix of tables, chairs and couches. Pricing is good for a local spot. We got 2 16oz whole milk lattes for less than $10. Great drinks and beautiful latte art, which I'm a sucker for. They do a good variety of events including music shows and board game nights. read more

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Easy to order and fast service! The vibe was so chill in there and I think their community goals of creating a cool place for introducing new art and music is awesome! Their flat breads and coffee's are so good! Can't wait to visit again soon! read more

The Stray - Buffalo chicken flat bread, salted caramel cold latte, and cold chai spiced tea - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I'm so sad... I really want to support local coffee shops over big names, but every time I come here I feel cheated. Today I spent $8 (tipped slightly over 20%) on what was supposed to be a 12 ounce cold brew. What I got was a 12 oz cup filled slightly under half way with coffee and then a foam that also didn't fill the full 12 oz. This isn't the first time either. The drinks here taste good but I really can't support the cost/product ratio anymore. read more

The Stray - Lemongrass cold brew - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Lite food menu, wide assortment of creative beverages, friendly staff and live music. They also have many special events featuring fund raising for local non-profits and safe space for art and craft vendors. read more

Great coffee, food, atmosphere. A pleasant place to go to meet friends for a visit or to write.

I am enjoying the Stray! The space is bright and huge! The stage is really well designed for the room! The Mocha was well balanced! The staff seemed to be well educated and very approachable! Parking was easy in the rear. If anything negative, they might consider just a little bit less chocolate to bring out the espresso flavor a little more but that's really picky. Nice place! Enjoyable and worth the stop! read more

Great place with really fresh ingredients and great menu options I will definitely visit there again

I have passed this place on my way to work a billion times and finally tried it out for lunch. You'd miss it driving down Division if it wasn't for the cool dog mural on the side. (Too cold and snowy to get a pic today) It was much larger than I expected on the inside and the inside is to die for. It's like a little art gallery/ hipsters studio apartment in New York. I loved the corner with the local artists work for sale. Tiny stage that I over heard the cashier telling the person before me to follow them on FB for upcoming shows etc. It offered a variety of seating from comfy couches and chairs to high top seating and regular table and chairs. Loved the vintage vibe throughout...okay enough on that lol on to food/drinks! I ordered a lavender honey latte because I'd never had one and I mean why not. So first off it was VERY fragrant (go figure being lavender)! Second it tasted like a summer garden in my mouth. Which if you're wondering; is a good thing. It was very creamy and sweet. Definitely a unique flavor profile I think for coffee. 10/10. Then I ordered the farmers wife sandwich. Um, that however was a little disappointing for one big reason. The bread of choice. This is a very busy many components type sandwich. It has apples, goat cheese, avocado, bacon, chicken etc and it made it; forgive me saying, quite moist. Soooo that led to the bread to be too soggy to hold up to the girth of toppings. But if it perhaps was on a Focaccia or ciabatta or even a wrap it would be a 9/10 but alas I have to give it a 5/10. But don't let that steer you I will definitely be coming back! Loved the atmosphere and peaceful place to eat lunch or enjoy coffee with a friend. They also offer a dinner menu and alcohol in the evening. My friend got the "chorizo" wrap. Chorizo is in quotations because it was plant based. It was quite jam packed and looked delicious and I assume it was because she cleaned her plate. Oh and I also forgot they came with salt and pepper chips. Glad I finally stopped in and you should too! read more

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Great atmosphere! I appreciate their menu. Tried the goat cheese quiche - delicious! I also tried an out-of-the-box drink, and the cashier said if I didn't like it, just let her now. Unfortunately, I had to take her up on the offer, but I appreciate being able to try something different without having to spend an additional $6. Great service! read more

Love this place! It's such a unique space. Wonderful service and great food and drinks.

The workers were kind, the drinks were good, and the atmosphere was hard to beat! I wish this place was open when I was in school - this would have definitely been my go-to spot for doing homework and studying. There is a lot of comfortable seating and space! read more

Excellence and passion: these are the two words that come to mind when I think about The Stray. Born out of a thirty-year dream, The Stray brings together coffee, food, cocktails, art, and music unlike any other comparable space. This unique combination sets them apart from the rest. The espresso bar features Fort Wayne's Utopian coffee roasters with an emphasis on transparency and educating the guest on what they're consuming. The coffee menu features a variety of traditional espresso beverages as well as house-made syrups to satisfy coffee lovers both casual and experienced. The food offerings are all well-crafted and quite diverse, featuring a lunch menu served from 11-2pm and an evening menu served 5pm-close. These aren't just thrown-together or borings; these are beautifully crafted offerings that, once again, set The Stray apart from other establishments in the greater Grand Rapids area. Finally, the emphasis on art and music elevates The Stray above the crowd. The culture of Grand Rapids and greater West Michigan is very art-forward and many cafes have tried to incorporate this aspect and fallen short. From the moment you walk through the doors, you're surrounded by local art. On top of that, there is a stage built into the front corner of the space with dedicated sound treatment and mixing booth. Right out of the gate, The Stray has a great line-up of regional acts scheduled to perform, further emphasizing the focus on art and community. I cannot speak highly enough of The Stray. The passion put into the space bleeds through in every aspect from the well-crafted menu down to the interior design. read more

The Stray - Cafe Mocha - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Great venue, good food and service, the Friday night music was supurb.

This place is amazing! Large open concept. Love the atmosphere and eclectic design elements! New favorite coffee shop! read more

Stopped in today and as my friend was ordering, the young cook mocked her after she ordered. She was very kind and sometimes misses social cues because she has autism so I'm not sure why he thought it was okay to mock her. Will not be going back to a place thats openly hateful towards autistic folks. read more

The staff was lovely, the vibe was immaculate and the food was outstanding. We had the pita and hummus to start followed by the farmers wife sandwich and the vineyard goat salad. read more

Awesome place! Highly recommend! Good local bands and they have a decent menu. Wonderful atmosphere but get there early during live music as the place fills up! read more