An Ode to Cherry Lanes: The Best Bar in Door County

Last month, I visited Door County with my family. Before heading up there, each of us picked an activity that we wanted to do while on vacation. One aunt wanted to visit the casino (I lost $12), my other aunt suggested we visit one of our favorite restaurants, and right away I knew what my choice was going to be: Cherry Lanes in Sturgeon Bay.

I discovered Cherry Lanes a few years back after a friendly bartender suggested Michael and I check it out. It did not disappoint. We bowled, drank and shot the shit with locals to our hearts’ content.

While a bar might not be the first place you’d think of taking your mom and aunts on a Saturday afternoon, I knew this was the perfect spot for one reason: pinball.

Pinball Wizardry

Yep, Cherry Lanes is more than just the lanes. This bar has a dynamite selection of pinball machines, and my mom loves pinball.

We rolled up with $10 in quarters each and had a hell of a time playing all sorts of pinball like Hook, Cleopatra and Super Mario Brothers (some only cost 25¢!). I also tried my hand at Frogger, Ms. Pac Man and that weird quarter-pushing game that you see at dive bars.

It was a blast bopping from game to game, and not a bad way to spend $10 or so. And, most importantly, my mom loved it.

The Drinks

While Cherry Lanes is the name of the game here, it is first and foremost a bar. In the past, Michael and I enjoyed hot toddies and super cheap taps. But when I visited with the fam, we treated ourselves to some of the specialty cocktails—and what a treat!

Being in Door County at the tail end of summer, we all were craving cherry (like real cherries—not phony maraschino cherries). Cherry Lanes’ cherry margarita was divine, but I have to say their Gutterball (a mix of tart cherry juice, lemonade and vodka) was a nice treat as well.

Best-Ever Bar Food

There’s nothing wrong with basic bar food. After all, who doesn’t crave a frozen pizza or some cheap mozzarella sticks while sipping Miller Lite?

But Cherry Lanes goes completely over the top with their menu. We ordered a cheese tray and expected something very Wisconsin. You know a few yellow cheeses, salami and a few pickles. That would have been fine.

But when the bartender came out with the tray, it truly rivaled any fancy charcuterie board I’ve had at more elegant venues. This cheese board was incredible. The blueberry cheese was something I dream about.