North
Coffee Shop: Mocha Lounge on Dupont Road offers a full menu of coffee drinks.
Shopping Spot: Grab the perfect gift at Sugar Love boutique.
Sweet Treat: Just Cream offers epic, Instagram-worthy desserts that taste as great as they look.
Park: Salomon Farm Park features a picturesque barn, gently rolling pastures, and outstanding events.
Family Friendly: Peek behind the scenes on a factory tour at Debrand Fine Chocolates.
Dining: Casa Grille is the go-to for Italian in Fort Wayne. They also have locations in West, Coliseum, and East areas of the city.
Night Out: Black Canyon is a locally run steakhouse that offers great cocktails, perfect for a date night or special occasion.
South
Coffee Shop: The Friendly Fox features a full menu of food and drink, as well as your favorite coffee drinks.
Shopping Spot: Antonuccio’s Italian Market features a specialty grocery and deli offering a delicious taste of Italy.
Sweet Treat: Zesto’s ice cream offers the finest in soft serve.
Park: One of the oldest parks in the city, Foster Park offers walking trails, a golf course and more.
Dining: Sample two of our favorites, Trubble Brewing for craft food and beer, and the 07 Pub offering drinks, pizza and more.
Night Out: New on the music scene, The Clyde Theatre showcases the best in national acts.
East
Coffee Shop: Firefly Coffeehouse has served deliciousness to the North Anthony neighborhood for more than 20 years.
Shopping Spot: Hunt for rare records at Wooden Nickel, or visit the shops at Georgetown Square.
Sweet Treat: Sweets So Geek brings you to the sugary side of your sci-fi favorites.
Park: It’s hard to overstate the beauty of Lakeside Park, especially the Rose Gardens, a favorite wedding spot in the summer.
Family Friendly: Catch a game at Purdue Fort Wayne, and in the summer, splash yourself silly at the Northside Pool.
Dining: Old Crown is a coffee house by day, and a culinary experience by night.
Night Out: Plan an evening at el Azteca and enjoy their delicious food and extensive margarita menu!
West
Coffee Shop: Be sure to try the Liege waffle, a traditional sweet Belgian pastry, at United Coffee.
Shopping Spot: Covington Plaza and Jefferson Pointe are shopping destinations full of fabulous finds.
Sweet Treat: Rise ‘n’ Roll serves the best in Amish baked goods – the cinnamon caramel donut is a local addiction.
Park: Go wild at Fox Island or Eagle Marsh!
Family Friendly: Discover amazing murals located throughout Jefferson Pointe as you walk between stores. Locate them on our Fort Wayne Public Art Trail.
Dining: Umi is home to fine seafood and sushi, along with great drinks and more.
Night Out: Hotel Tango Fort Wayne offers fine craft cocktails with alcohol distilled in Indiana.
Coliseum Boulevard
Coffee Shop: Pick your favorite at one of the Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, or Dunkin locations in the area.
Shopping Spot: Shop your favorites at Glenbrook Square mall.
Sweet Treat: Grab a dozen (or more) of the unique creations at Cookie Cottage.
Park: Johnny Appleseed Park features all the fun of a park, a campground, and Johnny Appleseed’s gravesite.
Family Friendly: Active entertainment options abound with Combat Ops, LazerX, SkyZone, Ultrazone, and more.
Dining: Favorites for fine dining include the classic Cork’N Cleaver and the delicious BakerStreet Steakhouse.
Night Out: The Memorial Coliseum hosts Komet Hockey, Mad Ants Basketball, national concerts, and more!
Downtown
Coffee Shop: Conjure and Fortezza both offer a full range of caffeinated choices to keep you moving.
Shopping Spot: The Find and Creative Women of the World are just a few of the dozens of boutiques downtown.
Sweet Treat: Ice cream fans will love Sweets on Main. Or discover ice cream, chocolate treats, and caramel apples in one spot at Kilwins!
Park: The fun starts at Headwaters Park, home to ice skating in the winter and festivals all year long.
Family Friendly: Spark your imagination at Science Central, with hands-on, interactive exhibits for all ages.
Dining: Cindy’s, an authentic 1950s diner, serves the whole world, 15 at a time. Coney Island is a legendary hot dog joint cranking out their secret recipe for over 100 years.
Night Out: The Embassy Theatre, built in 1928, is breathtaking in its scale and beauty. Take in a concert by the Philharmonic, or enjoy touring shows from Broadway and beyond.
Historic West Central Neighborhood
Just West of Downtown
Shopping Spot: Boutiques like Fancy & Staple and The Hedge bring you the best from local artisans.
Sweet Treat: The range of flavors at Brooklyn Pints Microcreamery includes dairy free and vegan varieties.
Park: Swinney Park features wide open areas, and the city’s premier tennis courts.
Family Friendly: Catch the excitement every summer when the Three Rivers Festival Parade makes its way through the beautiful historic homes.
Dining: Mad Anthony is a classic brewpub, with legendary favorites going back years. The Scooby Snacks are a must try.
Night Out: Laugh, cry, or dance along to the action at Arena Dinner Theatre.
Historic Wells Street Corridor
Just Northwest of Downtown
Shopping Spot: Browse the stacks at Hyde Brothers Booksellers, a mainstay of local bibliophiles.
Sweet Treat: Enjoy authentic Mexican treats from the Indiana Mexican Bakery or La Michoacana next door
Park: The Midwest’s newest attraction, Promenade Park, is the jewel of Riverfront Fort Wayne. Enjoy boat rides, bands, art, music, and more.
Family Friendly: Kids love the interactive and accessible playground at Promenade Park.
Dining: Check out the popular neighborhood haunt, the Big Eyed Fish.
Night Out: Each summer, enjoy Margarita Mondays at Don Chava’s Mexican Grill, after enjoying an evening on the rivers with Fort Wayne Outfitters.
This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated.
