The Michigan Eatery That Transformed A Psych Ward Into A Restaurant

On the bottom floor of a former psychiatric hospital called the Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City, Michigan is a cozy Italian restaurant called Trattoria Stella. If it seems incongruous to eat house-made burrata and lamb meatballs with linguine among the low-ceilinged, whitewashed brick walls of a former psych ward, you wouldn't be the only one to think so. There's nothing ooky or spooky about Trattoria Stella, though. Online reviews have given the restaurant consistently glowing recommendations for both its ambiance and high-level food.

The atmosphere at Trattoria Stella is warm, despite the narrow corridors and inescapably institutional environment of the preserved hospital. The restaurant's team has done an impeccable job of making the trappings of the old building feel vintage and cool, rather than intimidating. This must have been no small feat. It's a fact that restaurant lighting and ambiance affect dining, and Trattoria Stella's crew must have had an uphill job on their hands to work with the stark canvas surrounding them. Filling bellies with delicious fare helps as well. The restaurant embraces a farm-to-table philosophy and sports an extensive wine list.

Part of the reason that Trattoria Stella and the rest of the former hospital complex, now called The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, is so beautiful is because the institution was designed to uplift its patients through loveliness. At the time that the asylum was built, superintendent Dr. James Decker Munson believed that beauty was therapeutic. Accordingly, the hospital and grounds were intended to be gorgeous in the hopes that people within would have their spirits improved by the visually impressive surroundings.

Since you undoubtedly want to know, it's unclear whether Trattoria Stella is haunted. It's said that when the restaurant first opened, employees saw apparitions. You will have to judge the matter for yourself, although "May I open my Ouija board on the table?" is not one of the essential phrases you should whip out at an Italian restaurant. Oh, and there may or may not be a portal to the underworld on the hospital grounds — but you didn't hear it from us.

If you visit Trattoria Stella, you might come for the foreboding stone arches and moody vibes, but stay for the amazing food. The Italian restaurant has been dubbed the state's best, lavishing special praise on the staff's wine training, the homemade pasta, and the in-house butchering. As with all nice restaurants, you should read up on ordering tips for a fine dining experience before checking the place out.