Guidebook for Detroit
Arts & Culture
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward AveBeautiful Art Museum. A must see....
Motown Museum
2648 W Grand BlvdFun historical museum about Motown
Vinyl pressing plant. Music/reading/screening venue. Owned by Jack White, this is a must see for a fan of rock and roll.
28 locals recommend
Third Man Records Cass Corridor
441 W Canfield StVinyl pressing plant. Music/reading/screening venue. Owned by Jack White, this is a must see for a fan of rock and roll.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
27880 Woodward AveYour regional big box store. They have groceries and probably everything else you would need in one place.
54 locals recommend
Meijer
1301 W 8 Mile RdYour regional big box store. They have groceries and probably everything else you would need in one place.
Planet Fitness
2560 Crooks RdOffer daily passes
If local and organic are buzz words that appeal to your sensibilities, this is the neighborhood spot to shop. Their wine selection is the best in town, too.
23 locals recommend
Western Market
447 W Nine Mile RdIf local and organic are buzz words that appeal to your sensibilities, this is the neighborhood spot to shop. Their wine selection is the best in town, too.
If you're downtown or in the city and need groceries, this is your best bet. Kind of small for a Whole Foods, but still solid
159 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
115 Mack AveIf you're downtown or in the city and need groceries, this is your best bet. Kind of small for a Whole Foods, but still solid
Food Scene
Selden Standard
3921 2nd AveFancy, good food for a date night
Lovely people, good vibes, great coffee and baked goods. My favorite coffee shop in town
70 locals recommend
Astro Coffee
2124 Michigan AvenueLovely people, good vibes, great coffee and baked goods. My favorite coffee shop in town
ohmygawd such deliciousness. If you like pie, this is a spot to hit. Good coffee, too, and in beautiful Indian Village
56 locals recommend
Sister Pie
8066 Kercheval Aveohmygawd such deliciousness. If you like pie, this is a spot to hit. Good coffee, too, and in beautiful Indian Village
Close by and solidly solid. Ran by great people who know their coffee
15 locals recommend
Narrow Way Cafe & Shop
19331 LivernoisClose by and solidly solid. Ran by great people who know their coffee
If you find yourself at Eastern Market and you want some delicious jams, nibbles and cold brew, you should def check out this spot. Also the murals!
Beau Bien Fine Foods
2478 Riopelle StIf you find yourself at Eastern Market and you want some delicious jams, nibbles and cold brew, you should def check out this spot. Also the murals!
A hub for the creative class. Great place to sketch or get some writing done with primo coffee and sandwiches.
28 locals recommend
Trinosophes
1464 Gratiot AveA hub for the creative class. Great place to sketch or get some writing done with primo coffee and sandwiches.
Great bread and baked goods. Long standing pillar of Detroit (Coffee's pretty bad though, be warned.)
51 locals recommend
Avalon International Breads
441 W Willis StGreat bread and baked goods. Long standing pillar of Detroit (Coffee's pretty bad though, be warned.)
Grey Ghost Detroit
47 Watson StModern and innovative small plates. Great drinks.
Best deli in town with some amazing half-sour pickles. Pretty good restaurant with a nice outdoor space and great sandwiches (vegan options)
55 locals recommend
Mudgie's Deli and Wine Shop
1413 Brooklyn StBest deli in town with some amazing half-sour pickles. Pretty good restaurant with a nice outdoor space and great sandwiches (vegan options)
Slows Bar BQ
2138 Michigan AveSolid BBQ joint with good beer and cocktails
THE iconic Detroit pizza. Deep dish and buttered, crispy crust. Yummmmmmmy gut bomb
53 locals recommend
Buddy's Pizza
17125 Conant StTHE iconic Detroit pizza. Deep dish and buttered, crispy crust. Yummmmmmmy gut bomb
BEST fried chicken in town and it's SO close. If you can eat fried chicken you should eat fried chicken here. Also, Kool-Aid cocktails
33 locals recommend
Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles
19345 LivernoisBEST fried chicken in town and it's SO close. If you can eat fried chicken you should eat fried chicken here. Also, Kool-Aid cocktails
Half Mexican, half Italian and delicious. The story goes, a Mexican-American was trained in a high-end Italian kitchen to make pasta. He left the restaurant to start his own, where he cooked his cultural cuisine, but the clientele who knew him demanded pasta, and so he split the menu in two. SO GOOD.
16 locals recommend
El Barzon
3710 Junction AveHalf Mexican, half Italian and delicious. The story goes, a Mexican-American was trained in a high-end Italian kitchen to make pasta. He left the restaurant to start his own, where he cooked his cultural cuisine, but the clientele who knew him demanded pasta, and so he split the menu in two. SO GOOD.
One thing Detroit Metro food gets SO RIGHT is Lebanese food and this is the best in the vicinity, hands down. I've eaten everything on the menu, so HMU if you need some recs.
32 locals recommend
Anita's Kitchen
22651 Woodward AveOne thing Detroit Metro food gets SO RIGHT is Lebanese food and this is the best in the vicinity, hands down. I've eaten everything on the menu, so HMU if you need some recs.
Pop-up food cart only open on Thursdays, spring to fall. They have plate-lunch style dinners each week--one vegan, one not--along with wine, beer and bonfire. A super community heart-warming atmosphere where everyone's welcome. All locally sourced ingredients, and magical.
Pink Flamingo
2746 Vermont StPop-up food cart only open on Thursdays, spring to fall. They have plate-lunch style dinners each week--one vegan, one not--along with wine, beer and bonfire. A super community heart-warming atmosphere where everyone's welcome. All locally sourced ingredients, and magical.
Brewery and pizzeria, they do a good job. Be warned--the Detroit branch is waaay better than the one in Royal Oak
52 locals recommend
Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery
441 W Canfield StBrewery and pizzeria, they do a good job. Be warned--the Detroit branch is waaay better than the one in Royal Oak
This place might have brought on the Midtown renaissance. Or at least it was the first one standing. Solid pizza and brews. Great staff. A staple in Detroit
54 locals recommend
Motor City Brewing Works
470 W Canfield StThis place might have brought on the Midtown renaissance. Or at least it was the first one standing. Solid pizza and brews. Great staff. A staple in Detroit
Calexico Detroit
1040 Woodward AveHealthy, affordable Mexican food downtown
When you are craving going out for a nice Chinese dinner, this is the place to go. Fresh and vibrant veggies and delicious meats, too. Kind of high end, but worth it.
17 locals recommend
The Peterboro
420 Peterboro StWhen you are craving going out for a nice Chinese dinner, this is the place to go. Fresh and vibrant veggies and delicious meats, too. Kind of high end, but worth it.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great beer, staff, food, and atmosphere. Outdoor patio and the best Cubano I've had outside Miami!
45 locals recommend
Batch Brewing Company
1400 Porter StGreat beer, staff, food, and atmosphere. Outdoor patio and the best Cubano I've had outside Miami!
UFO Factory
2110 TrumbullEndearing and inspiring independent music venue. Also, hotdogs!
One of the COOLEST. It's a basement bar that feels like your own personal secret. Great bartenders and drinks that aren't snooty at all. If you're downtown and you want to be low-down, I'd suggest
10 locals recommend
The Keep
140 Cadillac SquareOne of the COOLEST. It's a basement bar that feels like your own personal secret. Great bartenders and drinks that aren't snooty at all. If you're downtown and you want to be low-down, I'd suggest
El Club
4114 Vernor HwyGreat booker, good vibes (and pizza).
The oldest jazz club still in operation in the WORLD. And it's really close by. If you want to see some jazz and sit at a bar that looks like a keyboard, this is your spot
56 locals recommend
Baker's Keyboard Lounge
20510 LivernoisThe oldest jazz club still in operation in the WORLD. And it's really close by. If you want to see some jazz and sit at a bar that looks like a keyboard, this is your spot
Do you like dive bars with good music and great staff? Yes? Go to Trixie's
7 locals recommend
Trixie's Bar
2656 Carpenter AveDo you like dive bars with good music and great staff? Yes? Go to Trixie's
Real chill, family-friendly local brewery. Great small batch beer and a real nice neighborhood space to play a board game, eat some charcuterie, and let your toddler run around.
18 locals recommend
Urbanrest Brewing Company
2615 Wolcott StReal chill, family-friendly local brewery. Great small batch beer and a real nice neighborhood space to play a board game, eat some charcuterie, and let your toddler run around.
Close to the house with a real nice staff. Good beer, food and atmosphere. Big enough for groups, without being giant. Good board game selection. Great patio, too.
8 locals recommend
Axle Brewing Co. Livernois Tap
Close to the house with a real nice staff. Good beer, food and atmosphere. Big enough for groups, without being giant. Good board game selection. Great patio, too.
One of the best kept secrets of the city. Only open a few days a week, so look before you leap. It's an institution
40 locals recommend
Cafe d'Mongo's Speakeasy
1439 Griswold StOne of the best kept secrets of the city. Only open a few days a week, so look before you leap. It's an institution
Parks & Nature
If you are looking for a great place to picnic and explore, this is your spot
388 locals recommend
Belle Isle Beach
2 Inselruhe AveIf you are looking for a great place to picnic and explore, this is your spot
A fun mile and a half of paved bike/walk path that brings you past some of the best street art and murals in the city. Food trucks open in the summer, too
57 locals recommend
Dequindre Cut
Dequindre Cut GreenwayA fun mile and a half of paved bike/walk path that brings you past some of the best street art and murals in the city. Food trucks open in the summer, too
Got kiddos that need to get their wiggles out? This is the best nearby spot
14 locals recommend
Palmer Park
910 Merrill Plaisance StGot kiddos that need to get their wiggles out? This is the best nearby spot
Entertainment & Activities
This zoo is lovely. Very environmentally conscious and rescue driven. The penguin house is a must see!
197 locals recommend
Detroit Zoo
8450 W 10 Mile RdThis zoo is lovely. Very environmentally conscious and rescue driven. The penguin house is a must see!
Sightseeing
GIANT open air farmer's market every weekend in the growing season. Def worth a visit. Plus, the murals!! Get there early, or be prepared to walk; parking can be a pain.
294 locals recommend
Eastern Market
GIANT open air farmer's market every weekend in the growing season. Def worth a visit. Plus, the murals!! Get there early, or be prepared to walk; parking can be a pain.
OH MY GOD. This building reminds you that Detroit was the Paris of America when Art Deco was king. The interior is a work of art. Walk in and explore the most beautiful lobby you might ever see.
67 locals recommend
The Guardian Building
500 Griswold StOH MY GOD. This building reminds you that Detroit was the Paris of America when Art Deco was king. The interior is a work of art. Walk in and explore the most beautiful lobby you might ever see.
You know how everyone talks about the epic mansions that fell into disrepair. Well, they're all getting fixed up now, and they are BEAUTIFUL. Great place to explore. Please do be mindful not to take pictures, though. The locals are pretty touchy about that
36 locals recommend
Boston Edison
You know how everyone talks about the epic mansions that fell into disrepair. Well, they're all getting fixed up now, and they are BEAUTIFUL. Great place to explore. Please do be mindful not to take pictures, though. The locals are pretty touchy about that