to do + eat
top things to do:
the Shepherd
walk through the gallery, get a drink at Father Forgive Me (drink it on the the lawn, blankets provided), and grab a pastry at Warda Patisserie. a good Sunday activity, as it is walking distance from our house.
LANTERN Detroit
check out Signal Return (letterpress print shop), PASC gallery (Progressive Art Studio Collective), shop at Coup d'etat, and have a beer at Collect. a good Sunday activity, as it is walking distance from our house.
Michigan Central
check out Neighbor x Folk shop, the gift shop, and yellowlight donuts (recommend brown butter plaintain)
Detroit Institute of Arts
don't miss diego rivera's detroit industry mural
Eastern Market
a big district worth walking around in to admire all the murals. there is a Saturday farmer's market, two breweries, some shops, and Marrow is a good place for dinner (their martini comes with an olive stuffed with a stinky cheese and ashley loves it). you can pair this with Anthology Coffee & the Dequindre Cut
Dequindre Cut
for graffiti enthusiasts.
--// for food //--
Standby
good food AND good cocktails
Rose's
some of the best duck confit ever + pair it with a pickle martini
Coriander Kitchen and Farm
this one is a little more out of the way (maybe 20-25 mins from downtown), but very cute and has plenty of outdoor seating and is located along a channel. detroit's own venice canals!
Michigan & Trumbull
ashley's favourite detroit style pizza place, and in a complex that is worth walking around. the lemon ricotta is a fave.
Buddy's Pizza
a detroit style pizza chain. there is one next to the Siren hotel
Mudgie's Deli and Wine Shop
VERY GOOD SANDWICHES. the jerk chicken is ashley's fave.
Rocco's Italian Deli
also quite good sandwiches. did you know the midwest does a really good sandwich?
Takoi
"modern thai" - we once ate here 3 times in a month
Vecino
expensive mexican food; but the cocktails are goood
Mink Detroit
oysters, tinned seafood, caviar bumps, lobster rolls
Ladder 4 Wine Bar
Le Suprême
a classic french brasserie
Slows Bar BQ
Taqueria El Rey
not for those coming from LA... but this is the best carnitas tacos spot.
Yumvillage
very good afro-caribbean food
BARDA
Norm's Diner
the neighbourhood breakfast joint for us townies
Fred's
also good breakfast
--// for coffee //--
Anthology Coffee
jake's favourite coffee, and also jake's favourite coffee cake (ever, he says)
Alba
cafe with the most perfectly soft egg sando
Trinosophes
another cafe with a very good egg sandwich - dilly
La Ventana Cafe
The Red Hook Detroit
this would be the walkable one for those of you staying in Frederick Stearns B&B or an airbnb in West Village
The Congregation
has cocktails and some food as well. inside an old church, has outdoor space
Warda Pâtisserie
this is their midtown location. there is another location, see "Shepherd" in top things to do
--// for drinks //--
Chenin
great wines + ice cream flavours. located behind the bar at the siren hotel (do not accidentally go to that one!). you'll be lucky if you get a bar seat - we're usually standing! you can get pizza and bread & ham as well.
Father Forgive Me
cocktails & outdoor space. see "Shepherd" up in top things to do
Stadt Garten
outdoor wine garden, perfect for summer day drinking
Saksey's
cocktail bar
Kiesling
Grey Ghost Detroit
mid food; but good cocktails
Collect Beer Bar
beer bar. see "Lantern" up in top things to do
Brewery Faisan
a big airy local brewery
if you choose to eat asian food, you're making a mistake. if you are part of Hsu family, read on...
Detroit Pho & Crab Restaurant
seafood boil AND pho (yes you can have a MINI pho with your seafood boil!!) okay this one is good even for non-family but it's in the suburbs, UGH...
Pho Lucky
pho, but closer.
Ima Noodles
noodles mostly
Ima Izakaya
mostly noodles... but maybe a little bit more
Midtown Shangri-La
overpriced american-chinese classics... but acceptable in a pinch.