I have been an advocate for Detroit for a while now. Since I visited for the first time about 8 years ago, I fell in love with the architecture, the soul and grit that the city has and not to mention the deep history that it bares. I highly recommend you plan a trip to the Motor City. To help you in your planning endeavors, I have accumulated all of my city favorites in one posts. All of the must-see’s, must-do’s, must-try’s can be found below. Happy planning and safe travels!

Shinola Hotel (shown above)

This would probably be… let me correct myself, IS, the place you need to stay when visiting Detroit. Aside from the perfectly curated color palette, exceptional customer service and well-designed sleeping quarters, the hotel offers things to do without leaving the property. Hungry? Make your way downstairs and grab a bite at San Morello. My persuasive essay on why you should dine there can be found below. Need a craft cocktail? San Morello can help with that as well. In the mood for some light shopping? One of Shinola’s stores can be found in the lobby offering a selection of time pieces, leather goods, paper products and a few other items that you probably do not need, but you should definitely consider purchasing. In all seriousness, the hotel is centrally located in the heart of Detroit making it the perfect walking distance to a litany of shops and restaurants or to catch a game.

Per my write up in this previous post, these are my absolute go-to’s when it comes to where to eat in the city.

San Morello (in the Shinola Hotel)

Whether you are staying at the Shinola Hotel or not (and we suggest that you absolutely do), you must pay a visit to San Morello. Located in the lobby of the hotel, it sits on the corner of Woodward Avenue and E. Grand River Avenue. It bares the same warm, curated aesthetics as the rest of the property while offering a hospitable and chic environment that few places can organically pull off. The checkered tile flooring, cognac leather banquettes and stone top tables all add to the overall refined look. The neutral palette of the space is perfectly balanced by the marigold bar that greets you upon entering. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the menu does not lag behind by any means. The chef serves authentic wood-fired dishes, pizzas, salads and house-made pastas using local, seasonal ingredients. The sheep’s milk, ricotta and hot honey & garlic appetizer is a must-try! Kindly request additional pieces of bread. Thank me later. Follow it up with Carmellini’s lamb meatballs and the Classic pizza with bianco dinapoli tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, and basil. 

Cliff Bell’s

This place deserves an entirely separate post so I can really get into the history of the venue, but for the purposes of this post, I will tell you that the food served here is phenomenal! The Brussel sprouts are cooked to perfection with the ideal savory to sweet ratio. They have a bit of maple glaze and dried cherries. Chef’s kiss! I have tried to mimic their recipe at home each and every time I cook Brussels sprouts and I have failed each and every time. The Salmon Croquettes are indulgent and filling with crème fraîche, lemon zest. Round out the appetizer order with their truffle fries. For dinner, try their Overnight Braised Beef Short Rib with red wine demi-glace, pearl couscous and roasted broccolini. An honorable mention to the Homemade Merguez Meatballs. As good as the food is, it falls secondary to the absolute stunner of a show you will witness. More to come on that.

Wright & Company

This restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of 1500 Woodward, a building built for the F.J. Schwankovsky Company, a retailer of musical instruments. Their sign is inconspicuous and can easily be missed if you do not know what you are looking for. Just know that the entrance is across the street from the Huddle Soft Serve walk-up window. If you still cannot find it, simply look up. The restaurant has a panoramic view of Woodward Avenue and especially at night, you’ll see the interior lights wrap around the corner. Wright & Co. is known for their shareable plates created by James Beard nominated Chef / Partner Marc Djozlija and Executive Chef Kyle Schutte. The cornbread with candied garlic butter is a hearty start followed by the Pork Belly Sliders with tomato jam, sriracha aioli and arugula. The Roasted and Chilled Baby Carrots with bacon-whipped goat cheese and a hot honey vinaigrette are a must. There is something about the creaminess of the cheese and the kick of the hot honey that pairs so well. You aren’t done, just yet! The one shareable plate you must order each and every time are the House-made Potato Chips. Now, I know what you are thinking, but hear me out! They are basically fancy nachos! You have the perfectly crisp potato chips, drizzled with a cheddar cheese sauce, bacon, tomato relish and chives. They were recommended to me when I first dined at Wright & Co. and I have ordered them every time since. Zero regrets.

Sadly, I see a lot of stores come and go. It is part of the retail cycle, I supposed. However, these stores below are city staples that you must visit when in town.

• B_KS@ – I am still a huge fan of physical media so any time I get a chance to visit a book store, I am there! This local magazine off of West Canfield Street carries rare magazine titles not commonly found at your traditional bookstore. Their curated selection of periodicals, books and magazines will satisfy your desire for printed materials. They aren’t the only ones in town who can scratch that itch. Be sure to also check out Periodicals, a magazine shop and concept store located off of Grand River.
• George Gregory – This men’s shop is located in Corktown in a little strip across from the Godfrey Hotel. It is a must to visit whenever you are in town for all things for men. They carry men’s clothing, accessories and a curated selection of men’s grooming products. If physical media doesn’t do the trick, men’s grooming products certainly will. This shop has a unique assortment making the want turn into a need.
• Detroit Barbers – I have said this before, every time I travel, I try to get my hair cut in a local barber shop. I have visited Detroit Barbers a few times and the service remains supreme. The vibe is chill AND they make a mean latte at the coffee shop located on the second floor. A fade and a cup of Joe? What more does a guy need?
• XHIBITION – This boutique continues to excel in fashion and culture. It continues to remind me of a much cooler version of Barney’s (R.I.P.) with a much nicer staff and a less pompous environment. The store offers a nice mix of art, style and culture with their selection of sneakers, one-of-a-kind fashion pieces and printed magazines and books.

Detroit Institute of Arts: I recently posted about this museum, also referred to as DIA, in this post. It is still one my favorite museums in the U.S. that I have visited during my travels. The Detroit Institute of Arts is a culturally and artistically rich establishment that I think really compliments the city’s history. The museum was founded in 1885 and has been at its current Woodward Avenue location since 1927. The museum has gone through some expansions and renovations since its inception with the latest expansion reaching completion in 2007.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit: MOCAD is located a few miles from DIA; walkable when the weather permits. This museum has a much smaller footprint with a main building and a smaller space in the back making it an easy visit. The art is more contemporary and interactive in nature, making the experience vastly different than what you would experience at DIA.

Motown Museum: How can you visit Detroit and not visit the Motown Museum. This city is the birthplace of the Motown sound catapulting some of the greats like Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder. The museum is quaint, yet offers just the opposite of an experience. The tour is informative, entertaining, inspirational and jaw-dropping once you comprehend the magnitude of the Motown movement and how it altered the landscape of the music world forever.

Belle Isle Park: If you are wanting to escape from the city, take a quick ride share ride to Belle Isle Park. The park is off the beaten path, but it is such a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The island park is 982-acres that is home to the Belle Isle Aquarium,  Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Belle Isle Nature Center and the James Scott Memorial Fountain. The Belle Isle Aquarium is smaller in comparison to other city aquariums, but it leaves an impact with their conservation and education efforts. The building is historic adding to the charm of this park oasis. Next door is the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. The structure that houses the worldly variation of plants adds such an architectural aesthetic to the experience. Take a stroll through each wing of the building and revel in the peacefulness that it offers.

If you want to take a little break from the red, white and blue, you can pop on over to Windsor, Canada. The shuttle bus takes you under the Detroit River and in a few minutes, you’ll arrive in Windsor. The view of the Detroit skyline is pretty impressive from the other side. Pop on over for a latte, a quick bite and a view before making your way back stateside.