Image courtesy of the Shinola Hotel
Don’t sleep on Detroit. Motown is alive and well. It’s an effortlessly cool, urban locale with tons of great food, art, music, and culture to boot. We tapped some of our local Michigan advisors for their take on how to do Detroit right. Read their insider recs for where to stay, and what to eat, drink, do, and take home from the city.
Detroit’s best hotels
If you haven’t heard, Detroit is back, largely thanks to a slate of cool, personality-driven hotels. Here are a few of our favorites.
Shinola Hotel: The eponymous Detroit-based watch brand is behind this modern downtown stay, complete with a Michelin Key, high ceilings, clean lines, and retro-chic vibes.
Fora Perks include $100 food/beverage credit, $45 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade, and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Siren Hotel: This whimsical hidden gem is beloved by locals and in-the-know travelers alike. Hit up its piano karaoke bar, barbershop, rooftop, and record store while there.
The Godfrey Detroit, Curio Collection By Hilton: This Corktown stay is surrounded by trendy restaurants, bars, and breweries. After exploring the area, head to the rooftop lounge for cocktails with a view.
Detroit Foundation Hotel: The city’s 1929 fire department headquarters, reimagined into a stylish, creative, and distinctly Detroit escape.
Detroit’s best restaurants
Detroit's food scene is rich with variety, creativity, and local pride. There are many options, but a few stand out:
ADELINA: Fora Advisor Candice Jankowski recommends this Italian-Mediterranean haunt for its solid homemade pastas, seafood, and meats.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails: A good-vibes-only spot with a menu that changes daily, beloved by Fora Advisor Wendy BJ.
Vecino: A modern, sleek Mexican rec in Midtown, courtesy of Fora Advisor Seema Desai.
Oak & Reel: Seema also loves this hip spot, where homemade pasta and seafood cooked in a wood-burning hearth await.
Leña: Basque and Catalan fare at its finest, with a standout Spanish wine list—a favorite of Fora Advisor Jennifer White.
San Morello: Wood-fired pizza and a seasonal outdoor spritz bar? Say less.
SheWolf: Modern Italian with standout dishes that “never fail,” says Fora Advisor Lynly Williams. “Always an amazing meal.”
Ladder 4 Wine Bar: Come for the wine-forward menu, stay for the renovated-firehouse vibes. It’s a favorite of Fora Advisor Daryn Schwartz.
Takoi: Modern Thai with futuristic vibes. Fora Advisor Gianna Marx says it “feels like you are in a spaceship,” and highly recommends the som tum thai and khanom krok.Lady of the House: You must order carrot steak, per Gianna.
Supino Pizzeria: A casual staple serving pies East Coast style, says Fora Advisor Lexa Leatherdale.
Ottava Via: Rustic Italian with best neighborhood vibes, lauded by Fora Advisor Jessica Woods.
Detroit’s best bars
Image courtesy of the Siren Hotel
From rooftop views to moody speakeasies and historic jazz clubs, Detroit has it all:
The Candy Bar: Jessica loves this glamorous, pink-hued bar inside the effortlessly cool Siren Hotel.
Last Chance Saloon: “Small and lively 'dive' bar,” Gianna said. “Go on Saturday night for the best karaoke in town.”
Bad Luck Bar: Go for the “secret speakeasy vibe,” Lexa said.
The Monarch Club: For rooftop cocktails with a view.
The Standby: Trendy and approved by the James Beard Foundation—”your bartender’s favorite spot.”
The Skip: Where tropical vibes, cheeky playfulness, and famous “frozens” (cucumber margarita, anyone?) combine
Sugar House: Craft cocktails in Corktown, with a A+ whiskey and bourbon selection.
Cliff Bell’s: A classic jazz-club institution for a reason, Lynly said.
Must-do activities
Experience Detroit through its iconic sites and local favorites:
Eastern Market: Recommended by basically everyone we spoke to. Go on Saturday, and taste everything.
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA): Another fan favorite, home to one of the best art collections in the US. (Pro tip from Seems: “Hit up Babo before or after for brunch.”)
Motown Museum: Also known as Hitsville, home to Studio A where legends like The Temptations recorded their buttery vocals.
Sports: “I highly recommend attending a sporting event while in town,” Daryn said. “Detroit fans are electric and we love our local teams.”
Campus Martius: “The beach" in summer, an ice rink and après lodge in the winter, Seema said.
Cadieux Cafe: The US’ only place for feather bowling, a Belgian game where players try to get six wooden balls as close to a feather as possible.
Raven Lounge: Detroit's oldest blues club—”a little off the beaten path,” Gianna said, “but the whole place is a vibe.”
The Shepherd: A church-turned-art-gallery in Detroit’s hyperlocal Little Village neighborhood.
Detroit souvenirs
A Lion’s jersey is mandatory, but here are a few other ways you can take home a piece of the city:
Locally made notebooks, watches, and leather goods from Shinola.
Irreverent, artisanal chocolate truffles from Bon Bon Bon Chocolates.
Any soft drink from Faygo or Vernors.
A Detroit vs. Everybody tee from vs Everybody.
Books, candles, tchotchkes, and other finds from City Bird.
Fresh coffee beans from Oasis or Sabbath.
A chocolate fudge bump cake from Sanders.