Detroit vs. Everybody

Okay, Now Where? Motor City

Last month, I traveled to Detroit for a friend’s bridal shower. I’ve spent a decent amount of time in Detroit over the past several years. Between day trips during college, staffing a Congresswoman at union events, and visiting my dear friend Snowpea (née Sophie), I’ve seen the city change over the past decade. Detroit has all the telltale markers of big developer shenanigans: enormous glass-clad corporate buildings, a Sweetgreen, and luxury brands that don’t make a ton of sense in their environment (a.k.a. Tecovas cowboy boots). That said, with every passing visit, I’ve become more impressed by and excited about the food and drink scene in “the Paris of the Midwest.”

To Eat

• Bar Chenin: I basically wrote this article as an excuse to evangelize Bar Chenin. I love this place so much. The 12 seat wine bar in the Siren Hotel has great vibes, a formidable wine list, and really incredible pasta and Detroit-style pizzas for how small a kitchen they’re operating in (a literal electric burner behind the bar). Highly, highly, highly recommend going here!

Pasta with Morels & Detroit Style Pizza @ Bar Chenin

• Takoi: I visited Takoi for the first time in college and it has been great ever since. The “modern Thai” food has earned nominations from the James Beard Foundation. The side of rice is exceptionally good.

• Vecino: This cool Mexican restaurant features a whole fish covered in salsa verde and salsa roja (likely inspired by the famous Contramar fish). Fun fact: the owner of Bar Chenin was formerly a bartender here.

• Shewolf: Great Italian spot. The pasta all’Amatriciana was extremely good, and they have a great selection of Italian wines. Sit at the bar!

Pasta @ Shewolf

To Drink

• Cafe Sous Terre: Cute all-day cafe / wine bar that’s great for a pre-dinner drink.

• The Sugar House: This bar genuinely has one of the biggest cocktail menus I’ve ever seen. They pride themselves on making the 101 classic cocktails including a ton of prohibition-era drinks.

To Do

• Detroit Institute of Arts: I love this museum. The museum’s pièce de résistance is a series of Diego Rivera murals, but they also house an impressive permanent collection (Matisse, Monet, Wiley, etc).

• MOCAD: Recently reopened! The Olayami Dabls exhibition currently on view is really great.

• Eastern Market: If your city has a farmers market, I will be there. The surrounding neighborhood is also covered in murals (including one by Olayami Dabls).

• Day trip to Ann Arbor: Obviously, I am very biased towards Ann Arbor, but it’s a good day trip for a game, a visit to the UMMA, or Zingerman’s.

Recommendations from friends

If I haven’t said it before, the best recommendations I ever get for food and travel come from friends. I’m sharing a few Detroit recommendations from friends below:

• Grandma Bob’s: If you know my friend Sophie, you know she is literally always at Grandma Bob’s so I would take this recommendation seriously.

• Vesper Books and Wine: Literally a wine bar and cookbook shop. I cannot think of anything more up my alley.

• Father Forgive Me: Super cute wine and cocktail bar.

Stephanie Pohl is Lincoln Park’s premier vintage clothing dealer, and she was kind enough to share some of her Detroit shopping recommendations with me:

• Coup D’état: Listed as one of the top 50 best clothing stores in America (NYT).

• Catalogue: Vintage (by appointment only)

• Eugenie: Sustainable fashion boutique

• Periodicals: Magazine shop & concept store

• Paramita Sound: Not a store, but an immersive music-listening experience

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