Things To Do
A note about getting around
Detroit is the Motor City... it's unfortunately a very car-centric place. We've tried to include plenty of walkable options, but many places will require you to drive or Uber in order to get there. There's also the "Q Line," which is a free North-South streetcar that goes up and down Woodward Avenue. The People Mover, an above-ground monorail that goes around downtown, will unfortunately be closed for upgrades in October.
If you only did one thing...
Go to Eastern Market! It's Detroit's primary farmer's market, and one of the oldest and largest in the country. It runs every Saturday from the early morning (6AM or so) until the mid-afternoon (3PM or so). Peak hours are 9AM - 12PM. You'll find plenty of produce, prepared foods/snacks/drinks, souvenirs, etc. Bring cash! If you're in Detroit early enough, you can stop by Eastern Market before embarking on any of the circuits below. Or, check out Eastern Market on Saturday before the wedding, and the circuits on Sunday after the wedding! We wrote out some of our favorite Eastern Market experiences at the link below (click "View").
The Circuits
If you're interested in exploring some of Detroit, here are some prepared itineraries. The Downtown Circuit: https://tinyurl.com/DowntownCircuit The Midtown Circuit: https://tinyurl.com/MidtownCircuit The Southwest Circuit: https://tinyurl.com/SouthwestCircuit The Eastside Circuit: https://tinyurl.com/TheEastsideCircuit All of these circuits are also plotted on Google Maps -- click "View" below and check the box for the circuit you're interested in.
Our Recs for Restaurants
Baobab Fare is one of Detroit's most popular restaurants (for good reason)! Really hearty rice-and-meat dishes from Burundi. And on that same block is Yumvillage, a casual build-your-own-bowl Afro-Caribbean place. Both are halal. If you're trying to go out for a nice dinner, check out SheWolf Pastificio (Italian restaurant that not only makes its pasta fresh, but mills its flour in-house), Ladder 4 Wine Bar (a wine bar that has become more popular for its shockingly good food), or Vecino (an amazing new Modern Mexican restaurant). If you want to stay within walking distance of the venue, then check out Le Supreme (French food), Hiroki-San/Sakazuki (a pair of Japanese restaurants), or Ash Bar (contemporary fare). Our venue, The Highlands, is also a really great (though pricey) restaurant.
Our Recs for Coffee Shops
La Ventana is one of our favorite coffee shops in the city. The space is really relaxing and the owners, Juan and Kat, are super friendly. If you're looking for something closer to the venue, Madcap Coffee is arguably the best specialty coffee roaster in the city. Walk over from the venue or take the Q Line. If you're trying to get out of downtown, take an Uber to The Congregation. It's a former church converted into a coffee shop and community space. One of a kind!
Our Recs for Detroit-Style Pizza
NOTE: if you want to get true Detroit-style pizza, make sure you order a "square" pizza. Our favorite Detroit-style pizza, by far, is Sicily's Pizzeria in Mexicantown. It's halal, too. You'd have to drive or Uber there from the venue/hotels. Probably the most famous Detroit-style pizza place is Buddy's. There's one downtown that you can walk or take the Q Line to. (Or, you can venture out to the original Buddy's at 17125 Conant.) For a really cool Bangladeshi twist on Detroit-style pizza, try Amar Pizza (recently ranked by the New York Times as one of the country's top 22 pizza spots) in Hamtramck. Try the "Spice" or the "Naga." Note that this is a takeout-only spot, and will probably be available on food delivery apps. It's halal, too.