Woodward Avenue and the Belt alley spine. Standby cocktail bar, San Morello in the Shinola Hotel, Lafayette and American Coney face off at Lafayette Boulevard.
San Morello inside the Shinola Hotel on Woodward serves Southern Italian wood-fired cooking in Detroit. Andrew Carmellini's NoHo Hospitality kitchen since 2018.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House-made pasta
Order: Margherita pizza from the wood oven and a plate of cacio e pepe.
Tip: Brunch runs weekends 10:00 to 14:00. Reservations on OpenTable; bar seats are first-come.
The Apparatus Room inside the Detroit Foundation Hotel on Larned Street serves New American cooking in a converted 1929 firehouse. Open since 2017.
Signature: Half chicken, House pasta
Order: The wood-roasted half chicken with seasonal vegetables and a glass of Michigan Riesling.
Tip: Breakfast runs from 07:00 daily. Dinner reservations recommended; the bar is open later.
Wright & Company on the second floor of the Wright-Kay Building on Woodward serves James Beard-nominated composed small plates in Detroit. Open since 2014.
Signature: Burrata plate, Lamb meatballs
Order: Three to four shared plates with the burrata and the lamb meatballs leading.
Tip: Reservations strongly recommended for weekend evenings; cocktails worth a stop alone.
Prime + Proper in Capitol Park on Griswold Street serves a modern Detroit steakhouse in a 1912 building. Open since November 2017.
Signature: Dry-aged steak, Tableside Caesar
Order: The dry-aged ribeye, hash browns and the tableside Caesar.
Tip: Reservations through Resy; cocktail bar takes walk-ins for the front bar seats.
Joe Muer Seafood on the river inside the Renaissance Center serves classic Detroit seafood since the 2011 GM Tower revival. Original Joe Muer's dates to 1929.
Signature: Whitefish, Lobster bisque
Order: Pan-fried Michigan whitefish and the lobster bisque, both legacy plates.
Tip: Floor-to-ceiling river view best at sunset. Saturday dinner-only; book a week out.
Caucus Club at street level of the Penobscot Building on West Congress serves an old-Detroit chophouse since 1952. Reopened under new ownership 2017.
Signature: Dover sole, Steak Diane
Order: Dover sole tableside and steak Diane finished at the table.
Tip: Lunch service runs weekdays; dinner Monday through Saturday. Reservations on OpenTable.
Dime Store on Griswold inside the Chrysler House serves scratch-made brunch and lunch in downtown Detroit since 2014. Chef-driven, brunch-focused, daily.
Signature drink: Bloody Mary
Tip: Bloody Mary list is the editorial draw; weekend brunch books out by noon.
The Hudson Cafe on Woodward Avenue serves breakfast and brunch in downtown Detroit since 2011. The downtown brunch counter that books out every Saturday.
Signature drink: Stuffed French toast
Tip: Weekend wait can run an hour; weekdays open at 08:00. Card-friendly, walk-in only.
Roasting Plant on Woodward Avenue in the First National Building serves roast-to-order espresso in downtown Detroit. Vacuum tubes route the beans to the grinder.
Signature drink: Custom roast-to-order espresso
Tip: Watch the bean delivery tubes overhead; standing room mostly, a few counter seats.
Avalon Cafe & Bakery on Woodward in downtown Detroit serves organic breads and a casual cafe. Founded 1997 by Jackie Victor and Ann Perrault on Willis Street.
Tip: Loaves sell out by midafternoon; the cafe menu runs through 15:00 daily.
Worth the queue: Sea salt chocolate chunk cookie
Roasting Plant on Woodward Avenue in the First National Building roasts beans to order in downtown Detroit. Vacuum tubes route the green beans to the roaster.
Tip: Standing room mostly; the bean delivery tubes overhead are the editorial draw.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Sumatra, Costa Rica
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Roast-to-order
Wright & Company on the second floor of the Wright-Kay Building on Woodward serves a wine bar alongside small plates in Detroit. Beard-nominated wine program since 2014.
Signature pour: Trio of small-grower glasses
Wine focus: European and natural wines
Food: Composed small plates
Tip: Sommelier-led pairing flights at the bar; reservations open the dining-room side.
San Morello on Woodward in the Shinola Hotel pours Italian regional wines next to the pizza oven in Detroit. Andrew Carmellini's NoHo team since 2018.
Signature pour: Sicilian nero d'avola by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional, Sicilian and Sardinian
Food: Antipasti and wood-fired pizza
Tip: The standing bar in the front room runs first-come; pizza by the slice at the counter.
Standby in The Belt alley off Gratiot serves modern cocktails in downtown Detroit since 2015. James Beard Outstanding Bar Program semifinalist in 2017 and 2018; the city's top room.
Signature drink: House cocktail, often barrel-aged
Food: Composed small plates
Tip: Entry is from The Belt alley; reservations through OpenTable. World's 50 Best Discovery list.
Cliff Bell's on Park Avenue has poured cocktails in Detroit's downtown since 1935. Reopened 2006 by Paul Howard, it is the city's premier live jazz room.
Signature drink: Classic Manhattan
Food: Steak frites and chophouse classics
Tip: Tickets for the band run separately. The dining room is half the room; cocktails at the bar.
Detroit Beer Company on Broadway has brewed in downtown Detroit since September 2003. Two floors of the historic Hartz Building, steps from Comerica Park and Ford Field.
Signature drink: Local Pony Express IPA
Food: Pizza and bar food
Tip: Game-day crowds spill from Comerica Park; weekday lunch books up faster than dinner.
Lafayette Coney Island on West Lafayette Boulevard has served Coney dogs in downtown Detroit since 1924, opened by William Keros. Next door to rival American Coney.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Cash preferred; the counter is the order line. Compare to American next door; loyalists pick a side.
American Coney Island on West Lafayette Boulevard in downtown Detroit since 1917, opened by Gust Keros, the older brother. Next door to rival Lafayette Coney.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Open 24 hours; cards and cash both work. Coney with mustard and raw onion is the canonical order.
Detroit Beer Company on Broadway is a brewpub in downtown Detroit since September 2003. Two floors of the historic Hartz Building, steps from Comerica Park and Ford Field.
Tip: Game-day crowds spill from Comerica Park; the upstairs takes private bookings.
Lafayette Coney Island on West Lafayette in downtown Detroit since 1924 serves coney dogs under $5 around the clock. The cheapest meal in the canonical city orbit.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Cash counter; two coneys and fries is full lunch for under $10.
American Coney Island next door to Lafayette serves coney dogs in downtown Detroit since 1917. The older brother on Lafayette Boulevard; cards welcome, open 24/7.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Two coneys, fries and a Faygo for under $12. Open 24/7 every day.
Dime Store on Griswold inside the Chrysler House serves scratch-made brunch in downtown Detroit since 2014. The downtown daytime room, chef-driven and walk-in only.
Order: Duck confit hash with a Bloody Mary
Tip: Weekend brunch books out by noon; weekdays are easier. Bloody Mary list is the editorial draw.
The Hudson Cafe on Woodward Avenue has run a downtown Detroit brunch counter since 2011. Pancakes, omelets, eggs Benedict; the room books out by 10:00 Saturday.
Order: Red velvet pancakes with cream-cheese drizzle
Tip: Weekend wait can run an hour; weekdays from 08:00 are easier. Cards and cash both fine.
The Apparatus Room in the Detroit Foundation Hotel on Larned Street serves brunch in a converted 1929 firehouse in downtown Detroit. New American kitchen, Beard-recognized wine.
Order: Crab benedict with hollandaise and the firehouse coffee
Tip: Weekend brunch books on OpenTable; the bar takes walk-ins for cocktails by 11:00.
San Morello inside the Shinola Hotel on Woodward serves weekend brunch in downtown Detroit. Andrew Carmellini's wood-fired Italian kitchen; brunch with pizza and pasta.
Order: Margherita pizza for brunch and an espresso
Tip: Brunch only Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00; dinner the rest of the week.
Lafayette Coney Island on West Lafayette in downtown Detroit since 1924 serves chili dogs around the clock. Cash counter, the late-night coney since the city's first wave.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Cash preferred; the counter is the order line. After-bar crowd peaks 02:00 to 04:00.
American Coney Island on West Lafayette since 1917 has served Coney dogs round the clock in Detroit. Cards welcome, the post-game and post-bar canonical stop downtown.
Try: Coney dog with chili, mustard and onion
Tip: Open 24/7 every day of the year. Coney with mustard and raw onion is the canonical order.
Cliff Bell's on Park Avenue has poured cocktails and presented live jazz in Detroit since 1935. Reopened 2006, the canonical jazz room and supper club in the downtown core.
Tip: Tickets for the band run separately. The dining room is half the room; cocktails at the bar.
Aretha's Jazz Cafe inside the Music Hall on Madison Street in downtown Detroit honors Aretha Franklin with live jazz nightly. The newer of Detroit's two anchor jazz rooms.
Tip: Music Hall hosts simultaneous larger shows; Aretha's downstairs runs the intimate jazz program.
Cielo Rooftop on West Lafayette inside the Cambria Hotel offers downtown Detroit's open-air rooftop bar. Signature craft cocktails and a view across the central business district.
Tip: Sunset hour is the peak; reservations recommended for weekend evenings. Open seasonally.
The Monarch Club on the 13th floor of The Metropolitan building on Park Avenue serves cocktails with a rooftop view of downtown Detroit. Open since 2018, retro lounge.
Tip: Speakeasy entrance off the lobby; the rooftop bar is the editorial seat. Reservations recommended.
Standby in The Belt alley off Gratiot serves modern craft cocktails in downtown Detroit since 2015. James Beard Outstanding Bar Program semifinalist in 2017 and 2018; the city's top room.
Tip: Entry from The Belt alley; reservations recommended weekend evenings via OpenTable.
Candy Bar inside the Siren Hotel on Broadway serves a velvet pink lounge of craft cocktails in downtown Detroit. Open since 2018, the most Instagrammed bar in the city.
Tip: Walk-in only; Friday and Saturday peak after 22:00. The pink velvet booths are the photo seat.