Spend the Day Exploring Detroit's Midtown

City Bird & Nest
City Bird & Nest are two boutique shops right next door to each other selling Detroit and Michigan-themed items. You can get t-shirts, soaps, glasses, books, candles and much more. Next door at Nest, you can get household goods like planters, barware, candles and more.

Pure Detroit
You can get all the Detroit apparel you need or want at Pure Detroit. From t-shirts to jewelry and everything in between, Pure Detroit has creative and unique items for everyone.

Third Man Records
Detroit rocker Jack White founded Third Man Records and opened up his shop in the Cass Corridor in 2015. You can shop for vinyl records, and apparel, catch live music and even tour the vinyl record pressing plant in the back during your visit.

Shinola
Known for their watches but with other handcrafted goods, Shinola’s flagship store in Midtown Detroit lets you have a look at all of their incredible products. You can try on watches, check out the leather goods, and even enjoy a cup of coffee inside the shop.

Source Booksellers
Founded by retired Detroit educator Janet Webster Jones, Source Booksellers is an independent bookshop offering unique non-fiction books. They also have different events throughout the year where you can hear conversations with authors, book talks and more.

Detroit Denim Co.
Founded in 2010, Detroit Denim give syou an opportunity to build your own jeans, or check out the ones they have ready. Pop into their store and grab all of your denim needs in a variety of colors.

The Whitney
One of the more historic restaurants in Detroit, The Whitney is inside an 1890s mansion along Woodward Ave. They’re known for their wine and beef wellington, so make sure to give it a try while you’re there. You can also check out the Ghost Bar at the top of the mansion, which is rumored to be haunted!

SheWolf
Offering contemporary Italian food, SheWolf has housemade pasta and delicious cocktails to make a great evening. They focus on modern Roman cuisine from Chef Anthony Lombardo, and tier menu changes often. Make sure to try the Cacio e Pepe

Selden Standard
Selden Standard has been nominated for several James Beard Awards with Chef Andy Hollyday. They focus on small plates with shareable portions, prepared in a wood-fired oven with local ingredients. They also have a great wine list and beer list with unique cocktails.

Rocco’s Italian Deli
You’ll want to try every sandwich on the menu at Rocco’s, which offers different Italian sandwiches and salads. Some of our favorites include the Il Rocco with hot soppressata, other meats, cheese and garlic-lemon aioli, or the chicken parm sandwich. You can also stop by the market while you’re there to get some Italian foods to make at home.

Royale With Cheese
You’ll find delicious, cheesy burgers and food at Royale With Cheese, named after the famous like from “Pulp Fiction.” On top of those burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, they have crispy sidewinder fries, shakes, salads and more.

Mad Nice
Mad Nice is one of the newer restaurants in Detroit and focuses on modern Italian food with a lunch and dinner menu. Their unique pizzas are a must-try, and on top of pasta, they offer a variety of meat and fish.

Jolly Pumpkin
Make sure you have the Detroit Brew Trail pass with you when you visit Midtown. Jolly Pumpkin has more than a dozen beers on tap from both their brewery and their sister brewery, North Peak. You can try IPAs, sours, amber ales and more.

Motor City Brewing Works
Motor City Brewing Works has been brewing beer for nearly three decades as Detroit’s oldest operating brewery. They have several flagship brews, most famously their Ghettoblaster Mild Ale, an English-style mild ale.

Castalia at Sfumato
You’ll try cocktails you’ve never imagined at Castalia, an experimental cocktail bar that focuses on flavor and fragrance. They have alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, and each comes with a matching scent that’s meant to enhance the flavor of your cocktail.

Willis Show Bar
Willis Show Bar re-opened a few years ago after it was originally open from 1949-1978. The upscale cabaret and cocktail bar has a great menu to go along with live music throughout the week.

The Old Miami
A well-known dive bar in Detroit, The Old Miami opened in 1980 by Daniel Overstreet, a Vietnam veteran. The bar is still a veteran’s bar, and any veteran can get free entry to all events. There’s a great list of drinks and events throughout the year.

Avalon
Located inside the Jolly Pumpkin, Avalon serves up great coffee, boozy drinks, pastries and more.

Detroit Institute of Arts
The DIA is one of the best art museums in the country and features more than 100 galleries with art and other artifacts throughout the history of the world. Some famous painters include Van Gogh, Diego Rivera, Picasso and more.

Detroit Historical Museum
You can learn all about Detroit’s history at the Detroit Historical Museum and see cool historical items. Make sure to also walk the streets of old Detroit on the lower level of the museum.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The Wright was founded in 1965 and is one of the top museums dedicated to African-American history and experience in the world. You can check out different programs, exhibitions and more at The Wright.

Michigan Science Center
There is fun for the whole family at the Michigan Science Center where people can get hands-on with more than 200 exhibits and have a blast trying new things. There is also a 4D theater, an IMAX Dome and a planetarium.

Museum of Contemporary Art
MOCAD offers different exhibitions and programs showing off contemporary art and focusing on art “as a means to nurture social change and human understanding.”

Wayne State University
You can walk around one of Detroit’s premier universities on the campus of Wayne State, right in the heart of Midtown. On the campus you’ll also find some unique architecture throughout some of the buildings.