Things to do in Detroit on Mondays

Monday Morning

Start your Monday with breakfast before exploring the city. And after you finish breakfast, fuel up on more coffee – you will have a lot to see!

For breakfast, enjoy a meal at The Hudson Café, located across from the former/up-and-coming Hudson’s Site. Opt for the red velvet pancakes or the Monte Cristo French toast. Egg lovers also will enjoy the variety of eggs Benedict options or one of the many omelets served with cheesy grits.

Ready for more coffee? Great – because there are many great coffee shops in Detroit. Depending on where you are heading this morning, here are a few options: In Eastern Market, try Germack Coffee; in Corktown, opt for Lucky Detroit; in Midtown, choose Red Hook; and downtown, try Coffee Down Under in the Financial District. Heading farther out from downtown? The Congregation in the Boston Edison neighborhood is a convenient drive to anywhere in the city.

Now that you’ve had your second (or third, or fourth) cup of coffee, it’s time to walk around and explore Detroit. Spend a morning at Belle Isle, located just outside of downtown. The state park is home to the James Scott Memorial Fountain and features spectacular views of downtown. The island is a little slow on Mondays – the Belle Isle Aquarium, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and Dossin Great Lakes Museum are closed – but the Belle Isle Nature Center is open every day. Take time to walk around the island and enjoy the views.

Monday Afternoon

Is it lunchtime already? Grab a quick bite at one of the city’s food trucks and get ready to explore the area on foot.

Food trucks can be found every day at downtown’s Cadillac Square and Woodward Esplanade. Known as Detroit Street Eats, the rotating fleet of more than 75 trucks features foods from around the world. Take your lunch across the street to Campus Martius Park, a public space that features gardens, live entertainment and a “beach” in the warmer months.

After lunch, take time to walk through the area and explore some of the sights that can’t be seen from the car. The Belt, an alley that connects Gratiot Avenue to Grand River, is a short walk from Campus Martius Park and features murals from more than a dozen artists. Also nearby is Parker’s Alley, lined with small shops – most of which are open on Mondays.

After leaving Parker’s Alley, head over to Woodward Avenue, the city’s most iconic street. The Qline runs daily up and down Woodward, and you can catch the streetcar at nearby Grand Circus Park. From Grand Circus Park, take the Qline north to the Canfield Station stop. Stop for a drink at Hopcat, located across Woodward, before heading down Canfield to Third Man Records, launched by Detroit musician Jack White in 2001. Canfield also has other interesting shops including City Bird and Shinola Detroit.

Monday Evening

After spending the day exploring Detroit, you’ll probably be hungry – and there are a lot of great restaurants open on Mondays throughout the city.

Before dinner, check out one of the many events happening around the city: Watch the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, look for a concert at Little Caesars Arena or catch a comedy show at Planet Ant Theatre in nearby Hamtramck. Then after dinner, be sure to walk around downtown to see the city’s historic buildings lit up at night.

Here are some restaurants to try:

Grey Ghost Detroit, located between Brush Park and Midtown, has everything from short rib dumplings to sea scallops.
Parc overlooks the fountain at Campus Martius and its menu includes seafood, steaks and pasta dishes.
Andiamo Detroit Riverfront, located in the Renaissance Center, offers Italian entrees, steaks and great views of the Detroit River and Canada.
Townhouse Detroit serves burgers as well as lobster and caviar, and its covered patio has great views of the city.
Vicentes Cuban Cuisine has tapas and main entrees as well as signature cocktails that offer an authentic taste of Cuba.