Things to do in Southfield

Story by Brandon Alger

As of 2020, Southfield was home to 76,600 people and is home to one of Metro Detroit’s premier business centers, boasting golden skyscrapers in the town center surrounded by tree-lined residential neighborhoods. If you find yourself visiting or living in Southfield today, here are a list of nearby highlights to visit.

Shop and Dine at the Southfield Town Center

Developed in 1975, Southfield Town Center is a 2.2 million square foot office complex of interconnected golder skyscrapers, restaurants, hotels, and a two-story garden atrium with 94,000 square feet of retail space. Some notable restaurants at Southfield Town Center include:

Skyline Club - This upscale restaurant located at the top of 2000 Town Center offers not only food, but work and meeting spaces to entertain clients and collaborate.

Las Cazuelas - This local chain, on the east side of Evergreen, will satisfy you whether you’re looking for authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex.

Uncle Joe’s Chicken Fingers - An unpretentious aesthetic and delicious Joe’s Sauce will keep you interested in this counter-serve spot

Shawarma Man - No trip to Detroit is complete without trying some of the delicious Middle Eastern options available locally. The fattoush here is incredible, and as the name suggests you won’t go wrong with the shawarma.

Taste of Ethiopia - Just down the road about a mile is this delicious hidden gem. Taste of Ethiopia has been a beloved family-run restaurant in Southfield since its opening in 2005. Owners Meski and Kassa serve up delicious, authentic Ethiopian food as well as host events for their local community.

Play a round of Golf at Plum Hollow

Plum Hollow is an 18-hole course with the amenities you expect from a championship golf course. Plum Hollow opened in 1921 and is still today known as one of the top courses in Michigan. The course features over 33,000 square feet of teeing ground and casual dining in the Art Moran Pub Room, or formal dining in the Tee Top Room.

View Wildlife at Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve

With over 42 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows, Carpenter Lake is one of Metro Detroit’s most impressive urban nature areas that doesn’t require a long drive to the townships. Here you will find trails that lead you to native flora and a meadow with reused soils and replanted with native species. Carpenter Lake has a small dam to control flooding and offers opportunities for fishing. Depending on the time of year, you will find a vernal pond that’s either empty or full of life.

Visit the Lathrup Village Historic District

Lathrup Village is a city within a city. This community of just over 4,000 is entirely surrounded by Southfield and shares many services with its larger neighbor. Planned in the 1950s, Lathrup Village was at the time a very progressive step forward in suburban design. Constructed with strict adherence to ideas of renowned land developer Louise Lathrup Kelly, Lathrup Village consists entirely of brick and masonry with attached garages, Lathrup Village set the standard for what would later become the familiar American suburbia we see nationwide today.

Go on a Nature Hike through Baurvic Woods

This quaint 41-acre park is nestled within a forested area of Oakland County. Here you can hike through the trails to find local wildlife, relax and enjoy the sounds of nature, or bring your family to enjoy the play structure and tire themselves out before you turn in for the night. Picnic areas are also available, so pack in a lunch and enjoy some of the best nature you’ll find in an urban area like Southfield.

Check out the Southfield Public Library

North-adjacent to Southfield Town Center is one of the metro area’s more impressive modern public libraries. With a quarter million volumes for checkout, the library also offers a small business center, 120 public computers, and programs for community members.

Get Lunch in the Historic Village of Franklin

While primarily residential you can visit the Franklin Cider Mill for a Michigan tradition of cider and donuts (a must if you’re here in the fall), or the Franklin Grill - built in an 1840s-era blacksmith shop and featuring locally sourced ingredients and ice cream.

Stroll through Downtown Berkley

Adjacent to Southfield, along 12 Mile Road, you’ll find the City of Berkley and its charming, walkable downtown area. Park for free along 12 Mile or in the public lot at 12 Mile and Robina and walk along 12 Mile as you visit unique boutique shops like Peninsulas - known for its Michigan apparel, Yellow Door Art Market, or Catching Fireflies. Grab lunch at Berkley Common or explore unique pizza and cocktail options at Amici’s Kitchen. If you have time, go around the corner to Coolidge Highway and explore a second walkable district at Coolidge and Catalpa.

Get your Vitamin Z at the Detroit Zoo

About 2 miles east of Southfield, off Interstate 696, is the Detroit Zoo. With over 125 acres, the Detroit Zoo values conservation, and sustainability, and provides authentic habitats for its animals. Don’t miss the 33,000-square-foot Polk Penguin Conservation Center, which is the largest penguinarium in the United States. After you visit the zoo, walk into Royal Oak or park at one of the downtown structures that provide free two-hour parking, and spend your evening exploring one of the most walkable areas of Metro Detroit.

Drive out to Downtown Farmington

A few miles west of Southfield, you’ll find Downtown Farmington which features an exciting new social district, where you can order an adult beverage from one restaurant and freely carry it to another. The “Farmington Syndicate” has options such as the Farmington Brewing Company - try their vanilla porter if it’s on tap, Basement Burger Bar, Chive Kitchen - known for its unique cocktails and wines, and even an arcade.