Midtown Detroit and Eastern Market

Midtown Detroit is the area around Wayne State University, and where the Inn on Ferry Steet is located. This is the cultural center of Detroit, home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The DIA is highly recommended, with a significant permanent collection, and of course the Rivera Court, featuring Diego Rivera’s iconic Detroit Industry frescoes.

Parts of the area is still rebuilding from years of blight and neglect*–this is NOT the Magnificent Mile or Union Square–but there are growing numbers of cafes, restaurants and bars in the area. These are concentrated on Woodward and Cass, from about Ferry down to Alexandrine. There are also a handful of small galleries, artist markets and indie shops. There is a full directory of the area here: http://midtowndetroitinc.org/visit/local-area-directory.

Some highlights are: Motor City Brewing Works (excellent microbrews and pizza), Cass Cafe (restaurant+bar+art gallery), Great Lakes Coffee Roasters (self-explanatory), Seva (casual vegetarian restaurant) and The Old Miami (scruffy dive bar with a patio). Some of the nicer dining options are The Whitney, Atlas Global Bistro and Union Street.

The Eastern Market

Not technically part of Midtown Detroit (you probably shouldn’t walk there from Midtown), we highly recommend you spend part of your Saturday at the Eastern Market. (Saturday is market day. There isn’t much happening on other days.) We are there almost every Saturday in the summer. It is one of the largest, most active, and most authentic public fresh food markets in the country, consisting of 5 large sheds, connector corridors and surrounding retail and wholesale shops and restaurants. Even if you’re not shopping for produce, it’s worth a trip just to take in the scene.

One gem of the market is Bert’s BBQ on Russell, right in the thick of it. You will smell and hear it from far away. During the summer, this place essentially transforms into an all-day block party, with raucous karaoke, outdoor BBQ, cold beer, and dancing, all spilling out onto the street. It is an incredibly friendly vibe, with a host of very colorful local characters. It became so popular by the end of last summer that the karaoke party moved to the back parking lot. Our only word of warning is this: If you go to Bert’s on Saturday, please make sure you don’t get too carried away! (Ahem. You know who you are.) There will be plenty of eating, drinking and dancing at the wedding!

The market is centered on Russell Street between Wilkins and the Fisher Freeway. The easiest access is from Mack to the north.


View Midtown Detroit in a larger map

*Midtown will also be home to the Detroit Whole Foods, opening this year, which will become the ONLY chain grocery store within the Detroit city limits.