Things to Do in Detroit (2025)

Detroit’s 1841-born market buzzes year-round with growers, butchers, florists, murals, and pop-up arts nights. Featured by Food & Wine and recommended in the Michelin Green Guide, it’s the city’s social table on Saturday mornings.

Eight childhood friends revived Prohibition lore with small-batch whiskey, gin, and vodka sourced from Michigan farms. Sip seasonal cocktails in Eastern Market or book a behind-the-scenes whiskey tour nearby.

Artist Olayami Dabls’ outdoor installations and bead gallery celebrate African material culture on Grand River. Open bead shop hours and an annual festival make this a living arts campus embraced by local institutions.

A National Historic Landmark ceramic studio founded in 1903, still firing iridescent tiles that appear across Detroit architecture. Free galleries, a tile shop, and public tours connect visitors to a century of craft.

Step inside the “Cathedral of Finance” with expert-led tours that unpack its Wirt Rowland design, Pewabic tile, and vaults. A favorite of architecture critics and the Michelin Green Guide.

Home to the Rivera Court and a globally respected collection, the DIA continues to debut timely exhibitions and free community programming. Frequently cited by national critics and guidebooks.

Guided kayak tours trace the Jefferson-Chalmers canals and Detroit River, May through October. Local outlets highlight Paddle-to-Table evenings with a canal-side restaurant partner.

Part record store, part café-bar, part gallery — and a dance floor after dark. Covered by culture writers for its Movement Festival parties and year-round DJ residencies.

A compact, downtown listening room where DJs, natural-leaning wines, and a tight vinyl selection draw a true cross-section. Named among America’s best bars by national editors.

Beloved New Center staple from Burundian owners Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere. A James Beard-recognized team serving halal comfort dishes, fresh juices, and pantry goods in a bright, welcoming room.

Chef Javier Bardauil’s wood-fired cooking earned national nods and local devotion. Expect flame-kissed steaks, seafood, and South American wines in a moody, modern space.

A Black-owned, riverfront summer venue booking R&B, jazz, and legacy acts with skyline views. A go-to in local concert guides with weekly Jazzy Nights and big weekend headliners.