"How did it strike you on arrival?Stylish and busy, with a great mix of historic architecture and well-designed modern touches. This former firehouse has preserved a lot of its best elements, like the original, untouched terrazzo floors and wood-paneled walls. Most of these details are in the public spaces, but a few, including the terrazzo floors, extend to the guest rooms. Local art appears on every floor.
Nice. What’s the crowd like?It's one of those hotels where people actually want to hang out in the lobby. You'll see local creatives, hipsters, and boss ladies decamping in the lobby for meetings or to use the podcasting studio and an adjacent small, quiet lounge. When I visited, Decades Vintage was in town with vintage Chanel dresses and purses. The restaurant and bar attracts guests, a moneyed suburban crowd, and new downtown scenesters. Those actually spending the night are tasteful travelers who care about the details—the type looking to be exposed to Detroit artisans and have a Michelin-starred chef behind the hotel kitchen. Martha Stewart, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, and top athletes check in when they visit Detroit.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Everything from the wallpaper to furniture to the Owen Wilson "Wow"-worthy furniture is made by local artisans. Blackout shades ensure that the flashing city lights, including a highly visible LED video billboard, don’t interrupt sleep. If I could have my pick, I'd stay in the Commissioner’s Suite, a former fire commissioner's office that's been turned into a gigantic suite with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and separate sleeping, lounging, and dining areas. Feel like splurging? Book it with the adjoining Secretary’s Suite.
How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?In-room amenities are slightly above standard: flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi that actually works, plus a mini bar with local snacks and not-mini bottles of spirits—Two James gin and Our/Detroit vodka—made at local distilleries to imbibe in-room or take home. There's also Le Labo toiletries in the bathroom.
Tell us about the food: Worth it?The menu from The Apparatus Room is always changing but is known for its shareable feasts—like the communal pork shoulder—and its riff on the Detroit coney dog, a plate of homemade pici pasta with beef-heart bolognese topped with chopped onion, dijon mustard, and grated horseradish. Vegetables are divine, and sourced from Recovery Park Farms, a leader in the urban farm movement using vacant lots to truly farm in the city. The restaurant stops serving at 10 p.m. during the week (which includes in-room service), so make sure to make other plans if you're arriving late.
For next level, try to book a spot at the Chef’s Table—a communal dining experience that overlooks The Apparatus Room and is led by chef Thomas Lents. Tickets ($175) sell out immediately when they are released the 1st of every month, so you have to plan in advance.
Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?Service is friendly and attentive, but not over the top. It’s a busy place, so you have to ask for what you need. They work hard to make you feel like you’re one of the “gang,” but aren’t swooping in inconspicuously to grab your bags and open doors.
Bottom line: Worth it, and why? This is a rare hotel for Detroit, with an authentic scene and a top restaurant (for the city, period). The Foundation Hotel could be a game-changer." - Meghan McEwen
