For an easy weekend getaway, hop in the car and in just six hours, you’ll arrive in the Motor City, tracing ground-breaking musical history, taking in singular street art, and sipping lemon drop martinis at a jazz cafe.
Detroit is ripe for a Black History Month excursion. This city was a last stop on the Underground Railroad and was frequented by abolitionists like Frederick Douglass. Rosa Parks lived out the later part of her life here, too.
Today, Detroit is home to a bevy of decorated Black-owned restaurants and shops, and in November, the city marked a political milestone, electing its first Black woman mayor. Here’s what to fold into your weekend, from a born-and-raised Detroiter.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Where To Stay
The Cochrane House
216 WINDER ST.
Soak in the charm of this 19th-century bed-and-breakfast in a redbrick building refurbished and reimagined by its Black women owners. Coffee is always available in the kitchen, and the daily full breakfast may include honey butter biscuits or chicken sausage.
The Siren Hotel
1509 BROADWAY ST.
The Siren Hotel is inside the 13-story historic Wurlitzer building with great views of the downtown.
Kasa Cadillac Square
139 CADILLAC SQUARE
Kasa Cadillac Square offers striking apartment-style units with in-unit laundry and other amenities.
What To See
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 E. WARREN AVE.
“And Still We Rise” is a must-see permanent exhibition at this Midtown museum. Explore the birth of the transatlantic slave trade, the horror of the Middle Passage and the liberation of the Underground Railroad.
Detroit Historical Museum
5401 WOODWARD AVE.
No trip to Detroit is complete without adding a little Motown to the mix. While the Motown Museum is currently closed for the final piece of its $75 million expansion project, this Midtown museum fills the void. One of its permanent exhibit “Motor City Music” celebrates Detroit’s genre-spanning impact on music. Think gospel, The Jackson 5 and Aretha Franklin.
The Heidelberg Project
HEIDELBERG STREET
In 1986, artist Tyree Guyton conceived of this massive outdoor art installation as a way of infusing needed life back into the street where he was raised. What were once vacant lots and abandoned houses have been transformed into a unique gathering place of vibrant public art. Heidelberg Street at Mt. Ellison Street in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood.
Detroit Riverwalk
1 HART PLAZA
Bundle up for a stroll along the Detroit River. Take in the sculptures at Hart Plaza – during the summer months, it hosts the city’s biggest festivals – and the protected parks and greenways. Just across the water is Windsor, Ontario.
Where To Eat and Drink
Baobab Fare
6568 WOODWARD AVE.
Stop in this vibrant eatery in the bustling New Center area, just a couple miles north of downtown. Under the tutelage of Burundi refugees, Baobab Fare was a James Beard Award nominee in 2024 with East African favorites like nyumbani, slow-simmered beef in a tomato sauce.
Aretha’s Jazz Cafe
350 MADISON ST.
One of the city’s best-kept secrets lives in the belly of the Music Hall, a 1920s-built venue whose main stage hosts stage plays and concerts. Grab cocktails or do dinner and a show. On any given night, catch a brass band, a DJ set or even a poetry slam.
Ima Izakaya
2100 MICHIGAN AVE.
Grab dinner at this Corktown neighborhood favorite, punctuated by stained glass and wood floors, and boasting Asian-inspired dishes including ramen, sushi hand rolls and pho. Black head chef Mike Ransom runs the show.
The Block
3919 WOODWARD AVE.
Here, the atmosphere is elevated but casual enough that your explore-the-city outfit will translate. Pop in for the salmon BLT, the braised short rib or any of the other American fare. The Black owners have cultivated a lively bar and grill atmosphere.
Griot Music Lounge
66 E. FOREST AVE.
In West African tradition, the griot is the village musician, historian and storyteller. In this tucked-away Midtown spot named for that crucial figure, there’s barely enough room to turn around, but the lounge is made grand by music-themed art, specialty cocktails and unbeatable around-the-way vibes.
Folk Detroit
1701 TRUMBULL ST.
Grab brunch at this adorable, James Beard-nominated cafe and shop in Corktown. Peruse the goods, and then enjoy a salad, sandwich or other locally sourced chow.
Where To Shop
Flo Boutique Co.
404 W. WILLIS ST.
You’ll find this Black-owned shop chock-full of eccentric gems for visitors who like to shop outside the box. Fringed bags? Funky earrings? No problem.
Nest & City Bird
460 W. CANFIELD ST.
Get lost in the sea of ooh-worthy knickknacks, many courtesy of local brands, like artisan soaps and cheeky keychains.
Mama Coo’s Boutique
1701 TRUMBULL ST.
The women’s clothing and accessories sold here are equal parts stylish and fun. Don’t be surprised to find vintage jams blasting through the speakers and vintage blouses on the rack.
Pewabic Pottery
10125 E. JEFFERSON AVE.
One of the nation’s oldest continuously operating potteries (founded in 1903) is now a kind of living history museum. Join a workshop at the ceramics studio, browse the shop and learn about Pewabic’s role in the evolution of ceramic art. Keep an eye out as you bop around the city; you’ll spot the glazed tiles that they’re known for all over.
