Is Monroe Street the liveliest street in Downtown Detroit? (Dearborn: rent, house)

[Vincent_Adultman]

Or are there other streets with more restaurants, bars, action, etc.?

[Coldjensens]

Depends on the day, time of day, and what is going on. Woodward is frequently more lively. Sometimes riverwalk is where its at, or campus martius, mid-town, or one of the other parks. Sometimes it is eastern market area that is hopping. Sometimes it is even library street where the action can be found. Of course if there is an event or game(s), the stadium area is the hopping-est place.



Monroe street is attractive to tourists, it is often busy and perhaps more densely populated for a small area than other parts of the city (sometimes), but it changes very little. There is no place for performers or special events and often not much to look at. Just the same restaurants, stores, and taverns that were there last time. Occasionally there will be some street performers here and there, but not many and no bands. Last I heard there were over 600 bars and restaurants in downtown alone. Not even 100 of those are on Monroe street (probably fewer than 50).



If you are a casino type, MGM is somewhat nicer, bigger and has more going on (most of the time). There is not much around MGM without a bit of a walk, but it is a small town unto itself.

[Vincent_Adultman]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Depends on the day, time of day, and what is going on. Woodward is frequently more lively. Sometimes riverwalk is where its at, or campus martius, mid-town, or one of the other parks. Sometimes it is eastern market area that is hopping. Sometimes it is even library street where the action can be found. Of course if there is an event or game(s), the stadium area is the hopping-est place.



Monroe street is attractive to tourists, it is often busy and perhaps more densely populated for a small area than other parts of the city (sometimes), but it changes very little. There is no place for performers or special events and often not much to look at. Just the same restaurants, stores, and taverns that were there last time. Occasionally there will be some street performers here and there, but not many and no bands. Last I heard there were over 600 bars and restaurants in downtown alone. Not even 100 of those are on Monroe street (probably fewer than 50).



If you are a casino type, MGM is somewhat nicer, bigger and has more going on (most of the time). There is not much around MGM without a bit of a walk, but it is a small town unto itself.

Thanks - this is helpful! Gonna be staying in Downtown Detroit for the first time for a work thing and we're trying to figure out where to go out for dinner and drinks in the Downtown Area. I saw Monroe St referenced in other message boards which is why I ask, but it sounds like there are other good options as well.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Vincent_Adultman

Thanks - this is helpful! Gonna be staying in Downtown Detroit for the first time for a work thing and we're trying to figure out where to go out for dinner and drinks in the Downtown Area. I saw Monroe St referenced in other message boards which is why I ask, but it sounds like there are other good options as well.

Giving Monroe street its due, it is often active when there is little going on elsewhere.

Generally I would go for dinner and drinks in different places in Detroit. The Whitney for example is in an amazingly cool old mansion, but the food is very expensive and not as good as other places. But, you can go have dessert and drinks on the third floor and get the atmosphere, and both the dessert and drinks are excellent and less overpriced. Plus the thrid floor is supposed to be haunted.



London Chop house too. Although the food is excellent it is very expensive, but the atmosphere is great. Another place ideal for drinks after dinner.



Another is the jazz club cliff bells. Most of the the food is MEH but very pricy (they do have really good soups). however it is a jazz club with great bands and drinks and a fabulous atmosphere. (full disclosure, my son plays there sometimes so I am slightly biased).


For better for value - Selden Standard in mid town has perhaps the best taste combinations. Slows Barbecue is really good (but not their ribs). Texas De Brazil is usually amazing, but crazy expensive (and it is a chain). In the Mexican Villiage there are quite a few good authentic Mexican places. Mi Pueblo is my favorite.


Funky little hamburgers and other small sandwiches - Green Dot Stables. They have things like buffalo burgers, or Rueben etc.



Unique food that is not amaxing, but very good - Vincentes Cuban.



Ansonia bakery is on Monroe street. The pastries are so amazing looking it is entertainment just to go in there. Not necessarily the best bakery around, but is is an execellent one and has the best display of really different and amazing looking and very good to execellent tasting treats.



Redsmoke - also a small chain I hitnk, is a very good smokehouse. (monroe street)



For a late night fringy adventure try Leeland City Club (it also goes by other names). Nothing really going on there usually until midnight or later, and be warned, they have S & M night, clothing optional night (which I think is Saturday), If purple hair or nipple rings (or more extreme decorations or sexual deviancy) bother you - don't go there. If you find such things entertaining, or even titilating, or maybe it is your thing - that is often the pace to be later at night (although on some nights it is pretty dead - it varies).



Some areas outside Detroit are known for specialty foods. For example Dearborn has awesome middle eastern restaurants and especially bakeries.



Detroit is not the best place for sea food. The famous places (Fishbones and Joe Muir) really are not that great. We just are not a sea food kind of place.



That is only scratching the surface and these are randomly chosen 5 a.m. brain blips. there are tons and ton of awesome bars and restaurants. Some better than what I included. You can randomly wander around the main part of downtown, including greektown, eastern market, midtown, and to a lesser extent corktown and find all sorts of really great places.



There is only a snack bar there, but do not miss riverwalk during the daytime. You can walk or rent a scooter, bike or ebike or even a seguay