Travel

Detroit Specialty

Establishment neighborhood
Detroit Institute of Bagels
1236 Michigan Ave., Corktown
The name of this bagel spot says it all. The bagels here emerge from a labor-intensive, 30-hour process that includes both boiling and baking—and lend them the perfect chewy texture. You can opt to try them as one of several egg sandwiches, or pair them with spreads ranging from Butternut Squash Tahini to Sriracha Lentil. The only thing more comforting than the shop’s earthy wood floors and weathered brick is the amazing smell coming from the ovens.
Johnny Noodle King
2601 W. Fort St., Corktown
The owners of the sliders spot, Green Dot, opened a nearby ramen venture in 2014 that has proved to be wildly popular—as in, entire house (maybe 60 seats) packed at 9pm on a weekday. This is not a place concerned with cooking the most authentic dishes, but rather the most satisfying. Many of the bowls draw from classic Japanese menus but there's also combos like the Philly (shaved ribeye, scallions, poblano) and the Southwest (shredded chicken and cheese, tomato, house made créma) that keep things interesting.
The Red Hook
8025 Agnes St., West Village
Named after the neighborhood in Brooklyn, The Red Hook was started by a couple who met there before moving to Detroit together. On one side of the café is the coffee bar and pastry display case and on the other side a fairly zen space (at least in the early morning hours) for reading or catching up on work. Potentially also handy: The Red Hook keeps a box of toys and little kid entertainment by its door. While you're in the area, with coffee in hand, take a walk a few blocks east to Iroquois and then north to wander through historic Indian Village. Many of the picturesque homes in this residential neighborhood date back to the early 20th-century, and were built by major architects—Albert Kahn, Louis Kamper and William Stratton—for Detroiters like Edsel Ford (son of Henry Ford).
Eastern Market
1445 Adelaide St., Eastern Market
The Eastern Market sits just east of Midtown and is home to Detroit's well known, sprawling farmers market scene. There is always a reason to visit but the Saturday market is the largest, with more than 200 vendors, year round. June through September, there is also a crafts-focused Sunday market, and a smaller grocery market on Tuesdays. Outside of the market sheds, people also come to Eastern Market to see the surrounding murals; many are new although some original street art remains in the area. (More can be found in Southwest Detroit.) Other beloved Eastern Market spots include Trinosophes cafe and gallery and Detroit Distillery.
Avalon International Breads
441 W. Canfield St., Midtown
Started by two women in 1997, Avalon was more than a pioneer of the small business and café scene in Detroit. For a long time, it was essentially the whole of the coffee scene in Detroit, and it's remained a beating pulse of the community. All of Avalon's breads, including the signature sourdoughs, are made with organic flours. Some loaves go into Avalon's sandwiches; they also have already-made salads, and the coffee is locally-roasted by Great Lakes Coffee and Roasting (with the almond milk latte being the standout). The café is a popular meeting spot (purposeful and accidental) but you can also set up shop here for a couple hours with a laptop.
Trinosophes
1464 Gratiot Ave., Eastern Market
This Eastern Market café is much more than a coffee shop—although locals do love the food here (a mix of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries, and salads), and Trinosophes does make an all-star almond chai latte. The owners previously ran the esteemed Bohemian National Home programming, which went underground for a few years before finding a permanent home at Trinosophes, which functions as both a performance venue and art gallery. Trinosophes is responsible, for example, for the first solo exhibition in fifteen years of prominent Detroit artist Jim Crawford from the Cass Corridor movement, which includes some of his sculpture, mixed media, and photography. Still, you don't need a particular exhibition or show to bring you here. The long communal wood tables are a good excuse for an Eastern Market pit stop; plus Peoples Records is right next door.