Welcome to Detroit, Michigan!
The City of Detroit–known to many as Motor City and the birthplace of Motown–is the anchor of the 11-county Detroit Region. The region encompasses 5.5 million residents and a 2.6 million workforce, highlighted by a robust talent pipeline and affordable cost of living. When it comes to innovating industries and leading transformational change, the Detroit Region has the assets and experience to guide the way forward.
For your visit, we’ve created a one-stop-shop for everything Detroit – transportation, attractions, fun facts, and a curated playlist of local artists.
Transportation
Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
DTW to downtown Detroit / Renaissance Center is less than a 30-minute drive, the following are recommended options:
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- Uber & Lyft – Available for pick up at DTW with many cars always available in the City of Detroit
- Metro Cars – Available for pick up at DTW
Traveling in Detroit
Transit App: Free mobile application that connects all public transportation options that are outlined below, along with mobile ride hauling apps
Public Transportation
- People Mover – A 2.94-mile elevated automated people mover system in the core downtown with 12 stops, one that’s connected to the Renaissance Center, costing $0.75 per ride.
- Q-Line – A 6.6-mile circulating streetcar on Woodward Ave. with 12 stops serving neighborhoods such as New Center, North End, Midtown and Downtown Detroit, which will remain free to ride in June.
- DDOT and SMART busing systems run throughout the city and the Detroit Region.
Station Rentals
Conference Events
Reception on June 14 from 6:00-8:00pm
Location: Gem Theatre
When the building opened in 1903, it was Detroit’s first building permit issued in a woman’s name. The theatre moved five-blocks for the new Tiger stadium, breaking the 1986 Guinness Book World Record as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels.
Morning Meetup Workouts
Location: TBD
Each morning there will be an organized morning workout that all attendees can participate in, check back later for more information.
Attractions
Landmarks & Parks
Spirit of Detroit – As one of Detroit’s most easily identifiable landmarks, is a monument with a large bronze statue created by Marshall Fredericks and it was the largest cast bronze statue since the Renaissance.
Monument to Joe Louis – Known also as The Fist, is dedicated to boxer Joe Louis, who was from Detroit, located at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Woodward Avenue.
Guardian Building – Historical Art Deco Skyscraper with colorful tiled lobby, retail stores & a Detroit gift shop.
Hart Plaza – A riverfront plaza connected that has an international memorial to the underground railroad, historical marker of Cadillac (Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Detroit in 1701) and is home to many thriving music / community festivals.
Campus Martius Park – The urban park located at the heart of downtown Detroit features a beach area with a bar during the summertime with restaurants, outdoor bars, and movies in the evening. Named “Top Public Square” by USA Today in 2021.
Capitol Park – Contains incredible restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops, nightlife, and retail are tucked within the city’s most dramatic architecture. Capitol Park features lush landscaping and green spaces, a new off-leash dog park, fitness classes, and more.
Bars / Nightlife
* Denotes rooftop access
*Tin Roof – Cocktails & draft beer served in an old-school live music venue, which has a rooftop deck and patio
Queens Bar – A city staple / hot spot and casual bar with a patio
Café D’Mongos – Quirky and hip saloon with live music most nights
Checker Bar – Two floors with arcade games and drink staples
*The Monarch Club – One of the best rooftops in the city located in the restored Metropolitan Building, that’s more upscale with craft cocktails
Sid’s Gold – Trendy piano and karaoke bar hidden that’s located in the side of the Metropolitan Building
The Old Shillelagh – Irish pub located near the neighborhood of Greektown which has a casino and lively nightlife
The Skip / Deluxx Fluxx – Innovative art alley, with the Skip a bar in the alley and an underground neon club Deluxx Fluxx
Cliff Bell – Historic jazz club with live music most nights and an old time feel
*Delmar — Located on a second-story rooftop with a menu of bar fare: tacos, sandwiches, pizza.
*Level Two — A clubby Greektown rooftop with a lower patio that’s completely outdoors.
*Lumen — Located in Beacon Park, Lumen has rooftop seating for 45 and solid views of the city to go with its American menu.
Restaurants
Buddy’s Pizza– Iconic pizza chain (since 1946) known for its square slices & soups, plus other Italian & fast fare.
Mootz Pizzeria & Bar– Stylish parlor serving old-fashioned pizzas with classic toppings, plus sliders, pasta & spirits.
Union Assembly– Classic grub like ribs, burgers, wings & pizza, plus cocktails, in an airy venue with funky decor.
Mom’s Spaghetti– Eminem’s pasta pop-up. Offbeat window-serve eatery whipping up large portions of spaghetti, plus spaghetti sandwiches.
San Morello – Located at the Shinola Hotel and inspired by the spirit and piazzas of Southern Italy and Sicily, San Morello is an urban Italian neighborhood restaurant in downtown Detroit serving authentic wood-fired dishes, pizzas, and house made pastas using local, seasonal ingredients.
Leila – Located in Capitol Park, Leila’s menu is rooted in the savory yet simple flavors that define Lebanese cuisine.
Maru– Japanese restaurant featuring unique sushi rolls, sharing plates & cocktails in stylish surrounds
Takoi – Featuring a menu of Thai fusion plates, Takoi transports you to another dimension, with neon lights, cozy architectural layout, pulsing music and an open kitchen concept. The food and drinks are savory and a bit edgy.
Supergeil– Inspired by the energy and food of Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. The food is diverse, direct and craveable.
Cork & Gabel– A menu inspired by Irish, Italian, & German fare in light-filled, industrial space with a full bar.
Bucharest Grill- Trendy Middle Eastern & American counter-serve doling out shawarma, sandwiches, burgers & dogs.
Pegasus Tavernas-Lively locale with rustic charm for Greek standards & some American fare, plus Greek wine & beer.
Polonia Restaurant-Dimly lit cozy eatery serves homestyle Polish & Eastern European fare amid festive old-world decor. Visted by Anothony Bourdain in 2009.
Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch
Cannelle – A French patisserie featuring decadent desserts from chocolate croissants to macarons to eclairs. It also serves warm coffee and drinks.
MADCAP – Located in the Belt, an alley part of the Shinola Hotel complex, Madcap Coffee specializes in seasonal coffees named after the farmers who produce the beans.
Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters-Casual coffee shop with amazing homemade cheesecake.
Iggy’s Eggies – A hot breakfast walk-up window offering customized breakfast sandwiches as well as lunch specials.
Brooklyn Street Local – Located in Detroit’ Corktown neighborhood, Brooklyn Street Local features fresh, locally sourced ingredients providing breakfast and lunch options, including vegetarian & vegan picks.
Dime Store– Hip, airy spot offering creative spins on brunch favorites, plus craft beer & classic cocktails.
Museums
DIA – The Detroit Institute of Arts is home to over 100 galleries and 65,000 pieces of artwork. From ancient Egypt to contemporary. European works and everything in between, the DIA will excite the art and history buff alike
Ford Piquette
Motown
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
MOCAD – The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is a non-collecting contemporary art museum located in Detroit’s cultural center. The mission of the MOCAD is: MOCAD is where adventurous minds encounter the best in contemporary visual, literary, music and performing arts.
Library Street Collective
Henry Ford Musuem – Explore how the automobile and other American innovations have transformed society over the past 100+ years through the Henry Ford Museum’s collection of authentic artifacts showcasing American ingenuity.
Tours & Experiences
Visit Belle Isle – ride the infamous giant slide (at your own risk),
Kayak the canals of Detroit or for the more adventurous the Detroit River around Belle Isle while getting historic facts along the way.
Take a cruise along the Detroit River, the world’s busiest waterway and enjoy the riverfront.
Take an unforgettable helicopter flight over the City of Detroit, during the night or day.
Spend a day at Greenfield Village, where the Henry Ford Innovation Museum is located and ride in a historic Model T.
City Institute (formerly Detroit Experience Factory)
Shopping
Shinola – Adjacent to the Shinola Hotel, the Shinola Woodward Store provides upscale retailer of watches, leather goods, and curated gift items
Pewabic Pottery – Pewabic is a National Historic Landmark pottery founded in Detroit in 1903. Today it continues to be an active working pottery, architectural tile studio, ceramic arts education center and vibrant cultural destination that attracts visitors from around the world.
The Detroit Shoppe
Gucci
Moosejaw
Nike
Greyson
Xhibition
Bird Bee
Survived
Carhartt
Fun Facts
Downtown is home to the second tallest hotel in the entire USA.
You are staying there! Up until December of 2013, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center was the country’s tallest hotel at more than 75 stories tall, a new Marriott in NYC stands just 23 feet higher but doesn’t have nearly as much history.
Detroit has the largest urban island park in the country
Belle Isle opened in the 1880s as Detroit’s first city park and was designed by Frederick Olmstead, the architect of Central Park in New York City. In addition to more than 150 acres of protected woodlands there’s a golf course, museum, nature zoo, conservatory and sports fields.
Motown was born in Detroit, but Techno music was invented here too.
The genre was founded here in a garage in the late 1980s and Detroit still hosts the world’s largest outdoor electronica festival each year. The city’s music scene doesn’t stop there with hip-hop superstars and several rock gods call Detroit home.
Detroit has the largest open-air flowerbed markets and the largest historic public market district in the United States – known as Eastern Market.
Eastern Market is a cornerstone, nourishing residents and powering an innovative food and agriculture industry network throughout Southeastern Michigan.
There’s more than 150 food and specialty businesses in the surrounding area of 80 structures that are storefront brick buildings with late Victorian detailing.
The market also hosts one of the world’s best mural festivals annually, Murals in the Market, a live art event that’s created over 120 public art murals in Detroit.
More than 70 feature films and a dozen television shows have been filmed in Detroit.
Who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon traipsing around town checking out the film locations of Transformers, Evil Dead, Beverly Hills Cop and Freaks and Geeks? It’s free! Check out a list of all the movies filmed in Michigan.
Detroit holds A LOT of firsts.
The first paved road, the first individually assigned phone numbers, first state fair and even the first place an automatic coffee maker was ever used. Detroit’s always been home to some truly innovative thinkers, and it still is!
Detroit has a rich African American history
The city’s rich African American history is underscored by the fact that it was a key stop along the Underground Railroad (Detroit’s codename along the legendary route was Midnight) and that Martin Luther King Jr. gave a first version of his I Have a Dream speech here.
Detroit Attractions
The interactive map has more attractions and restaurants available with links. Check them out and spend a few days in our favorite spots!