Digital Nomad’s Guide to Detroit
Detroit is an amazing city with a bad reputation, which it seems to be slowly shedding.
In 2013 the city declared bankruptcy and was in a rough place. Crime was a huge problem and many people left, declaring Motor City more or less dead.
Since then though, Detroit has improved considerably. While the amount of abandoned buildings is still shocking, the city has an unbelievably vibrant arts and culture scene. It’s also surprisingly vegan-friendly.
(Want to know what Detroit sounds like? Here’s a playlist of local tunes.)
Coffee Shops
Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters
1220 Griswold St, Detroit, MI 48226
Great nomad-friendly cafe in the heart of downtown Detroit.
(Photo: Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters)
The Gathering Coffee Co.
2831 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48211
Cute independent cafe with a community and social justice focus.
Also, good coffee, decent wifi, and a lot of great art.
(Photo: The Gathering Coffee Co.)
BasBlue
110 E Ferry St, Detroit, MI 48202
A co-working space for female and non-binary persons with a social enterprise focus, but the ground floor is open to the public (including men) and there’s a coffee counter.
It’s perfect for getting work done, and even meeting local changemakers.
(Photo: BasBlue)
Restaurants
Seva Detroit
66 E Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
If you’re only going to go to one vegan restaurant in Detroit, go to Seva. Top quality.
(Photo: Seva Detroit)
Spacecat V-stro
255 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Adorable vegetarian (and very vegan-friendly) lunch spot in Detroit’s charming Ferndale neighbourhood.
They really go all out with the space+cat theme and aesthetic. I wish I had a good shot of the interior I could use here, as it is quite visually appealing.
(Photo: Spacecat V-stro)
Pie-Sci
5163 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48208
Not all plant-based, but this super fun pizza spot has a wealth of vegan pizza options on its menu with names like “I Am the Eggplant” and “Cashew Rules Everything Around Me”.
(Photo: Pie Sci Pizza)
Parks and Recreation
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Excellent art museum. Its central Rivera Court room features the massive, famous Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera (husband of Frida Kahlo).
(Photo: Detroit Institute of Arts)
The Schvitz
8295 Oakland Ave, Detroit, MI 48211
Built in 1930, this historic bathhouse (sauna) once catered to Detroit’s Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish population.
These days, it’s a hip place frequented by health-conscious young professionals, but with an almost ghostly vibe.
(Photo: The Schvitz)
Marble Bar
1501 Holden St, Detroit, MI 48208
There are two cities known for techno: Berlin and Detroit.
Believe the hype because Detroit’s techno scene remains incredible, and Marble Bar is an excellent venue to experience it.
(Photo: Michael Collette)
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol: Legal drinking age in Detroit is 21.
Cannabis: Recreational cannabis is legal at the state level (though federally, it’s still illegal). It can be purchased from licensed dispensaries by adults aged 21+.
Psychedelics: Detroit has decriminalized personal possession of entheogenic plants and fungi, but they are not sold openly (and they’re also still federally illegal).