Detroit hotels

When it comes to the best hotels in Detroit for an extended stay, ROOST Detroit should be on your list. It opened in 2023 in one of the city’s oldest architectural landmarks, Book Tower.

Guests enjoy the amenities of a boutique hotel (think 24-hour concierge service) plus rooms with a full-size kitchen, washer and dryer, herringbone oak flooring, quartz work surfaces, and a bike-share program. You’ll also find SONOS speakers, vintage rugs and hand-picked artworks. My favourite element is the fact each room has a plant collection, something you rarely find at a hotel.

Book Tower has lots of dining options, but with a big in-room kitchen (and All-Clad Cookware, Fortessa glassware and tableware and OXO tools), I tend to opt for a home-cooked meal here. When I want to dine out, Le Suprême, a Parisian-inspired brasserie, is my go-to.

This 11,000-square-foot renovated Second Empire-style mansion is a standout with its marble fireplaces, three-storey staircase, and beautiful chandeliers. Needless to say, staying at the 10-room mansion, built in 1876, is a treat. In fact, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

From Persian rugs to leather Winchesters, the 19th-century home is supremely cosy. Play board games, eat fresh baked cookies, and gaze at artworks from around the world.

Designed by famous architect John V. Smith, the inn was once the private home of John Harvey – a well-known philanthropist – and his family. There were many periods when it was the priciest private home in the whole city. When you’re ready to explore, I love the fact that the inn, located in the Brush neighbourhood, is a short walk to Little Caesars Arena.

Shinola, located downtown in the shopping district, is one of the top luxury hotels in Detroit. The 129-room hotel joins two restored buildings, the T.B. Rayl Co. department store and Singer Sewing Machine Company building, with three new buildings on 1400 Woodward.

With handcrafted millwork, Detroit-designed wallpaper, and ceramic wall tiles made by local merchants, it’s easily one of Detroit’s top choices. If you’re staying in a suite or the penthouse, the hotel has a lending programme so you can borrow a Shinola timepiece throughout your stay. Definitely one of the cooler perks I’ve come across.

With more than 55 room configurations, you can have a new experience each time you visit. And with five dining options with everything from Southern Italian fare to Detroit-style fried chicken, you don’t have to go far for a great meal. When you’re ready to explore, check out my personal favourite, Parker’s Alley, a vibrant shopping venue.

Once known as downtown Detroit’s longest-vacant building (sitting unused for nearly four decades), the Element Detroit is a symbol of revitalisation in the Grand Circus Park community. Built in 1925, it was home to the city’s jewellery and watchmakers.

From the Gothic Revival edifice and the original marble floor to the ceiling beams and decorative staircase railing, this property is a historic gem and one of the top stays in Detroit. The rooftop terrace is a nice spot to unwind, and because it’s more modern, it’s hidden from the street view to keep up the historic appearance.

Free continental breakfast each morning and bicycle hire are nice extra touches. Plus, pets are welcome. What I appreciate most about this hotel is the prime location. From here you can easily walk to Ford Field, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, and the Theatre District.

Staying at The Siren feels like stepping back into the Golden Age of Hollywood. Expect plenty of velvet jewel-toned chairs, baroque mirrors, and fringed lamps. This former Wurlitzer store, once one of the largest music stores in the world, is now one of the coolest boutique hotels in Detroit with 106 high-design rooms.

Behind a pink-beaded curtain you’ll find the Candy Bar cocktail bar. You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you see the 1,500-pound Murano glass chandelier. The antique furniture in the property was curated from markets and shops around the world. It all comes together beautifully in a lavish Italian Renaissance Revival style.

Be sure to have dinner at Ash Bar for trout a la Meuniere, which includes rice pilaf, sauteed spinach capers, toasted almonds, and brown butter. Top it off with a Bitter Spritz, a cocktail made of Aperitivo Cappelletti, sparkling wine, and club soda.

Housed in a restored historic building with stunning neoclassical architecture, the Sonder Gabriel Richard is one of my favourite hotels in Detroit. When you arrive, the digital concierge makes check-in a breeze, and the group also has properties in places like LA, Miami, and New York City.

The fully-furnished apartments come with kitchens and in-suite laundry. Choose from studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with statement windows and 60s-inspired furniture.

From here, take a 15-minute drive over to Belle Isle, a state park that sits on the border of the US and Canada and is older and larger than New York’s Central Park. To me, it’s an absolute must-do while in Detroit. I also like to visit Belle Isle Aquarium and hire a bike from Wheelhouse Detroit.

In the Grand Circus Park historic district sits the Hotel David Whitney, an architectural gem of a building and a modern-day take on David Whitney’s opulent Detroit home. The first thing you’ll notice is the four-story grand atrium with a massive skylight on top, followed by the mahogany-lined corridors and Art Deco bathrooms.

The Library Bar is a cosy spot for live piano music, carefully crafted cocktails, and light bites. Settle into the Chesterfield-style sofa and warm up by the fireplace. On a summer night, the Garden is where you want to be.

Presley’s Kitchen and Bar, a neighbourhood gathering spot and urbane bistro, serves up creative American cuisine, much of it locally sourced and seasonal. I recommend checking with the concierge for the scoop on fun events around town.

After checking into The Detroit Club, a historic hotel built in the 1800s, make a beeline for SOAK Spa for a deep-tissue massage and facial. Afterwards, linger in the heated saltwater grotto and spend time in the infrared sauna.

Come evening, grab cocktails at The Library, a full-service craft cocktail bar. Each of the 21 rooms has a pillow-top mattress and soft Egyptian cotton linens, so you can get a good night's sleep. With a beautiful design dreamed up by architect Wilson Eyre in 1891 and so much to do at the property, it’s easily one of the best hotels in Detroit.

On Saturdays, I recommend heading to Eastern Market, one of the largest outdoor farmers markets in the US. Try the pierogis from People’s Pierogis hot off the grill.

A luxury hotel in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, The Godfrey Detroit is about a mile from the waterfront. From here, you can take a stroll down the Detroit International Riverwalk, which got a facelift and reopened in 2014.

Today, it’s a pathway with access to parks, playgrounds and art installations that extends more than three miles. It also connects to an old rail line that’s now a green space with tons of murals along the way. The riverwalk is one of my favourite places in the city.

Afterward, relax at the hotel’s rooftop lounge and take in dreamy views of the city skyline. The retractable glass walls and ceiling make this venue stand out. Be sure to make reservations at the hotel’s restaurant, Hamilton by Samy Eid.

The Detroit Foundation Hotel, known for being one of the best hotels in Detroit, opened in 2017. Built in 1929 as two buildings – one housing a fire station, the other a wine cellar – it also wins the award for most unique hotel.

After an extensive renovation, it’s now a 100-room hotel that still has the original facades of both buildings, terrazzo floors, wood-panelled walls, and the original red firehouse doors.

From the locally crafted headboards made of repurposed car-hood materials to the custom wallpaper collages, this hotel has so much character. I especially appreciate that the hotel showcases local businesses and artisans, encourages creativity (there’s even a podcast studio), and provides a great gathering space.

Head to the Apparatus Room for new American cuisine by Chef Rece Hogerheide for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.