Discover 10 Best Restaurants Near Detroit Institute of Arts
Looking for the best restaurants near the Detroit Institute of Arts?
You’re in luck.
Detroit MI is home to some fabulous cuisine, and the museum’s location makes it easy to find some fabulous restaurants both in downtown Detroit and in the Cultural Center area.
Recently voted the top art museum in the United States in 2023 by USA Today, the Detroit Institute of Arts is a top tourist destination for visitors around to the world who come to explore the world-class art collection.
Featuring art works by renowned artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, Warhol and Kandinsky and many others, the museum also regularly draws visitors from the Detroit metro area, Macomb county and beyond.
Detroit has a vibrant restaurant scene, and you’ll want to plan where you want to eat before you go. Here are 10 of our favorite restaurants near Detroit Institute of Arts.
Please Note: You’ll want to call ahead to make sure they are open when you visit. Since the pandemic, many restaurant hours fluctuate and may not be reflective of what is on their website.
Restaurants In the Detroit Institute of Arts
Kresge Court
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Part of the charm of Kresge Court is the stunning setting featuring a glass roof and brick walls, giving it a European feel.
Part cafe and part gracious living room, this airy indoor courtyard boasts both comfortable sofas and small dining tables upon which to enjoy a light meal or snack.
Choose from sandwiches, soups and salads (they make an amazing Romeo apple salad). You can share small plates, and charcuterie, as well as a variety of coffees, teas, wine, and beer.
Café DIA
5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
This large cafe on the first floor of the museum is perfect if you are searching for a quick meal and lots of different choices. Café DIA is the perfect place for you!
Found on the ground floor of the museum, it’s a cafeteria-style eatery serving up fresh food like daily-made soup or chili, items from the grab & go bar, classic grill items, and pizza. It also has vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
Elegant Restaurants Near Detroit Institute of Arts
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails
Address: 15 E Kirby St D, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 818-3915
Menus change daily at this casually elegant eatery right next door to the Detroit Institute of Arts, featuring fresh locally sourced ingredients.
Chartreuse Kitchen and Cocktails is big on flavor. Their Melon Salad, which may or may not be on the menu depending on when you visit, is out of this world. Their spareribs, moist and tender with a rich soy glaze and the pork belly with sticky rice are also must-try’s.
The Whitney
Address: 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 832-5700
If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, try dining in this beautiful 1890s mansion, located just blocks away from the DIA in Detroit’s cultural center.
You can visit for an afternoon tea, featuring their famous “Duet of Scones” (Raspberry Preserves and Chantilly Cream), or make your way up to the third floor Ghost Bar. A popular spot with Michigan ghost hunters, this stunning bar offers light apps, like stuffed mushroom caps or shrimp cocktail, too.
The main dining room features options from a four-course prix-fixe featuring their Signature Beef Wellington, Osso Buco and more. Dine early and choose from two-course prix fixe.
PRO-TIP: The Whitney is a must-see on any Detroit architectural tour. The Whitney is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Casual Dining Near Detroit Institute of Arts
Midtown Shangri-la
Address: 4710 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone (313) 974-7669
Specializing in authentic Chinese cooking and all-day Dum-Sum, this is my favorite spot to eat in Detroit. It’s a cozy spot just a few blocks from the DIA, and definitely worth a visit.
From dishes like scallion pancakes to fried met dumplings, you can’t go wrong. There is a reason that people from the Detroit suburbs travel miles to eat here or pick up carry-out: it’s just that good.
You might pick up a hint of curry in some of the dishes, the owner is from Thailand and a few dishes on the menu feature a combination of red, green, and massaman curry with coconut milk, kaffir lime, and Thai basil.
Babo – Detroit
Address: 15 E Kirby St Suite 115, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 974-6159
This gourmet diner in Detroit’s Midtown area is an amazing spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner. You’ll find a unique and fresh menu with a wide range of choices, all of them delicious.
This is a popular stop for visitors to the Detroit Institute of Arts: they even have some menu items named for prominent artists, like the Diego Skillet (named for DIA muralist Diego Rivera) which features eggs, pork chorizo, pico de gallo and guacamole.
Try the amazing lemon ricotta pancakes with Michigan maple syrup and come back for dinner to sample the Babo Burger with two beef patties on a challah bun.
HopCat
Address: 4265 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 769-8828
Come for the food, stay for craft beer at this must-visit brew pub in Midtown. It’s loud and busy, but that’s all part of the charm at Hopcat.
It’s a friendly, easy-going spot, and that might have something to so with their expansive selection of microbrews.
You’ll find a wide-ranging menu, but don’t leave without trying a burger and their Crack’d Fries: beer-batter french fries with black pepper and a warm cheese sauce.
Bakersfield – Detroit
3100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 974-7040
This hip, upbeat spot in Detroit’s Cass Corridor features tacos, and other Mexican street fare alongside a selection of more than 100 different Tequilas and other American liquors.
The fish tacos here are amazing, their homemade salsa is great, too. Another favorite here is the Cubano Torta, which features beer-braised carnitas, chorizo, red cabbage, black beans and poblano dijonaise.
They also offer a gluten-free menu that you can request.
For the Love of Sugar
Address: 100 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 788-7111
Whether you choose to grab a seat or simply choose some treats to take home, you have to visit this sweet modern cakery in Detroit’s Cass Corridor area. Choose from macarons or other cookies and bars, try one of the 10 rich and inspired cake slices.
The Lavender and Honey layer cake, the Nutella cake, and the Rainbow Fruit Cereal cake are favorites, but don’t overlook the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
Address: 88 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 462-4315
You’ll find a mix of decadent-and-healthy but always tasty food at this Chicago-based modern take on a classic diner.
JoJo’s invites people to enjoy a trip down memory lane with its ’80s and ’90s inspired decor, arcade games, and a walk-up window for quick snacks. Notable items on the menu include Biggie Shakes, diner food, and craft cocktails. This is the first JoJo’s ShakeBAR outside of Illinois and features nods to Detroit’s famous musicians, athletes, and beloved Faygo pop.
Whatever you do, leave room for a Biggie shake…we like the “gold Digger,” a caramel toffee shake with toffee, marshmallows, pretzels, white chocolate, and a macadamia nut cookie.
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