Romantic Things To Do in Detroit

Best 12 Romantic Things To Do in Detroit

Best 12 Romantic Things To Do in Detroit

Detroit provides wealth of romantic activities for couples, including riverfront promenades and quaint neighborhoods ideal for strolling.

Detroit is the perfect destination for spending quality time with loved ones because of its varied attractions, vibrant arts scene, and breathtaking natural surroundings.

 

Catch Views from a Rooftop Bar

Name and Location: Several downtown Detroit hotels like The Monarch Club at the Shinola Hotel offer scenic rooftop bar patios overlooking Comerica Park, Hart Plaza and the Detroit skyline.

History and Significance: As Detroit reinvents itself with revitalized public spaces, rooftop bars situated around its stadiums, theaters and landmarks have become popular hangouts for unbeatable skyline views, especially at sunset over cocktails and small plates.

What to Expect: Rooftop venues like The Monarch Club feature posh mid-century modern decor with open-air and glassed-in lounge seating plus evening entertainment like DJs and live music beside panoramas of the bright lit-up cityscape, often including fireworks on event nights.

Visitor Information: Rooftop bars typically open from late afternoon into the evening for ages 21 and over. Hours and entry requirements vary; many operate seasonally with reservations recommended as capacity is limited.

From hip rooftop clubs like Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar, which is perfectly situated overlooking Comerica Park, the Apparatus Room at the Foundation Hotel, or Monarch Club atop the Metropolitan Building, you may toast your significant other against the shimmering Detroit skyline. A sophisticated night out is created by sipping inventive cocktails while taking in the city’s attractions, murals, neon, and Beaux-Arts architecture. Lovebirds can get intimate at some places with fire pits, dance parties, skyline-view pools, and games.

Tour the Guardian Building

Name and Location: The Guardian Building is nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance for its ornate architecture spanning two blocks at 500 Griswold St in Detroit’s Financial District.

History and Significance: Considered one of America’s finest examples of Art Deco skyscrapers, the 40-story Guardian Building opened in 1929 for the Union Guardian Trust Company with lavish handcrafted vaulted ceilings, Rookwood Pottery tile and incredible views of downtown and the Detroit River.

What To Expect: Free guided tours relay stories behind the Guardian Building’s soaring five-story Grand Lobby of stone, terra cotta, African mahogany and brushed aluminum alongside exhibits inside its mezzanine art gallery. Visitors capture photos beside Model Ts that once hauled money and gold.

Visitor Information: Public Guardian Building tours run Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am and 2 pm. Tour registration takes place in Guardian’s mezzanine Gift Shop. Tours last about one hour.

Touring the Guardian Building in downtown, which has one of the most elaborate interiors in the world, astonishes both lovers and art deco architecture enthusiasts. You are taken to a contemporary temple by the vaulted ceilings, intricate Aztec-meets-art-deco motifs, and the heavy use of marble, brass, tiles, and vibrant Rookwood Pottery. Before enjoying a romantic snack at the Cathedral Café behind stained glass windows, couples can take in the breathtaking ceiling murals that portray North American industry.

Get Lost in the Heidelberg Project

Name and Location: The Heidelberg Project is an immersive outdoor art installation spanning abandoned houses covered in brightly painted polka dots at 3600 Heidelberg Street in Detroit’s McDougall-Hunt neighborhood.

History and Significance: This “open house” drive-by art museum evolved from artist Tyree Guyton’s creative response to his community’s economic decline. Today its imaginative structures like the famed Dotty Wotty House and paintings carry its message of hope and renewal to over 275,000 annual visitors.

What to Expect: The two block area transports viewers into a surreal landscape with constantly changing installations that incorporate mirrors, clocks, vinyl records, stuffed animals and recycled everyday found materials as an analogy for Detroit’s own physical layers and social history. Interpretive walking tour guides are onsite.

Visitor Information: The HP is an outdoor exhibit viewable 24/7/365 for free, located east of Detroit’s New Center area. Free street parking is available, but tour groups and charters should call ahead as capacity is limited. Call 313-974-6894 or visit www.heidelberg.org for details.

Visit the Heidelberg Project, which has oddball found-object art installations strewn down a residential street, for a date night that isn’t usually creative. The folk art sculptures constructed from reused toys, clothing, furniture, and other items were created by artist Tyree Guyton over 30 years ago to revitalize his dilapidated neighborhood. They never fail to inspire creativity, imagination, and romance. Together, lovers can explore the block’s always changing creative treasures, contemplate the meaning, and find beauty amidst urban deterioration.

Catch a Show at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge

Name and Location: Baker’s Keyboard Lounge bills itself as Detroit’s “oldest jazz club” located at 20510 Livernois Avenue in the University District 8 Mile area, running since 1934.

History and Significance: Baker’s early patrons included Jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole who famously mentioned it in his lyrics. Its Steinway baby grand has been serenaded by legends weekly ever since, earning Baker’s a place on the Historic Registry.

What to Expect: Music lovers can catch local performers and occasional special guest appearances inside the dimly lit club or out on the patio every night playing straight up Jazz, Blues and R&B as they’ve done for over 85 years while dining from the Louisiana-style menu.

Visitor Information: Music plays nightly Tues-Sat with varying start times from 2PM-2AM based on lineups. Casual dress code. Event schedules and tickets ($10-25) available on their website with limited seating for shows. Street parking available.

Jazz creates the ideal romantic atmosphere. Visit the small, historic Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, known as the oldest jazz club in the world, to see legendary local performers. Since 1934, jazz greats have played on its round bar and Steinway grand piano. Enjoy calm music and toast to classic jazz in Detroit’s hippest historic jazz venue while cuddling up to your significant other in the dimly lighted interior adorned with pictures of jazz greats.

Detroit offers romance at every turn, from strolling along the waterfront to cycling or bicycling through districts full of culinary, musical, and artistic gems. Couples have numerous chances to bond while making enchanting memories that will endure beyond any one event thanks to the city’s varied attractions. Detroit provides the backdrop for romantic adventure with its famous theaters, museums, and other attractions.

Take a Riverfront Walk

Name and Location: The Detroit Riverfront spans 5.5 miles along the shores of the Detroit River from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle on Detroit’s east side.

History and Significance: The riverfront has transformed over the years from a shipping and industrial hub into a recreational and entertainment destination for residents and visitors to enjoy wide-open promenades, parks, public art, retail, dining and cultural attractions.

What to Expect: Visitors can take in views of Canada across the river while walking or biking along the RiverWalk’s paved path. Free fitness classes, concerts, art fairs and more also take place seasonally. The Dequindre Cut Greenway connects it to Eastern Market.

Visitor Information: The RiverWalk is open 24/7 for free public access. Parking and bike rentals are available in various locations along the way like at GM Plaza and Milliken State Park.

Go to the Detroit waterfront for lovely views of the water. Along the river, the Riverwalk provides breathtaking views of bridges, skylines, ships, and even Canada. Wander hand in hand along the promenade from Hart Plaza to Mt. Elliott Park to get away from the city. Stop to take pictures against the backdrop of the river, observe freighters navigating the water, or unwind on benches while taking in the views of the river. The city lights glimmer enchantedly on the sea as the sun sets.

Enjoy a Show at the Fox Theatre

Name and Location: The Fox Theatre is a performing arts venue in downtown Detroit located at 2211 Woodward Avenue. It hosts concerts, comedy, Broadway shows and other events.

History and Significance: Constructed in 1928 for films, dramatic performances and civic events, the Fox is one of Detroit’s most opulent and historic venues. Its flamboyant interior helped establish it as the city’s top theater destination after its restoration in the 1980s.

What to Expect: Visitors experience a diverse lineup of top name entertainment from pop stars to comedians in an ornately decorated interior that feels like an Arabian courtyard, capped by its iconic starlit ceiling and Wurlitzer organ sound effects.

Visitor Information: Showtimes and tickets vary by performance. Group rates, behind the scenes tours and student/senior discounts are available. The Fox offers accessible seating, dining/drinks and free same-day ticket exchanges.

Couples will love Detroit’s National Historic Landmark Fox Theatre’s elegance and entertaining. The lavishly furnished interior takes guests back to the opulent cinema theater days of 1928. You are submerged in luxury by the intricate plasterwork, glistening Indian-inspired designs, and sparkling starry skies. Attending a performance in the midst of such opulence creates a memorable romantic date night. The theater hosts concerts, Broadway touring productions, and other events.

Stroll through Greenfield Village

Name and Location: Greenfield Village is an outdoor history museum located at 20900 Oakwood Boulevard in Dearborn, Michigan, about 8 miles from Detroit. It is part of The Henry Ford museum complex.

History and Significance: Opened in 1929 to preserve Americana patriotism and ingenuity, Greenfield Village spans 80 lush acres with historic homes and iconic structures like the laboratory where Edison invented the lightbulb, the Wright Brothers bicycle shop and Ford’s Alabama boyhood farmhouse.

What to Expect: Visitors enjoy self-guided tours along peaceful pathways through working farms, Model T rides, food tastings, reconstructed settlements and exhibits inside over 100 historical buildings that capture 300 years of America’s greatest minds and innovations. Interpretive presentations bring it all to life.

Visitor Information: Open daily 9:30AM-5PM, except select major holidays. Combination tickets with Henry Ford Museum are available. Regular admission runs $28 adults, $25 seniors 60+, $21 youth.

Explore Greenfield Village’s 80 acres of beautiful gardens, farmsteads, laboratories, historic homes, workshops, and landmarks to learn about more than 300 years of American history. Couples can stroll hand in hand while taking in the exquisitely conserved architecture that has been moved here, including the Wright Brothers’ home and bicycle store, Thomas Edison’s laboratory, Noah Webster’s Connecticut home, and structures from Henry Ford’s childhood home. Presenters in costume enhance the time-traveling experience.

Wander Eastern Market

Name and Location: Eastern Market sits at the heart of the Eastern Market historic commercial district in Detroit along Gratiot Avenue, Russell Street, and Wilkins Street northeast of downtown.

History and Significance: First established in 1891, Eastern Market has served as the city’s central food district offering wholesalers, restaurateurs and the public access to produce, meat, fish, spice and artisanal vendors which reflects Detroit’s immigrant influence and America’s public market heritage.

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What to Expect: Visitors peruse over 150 open-air farmers sheds, specialty shops and prepared meal spots every Saturday plus supplemental Tuesdays and Sundays. Murals, places to sit and public restroom facilities make it welcoming all week.

Visitor Information: Eastern Market is open year-round; days/hours vary by vendor. Free public entry. Parking lots available with free shuttle buses offered on its busiest days.

The lively Eastern Market neighborhood comes alive on weekends when farmers, merchants, and artists set up shop along the street and in outdoor shelters to sell their wares. Couples can stroll around vibrant fruit and vegetable vendors, sample specialty foods, look at modern artwork, observe people, and take in the friendly urban vibe. Among Detroit’s oldest continuous marketplaces, lovers can also spend their free time at flower vendors, cafes, spice stores, and confectionery shops.

Take a Sightseeing Cruise on the Detroit Princess Riverboat

Name and Location: The Detroit Princess Riverboat offers public cruises along the Detroit River. It boards at Ovation Yacht Cruises dock at 100 Marquette Drive near Hart Plaza downtown.

History and Significance: Launched in 1983, the Detroit Princess is a modern 85-foot vessel designed to showcase the city’s riverfront and skylines on relaxing sightseeing excursions running April through October. Its ever-changing vistas highlight Detroit’s post-industrial resurgence.

What to Expect: Passengers enjoy indoor/outdoor panoramic seating over 90-minute public sightseeing tours with food, drinks and narration of Detroit River landmarks like Belle Isle, Ambassador Bridge, Renaissance Center plus glimpses of Windsor, Ontario. Brunches, dinners and private charters also offered.

Visitor Information: Boarding for cruises typically starts 30 minutes before departure. Advance booking recommended. Ticket prices start at $18 for kids, $20 adults; special group and seasonal rates available.

Reserve a seat on the magnificent Detroit Princess Riverboat for small floating parties. Couples unwind while savoring plated dinners, dancing to live music, taking in city views from heated lower decks or an open-air top deck, and toasting their special someone as Detroit comes alive at night on the ship as it gently glides along the city’s riverfront and onto Lake St. Clair. Adventuresome couples can also take advantage of special event cruises that include murder mysteries, champagne brunches, and more.

Attend a Michigan Opera Theatre Production

Name and Location: The Michigan Opera Theatre performs at the Detroit Opera House in the Broadway and Music Hall neighborhood located at 1526 Broadway Street in downtown Detroit.

History and Significance: Founded in 1971, MOT promotes opera and dance as accessible community events, reaching diverse audiences with classics to new works inside the restored 1922 Detroit Opera House. As Michigan’s only professional opera company, it draws top international talent.

What to Expect: Patrons enjoy grand opera and dance productions like Madame Butterfly, The Nutcracker, and original works on intimate sets under elaborate chandeliers and embellished architecture for an indelible experience of music, story and spectacle.

Visitor Information: Performances usually run select weekends October thru May. Subscription packages available. Single ticket prices start around $29, discounts for students and ages 13-19.

Enjoy a romantic opera or ballet with your significant other at the Detroit Opera House’s Michigan Opera Theatre. Hearts swell as they hear top-notch vocal performances in the exquisitely renovated interior from the 1920s, complemented by a live orchestra. The romantic getaway is further enhanced by pre-show cocktails or meals in the Grand Lobbies, which are encircled by Italian marble and chandeliers. The productions of “Carmen” and “Roméo et Juliette,” which are sure to touch lovers, are among the highlights of the upcoming 2023 season.

Peddle a Tandem Bicycle Built for Two

Name and Location: Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop rents tandem bicycles in Downtown Detroit along the Dequindre Cut and Riverwalk at 1340 E. Atwater next to Duo Security.

History and Significance: As Detroit’s first bike shop with a full bar, Wheelhouse Detroit opened in 2016 to promote biking culture on the city’s expanding network of greenways and bike lanes. It offers outdoor recreation rentals in a fun atmosphere.

What to Expect: Visitors can rent tandem bicycles built for two riders to cruise along Detroit’s scenic riverfront and nearby trails at their own pace, taking in skyline views and attractions. Walk-in rentals for all ages from Trail Tail vintage bikes to kid trailers and electric assist bikes are available.

Visitor Information: Wheelhouse Detroit is open daily 12PM-8PM from April to October. Tandem bike rentals are $15 per hour. Helmets, bike locks, trail maps/recommendations and DIY bike repair stations provided.

On a gorgeous tandem bicycle designed for two from Wheelhouse Detroit, pedal your way to new experiences while speeding along Detroit’s riverside. As you ride your two-person bicycle over Riverside Park’s paved trails, which provide views of the river, Ambassador Bridge, and even Canada, feel the wind tearing through your hair. Take shots at the charming fountain in Hart Plaza or along the path. For couples who enjoy the outdoors, it’s an event that will make their hearts race.

Tour the Motown Museum

Name and Location: Hitsville U.S.A, known as the Motown Museum, is located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan on the original site of Motown Record’s 1959 studio and offices.

History and Significance: Founded by Berry Gordy Jr., Motown Records made stars out of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5 who all recorded hit songs in Studio A. Today, the historic house-turned-museum draws visitors from around the world to stand in those vocalists’ footsteps.

What to Expect: Guided tours relay personal stories of talent and technology that made Motown into America’s most iconic record label behind universally loved songs about love, hope and unity that transcended race during pivotal 1960s history. Period costumes, videos and stage set recreations immerse visitors into creative moments that were felt across generations.

Visitor Information: Timed entry tickets run $20-30 for the guided hour-long Motown Museum tour experience offered Thursday thru Sunday year round, with occasional museum closures. Tours sell out, so pre-purchase online is recommended.

Motown is the most romantic musical genre. The Motown Museum chronicles Detroit’s rise to prominence as Hitsville, U.S.A. and chronicles the history of the renowned record company. You may become immersed in Detroit music history by exploring Studio A, where performers such as Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and others produced 1960s chart-topping hits. Possibly singing a couple of romantic ballads while holding hands and dancing to the classics. Frequently, tickets sell out far in advance.