Detroit/Southwest Side

Southwest Detroit is home to a large melting pot of different ethnicities including Italians, Mexicans, Ecuadorians, Polish, Hungarian, Irish, etc. This is evidenced by the many ethnic neighborhoods and the large diversity of restaurants in the area. Whatever your taste, Southwest Detroit has something for you.
However, Southwest Detroit has even more than vibrant neighborhoods and great cuisine. It is also home an abundance of landmarks, such as Tiger Stadium and the historic Michigan Central Station.

Historic sites

• Ambassador BridgeThis suspension bridge, over the Detroit River, connects Detroit with Windsor. It had the longest suspended central span in the world when it opened in 1929 to 1931. The Ambassador Bridge is the largest international border crossing in North America, and over 25% of all the trade between the US and Canada crosses this bridge. It is styled in a mixture of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architectural designs, with some Gothic architecture blended in. When the Detroit International Riverfront is totally completed, it will run from the Amassador Bridge to Belle Isle, which is about 5 miles in length.

• Fort Street-Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad ViaductThis bridge was the largest and most ambitious structure included in the 1920s grade separation plan, where major streets and rail lines were separated by bridges and subways. Fort Street was designated a "superhighway," requiring the bridge to be 80 feet (24 m) in width; the tracks underneath required a 2,800 feet (850 m) span.

• Fort Wayne

  phone: +1 313 297-9360
  address: 6325 W Jefferson Ave, along the Detroit River
  Located one mile from the Canadian shore of the Detroit River, this historic fort, built in 1849, is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Fort Wayne was built when Canada was seeking independence from Britain. The United States wanted to remain neutral on the case, but realized that they lacked fortifications along the northern border to repel a potential British attack. The Army named the new fort for Revolutionary War hero General Anthony Wayne, who took possession of Detroit from the British in 1796. Before any cannon had been installed at the newly-constructed Fort Wayne, the United States and Britain peacefully resolved their differences, eliminating the need for a fort on the Detroit River. Fort Wayne remained unused for a decade after its initial construction. But it was once again used during the Civil War because the British supported the Confederacy. For the rest of the Civil War, the fort served as a mustering center for troops from Michigan, as well as a place for veterans to recover from their wounds. After the Civil War and until 1920, Fort Wayne served as a garrison post. Today, the fort is operated by the Detroit Recreation Department.

• Michigan Central Station

  address: W Vernor Hwy at 15th St
  This beautiful Beaux-Arts building stands as a perfect example of urban decay in America. Located in Corktown, it opened as a passenger rail depot in 1913, and closed in 1988. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. There have been several reports of remaking it into a police headquarters, a casino, or a trade center. But none of these proposals have gone through. Thus, the building stands vacant but, nonetheless, is still a great site for architecture buffs.

• Ste. Anne de Detroit

  phone: +1 313 496-1701
  address: 1000 Ste. Anne Street
  Founded in 1701, it is the second oldest active Roman Catholic parish in the United States. The current church was built in 1886 in a Classical Revival and Late Gothic Revival architectural style. Ste. Anne de Detroit was the first building made in the French settlement of Fort Ponchatrain du Détroit, which today is the city of Detroit.

• Woodmere Cemetery

  phone: +1 313 841-0188
  address: 9400 W Fort St
  This 150-year-old cemetery is home to many beautiful headstones and mausoleums. The founder of Buick, David Buick, is buried here.

Neighborhoods

• Corktown

  address: located directly south of Michigan Avenue, and directly west of the Lodge Freeway.
  Corktown is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit. This neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is called Corktown because most of its first residents were from County Cork, in Ireland. Corktown is home to some Detroit landmarks, such as the Michigan Central Station and Tiger Stadium.

• Mexicantown

  address: located on Bagley, both on the east and west sides of the Interstate 75 service drive, and along Vernor.
  Mexicantown is the fastest growing neighborhood in Detroit. It is particularly popular for its Mexican cuisine. The neighborhood includes the Mexicantown International Welcome Center, and the Mercado, which houses 85 shops.

Theatre

• Bohemian National Home

  address: 3009 Tillman
  Free Jazz, Free improvisation & Indie/DIY music venue. Full bar. All-ages venue.

• Senate Theatre

  phone: +1 313 894-4100
  address: 6424 Michigan Ave
  Built in 1926, this theatre served as a movie theatre for Southwest Detroit until 1958. In 1963, the Detroit Theatre Organ Society renovated the theatre and has been located here ever since.

Music

• El Club

  phone: +1 313 436-1793
  address: 4114 W Vernor Hwy
  All-ages live music venue.

Detroit's Southwest side is known for Mexicantown and its Mexican cuisine at restaurants such as Mexican Village, Evie's Tamales, El Zocalo and Xochimilco. Restaurants, bakeries, and shops are located on Vernor Highway, on both the east and west sides of the Interstate 75 service drive.

Vegetarian Friendly

• Mi Pueblo

  phone: +1 313 841-3315
  address: 7278 Dix Rd
  Authentic Mexican Fare, features a bar, Wi-Fi and music on Friday through Sunday starting at 8:15PM. Has been featured in the New York Times and awarded "Best Place for a Food Fiesta by the Detroit Free Press".

Mexicantown

• Evie's Tamales

  phone: +1 313 843-5056
  address: 3454 Bagley St
  Authentic cuisine, Second eldest restaurant in Mexicantown, unpretentious setting.

• Taqueria Lupita

  phone: +1 313 843-1105
  address: 3443 Bagley St
  Authentic Mexican fare.

• Xochimilchos

  phone: +1 313 843-0179
  address: 3409 Bagley St
  Large portions of excellent Mexican fare. They have menudo (tripe stew) on the menu, as well as many more mainstream dishes. Open late and serves alcohol. For authentic Mexican food try another restaurant in Mexican Town or Mi Pueblo.

Corktown

• Le Petit Zinc

  phone: +1 313 963-2805
  address: 1055 Trumbull Ave
  Small French cafe.

Mid-range

• Doña Lola

  phone: +1 313 843-4129
  address: 1312 Springwells Street
  This restaurant is one of the few Ecuadorian restaurants in the city.

• El Barzon

  address: 3710 Junction Rd
  Consistently delicious and modestly elegant with a menu of both Mexican and Italian food.

• Slows BBQ

  phone: +1 313 962-9828
  address: 2138 Michigan Ave
  Great BBQ and beer selection.

• Vince's Ristorante Italiano

  phone: +1 313 842-2857
  address: 1341 Springwells St
  This restaurant offers some of the best Italian home cooking in the neighborhood.

Upscale

• PJ's Lager House

  phone: +1 313 961-4668
  address: 1254 Michigan Ave
  Dive bar with live music.

• Two James Spirits

  phone: +313 964-4800
  address: 2445 Michigan Ave
  A local distillery with its own line of whiskey, gin, and other spirits. A great assortment of handcrafted cocktails is also available.

• Trumbull and Porter Hotel

  phone: +1 313 496-1400
  address: 1331 Trumbull St
  Budget option in Corktown.

• Hunter House

  phone: +1 313 831-9668
  address: 3985 Trumbull Ave
  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hunter House was built in 1890 for the co-founder of a manufacturing company. Today, the house is a six-room bed-and-breakfast, known as the "Woodbridge Star."