Overview
The East Side of Detroit is home to some of the city's most prominent attractions, such as Belle Isle, a large island home to a day's worth of attractions of its own, and historic Eastern Market, the largest market in the United States. Much of the Detroit International Riverfront is located in the East Side.
13 sights · 2 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about East Side
Detroit International Riverfront
Detroit's riverfront is a 5½-mile (8.8 km) promenade along the Detroit River running from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle, encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise resi…
Heidelberg Project
Located in one of Detroit's poorest neighborhoods known as Black Bottom, Tyree Guyton founded the Heidelberg Project in 1986. It is an outdoor museum that consists of a two block area with houses that are decorated to lo…
Pewabic Pottery
The ceramics museum, gallery, studio, and workshop have changing contemporary exhibits.
Russell Industrial Center
A seven-building industrial complex designed by Albert Kahn and constructed between 1915 and 1925. Originally an auto body supplier, it is now home to artists' and craftmakers' studios.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
The church is known as the Assumption Grotto Church, due to the popularity of the grotto, completed in 1881, which was built as a replica of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. The church complex includes the…
Lafayette Park
Mies van der Rohe Historic District, better known as Lafayette Park, is a large park and complex of apartments designed by Mies van der Rohe just east of downtown. With their simplicity, clean proportions, and cladding o…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 19°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jul. (climate data from nearby Detroit)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
- FNT Bishop International Airport, Flint — 55 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Pewabic Pottery, Manoogian Mansion, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
- Lunch Sinbad's Restaurant and Marina
- Afternoon Belle Isle Aquarium, Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- Dinner Detroit Vegan Soul
- Evening Ye Olde Tap Room
Day 2
- Morning Detroit International Riverfront, Lafayette Park
- Lunch Supino Pizzeria
- Afternoon Chene Park, Eastern Market
- Dinner Amore da Roma
Day 3
- Morning Heidelberg Project, Poletown
- Lunch Cadieux Cafe
- Afternoon Russell Industrial Center
- Dinner National Coney Island
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Most of the attractions in the East Side tend to be near downtown or along riverfront. The rest of the area is mostly residential, but is also home to historic neighborhoods like Poletown and Black Bottom.
The East Side is home to some of Detroit's most unique attractions. The Eastern Market is the largest public market district in the United States. Belle Isle is an island filled with many of its own attractions, such as the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Anna Scripps Whitecomb Conservatory, a beach, the Detroit Yacht Club, and even more than that.
See
See Detroit International Riverfront
Detroit's riverfront is a 5½-mile (8.8 km) promenade along the Detroit River running from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle, encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas. The path is located directly on the river and is 62 feet (18¾ m) wide in most places, with separate lanes for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Pavilions, fishing piers, and benches are located at intervals along the path. The east RiverWalk connects various riverfront developments, including Hart Plaza, the Renaissance Center, GM Plaza and Promenade, Tri-Centennial State Park, Stroh River Place, Chene Park, and Gabriel Richard Park.
See Heidelberg Project
Located in one of Detroit's poorest neighborhoods known as Black Bottom, Tyree Guyton founded the Heidelberg Project in 1986. It is an outdoor museum that consists of a two block area with houses that are decorated to look colorful and intriguing. Guyton started the project to take the neighborhood from a hard core inner-city neighborhood to a safe place where visitors are welcomed.
Architecture
See Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
The church is known as the Assumption Grotto Church, due to the popularity of the grotto, completed in 1881, which was built as a replica of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. The church complex includes the grotto, a 1929 church, a rectory, convent, and cemetery. The complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See Lafayette Park
Mies van der Rohe Historic District, better known as Lafayette Park, is a large park and complex of apartments designed by Mies van der Rohe just east of downtown. With their simplicity, clean proportions, and cladding of tinted glass and aluminum, the apartment buildings of Lafayette Park are classic examples of Mies van der Rohe's International Style.
See Manoogian Mansion
Located outside Indian Village on the Detroit River, the Manoogian Mansion is the traditional home of the mayor of Detroit. The mansion has Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture with a Spanish Mission Revival Style influence including a terra-cotta tile roof.
Historic neighborhoods
See Indian Village
A number of architecturally significant buildings built in the early 20th century make up Indian Village. Architectural styles seen in these houses include Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and Mission/Spanish Revival. The neighborhood is not related to Indians or Native Americans.
See Poletown
Bordering the city of Hamtramck, Poletown was settled by Polish immigrants in 1871. The community is centered around St. Albertus Catholic Church. The neighborhood experienced an influx of immigrants in the 1920s, but fell on hard times as freeway construction and urban renewal projects destroyed the neighborhood. Today, much of the neighborhood is gone. However, neighboring Hamtramck is home to a large Polish population and is famous on Fat Tuesday for its pączkis (pronounced poonchkis). Despite the neighbourhood being quite ruined, for those of you who like grit, this would be a cool area to hit up. It has falling apart homes, rotting shops, old warehouses, and empty lots.
Belle Isle
Belle Isle is the largest island park in the United States with 982 acres (3.9 km²; 2.42 sq mi). The island has several sites and attractions. It is the largest island in the Detroit River and offers good views of the city's skyline. It is open all year long and is home to the Detroit Yacht Club, the Detroit Boat Club, a Coast Guard post, and a municipal golf course. The city maintains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.
See Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
This greenhouse and botanical garden covers 13 acres (53,000 m2). Built in 1904, it is the nation's oldest conservatory, designed by Albert Kahn, and rebuilt 1952-1954 with aluminum replacing its original wooden beams. It was named in honor of Anna Scripps Whitcomb in 1953, who left her 600-plant orchid collection to the city. Rare orchids were saved from Great Britain during World War II and transported to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
See Belle Isle Aquarium
Before the 105-year-old Belle Isle Aquarium closed in 2005, it was the oldest operating aquarium in the United States. Designed by Albert Kahn, the building itself is good-looking. The basement of the aquarium served as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Efforts to reopen the aquarium were successful in 2012 and the aquarium is now run by volunteers.
Do
Music
Do Chene Park
Located along the riverfront, the park contains the 6,000-seat Aretha Franklin amphitheater where concerts are regularly scheduled every summer. Jazz, Classic Soul and Rhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. The park also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and the Lake Lounge bar. It hosts the Detroit International Jazz Festival every Labor Day weekend.
Buy
Eat
Budget
Eat National Coney Island
A chain that can be found all over suburban Detroit.
Pizza
Eat Buddy's Pizza
Excellent square deep dish pizza. Voted the best pizza in Detroit several times. The originator of Detroit-style pizza, and still widely considered the best.
Eat Supino Pizzeria
Not a traditional Detroit-style deep-dish, but some great pie nonetheless, and a cool place as well.
Vegetarian Friendly
Eat Detroit Vegan Soul
Located in West Village area. Wonderful vegan fare with a local twist. Great up-and-coming neighborhood to explore after your meal.
Mid-range
Eat Cadieux Cafe
Known for some great Mussels. Belgian cuisine and beers.
Eat Sinbad's Restaurant and Marina
Enjoy seafood and waterfront entertainment.
Drink
Drink Ye Olde Tap Room
Over 280 beers, Detroit's oldest bar opened in 1912.
Sleep
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My experience
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