Kamper's Rooftop Lounge, Book Tower, Detroit, MI. Photo courtesy of Eater Detroit

With its growing food scene and lively atmosphere, downtown Detroit has become a popular destination for dining and nightlife. Each restaurant and bar brings its own style, menu, and experience, making it easy to find something new. To get a better sense of what downtown has to offer, I visited a variety of locations and reviewed them based on food, service, and atmosphere.

The Northern Lights Lounge has a great atmosphere that blends modern and vintage styles. There’s a large bar and a wide variety of drinks to choose from. The seating includes comfortable lounge areas that can fit a party of two for a nice romantic evening or a group of six for a night out. However, they do not accept reservations, so it’s more of a first-come, first-served spot. There is also a dance floor, and depending on the day and time, it can either be a quiet place for a drink or a lively spot for dancing.

On the menu, you can find a handful of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, as well as larger entrées like steak or salmon. After my friend and I left the Detroit Institute of Arts, we headed over for a “girl dinner,” which consisted of two Caesar salads, one lemon drop, and one Detroit dirty martini. The drinks were phenomenal and a nice way to relax after walking through the museum. Northern Lights Lounge is closed on Mondays but open from 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Friday and from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends. With warmer weather approaching, you can also enjoy their outdoor patio.

The Townhouse is an American restaurant offering private dining, excellent cocktails, and a full bar with happy hour options. Reservations are accepted. It is a bit on the pricier side, but there’s a wide variety of choices, including sandwiches, salads, steak, and sushi. They also have “Farmed & Foraged” and “Social & Shared” sections, where you can find vegetables and appetizers to share. The seating is comfortable, with pink velvet-style chairs, and the space is bright with large glass windows that bring in natural light. It’s perfect for a late lunch or a dinner reservation with friends or a significant other.

After two lemon drops, mac ‘n cheese, and house pasta, it was a good meal and a good time overall. However, if you are going for cocktails, I would recommend ordering one of their specialty drinks instead of something simple, since two Tito’s lemon drops came out to $40.

Mootz Pizzeria + Bar is a fantastic Italian restaurant featuring New York–style pizza with a crispy crust and a variety of toppings, including classic Margherita, the “Bee Sting” (pepperoni with hot honey), and the “Meatza.” They also offer pasta, salads and appetizers. My favorites were the garlic knots and steak bites, which are a great way to start the table. The atmosphere is modern and energetic, with a large bar area. Seating includes a main dining room with booths as well as a heated patio. They accept reservations and are open 11 a.m. to midnight. every day.

The Candy Bar, located inside The Siren Hotel, offers a chic and cozy atmosphere. They have happy hour specials Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s a perfect place for a celebration or birthday, with comfortable velvet seating and a disco ball that adds to the vibe.

The food menu is limited, with mostly bite-sized options meant for sharing, but they offer a variety of drinks, including beer, wine, house cocktails, and zero-proof options. After another lemon drop martini and a fun girls’ night, we headed out after a successful evening. Don’t miss their “Dealer’s Choice” cocktail—it’s a surprise creation from the bar team that shows off their creativity and skill. Since it is a smaller space, reservations are required.

Lastly, Kamper’s Rooftop Bar is a Spanish-inspired rooftop lounge located on the 14th floor of Detroit’s Book Tower. It has a dim, intimate atmosphere and is a popular spot for date nights or cocktail hours. Reservations are recommended, and there is a two-hour time limit. The seating includes both indoor and patio options, with different arrangements for different party sizes. It’s a great place to unwind with a drink.

The food menu is small, but they offer a variety of cocktails, sangrias, cider, beer and wines. I, of course, had another lemon drop, while my friend ordered an espresso martini. It wasn’t our favorite—it felt like it was missing something—and when we asked about adding a cream liqueur, they had only one option available.

If I had to pick the best out of all the lemon drops I tried, my favorite was at The Candy Bar. It wasn’t overly sweet and had the perfect balance of lemon flavor.

All of the places we visited had excellent service and friendly staff, which made the experiences even better. However, when going downtown, be prepared for a wait since it can get busy. Despite that, each place does a great job of making sure customers leave feeling satisfied. What really makes downtown stand out is the variety of options—there’s always somewhere new to try.

Whether you’re going out for a casual night or looking to try something different, downtown Detroit continues to offer a mix of food, atmosphere, and experiences that keep people coming back.