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The exterior of the Shinola Hotel in Detroit. There is a black awning over the entrance with the word Hotel on it. The building has a red brick facade.
The Shinola Hotel.
Photo by Michelle Gerard

Detroit’s best hotels for architecture and design lovers

These hotels offer more than just a place to sleep

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The Shinola Hotel.
| Photo by Michelle Gerard

Planning a visit to Detroit and looking to make your trip extra special? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Detroit’s old building stock has allowed the city to redevelop and number of historic skyscrapers, mansions, motels, and other buildings into chic, design-forward places for a short-term stay. At these hotels, you’ll not only get modern amenities, but stunning facades, grand lobbies, and sleek rooms. But even if you’re not staying, most allow public access to their lobbies and attached bars or restaurants.

Here are 13 of the best hotels for those with a deep appreciation for architecture and design.

Note: Hotels are ordered from north to south.

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The Inn on Ferry Street

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Want to stay in a beautiful old mansion? The Inn at Ferry Street combines four historic Victorian homes and two carriage houses, located on one of Detroit's most beautiful streets. The Inn is also close to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

A row of buildings. The building in the foreground is light grey brick. The next building is red brick. The Inn on Ferry Street on Facebook

El Moore Lodge

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This beautiful stone building from the late 1800s got an redesign and became the El Moore Lodge. It’s now not only an 11-room short-term stay hotel, but also one of the greenest buildings in the city. Conveniently located in Midtown, it’s nearby a number of shops and wonderful buildings, like the Canfield Street Historic District.

The Cochrane House

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This gorgeous Italianate mansion, built around 1870, was turned into a bed and breakfast several years ago. Inside, the inn needed a near gut rehab and has gotten a modern update. It’s located in the near downtown neighborhood of Brush Park, which contains the city’s largest collection of Gilded Age mansions.

The Inn at 97 Winder

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Near the Cochrane House is the incredible Inn at 97 Winder, which got an update in 2017. The Second Empire style mansion in Brush Park has kept a number of its original wood features, including the sumptuous staircase, trim, and paneling. Though the rooms have some modern touches, its lobby is still decked out in Gilded Age–style furniture.

Aloft Detroit

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The redesigned, renovated, and reclaimed David Whitney Building now has one of the most spectacular lobbies in the city. Designed by Daniel H. Burnham & Co. in 1914, this skyscraper was brought back to life as a mixed-use building with the hotel Aloft Detroit in the 2010s. The redevelopment retained many of its original features, including the stunning atrium.

The Siren Hotel

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This hotel opened in 2018 in the tall, narrow, Renaissance Revival building once housed the instrument-maker Wurlitzer, and visitors will definitely want to take note of its lovely terra-cotta facade. ASH NYC redesigned the space with rich velvets, an old Parisian vibe in the lobby, and bright guest rooms upstairs. Visit the chic Candy Bar for the decadent sweets or Karl’s for a stylish diner experience.

The Element Hotel

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Closed for nearly 40 years, the Metropolitan Building finally reopened in 2019 after being abandoned for 40 years. Now it’s an extended stay, 110-room hotel with a gorgeous lobby. When visiting, make sure to check out the views from the huge windows on the second floor mezzanine, as well as its rooftop bar, the Monarch Club. And See the impressive before-and-after photos to get an idea of how much work was required to bring this building back.

Various buildings along a street with cars. Photo by Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Shinola Hotel

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Once the T. B. Rayl Company designed by Baxter, O’Dell & Halpin, this building is one of the bigger redevelopments in modern Detroit history. The project was able to save an interesting structure and many of its original features, including the red-tiled facade.

Rooms offer spectacular skyline views and visitors are close to many downtown attractions. Multiple restaurants have opened in the hotel, and event spaces range from an elegant ballroom to a light-filled conservatory. Also check out the activated Parker’s Alley with retail and restaurant offerings.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

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The Westin Book Cadillac is also one of the most impressive renovations in the city. The gorgeous Neo-Renaissance building, designed by renowned Detroit-based architect Louis Kamper, was nearly demolished in the 1980s, and received a massive restoration in 2008. It's a chic choice for any visitor.

DoubleTree Suites

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This attractive brick and stone neoclassical building on the outskirts of downtown was yet another historic structure saved this century. Though it did suffer from years of neglect, “much of the hotel’s original marble and the plasterwork in the Crystal Ballroom were save,” according to Historic Detroit.

Detroit Marriott

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The Marriott is in the Renaissance Center, Detroit’s tallest building, right on the river next to Hart Plaza. It’s also in one of the city’s most unique and controversial buildings, with a modern glass style and interior that can be difficult to navigate but also offers stunning views.

Detroit Foundation Hotel

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The Detroit Foundation Hotel opened in 2017 in the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters across from Cobo. The 100-key hotel blends old Detroit with new Detroit: the tiling and flooring have been kept intact, and the hotel is full of work from local artists. Attached is the superb restaurant the Apparatus Room.

Trumbull and Porter Hotel Detroit

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This former motel in Corktown opened as the Trumbull & Porter Hotel in spring 2016 and is a little more affordable than the downtown spots. It has a fun common area, the Red Dunn restaurant, and is close to all the action in Corktown. You can also rent bikes here for another way to see the city.

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The Inn on Ferry Street

Want to stay in a beautiful old mansion? The Inn at Ferry Street combines four historic Victorian homes and two carriage houses, located on one of Detroit's most beautiful streets. The Inn is also close to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

A row of buildings. The building in the foreground is light grey brick. The next building is red brick. The Inn on Ferry Street on Facebook

El Moore Lodge

This beautiful stone building from the late 1800s got an redesign and became the El Moore Lodge. It’s now not only an 11-room short-term stay hotel, but also one of the greenest buildings in the city. Conveniently located in Midtown, it’s nearby a number of shops and wonderful buildings, like the Canfield Street Historic District.

The Cochrane House

This gorgeous Italianate mansion, built around 1870, was turned into a bed and breakfast several years ago. Inside, the inn needed a near gut rehab and has gotten a modern update. It’s located in the near downtown neighborhood of Brush Park, which contains the city’s largest collection of Gilded Age mansions.

The Inn at 97 Winder

Near the Cochrane House is the incredible Inn at 97 Winder, which got an update in 2017. The Second Empire style mansion in Brush Park has kept a number of its original wood features, including the sumptuous staircase, trim, and paneling. Though the rooms have some modern touches, its lobby is still decked out in Gilded Age–style furniture.

Aloft Detroit

The redesigned, renovated, and reclaimed David Whitney Building now has one of the most spectacular lobbies in the city. Designed by Daniel H. Burnham & Co. in 1914, this skyscraper was brought back to life as a mixed-use building with the hotel Aloft Detroit in the 2010s. The redevelopment retained many of its original features, including the stunning atrium.

The Siren Hotel

This hotel opened in 2018 in the tall, narrow, Renaissance Revival building once housed the instrument-maker Wurlitzer, and visitors will definitely want to take note of its lovely terra-cotta facade. ASH NYC redesigned the space with rich velvets, an old Parisian vibe in the lobby, and bright guest rooms upstairs. Visit the chic Candy Bar for the decadent sweets or Karl’s for a stylish diner experience.

The Element Hotel

Closed for nearly 40 years, the Metropolitan Building finally reopened in 2019 after being abandoned for 40 years. Now it’s an extended stay, 110-room hotel with a gorgeous lobby. When visiting, make sure to check out the views from the huge windows on the second floor mezzanine, as well as its rooftop bar, the Monarch Club. And See the impressive before-and-after photos to get an idea of how much work was required to bring this building back.

Various buildings along a street with cars. Photo by Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Shinola Hotel

Once the T. B. Rayl Company designed by Baxter, O’Dell & Halpin, this building is one of the bigger redevelopments in modern Detroit history. The project was able to save an interesting structure and many of its original features, including the red-tiled facade.

Rooms offer spectacular skyline views and visitors are close to many downtown attractions. Multiple restaurants have opened in the hotel, and event spaces range from an elegant ballroom to a light-filled conservatory. Also check out the activated Parker’s Alley with retail and restaurant offerings.

Photo by Michelle Gerard

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

The Westin Book Cadillac is also one of the most impressive renovations in the city. The gorgeous Neo-Renaissance building, designed by renowned Detroit-based architect Louis Kamper, was nearly demolished in the 1980s, and received a massive restoration in 2008. It's a chic choice for any visitor.

DoubleTree Suites

This attractive brick and stone neoclassical building on the outskirts of downtown was yet another historic structure saved this century. Though it did suffer from years of neglect, “much of the hotel’s original marble and the plasterwork in the Crystal Ballroom were save,” according to Historic Detroit.

Detroit Marriott

The Marriott is in the Renaissance Center, Detroit’s tallest building, right on the river next to Hart Plaza. It’s also in one of the city’s most unique and controversial buildings, with a modern glass style and interior that can be difficult to navigate but also offers stunning views.

Detroit Foundation Hotel

The Detroit Foundation Hotel opened in 2017 in the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters across from Cobo. The 100-key hotel blends old Detroit with new Detroit: the tiling and flooring have been kept intact, and the hotel is full of work from local artists. Attached is the superb restaurant the Apparatus Room.

Trumbull and Porter Hotel Detroit

This former motel in Corktown opened as the Trumbull & Porter Hotel in spring 2016 and is a little more affordable than the downtown spots. It has a fun common area, the Red Dunn restaurant, and is close to all the action in Corktown. You can also rent bikes here for another way to see the city.