clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The Best Places to Catch Pokémon in Detroit

View as Map

Even if you are one of the few people left who do not play, Pokémon Go is inescapable. To sum it up, the object of the game is to catch as many critters as you can, and eventually train them and use them to battle others. The game uses your phone’s GPS to show Pokémon springing up in the real world around you, and this has caused both positive and negative backlash. One positive is that it has gotten people walking around their city and exploring notable city features they might not have otherwise come across.

Behold, a list of 28 Pokémon sightings around the Detroit area, some in obvious locales, like a Magikarp swimming at the beach at Belle Isle, while others more random, like Squirtle spotted at a grocery store in Highland Park. Catch them all and you could have serious bragging rights.

Have you nabbed something not on the list? Tell us what and where in the comments below, and we’ll add it.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Bulbasaur

Copy Link

You would expect to find Bulbasaur amongst the fresh produce at Eastern Market (get it? Because it looks like a head of garlic?), but he has been spotted between 16 Mile and 17 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.

Charmander

Copy Link

If you're trying to catch the beloved Charmander at the New Center Park in the middle of a Summer in the Park movie screening, make sure to have your sound turned off.

Clefairy

Copy Link

Clefairy likes to dance under the full moon in the woodsy Dodge Park.

This little guy apparently likes to hang out in the Boston Edison Historic District, even though he tends to look and act a lot more PRE-Historic.

Drowzee

Copy Link

This sleepy psychic lives around the fountain at Wayne State.

The versatile and dangerously adorable Eevee seems to be quite common, but one Reddit user spotted it on 17 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.

Electabuzz

Copy Link

Don't get Electrabuzz mad, or it might explode and make a scene in the lobby of the Chrysler House.

Gastley

Copy Link

This sinister ghost has been spotted floating around in Hazel Park. Though Forest Lawn cemetery might be a more appropriate locale, developers decided it was inappropriate to put ghost Pokemon in actual cemeteries.

Goldeen

Copy Link

What this fishy guy was doing out of water at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is beyond us.

Horsea, and a number of other water-themed Pokemon have been spotted at Belle Isle Beach.

Jigglypuff

Copy Link

Campus Martius Park is a popular spot for Pokemon both rare and common, like this little cutiepie.

The not so cute Jynx has also been caught at Campus Martius.

Koffing

Copy Link

It would be cool if this gassy guy were in One Woodward Ave, commissioned in 1958 by the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building. But beware of this bomb emanating poisonous gas at Campus Martius.

Like Horsea and Magikarp, this Loch Ness-like Pokemon should be in the water, but instead a Reddit user spotted it around Big Beaver and Dequindre.

Magikarp

Copy Link

The hapless Magikarp has been spotting flopping around Belle Isle. Save it before the river freezes over!

A Meowth was recently caught at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle.

As nature reclaims the city and Queen Anne's Lace springs up in abundance, Oddish feels right at home on 14th Street and Dalzelle.

Campus Martius seems to be the place to catch 'em all, there are a number of meet-ups and Pokemon crawls starting out here.

Pidgey's are pretty common, but one has definitely been spotted at Ford Field.

Pikachu

Copy Link

Tons of Pikachu have been spotted at the Detroit Zoo, so not only do you get to go to the zoo, you get to catch one of the most coveted (and cutest) Pokemon. Seems like a pretty good way to spend your afternoon.

Poliwag

Copy Link

Poliwag is supposed to be a freshwater Pokemon. Maybe that's why it is content on the shores of Belle Isle.

Grand Circus Park divides downtown like the spokes of a wheel, a nod to automobiles that put horses out of business. Still, this fiery horse has been seen hanging out there.

Psyduck

Copy Link

Spot Psyduck among the real ducks swimming in the Woodward Fountain at Campus Martius.

Rattata

Copy Link

Typically, a rat in a bar is not a pleasant sight. But the buzz on Reddit is that this easy to catch Pokemon resides in the Skip bar at The Belt.

If I were Seadra, I would live in the beautiful Waterworks Park building, but I am not and this Pokemon instead chooses to catch a summer concert at Chene Park Amphitheater.

You'd expect to find a Seel closer to the water, but we found him at the corner of Monroe and Beaubien in Greektown.

Spearow

Copy Link

One Reddit user enjoyed brunch with a side of Spearow at The Hudson Cafe.

Squirtle

Copy Link

Randomly, this much loved turtle was seen at the Aldi grocery store in Highland Park.

Tauros was spotted guarding the Children's Hospital. Despite it's bullish exterior and frightening horns, it really is just a big softy.

Not really sure how a worm with huge spikes on each end would fare with TSA, but Weedle was spotted in the DTW Airport.

Loading comments...

Bulbasaur

You would expect to find Bulbasaur amongst the fresh produce at Eastern Market (get it? Because it looks like a head of garlic?), but he has been spotted between 16 Mile and 17 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.

Charmander

If you're trying to catch the beloved Charmander at the New Center Park in the middle of a Summer in the Park movie screening, make sure to have your sound turned off.

Clefairy

Clefairy likes to dance under the full moon in the woodsy Dodge Park.

Cubone

This little guy apparently likes to hang out in the Boston Edison Historic District, even though he tends to look and act a lot more PRE-Historic.

Drowzee

This sleepy psychic lives around the fountain at Wayne State.

Eevee

The versatile and dangerously adorable Eevee seems to be quite common, but one Reddit user spotted it on 17 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.

Electabuzz

Don't get Electrabuzz mad, or it might explode and make a scene in the lobby of the Chrysler House.

Gastley

This sinister ghost has been spotted floating around in Hazel Park. Though Forest Lawn cemetery might be a more appropriate locale, developers decided it was inappropriate to put ghost Pokemon in actual cemeteries.

Goldeen

What this fishy guy was doing out of water at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is beyond us.

Horsea

Horsea, and a number of other water-themed Pokemon have been spotted at Belle Isle Beach.

Jigglypuff

Campus Martius Park is a popular spot for Pokemon both rare and common, like this little cutiepie.

Jynx

The not so cute Jynx has also been caught at Campus Martius.

Koffing

It would be cool if this gassy guy were in One Woodward Ave, commissioned in 1958 by the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building. But beware of this bomb emanating poisonous gas at Campus Martius.

Lapras

Like Horsea and Magikarp, this Loch Ness-like Pokemon should be in the water, but instead a Reddit user spotted it around Big Beaver and Dequindre.

Magikarp

The hapless Magikarp has been spotting flopping around Belle Isle. Save it before the river freezes over!

Meowth

A Meowth was recently caught at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle.

Oddish

As nature reclaims the city and Queen Anne's Lace springs up in abundance, Oddish feels right at home on 14th Street and Dalzelle.

Paras

Campus Martius seems to be the place to catch 'em all, there are a number of meet-ups and Pokemon crawls starting out here.

Pidgey

Pidgey's are pretty common, but one has definitely been spotted at Ford Field.

Pikachu

Tons of Pikachu have been spotted at the Detroit Zoo, so not only do you get to go to the zoo, you get to catch one of the most coveted (and cutest) Pokemon. Seems like a pretty good way to spend your afternoon.

Poliwag

Poliwag is supposed to be a freshwater Pokemon. Maybe that's why it is content on the shores of Belle Isle.

Ponyta

Grand Circus Park divides downtown like the spokes of a wheel, a nod to automobiles that put horses out of business. Still, this fiery horse has been seen hanging out there.

Psyduck

Spot Psyduck among the real ducks swimming in the Woodward Fountain at Campus Martius.

Rattata

Typically, a rat in a bar is not a pleasant sight. But the buzz on Reddit is that this easy to catch Pokemon resides in the Skip bar at The Belt.

Seadra

If I were Seadra, I would live in the beautiful Waterworks Park building, but I am not and this Pokemon instead chooses to catch a summer concert at Chene Park Amphitheater.

Seel

You'd expect to find a Seel closer to the water, but we found him at the corner of Monroe and Beaubien in Greektown.

Spearow

One Reddit user enjoyed brunch with a side of Spearow at The Hudson Cafe.

Squirtle

Randomly, this much loved turtle was seen at the Aldi grocery store in Highland Park.

Tauros

Tauros was spotted guarding the Children's Hospital. Despite it's bullish exterior and frightening horns, it really is just a big softy.

Weedle

Not really sure how a worm with huge spikes on each end would fare with TSA, but Weedle was spotted in the DTW Airport.