Centered between Downtown and New Center, Midtown is a vibrant neighborhood known for its rich culture, world-class museums, fun food scene, and educational institutions.

A Hub of Activity and Creativity

Wayne State University. Photo credit: Steve Neavling

Home to both Wayne State University, the third-largest public research university in Michigan, and the College for Creative Studies, a top-ranked art and design school, Midtown attracts students and faculty from all over the country. Additionally, Midtown is home to various hospitals and medical centers, including the DMC, John Dingell VA hospital, and Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Detroit Public Library.

Midtown has the highest concentration of cultural institutions in Southeast Michigan, including the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Michigan Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The world-renowned Detroit Institute of Arts was the first public museum to purchase a painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

Music still runs deep in Midtown and shows of various genres are played frequently. Check out the Masonic Temple Detroit for a variety of shows and special events and Little Caesar’s Arena for concerts and to watch the Redwings and Pistons play. The neighborhood is also home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

SheWolf Pastifico & Bar

Midtown has a unique food scene and is home to many of the city’s favorite establishments. Grab a piping hot bowl of ramen at Ima or a margarita and tasty tacos at Condado Tacos. Set in a cozy yet trendy setting, SheWolf Pastifico & Bar serves up some of the freshest pasta options available in the city and makes for the perfect date night or celebratory dinner spot. In the mood for takeout? Slows to Go dishes out mouth-watering barbeque. And be sure to check out The Whitney, Detroit’s most iconic mansion that serves as a fine dining restaurant and special event venue.

For a night out, try barhopping between old dive bars and new patios or bowl a set at The Garden Bowl, Detroit’s oldest continuously operating bowling alley.

Living Here

Midtown can broken down into its smaller neighborhoods and areas, known as North Cass, South Cass, Wayne State, Art Center, and Medical Center.

Dally in the ally. Photo credit: Jonathan Deschaine

The area has a vast assortment of housing options at various price points that are within walking distance to Midtown’s many sights. For those who want to venture further, the neighborhood has multiple public transit stops for the QLINE, DDOT, SMART, and MO-GO systems.

Midtown is a shopper’s paradise with a seemingly endless stream of new shops and stops. Every year, the entire neighborhood gears up for Dally in the Alley, the largest annual community festival in Detroit and a celebration of live music, visual arts, food, and beer.