Best Detroit Businesses With Art Galleries
If you want culture with that cup of coffee, look no further than this list of Detroit businesses that have art on their walls.
Common Cup Coffee
1511 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 327-6914
www.commoncupcoffee.com
Common Cup Coffee is located in the basement of the University Lutheran Chapel on the southeast side of UM's campus and offers free parking and WiFi. It also has live entertainment on Friday nights at 8 p.m., and every two weeks it features a new art show by local artists. If you're a student, check out Common Cup at the end of the semester for "The Final Fix," including free coffee, snacks and a midnight breakfast. Although the coffee shop is in the chapel, you don't need to be a church member to stop in for a cup of coffee, and it also serves other drinks and snacks.
Rodin
15 E. Kirby St.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 285-9218
www.rodindetroit.com
Rodin is a French-themed restaurant located inside the Park Shelton, off of Woodward in the downtown area. It recently had a summer show to showcase artists and it has much French-inspired art gracing its walls. Twenty-six artists took part in Rodin's recent show and an opening presentation, as well as reception, was held at the restaurant. Rodin offers happy hour specials such as $5 mixed drinks and its maple popcorn, and you can purchase some of the artwork hanging on its walls, too, if you desire.
Related: Best Bistros in Detroit
Cass Cafe
4620 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-1400
www.casscafe.com
The Cass Cafe is located near Wayne State and has a lot of vegetarian options, as well as a full bar available. The cafe has exhibitions from local and national artists. From March through May of this year, it had "Nature Unrepentant" by Gary Mayer, who studied at Wayne State and has roots in Detroit. The Cass Cafe can also boast that it's the winner of three Metro Times awards: Best Bar Art, Best Bar for Conversation and Best Bar to Take Friends from New York. Its menu ranges from bar fare to dishes like Sriracha chicken wings and lentil burgers, and the cafe has something for everyone.
Related: Best Hot Drinks in the Detroit Area
Cafe Con Leche
4200 W. Vernor Highway
Detroit, MI 48209
(313) 554-1744
www.facebook.com/Cafe-Con-Leche
Cafe Con Leche ("coffee with milk") is known for its Mexican hot chocolate, and it also features local artists in shows every so often. In May, the store featured an elementary school's fifth grade "el arte exhibit" in a Detroit Youth pop-up gallery. The cafe also caters to the Southwest community, with community events and meetings taking place there. Its drinks are moderately priced and it also sells pastries and tea, if you're not a coffee drinker.
Always Brewing Detroit
19180 Grand River Ave.
Detroit, MI 48223
(313) 879-1102
www.alwaysbrewingdetroit.com
Always Brewing Detroit is brand new to the Detroit area, as of late 2012, and is located in Rosedale Park. The coffee shop was originally a pop-up shop and just settled in its permanent location last month (July 2013). Musicians will be able to perform at the store's weekly open mic nights and "visual artists" will be able to display their artwork on the shop's walls. The owner of the store, Amanda Brewington, came up with the idea for Always Brewing Detroit about 10 years ago and moved to the city when she was 25 to pursue that dream. The cafe offers a variety of drinks as well as pastries and snacks, and it now serves lunch entrees such as wraps and salads.
Liz Parker is a freelance writer and a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Creative Writing and Literature. Her work can be found at Examiner.com and yesnofilms.com.
