Detroit

American dinner and cocktails

Grey Ghost

A Brush Park dinner and cocktail room, north of the stadium.

Details & address

The site says “open daily” but lists no hours on the pages checked. Book or call ahead.

47 Watson Street, Detroit, MI 48201

Coney dogs and chili

American Coney Island

A family-owned Coney dog counter operating since 1917, for a quick meal downtown.

Details & address

The site publishes no opening hours. Check before you plan around it.

114 West Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226

New American

The Apparatus Room

Seasonal Michigan cooking in Detroit Foundation Hotel’s old fire-engine bay, from breakfast through dinner.

Details & address

Dinner Mon–Sat 5–10 p.m., Sun 5–9 p.m.; brunch Sat/Sun 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

250 West Larned Street, Detroit, MI 48226

Seasonal American

Selden Standard

A Midtown dinner a few blocks from the QLine, for the night you’re not at the game.

Details & address

The site offers booking and carryout but lists no regular hours on the pages checked, and it closes on some dates. Check before you go.

3921 2nd Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201

Brewpub and from-scratch American

Traffic Jam & Snug

A Midtown brewpub since 1965, with its own bakery and dairy, near the Canfield Street QLine stop.

Details & address

Open Wed–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Closed Mon/Tue, so it won’t work after the Monday night game.

511 West Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48201

American sports bar

Wings Bar & Grill

Burgers, wings and games on TV inside the Wingate, for when you’re back in Romulus.

Details & address

Daily 4–11 p.m. A late game plus the drive back may land after the kitchen closes.

9501 Middlebelt Road, Romulus, MI 48174

Directions See market days & vendors

Make more of the trip.

Pubs, late food, walks and local experiences for the whole weekend.

Explore the day before

Day before · choose a game date

Things to do

Saturday Market at Eastern Market

Detroit’s historic public market, with local produce, flowers and food vendors under its sheds on Saturdays year-round.

Eastern Market Corporation, 2934 Russell StreetFree entry

Saturday morningFood loversFamilies

Eastern Market, 2934 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48207

Saturday Market 6 a.m.–4 p.m., year-round. Sunday and Tuesday markets run June–September only.

Before you go

Saturday morningFood loversFamilies

Eastern Market, 2934 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48207

Saturday Market 6 a.m.–4 p.m., year-round. Sunday and Tuesday markets run June–September only.

A morning or midday outing on the day before a Sunday game.

Free to walk around; vendors charge for what you buy.

Vendors change week to week; check the weekly vendor map before you go.

Things to do

Tour Hitsville U.S.A. at the Motown Museum

See Studio A, the control room and Berry Gordy’s upstairs flat in the house where Motown Records started.

2.8 mi straight-line from the stadiumPaid admission; buy tickets through the museum’s site.

Music historyFirst visitRainy day

Motown Museum, 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48208

Wed–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Before you go

Music historyFirst visitRainy day

Motown Museum, 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48208

Wed–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

A daytime visit on the day before the game; Saturdays run latest.

Visits are by tour; book ahead. It’s in New Center, a drive or rideshare from downtown.

Directions Book a Motown Museum tour

Walking route

Walk the Detroit RiverWalk east of downtown

Follow the riverside path from Cullen Plaza past Milliken State Park to Robert C. Valade Park.

Cullen PlazaFree walk

Free outingRiverfrontFamilies

Start at Cullen Plaza, East Riverfront, Detroit, MI 48207

The riverfront is open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cullen Plaza
William G. Milliken State Park
Robert C. Valade Park

Before you go

Free outingRiverfrontFamilies

Start at Cullen Plaza, East Riverfront, Detroit, MI 48207

The riverfront is open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cullen Plaza
William G. Milliken State Park
Robert C. Valade Park

A daylight stroll on the day before, or a morning before a late kickoff.

Free.

Stay on the RiverWalk heading east from Cullen Plaza. Use it to get your bearings; it isn’t turn-by-turn navigation.

It’s a separate trip from Ford Field. Restrooms are at Cullen Plaza and Valade Park during open hours; weather and events can change access.

Walking directions See the RiverWalk map

Night before the game

Night before the game · choose a game date

Bar / pub

House beer at Detroit Beer Company

A brewpub on the first two floors of the historic Hartz Building on Broadway, a short walk from Ford Field, with NFL games on.

0.32 mi straight-line from the stadiumSee menu for pricesLate food nearby: Late fried chicken at Penny Red’s, 0.07 mi straight-line

Stadium districtBrewpubGroups

Detroit Beer Company, 1529 Broadway Street, Detroit, MI 48226

Tue–Thu 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 11 a.m.–midnight; Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; closed Mondays. Game days can have special hours.

Before you go

Stadium districtBrewpubGroups

Detroit Beer Company, 1529 Broadway Street, Detroit, MI 48226

Tue–Thu 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 11 a.m.–midnight; Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; closed Mondays. Game days can have special hours.

Works the night before, before an afternoon kickoff or after the game. For the Sept. 27 Lions game it listed 10 a.m.–10 p.m. hours.

Food and beer are priced on the menu.

Closed on Mondays in its regular hours, so check before counting on it around the Monday night game. Expect crowds on game days.

Directions See hours, menu & reservations

Bar / pub

Pints and shuffleboard at The Brakeman

An American beer and rec hall in Parker’s Alley at Shinola Hotel, with Midwest craft beer on tap, shuffleboard and foosball, and games on screen.

0.37 mi straight-line from the stadiumSee menu for pricesLate food nearby: Late fried chicken at Penny Red’s, 0.01 mi straight-line

Stadium districtSports screensGroups

Reserve ahead

The Brakeman, Parker’s Alley, 1400 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Mon closed; Tue 4–10 p.m.; Wed/Thu 4–11 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sat noon–2 a.m.; Sun noon–10 p.m.

Before you go

Stadium districtSports screensGroups

Reserve ahead

The Brakeman, Parker’s Alley, 1400 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Mon closed; Tue 4–10 p.m.; Wed/Thu 4–11 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sat noon–2 a.m.; Sun noon–10 p.m.

A night-before meetup or a postgame round; on Fridays and Saturdays it stays open to 2 a.m.

Drinks are priced on the menu. Food comes from Penny Red’s next door.

Closed Mondays and closes at 10 p.m. on Sundays. Tap tables can be booked; walk-in space isn’t promised.

Directions See Brakeman hours

Things to do

Live jazz and dinner at Cliff Bell’s

A restored art deco jazz club on Park Avenue near Grand Circus Park, with live music, dinner and cocktails.

0.42 mi straight-line from the stadiumMenu prices; some shows are ticketed. Check each event’s details.

Live jazzDinner outCouples

Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Wed/Thu 5–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 5 p.m.–midnight; Sun 4–9 p.m.; closed Mon/Tue.

Before you go

Live jazzDinner outCouples

Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Wed/Thu 5–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 5 p.m.–midnight; Sun 4–9 p.m.; closed Mon/Tue.

A night-before plan. Check the show schedule for your date; showtimes vary.

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations are online; parties of five or more must call.

Directions See shows & reserve

Bar / pub

Mike and Mona’s US 12 (Wayne)

Where Packers fans in town can watch together: a sports bar and bistro in Wayne that the Packers’ bar map lists, a few miles from the DTW airport hotels.

34824 Michigan Avenue, WayneSee menu for prices

Packers fansWatching gamesAirport base

Mike and Mona’s (US 12 Bar & Grill), 34824 West Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184

Sun–Thu 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 10 a.m.–midnight (from the bar’s own site).

Before you go

Packers fansWatching gamesAirport base

Mike and Mona’s (US 12 Bar & Grill), 34824 West Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184

Sun–Thu 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri/Sat 10 a.m.–midnight (from the bar’s own site).

Handy for an airport-area stay. Check the bar’s plans for your game weekend before you go.

Food and drinks are priced on the bar’s menu.

A team listing, not an event booking. It’s a long way from Ford Field, so plan the ride there and back.

Green Bay Packers fans meet here · listed by maps.yinzcam.com · The Packers Everywhere bar map (feed NFL_GB_BARS) lists “Mike and Mona's US12”, Packers Bar, 34824 W Michigan Ave, Wayne, MI 48184. The venue’s own site (us12bar.com) calls itself Mike and Mona’s Bistro, “built on the legacy of US 12 Bar and Grill”, at the same address.

Directions See the bar’s hours & menu

Before kickoff

Before kickoff · choose a game date

Things to do

Pregame at Pride Plaza on Brush Street

The Lions’ free official tailgate area beside Ford Field, with pregame music, metro Detroit food trucks, games and the Honolulu Boom drumline.

Ford Field, 2000 Brush Street (Pride Plaza is on Brush Street)Free entry

Free pregameNo game ticketFamilies

Pride Plaza, Brush Street beside Ford Field, Detroit, MI 48226

Opens hours before kickoff on game days; the exact time is announced per game.

Before you go

Free pregameNo game ticketFamilies

Pride Plaza, Brush Street beside Ford Field, Detroit, MI 48226

Opens hours before kickoff on game days; the exact time is announced per game.

For the 1 p.m. Week 1 game it opened at 10 a.m. Opening times move with kickoff, so check the Lions’ preview for your game.

Free, and no game ticket needed. Food and drinks are paid.

Drinks bought at Pride Plaza must stay inside its barriers, and some elements may be unavailable in severe weather. Bag rules and screening still apply when you enter the stadium. Activities change from game to game.

Directions See the Lions’ Pride Plaza details

Things to do

Tailgate at Eastern Market

Eastern Market sells numbered tailgate spaces in its posted lots for Lions games, with rules on grills, tents and generators.

Eastern Market Corporation, 2934 Russell StreetPaid ticket, bought online in advance only through Passage. Prices are on the ticket site.

TailgatingGroups with a carBig pregame

Eastern Market, 2934 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48207

Lot hours are set per game: from five hours before the game until 60 minutes after it.

Before you go

TailgatingGroups with a carBig pregame

Eastern Market, 2934 Russell Street, Detroit, MI 48207

Lot hours are set per game: from five hours before the game until 60 minutes after it.

Lots open five hours before the game, with no early access, and must be empty 60 minutes after it. Eastern Market lists tailgate dates for Sept. 13 and 27, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1, 22 and 26 only.

No tickets at the gate, no overnight parking and no deep fryers. Every space must contain a vehicle, and tents over 10×10 are banned. Eastern Market is a separate walk from Ford Field.

Directions Read the tailgate rules

Walking route

Walk up Woodward to Ford Field

Start at Campus Martius, walk north on Woodward past Grand Circus Park and Comerica Park, then turn toward Ford Field’s gates.

Campus Martius ParkFree walk

Stadium approachNo carFirst visit

Start at Campus Martius Park, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Public streets; follow the Lions’ game-day instructions for your gate.

Campus Martius Park
Grand Circus Park
Comerica Park
Ford Field

Before you go

Stadium approachNo carFirst visit

Start at Campus Martius Park, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Public streets; follow the Lions’ game-day instructions for your gate.

Campus Martius Park
Grand Circus Park
Comerica Park
Ford Field

Leave time for crowds, crossings and security at your gate. The QLine stops at Campus Martius and Grand Circus if you want to ride part of the way.

Free walk; game admission is separate.

Head north on Woodward, then east toward Brush Street and the gate on your ticket. Use the Lions’ Gate Reference Guide to pick a gate.

Streets around the stadiums are busy on game days. Step-free access and walk times aren’t guaranteed.

Walking directions See the QLine stations

Late-night food & drinks

Late night after the game · choose a game date

Late food

Late fried chicken at Penny Red’s

Buckets of fried chicken, honey-butter biscuits and farmstand sides in Parker’s Alley, next to The Brakeman.

0.37 mi straight-line from the stadiumSee menu for prices

Late foodFried chickenStadium district

Penny Red’s, Parker’s Alley, 1400 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Food service: Tue 4–10 p.m.; Wed/Thu 4–11 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m.–1 a.m.; Sat noon–1 a.m.; Sun noon–10 p.m. Monday hours aren’t listed.

Before you go

Late foodFried chickenStadium district

Penny Red’s, Parker’s Alley, 1400 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Food service: Tue 4–10 p.m.; Wed/Thu 4–11 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m.–1 a.m.; Sat noon–1 a.m.; Sun noon–10 p.m. Monday hours aren’t listed.

Food service runs to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, but only to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Menu prices; online ordering is available.

Sunday service ends at 10 p.m., so it may not suit a late Sunday finish. Don’t count on it for Monday.

Directions See Penny Red’s hours

Choose your game and build your weekend

To the game and back

Choose a route from the area you’re staying in.

From the downtown stadium districtDowntown stadium district (Broadway / Grand Circus Park)walk

Getting there: Walk to the gate on your ticket. The Lions’ Gate Reference Guide shows which gate is closest to your seat; gates other than Gate A usually have shorter lines.
Getting back: Walk back to your hotel with the crowd leaving Ford Field.

Walk times are the hotels’ own estimates. Everyone is screened on entry, and bags must meet the clear-bag rules.

From the riverfront on the People MoverDowntown riverfront / Financial Districttransit

Getting there: Ride the free Detroit People Mover loop to Broadway station (1441 W. Broadway at John R), which lists Ford Field among the places it serves. Financial District station is at 133 W Larned.
Getting back: Walk back to Broadway station and ride the loop to your stop. Regular hours: Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m.–midnight, Sat 10 a.m.–midnight, Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

Trains come every 8–12 minutes on average. Escalators at Broadway were listed out of service, so use the elevator. Check the schedule page for special hours on your date.

From Midtown on the QLineMidtown and New Center (QLine)transit

Getting there: Ride the free QLINE streetcar south on Woodward to Grand Circus station, which QLINE lists as convenient to Ford Field, then walk to your gate. Streetcars come every 15 minutes or less.
Getting back: Ride north from Grand Circus. Service runs Mon–Sat 8 a.m.–midnight and Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

The QLine shares Woodward with traffic on most of its route. After a 4:25 p.m. Sunday game, or if an early game runs long, the 9 p.m. Sunday finish can be tight, so plan a backup ride.

From DTW airport / Romulus by carDTW airport / Romulusdrive

Getting there: Drive downtown. Ford Field’s adjacent parking facilities fill first come, first served and usually open about four hours before kickoff. For a tailgate, buy an Eastern Market ticket online in advance; its lots open five hours before the game. Eastern Market lists tailgate dates for Sept. 13 and 27, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1, 22 and 26 only.
Getting back: Walk back to the facility or lot you noted. Eastern Market lots must be empty 60 minutes after the game, with no overnight parking.

Tailgating and re-entry aren’t allowed in the facilities next to Ford Field. Eastern Market tailgate tickets are sold online only, and the lot is a separate walk from the stadium.

At Ford Field

Bags — Lions

Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 × 6 × 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, and a small clutch up to 4.5 × 6.5 inches are allowed. Backpacks, diaper bags, strollers and car seats are not, and items can’t be checked at the gates.

Getting in — Lions

Everyone entering Ford Field goes through a visual inspection, a bag check, a consent pat-down and walk-through metal detectors. Gates other than Gate A usually have shorter lines.

No tailgating beside Ford Field

Parking next to Ford Field and Comerica Park is first come, first served and generally opens four hours before kickoff. Tailgating and re-entry are prohibited there.

Eastern Market tailgate tickets

Eastern Market sells tailgate spaces online only, in advance, through Passage. Its listed tailgate dates are Sept. 13 and 27, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1, 22 and 26; none is listed yet for the December games. Lots open five hours before the game and must be empty 60 minutes after it. There’s no overnight parking, and every space must contain a vehicle.

Pride Plaza is free

Pride Plaza on Brush Street, next to Ford Field, is the Lions’ free official tailgate and needs no game ticket. Drinks bought there must stay inside its barriers. For the Week 1 1 p.m. game, it opened at 10 a.m. with music, food trucks and the drumline.

Sunday transit ends early

The free QLine runs until 9 p.m. on Sundays (midnight Mon–Sat). The free People Mover runs until 10 p.m. on Sundays (midnight other days).

From DTW to downtown by bus

Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) runs between both terminals and downtown daily, 3:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; tickets are $8 at the door or $6 in advance. SMART’s FAST Michigan Route 261 also serves both terminals.