10 places to eat and drink near Ford Field during Detroit Lions home games
With the Lions' eagerly awaited 2023 season underway and off to a strong start, thousands of fans are expected to visit downtown Detroit for upcoming home games.
Whether visitors are season ticketholders or simply downtown to take in the energy of the city during one of the most exciting seasons in recent history, the one thing you’ll likely have in common is an appetite.
Grab a bite before kickoff, pull up a seat at a restaurant to watch the games over burgers, wings and pizza, or cheers to a win with a beer or cocktails among friends.
We’ve rounded up 10 bars and restaurants — classics and the newcomers alike — all within walking distance from Ford Field. From downtown to Greektown to Brush Park, the city’s dining scene is thriving with options.
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Ash Bar Detroit
A recent addition to the Siren hotel. Ash Bar Detroit offers an all-day diner with a sleek, minimalist feel. Go for a simple pre-game breakfast of pancakes with mixed berries or a bagel and house-smoked trout or gravlax with espresso martinis, or stop by for a Parisian-inspired dinner of steak frites with compound butter as you let the downtown Detroit traffic pass.
1509 Broadway St., second floor, Detroit. 313-277-4736; ash.world
The Brakeman
Dubbed an American beer hall, The Brakeman is a fun venue where guests are encouraged to watch the big game and play a few games of their own. Team up with friends for a friendly game of foosball, table shuffleboard or beer pong. If you work up an appetite, The Brakeman’s got an attached walk-up window serving up buckets of fried chicken, sweet-savory honey-butter biscuits and a small offering of sides.
22 John R St., Detroit. thebrakemandetroit.com
Brass Rail Pizza Bar
On Adams, just off of Woodward, the Brass Rail Pizza bar menu features a dozen variations of red, white and build-your-own pizzas. Other menu items are appetizers, salads, chicken wings, burgers and sandwiches. The bar options feature more than 50 craft beers and cocktails.
18 Adams St. W., Detroit. 313-964-0782; brassraildetroit.com
Brush Park Bodega
Part eatery, part market, part bar, Brush Park Bodega features a range of offerings. Fashioned somewhat after the bodegas or small grocery stores most associated with cities like New York, the market side offers quality snacks, such as gourmet nuts, dark chocolate and frozen treats like ice cream and ice pops. The bar serves up craft cocktails, wine and beer, and the kitchen offers coffee, hot cocoa, soups and sandwiches.
2671 Brush St., Detroit. 313-774-2774; bodegamkt.com
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Buddy’s Pizza
You'll find Detroit-style pizza along with traditional Buddy's offerings of salads, pastas and more. Buddy's is known for its pizzas baked in dark, deep pans once used for automotive parts. The pans and how the pie is assembled are hallmarks of Detroit-style pizza. Buddy's pizzas' edges are laced with a crispy, caramelized cheese crust, and the sauce is on top.
1565 Broadway, Detroit. 313-765-1500; buddyspizza.com
Detroit Beer Co.
Just a short walk from Ford Field, Detroit Beer Co. has plenty of beer options that pair with its traditional bar offerings of burgers, brewhouse nachos, twice-cooked chicken wings, sandwiches and main dishes. Detroit Beer Co. occupies the first two floors of the historic Hartz Building on Broadway in Downtown Detroit. This year marks its 20th year in business.
1529 Broadway St., Detroit. 313-962-1529; detroitbeerco.com
Elwood Bar and Grill
At the corner of Brush and East Adams across from Ford Field it's a busy spot on game days. For the Lions home opener, doors open at 9:30 a.m. Its menu features burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and chicken wings, and may vary on game days.
300 E. Adams, Detroit. 313-962-2337; elwoodgrill.com
Niki’s Pizza
In Greektown, Niki’s is a longtime classic for Detroit-style pizza with Greek flair. The space has a Mediterranean feel, with its woven pendant lighting and greenery, which extends to the menu. There’s traditional cheese and peperoni pies, but also a feta pizza that landed a spot on GQ magazine’s list of 25 Best Pizzas in America, and a Greek pizza topped with feta, onions, lamb and tomatoes.
735 Beaubien St., Detroit. 313-961-4303; nikisdetroit.com
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Sweetwater Tavern
As the unofficial dish of football season, a good serving of wings are a game-day must. And Sweetwater Tavern’s are notoriously the best in town. The tangy, spicy, meaty wings served with herb-y fries have been sought-after for decades.
400 East Congress St., Detroit. 313-962-2210; sweetwatertavern.net
Union Assembly/Mom’s Spaghetti
The multilevel Union Assembly is on the ground floor of Little Caesars' world headquarters. Its second-floor outdoor terrace has an elevated view of Woodward Avenue. It's menu features snacks and starters, sandwiches, burgers and main dishes. Mom's Spaghetti is based on Detroit rapper Eminem's lyrics from "Lose Yourself." The restaurant has a walk-up window on the side of Union Assembly offering spaghetti, spaghetti and meatballs or a "S'ghetti sandwich."
2131 Woodward, Detroit. 313-636-6000; unionjoints.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Top 10 restaurants near Ford Field during Lions season
