16 Breakfast Options In Detroit Near The Movement Festival
Thousands upon thousands of people are about to descend on Detroit with one thing on their mind. Music. Every year, the Movement Electronic Music Festival draws more than 100,000 people to Hart Plaza to hear their favorite artists and simply dance until the sun comes up, but eventually, everyone gets hungry. It’s not an easy feat to dance for 10 hours and not get something to keep your motor running.
Last year, one complaint we commonly heard as we spoke with people from all across the world was “where do I get breakfast,” or “I can’t find anywhere to eat!” Let’s be completely clear here, not many people I have met can go as hard as humanly possible for three days on elephant ears and $8 tallboys. Well, at least not anyone over 24. Sadly, we all reach a point in our lives when the only anecdote to a crazy long night is a big meal, a glass of orange juice, and a couple of million milligrams of caffeine.
We hopped on our bike and made a circle of 16 breakfast options in and near downtown Detroit. Whether you are from Milan, Milwaukee, or Milford we have you covered. People are right, it isn’t easy to find the right breakfast fix during Movement, but that doesn’t mean the options don’t exist. Starbucks doesn’t count.
Detroit is the land of hidden treasures and here is your guide. This should help you find your way to whatever fixer-upper you need to keep going until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The Clique
1326 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48207. (313) 259-0922
Located just down the street from Hart Plaza on Jefferson. The Clique is a diner connected to a hotel and the food is excellent. There are big portions, the prices are cheap and the coffee is strong. They are open at 7 a.m. till 3 p.m… Perfect place to eat after an all-night party.
Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub
612 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 961-3043
The Grand Trunk opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 2 a.m. They have brunch Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m… The food here is great and it’s a good place to wash down food with a pint of Michigan craft beer. Over the course of the festival, they will have DJ’s playing the whole time to keep the party going. It is a high ceilinged, ornate restaurant that originally served as the Grand Trunk Railroad ticket office. Nice place to raise a glass to Detroit’s history.
Hudson Cafe
1241 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 237-1000
Sometimes two eggs over easy and bacon just don’t cut it. For those of you who want something a little more exciting, this is a good option. The french toast has banana cream cheese stuffing and there is a “waffles your way” on the menu. The eggs benedict is on point. If you get there a bit late there are sandwiches and salad. They open at 8 a.m. and close at 4 p.m… Be prepared to wait.
Woodward Coney Island
616 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48266. (313) 962-5282
This is classic Detroit fare, simple, cheap, and uncomplicated. Omelets, sausage, coney dogs, french fries and gyros and it’s all right down the street from the festival on Woodward. This is a good place to eat on the cheap. Opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.
Farmers Restaurant
2524 Market St, Detroit, MI 48207. (313) 529-8230
In our opinion one of the best places for breakfast in Detroit. It also located smack dab in the center of Eastern Market, the country’s largest outdoor market. If you go on Saturday you can witness all the hustle and bustle while shopping for a unique Detroit souvenir. The corned beef hash and eggs is a must try, so are sausages that are made in-house. They are open 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends and 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the rest of the week.
Le Petit Zinc
1055 Howard St, Detroit, MI 48216. (313) 963-2805
The name means “local bar” in French. It’s typical for French bars to have a metal countertop that over time shows the wear and tear of their customers. People are literally leaving their mark. This is a great place to sit outside and have some quiche. Again, this is a place you should be prepared to wait. The food is classic French and they probably have the best mocha in the city.
Mudgie’s
1300 Porter St, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 961-2000
There is a reason Mudgie’s has won awards the last four years in a row. it’s delicious. Everything is fresh, homemade, local when possible, and tasty. This is another popular option that will be busy, but worth the wait. The biscuits and gravy are the ultimate recovery feast. They open later. Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Luci and Ethels
400 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 962-3200
This is a classic 1950’s style diner where you will find your typical greasy spoon fare. It provides exactly what you need to soak up the fun of movement. The good news, they are open 24 hours on the weekend. Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m… Friday and Saturday 24 hours and they close at 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Detroit Institute of Bagels
1236 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 444-9342
The bagel sandwich is alive and well at the Detroit Institute of Bagels a relative new-comer to the resurgent neighborhood of Corktown. They have inventive bagel flavors and homemade spreads. The ingredients are fresh, well put together and the coffee is hot. On weekdays they are open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m… They open at 8 a.m. on the weekends and close at 3 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.
Honest John’s Bar & Grill
488 Selden St, Detroit, MI 48201. (313) 832-5646
Honest John’s stays packed year-round. This is the sort of place where anything goes and no one is there to judge. The omelet is excellent and the menu diverse. Good place for a bloody mary. It is in the southern part of Midtown so it is a little bit out of the downtown area, but it is worth the short trip. You can’t visit Detroit and miss Honest John’s.
Plaka
535 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48266. (313) 962-4687
This is another 24-hour restaurant. Open all day and night, 7 days a week. It is conveniently located in the heart of Greektown which is only a stone’s throw from Hart Plaza. This is a great place to get a gyro and experience one of Detroit’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Cadillac Square Diner
111 Cadillac Square, Detroit MI, 48266. (313) 974-6923
Located just a few blocks from Hart Plaza this is a good place to get a square meal. The menu is basic but fresh. It has everything you need to carry on with the revelry. They open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.
Al’s Paradise Cafe
218 E Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 962-4498
For those of you not from the Detroit area you will be pleased to find that we have some of the best Middle Eastern food in the nation. Al’s Paradise Cafe is a great place to try out that cuisine, but it’s not only hummus here. They also serve burgers and wings and other staples of Americana. The best part is the fresh juice bar, it provides some of those nutrients you may have lost on a dance floor somewhere in the city. There is also super strong coffee. Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m… Friday from 7 am. to 7 p.m. Closed on Sunday.
Ham Shop Cafe
330 Monroe, Detroit, MI 48226. (313)-965-0088
Ham is carved right from the bone here if you like ham, but there is everything else in between. Heaping portions help make the Ham Shop one of the best places to refuel. It is also located in Greektown and easily reached from all the hotels downtown.
Brooklyn Street Local
1266 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 262-6547
Another local favorite in Corktown. The Brooklyn Street Local focuses on organic, fresh, and locally sourced ingredients. There isn’t much to say other than it is really good. This is a great place for the health nut in your group. They are consistently busy, be prepared to wait a little bit. Their hours are Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m… Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Zef’s Coney Island
660 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI, 48226. (313) 962-2077
Zef’s is your standard Detroit Coney Island. They have all the usual suspects on the menu. If you have never visited a Coney Island this is a great place to check it off your bucket list. Closed on Sunday. Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m… from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
There are other options to stumble across, and we invite you to leave them in the comments.. but this list should serve as a good map to find the breakfast/brunch options you will need to help you survive all the fun at Movement in Detroit.