7 standout Detroit restaurant openings in 2025
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The Rectory at 1920 Atkinson St., beside the Congregation. Photo: Courtesy of the Rectory
Detroit's evolving dining scene saw some significant additions this year and reached new heights — though we lost some longtime operators, too.
Why it matters: As economic uncertainty, tariffs and labor cost challenges drive difficulties in the ever-precarious restaurant industry, local businesses are still innovating and learning how to succeed.
Here's a look at some of 2025's most interesting openings:
🍕 The Rectory: The aptly named cafe in an old church near Detroit's Boston Edison neighborhood, the Congregation, expanded to a vacant building next door and opened a pizza shop.
🍸 Mockery Zero Proof: The city's first non-alcoholic bottle shop was arguably our most unique bar opening.
🥯 Bev's Bagels: With a host of interesting bagel flavors like spicy furikake, this shop replaced Detroit Institute of Bagels after its controversial closure.
🍺 Roar Brewing: Detroit's first Black-owned brewery opened on Selden Street in the former Nain Rouge Brewery spot.
🍔 Moma G's: This takeout spot impressed with its viral smashburgers on the west side in a former Coney Island.
🍖 Marrow in the Market: This latest project from restaurateur Ping Ho of the acclaimed Marrow restaurant and butcher's shop in West Village. The Free Press highlighted its boneless roast chicken as a hit.
🌮 Street Beet: Bringing its popular pop-up to a permanent brick-and-mortar, the vegan fast food-style eatery Street Beet opened in Corktown.
High-profile chains joined our ranks downtown, including Chipotle-style Mediterranean fast-casual Cava and salad purveyor Sweetgreen.
Plus, we saw some notable restaurants and bars close this year:
- The Bobcat Bonnie's empire collapsed, with the closing of its Ferndale, Corktown and Lansing locations.
- Sweets shop Good Cakes and Bakes closed its downtown Detroit location, leaving its original on Livernois Avenue.
- The city's vegetarian dining scene lost some warriors: Seva in Midtown shuttered, while Detroit Vegan Soul stopped offering daily food and is focusing on catering and pre-orders, per its website.
- A pizza and cocktail lounge, Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen, closed this fall after nearly five years.
- Downtown French-American bistro the Statler shut down for a full revamp.
What we're watching: Potential openings next year for Balkan House's Midtown location, a new Eastern Market restaurant called Waka from Baobab Fare, a restaurant from the founder of Shake Shack in the Hudson's building and many more.