There's lots to do late at night in Detroit - the city where the techno beat originated and is still going strong - though if you're unfamiliar with the layout it's best to travel by taxi. In the past few years young whites from the suburbs have started to come back downtown for nights out, particularly to the bars and clubs of the
Theater District
, while the
Rivertown
area is renowned for its chic bistros and funky jazz and blues bars, tucked in among rambling warehouses. The suburbs of upmarket
Birmingham
and youthful
Royal Oak
are good places to hang out, while there are a couple of fun establishments in the blue-collar neighborhood of
Hamtramck
. Way up on the northern fringe, once-deserted
Pontiac
now has a range of well-attended rock venues, dance clubs and lounges. Canadian
Windsor
also has some good nightlife, with an age limit of 19 as opposed to Michigan's 21.
For details of events in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Windsor, pick up the free weekly
Metro Times
.
Gusoline Alley
309 S Center St, Royal Oak tel 248/545-2235. Cramped and dark with a loaded jukebox, this is a legend among Detroit bars. Go early for a seat; the wildly mixed crowd is a people-watcher's dream.
Lili's 21
2390 Jacob St, Hamtramck tel 313/875-6555. Cool and quirky rock venue, five miles from downtown.
Magic Bag
22920 Woodward Ave, Ferndale tel 248/544-3030. About two miles south of Royal Oak, this popular club boasts a huge range of beers, top blues artists and regular roots acts.
Magic Stick
4120 Woodward Ave tel 313/833-9700. This great venue incorporates a bowling alley and billiards lounge. It is next to the Majestic Theater, a venue for big rock shows and huge techno nights.
Moto
3515 Caniff St, Hamtramck tel 313/369-0090. The place to see and be seen, and to dance to techno and funk, also books occasional live acts.
Rhinocero
265 Riopelle St, Rivertown tel 313/292-9230. Poppy jazz hangout - a tight squeeze but fun.
Saint Andrew's Hall/Shelter
431 E Congress St tel 313/961-MELT. The cramped downtown club promotes top bands on the alternative circuit. It only holds 800, so get a ticket in advance. Downstairs is the
Shelter
club, with lesser-known touring bands followed by dance music.
Tonic
29 S Saginaw St, Pontiac tel 248/334-7411. It bills itself as the premiere concert after-party: three levels of dancing and all the DJ vibe you can handle.
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