Michigan’s food is the standard Midwestern cuisine, with the exception of a few notable specialties. This is the place to stock up on cherries and fudge. Michigan also serves up superb lake fish like perch and whitefish, especially prevalent on menus along the coast. Detroit has a decent dining scene that continues to evolve each year, as well as the state’s most diverse nightlife and entertainment. From casinos to jazz bars, Motor City is the place to go in Michigan if you’re looking for fun after dark.

Bars and Pubbing in Michigan

One thing Detroit can claim with certainty is that it’s the mantle of Michigan’s nightlife. The birthplace of Motown, Detroit still has some of the country’s coolest live music venues like Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit), which has been going strong for 70 years now. The Majestic Theater’s Magic Stick (4120 Woodward Ave, Detroit) is another hot spot where both rising and well-known bands play. In the same theater is the Garden Bowl, where leading DJs spin while you play glow-in-the-dark bowling. Detroit also loves its sports and on game nights there’s no better place to gather with fans than at Nemo’s (1384 Michigan Ave, Detroit). You can also enjoy the rare privilege of gambling in one of Detroit’s three major casinos, including the MGM Grand Detroit (1777 Third St, Detroit).

In most other Michigan towns, you can be sure to find a handful of down-home local bars where the beer list outranks the martinis. The college town of Ann Arbor is never dull, with dozens of bars and brewpubs like Arbor Brewing Company (114 E. Washington St, Ann Arbor) and the timeless student hangout, Brown Jug (1204 S. University, Ann Arbor). Bars in Michigan have last call at 1:30 a.m. and usually close around 2:00 a.m. Smoking is not allowed inside any bar or restaurant.

Dining and Cuisine in Michigan

There is no shortage of restaurants in Michigan, and most of them are filling, casual places. Detroit, like most large American cities, has its share of ethnic neighborhoods where you can find quality regional cuisine. Greektown and Mexicantown are two of the best spots to dine. There are expensive gourmet restaurants such as The Lark (6430 Farmington Rd, Detroit), with its huge wine list and continental cuisine. The casinos are also good for high-end dining, particularly at Iridescence (2901 Grand River, Detroit).

Ann Arbor has dozens of well-priced, casual restaurants around the university and along Main Street. The Chop House (322 S. Main St, Ann Arbor) is the place for steaks, while Zingerman’s Deli (422 Detroit St, Ann Arbor) is one of America’s highest-ranked delicatessens. Michigan is also famous for its fudge, and there’s no better excuse to go to Mackinac Island than to sample the chocolate delicacies from one of the five fudge companies found here. Places like Joanne’s (2 Main St, Mackinac) and Ryba’s (7340 Main St, Mackinac) have been making the heavenly treat since the 1880s.