Remote (love) Lyfe in Detroit, MI

I have a theory that the biggest buildings of a place show what is valued there – the biggest buildings in Europe are churches, in the US typically banks. In Detroit, it is the Renaissance Center. Rebirth, The Detroit ethos of “out of the ashes” is personal to me and the spirit of resilience and grit is in my blood. Detroit is home to me. The sparkle of the sun on the Detroit river has always calmed my heart with this feeling of connection and belonging that only makes sense being born in this beautiful city and growing up here.

I have a theory that the biggest buildings of a place show what is valued there – the biggest buildings in Europe are churches, in the US typically banks. In Detroit, it is the Renaissance Center. Rebirth, The Detroit ethos of “out of the ashes” is personal to me and the spirit of resilience and grit is in my blood. Detroit is home to me. The sparkle of the sun on the Detroit river has always calmed my heart with this feeling of connection and belonging that only makes sense being born in this beautiful city and growing up here.

Detroit is a growing hub for entrepreneurs, innovators, and artists who are redefining what is possible. I love being a part of the remote lyfe community in Detroit and have been a part of the Hunt Street Station co-working community and Bamboo Detroit. Detroit is a uniquely tight knit community where it feels like everyone knows everyone, and there is incredible diversity and people feel down to earth here. There are also tons of great third spaces like coffee shops, which Pidge will be covering below, and poetry speak easy spots. The riverfront has been increasingly growing to be a world-class international community space, and the city is riveting with its music, culture, food, and festival scene. I have loved being a Detroiter and owning my small cube of a condo in the Detroit RiverHouse Co-Op community. Detroit will always be a special home in my heart as Pidge and I migrate east to New York for our next nest and new opportunities to grow and spread our wings 🙂

Wow, officially Detroit. The city where I explored almost every coffeeshop and got to endlessly revisit the ones I loved. The city where I truly got to kick off my remote working lifestyle and learn the ropes. 

Well, Detroit has so much to offer and will always have my heart in the projects I completed and meetings I took. Detroit’s remote working scene is rather smaller, but the people for sure love to meet for networking and to catch up with friends at the coffee joints. Finding seating sometimes gets a little more difficult as the morning goes on as remote workers know where to go, but I would warn more on parking that anything. Detroit will ticket you for anything. So pay attention to your parking times and spots. A few $45 tickets adds up-yikes. 

Pidge’s favorite Detroit Coffee Shop Locations:

Cafe Sous Terre-445 W Forest Ave

One of the newer ones nuzzled in Midtown that transforms into a speakeasy. Great coffee and a great remote worker secret in the mornings.

Red Hook- 2761 E Jefferson Ave

I spent the most time at our local Red Hook location. Solid coffee with lots of windows and great remote working.

Congregation- 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd

One of our favorites trnsfered from an old chrirch into the community hub. My favorite latter with with a bar.

Seasons Market-4125 2nd Ave.

Such a cute spoit in Midtown with a garden outside. the whole upstairs is for the remote workers which has a cabin feel. Fantastic cafe food.

Kitab- 2727 Holbrook Ave.

Amazing bookstore vibe for coffeehouse with great coffee and cafe menu with deletable sandwiches.


Honorable Mentions*

Cafe 1923- 2287 Holbrook Ave

Almost one of my favorites

Cafe Boulangerie– 15215 Kerchval Ave.-Grosse Pointe Park

Always very busy and shorter hours, but awesome menu

Craig’s Coffee-412 Peterboro St

Just opened with fantastic coffee, but the space isn’t ideal for remote working. 

Morning Side Cafe-16369 E Warren Ave 

Just opened in the East Side. The coffee was good, but the baked goods side needed some love. 

Morning Glory-85 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms

Technically in Grosse Pointe, but solid bakery located in this shop.

Drifter Coffee-770 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

Technically in Ferndale, but 100% worth the drive. Great seating and inviting for all identities. 

Learning Love Through Travel