Here’s Mode’s look at visiting Royal Oak. Also check out our guides to opening a business in and moving to Royal Oak.

Unique dining. Packed bars. Eclectic shopping. Royal Oak has become a major destination in Southeast Michigan.

On any given night, the streets are filled with people walking. They go from art house movies to eclectic restaurants, cool shops to sidewalk cafes, and hop from hip clubs to lively pubs and the poshest bars.

What was once a sleepy older suburb in the '80s became a cutting edge enclave and slowly transformed from alternative and artsy to posh and funky. The transformation has been fueled by swanky loft developments, eager to lure in young professionals and anyone looking for walkable living. For visitors, the ability to park and walk to multiple destinations is just as appealing.

Today, national chains mix with a mélange of independent retailers, and 21st century modern supplements 40s Deco. A variety-laden, eclectic city, there’s something for the young and the old, the hipster and the sophisticate, in this unique city. It's a great place to spend the day, from sunrise until last call drives you home.

Early birds

To fully embrace Royal Oak, start off early. Throw on some comfortable shoes and join dog-walkers on the outskirts of downtown or grab a mat and drop into Namaste Yoga for some invigorating early-morning stretches. Head to SweetWaters for a hot Chai and some sour cream coffee cake, or cozy up with a coffee at Starbucks or Caribou.

For a heartier breakfast, try the orange rum raisin pancakes at cozy-Café Muse on Washington, or treat your taste buds – and your wallet – to pan tostado (French toast with fried plantains and fruit salsa) at Café Habana. Traditional breakfast foodies, take heed: Leo’s Coney Island can’t be beat. A tip before you leave – stop into nearby-Nutri Foods for some veggie fare and nutritious snacks to munch on later.

For healthy treats a little easier on your pocketbook, Mary Bush recommends visiting the newly-remodeled Royal Oak Farmers Market on Eleven Mile.

Bush, a Royal Oak resident and city business owner, frequents the 80 year-old market for its array of seasonal fruits and vegetables, but vendors peddle a whole bunch of items like dairy products, holiday decorations and plants. Grab a bunch of inexpensive flowers to brighten up your dinner table or buy a pumpkin and some cider for an upcoming family gathering. If you find yourself at the market on a Sunday, scour for hidden treasures, trinkets and antiques at Flea Market Day.

Following your stop at the market, take advantage of the city’s quiet mid-mornings and explore another historic building within walking-distance: the Royal Oak Public Library. Settle down on a bench in the serene outside courtyard with a good read or venture inside the newly-renovated building for some free evening entertainment – a new bestseller or DVD. Revisit Royal Oak’s past in the Local History Room, or, if you have youngsters with you, treat them to one of the library’s free reading programs.

If a round of Dr. Seuss inspires tykes to some hopping and popping of their own, round ‘em up and head to one of Royal Oak’s more than 50 parks to burn off some energy. Adults can enjoy the outdoors by joining the Royal Oak Nature Society for a trail-walk of Cummingston Park or Tenhave Woods, the city’s two nature preserves. Be prepared, though: Fido can’t come on this trek (both nature-study areas prohibit domestic animals) and boots and bug-spray are a must. Not keen on leaving your furry best friend behind? Leash-up your pup and venture to one of Royal Oak’s five dog runs instead.

Pet owner or not, animal-lovers of all ages will relish a trip to the Detroit Zoo, a creature-wonderland credited as the nation’s first open-landscape zoo. Gaze at exotic species or visit the Arctic Ring of Life, the world’s largest Polar Bear exhibit. Go Down Under with the Australian Outback Adventure, or come face-to-face with a T-Rex at the Wild Adventure Simulator, a virtual-reality thrill ride.

For colorful visuals of the real-life variety, look no further than Royal Oak’s art galleries. While some have dropped off the map in recent years, art-lovers needn’t despair; the small faction open today offer something for everyone. Neal Davis Gallery has an array of fine art, while Marcia Hovland’s whimsical new spot on Fourth features ceramic tile and jewelry creations of her own and those of local artists.

If contemporary art glass appeals to you, check out Habatat Galleries, a 12,000 square-foot space packed with studio glass of all shapes, sizes and colors. Art glass-lovers should also stop by Ariana Gallery on Main, also home to contemporary photography, sculpture and paintings. Celebrity pieces of at least one sort have appeared here, too; in 1995, the 19-year-old gallery showcased the personal artwork of suicide-doctor and former Royal Oak resident, Jack Kevorkian.

Visitors to Creative Arts Studio on Fourth Street can get their own creative juices flowing. If making your own art is more appealing than looking at someone else’s, this cheery space – offering pottery-painting, wheel-throwing and beading – is your place.

Mid-day treats

Royal Oak is a great place to spend a morning, but all that action can lead to an empty stomach. Luckily, there’s no shortage of spots to get your grub on.

Tom’s Oyster Bar offers a mean bowl of clam chowder and the outside patio is a superb spot for people-watching. Taco-fanatics and the budget-conscious should check out Zumba Mexican Grille on North Main, while veggie-heads will enjoy the top-notch meat-free dishes at Inn Season.

The old Totem Pole restaurant may be long gone, but its signature burger, the Big Chief, isn’t. Savor the famous double-decker (complete with original secret sauce) at Duggan’s Irish Pub on Woodward, the preeminent spot for onlookers of the annual Woodward Dream Cruise.  

When it comes to true food variety, colorful, spunky Pronto! is tough to beat (don’t miss the turkey chili). While you’re there, make a break for the Pronto! Corner Store for a tasty after-lunch cookie or brownie, or hit close-by Gayle’s Chocolates for some delectable chocolate truffles.

Shop till you drop

The restaurant scene in Royal Oak is enviable, but so is the stock of independent, specialty shops.

Modern-design lovers should check out the sleek lines and fun geometric patterns at Bright Ideas, while Mid-century modernists will delight in the retro findings at Vertu and Deco Doug. Home, on the other hand, offers items complementing farmhouse country and shabby chic interiors.

If antiques are your game, you’ve come to the right place: Antiques on Main and LoveJoy’s on Eleven Mile carry furniture, lighting and collectibles, while Del Guidice Fine Arts and Antiques specializes in 19th and 20th century artwork. For vintage French home accents, shop Paris Antiques on Fourth.

For vintage-French items to wear, head west to Paris Deux. If American throwback-wear is your forte, Lost and Found Vintage - carrying everything from Levis to Lacoste shirts – is your place. While you’re there, peek in on the trendy kicks at quirky-Lift Footwear.

Both men and women will swoon over the jeans-selection at Chaud, and hipsters will go gaga over the ultra-comfy t-shirt attire at American Apparel. Expectant mothers looking for some comfort of their own would be wise to peruse the threads at Hullabaloo Maternity & Infant Wear, an affordable store that also carries cool baby accessories. Then swing by Bogart’s Basket & Gift Studio and snag a Michigan-made goody basket to comfort a loved-one overseas.

By night

As satisfying as spending an afternoon shopping is, showing off those new duds is equally pleasurable. Royal Oak offers a multitude of places to do just that.

Break the ice on a first-date with a bottle of wine and some Van Gogh Gouda at Vinotecca, a savvy new wine bar on Fifth, or spend time with your sweetie over a gourmet Italian dish at romantic Lepanto, a classy restaurant with an impressive wine list.

The offerings at kid-friendly Lily’s Seafood on Washington include mouth-watering seafood, eaten amid giant aquariums swimming with exotic fish. The Royal Oak Brewery exudes a casual, pub-like atmosphere, the kind of place to enjoy a cold brew and a Brit favorite like bangers and mash.

Make-your-own stir fry at BD’s Mongolian Barbecue. Fill up on chicken shawarma (marinated chicken rolled in pita bread, then toasted) at Beirut Palace, or settle down – literally – at Kathmandu Chullo, an inexpensive Nepalese restaurant where diners eat on floor cushions at low tables. Sushi-heads, get your fix at Little Tree Sushi Bar on Main.  

For after-dinner entertainment, Royal Oak stays true to its variety form, offering an array of activities for different age groups and tastes.

Pool sharks and live music fans will feel at home at Fifth Avenue Billiards, while fashionistas will enjoy the tasty tapas at Sangria, and the posh nightclub-SkyBar upstairs.

If packed dance floors are appealing, stop at Woody’s Diner, a tri-level restaurant/bar that morphs into a Super Frat Party on Friday and Saturday nights, or for older dancing crowds, Luna is the place. Bar-flies seeking a hole-in-the-wall will find it, as well as graffiti-laden bathrooms and a jukebox, at Gusoline Alley, and laugh addicts can get their kicks at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, reportedly a launching pad for Tim Allen’s career. Music groupies will enjoy the Royal Oak Music Theatre, while independent films at the historic Main Art Theatre, located amid the glass and steel of several new loft buildings, are a sure bet for cultural aficionados.  

While this compilation of activities, shops and restaurants covers a lot, there are many other things to do and see in Royal Oak not mentioned here. If you’re a first-timer to Royal Oak, this guide will come in handy, but given its small downtown, one of the best and most fun ways to get a feel for the city is to park your car and wander around on foot. Troll the streets for something eye-catching and window-shop at various boutiques, stopping every few hours at one of the area’s restaurants to refuel and change direction.

---

Directions to Royal Oak

From the South:
Take I-75 North and merge onto I-696 W/Walter P. Reuther Freeway via exit 61 toward Lansing. Take exit 16 toward M-1/Woodward Avenue/Main St/Detroit Zoo. Stay straight to go onto East 10 Mile Road. Turn right onto S. Main Street, arrive in Royal Oak.

From the North:
Take I-75 South and merge onto I-696 W/Walter P. Reuther Freeway via exit 61 toward Lansing. Take exit 16 toward M-1/Woodward Avenue/Main St/Detroit Zoo. Stay straight to go onto East 10 Mile Road. Turn right onto S. Main Street, arrive in Royal Oak.

From the West:
Take I-696 East and take exit 16 toward M-1/Woodward Avenue/Main St /Detroit Zoo. Turn slight left onto West 10 Mile Road. Turn left onto S. Main Street, arrive in Royal Oak.

From the East:
Take I-696 West and take exit 16 toward M-1/Woodward Ave/Main St/Detroit Zoo. Stay straight to go onto East 10 Mile Road. Turn right onto S. Main Street., arrive in Royal Oak.