The Detroit Foundation Hotel turned the city's former fire headquarters into one of its most characterful places to stay. It sits at 250 West Larned Street, between the Financial District and the riverfront, and keeps the character of the old building while adding modern, comfortable rooms. The main restaurant, the Apparatus Room, occupies the former engine room where fire trucks once rolled out; it is a destination in its own right, with a Chef's Table for special dinners, and on Saturdays and Sundays the hotel runs a vinyl brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rooms come in several sizes, from kings and two-queen rooms of around three hundred square feet to larger Foundation rooms, a junior suite and two named suites, the Secretary Suite and the Commissioner's Suite at nearly a thousand square feet. In-room comforts include free Wi-Fi, Netflix on the TV, a minibar stocked with local products, Le Labo and Nopalera bath products and plush robes.
Location and getting around: West Larned is close to everything downtown. The Huntington Place convention center, Hart Plaza and the RiverWalk are a short walk south and west, the Guardian Building and Campus Martius a few minutes north, and the People Mover has stations nearby. Corktown is a short rideshare away, as are Midtown's museums, while The Henry Ford in Dearborn needs a car.
The rooms and facilities: the standard kings and two-queens suit couples and small families, and the Foundation categories give a little more space. The suites, with a king bed and a sleep sofa, work well for families of four. The 24-hour fitness center has two Peloton bikes, cardio machines and free weights. The hotel is pet friendly and its public spaces, rooms and bathrooms are accessible.
Who it suits and what to know: it suits couples, food lovers and anyone attending an event at Huntington Place. Book the Apparatus Room in advance, especially for weekend brunch. Some rooms face busy streets, so ask for a quieter one if you are a light sleeper. The hotel also runs free Yin Nights and a Sunday sound meditation, a nice local touch. Parking details are best confirmed at booking.
Why stay here
- ✓Apparatus Room restaurant
- ✓Weekend vinyl brunch
- ✓24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes
- ✓Le Labo and Nopalera bath products
- ✓Minibar of local products
- ✓Free Wi-Fi and Netflix
- ✓Pet friendly
- ✓Walk to the RiverWalk and Huntington Place
Good questions
Is the Detroit Foundation Hotel in a former fire station?+
Yes. It occupies the city's former fire headquarters, and its Apparatus Room restaurant fills the old engine room.
How close is it to Huntington Place?+
Very close, a short walk away on the downtown riverfront. The hotel is a popular choice for conventions there.
Does the hotel have suites for families?+
Yes. The junior suite and the Secretary and Commissioner's suites have a king bed plus a sleep sofa and sleep up to four.
