"A 52-room 1894 lumber-baron mansion where Tiffany glass and a signature Beef Wellington turn dinner into Detroit's grandest occasion."
The Whitney occupies the 1894 mansion of lumber baron David Whitney Jr., once the wealthiest man in Detroit. The 52-room Gilded-Age house on Woodward Avenue is among the city's most famous addresses for upscale dining, with Tiffany stained glass and carved staircases setting the scene.
Dinner is creative American cooking served through the mansion's rooms, with a third-floor Ghostbar and a celebrated Mansion Tea service.
The menu leans on creative American dishes, snappy pastas and a deep roster of fresh seafood. The signature plate is the Whitney Beef Wellington — barrel-cut Creekstone tenderloin wrapped in pastry with creamed boursin, a duxelles of caramelised garlic, shallots, forest mushrooms and truffle oil, finished with cognac cream and smashed Yukon gold potatoes.
Dinner entrées run $39 to $99; the Mansion Tea service is $59, and special event dinners with tours run higher.
The draw is the house itself: 52 rooms of Gilded-Age opulence, stained glass and dark wood. The third-floor Ghostbar pours the "Witching Hour Martini," and the mansion's haunted reputation is part of the experience.
Best for a proposal or a landmark anniversary: few Detroit rooms match the ceremony of dinner in a 19th-century mansion. For a sleeker modern alternative, compare Prime + Proper.
Not for minimalists or budget diners — the Whitney trades on Gilded-Age opulence and ceremony, so anyone wanting a sleek modern room or a cheap weeknight meal should look elsewhere.
A fine-dining restaurant inside the 1894 mansion of lumber baron David Whitney Jr. on Woodward Avenue. The 52-room Gilded-Age house is one of Detroit's most famous dining landmarks.
The Whitney Beef Wellington — barrel-cut Creekstone tenderloin in pastry with boursin, a forest-mushroom and truffle duxelles, and cognac cream, served with smashed Yukon gold potatoes.
Dinner entrées run $39 to $99; the Mansion Tea service is $59. Special event dinners that include tours and spirits cost more.
The mansion has a long-standing haunted reputation, and the third-floor Ghostbar leans into it with its "Witching Hour Martini." It is a real working restaurant, not just an attraction.
At 4421 Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit, between downtown and the cultural district, with on-site parking and easy access from the QLine.
Book via Tock; request a specific mansion room for proposals and milestones.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
From Gilded-Age mansions to Brush Park fire pits, our Detroit guide ranks every table by the occasion it fits.
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