Lunch Guide
Lunch breaks run 12:15–1:45 PM on Monday and 12:30–2:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday. Lunch is on your own, so this page covers where you can go and get back from in that time. A few lunchtime sessions in the full program provide boxed lunches, but quantities are limited, so plan on finding your own.
Everyone breaks at the same time, so the closest places will be the busiest. Leaving as soon as your session ends, or walking a little farther, can save you a wait.
| Where | Getting there | What you will find |
|---|---|---|
| In the venue | You are already there | The hotel's restaurant and a grab-and-go shop |
| Millender Center | Covered bridge across Jefferson Avenue | Applebee's and IHOP |
| Greektown | 10–15 minute walk, or two stops on the free People Mover | Greek food, pizza, seafood, and pastries |
| Near Woodward Avenue | 10–15 minute walk | Pubs, cafes, and lunch spots |
Restaurant hours can change, so check before you go, especially with a group.
In the venue
The Renaissance Center’s food court has closed, so ignore any older listings that mention it. The hotel has two options of its own:
- FUELL is the hotel’s restaurant and lobby bar, serving American food from 6:30 AM to midnight daily. It is the closest sit-down meal, so expect it to fill up quickly.
- Motor City Pantry is the hotel’s grab-and-go shop, and the fastest option if you only have a few minutes.
Applebee’s and IHOP
A combined Applebee’s and IHOP is in the Millender Center at 333 E. Jefferson Avenue, directly across the street from the Renaissance Center. A covered bridge over Jefferson links the two buildings, so this is an easy trip even in bad weather.
With about 300 seats, it is one of the better bets for a larger group. It does not take reservations, but you can call ahead to check the wait: 313-879-5141.
Applebee’s lists hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. IHOP’s own page lists it as open through lunch, but the Courtyard hotel in the same building lists it as breakfast only, so check at the door if you want pancakes at 1:00 PM.
Do not take the People Mover here. Millender Center is the stop just before Renaissance Center on the one-way loop, so the train would take you the long way around downtown.
Greektown
Greektown is the closest cluster of restaurants outside the venue, centered on Monroe Street about half a mile (0.8 km) north of the Renaissance Center. It is a good place to head without a plan: you will find Greek food, pizza, seafood, and pastry shops within a few blocks. The Greektown directory and Google Maps show what is there.
Walking back takes 10–15 minutes, so aim to leave by about 1:40 PM (1:25 PM on Monday).
Taking the People Mover
The Detroit People Mover is free, and its Renaissance Center station is in the venue (Tower 200, Level 2). Trains arrive every 8–12 minutes on average.
Ride there, walk back. Trains run in only one direction, counter-clockwise around downtown:
- To Greektown: two stops, Bricktown and then Greektown, a ride of a few minutes.
- Back to the venue: the train continues around the rest of the loop, about 10 more stops and 12 minutes before you add the wait. Walking back is usually just as fast, unless you want a tour of downtown or it is pouring.
Check the service status or the route map before you set out.
Accessibility: Escalators at the Renaissance Center and Greektown stations are listed as out of service, so use the elevators. At Greektown, the elevator is inside Hollywood Casino’s Trappers Alley near the Beaubien entrance, through the sliding glass doors and to the left. If it is unavailable, the casino provides access through its building (call Casino Security Command at 313-309-5350), but anyone entering the casino must be at least 21.
Walking
From Jefferson Avenue, walk north on Beaubien Street past Fort and Lafayette to Monroe Street. It takes 10–15 minutes. Take a jacket: see what to expect from the weather.
Near Woodward Avenue
The streets around Woodward Avenue, about half a mile (0.8 km) west of the venue, have pubs, cafes, and lunch spots, a 10–15 minute walk away. Google Maps shows what is open. The People Mover will not help here, since the one-way loop leaves the venue in the other direction.