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18 Perfect Places for Dessert in Metro Detroit

Save room for sweets

by Serena Maria Daniels Updated Jun 13, 2024, 10:49am EDT

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by Serena Maria Daniels Updated Jun 13, 2024, 10:49am EDT

Fatima Syed

Any restaurant worth its weight has a dessert menu expanded beyond shipped-in frozen selections and pre-packaged ice cream. But, when you come across a spot with truly phenomenal sweets, you know you're going to be in for a treat from start to finish.

Fresh pastries and desserts are a cornerstone of quality dining, and Detroit is no stranger to this standard. According to pastry chef Ben Robison, who helms the patisserie and boulangerie program at the newly opened Le Suprême in the Book Tower, there’s a science involved in making a classic dessert. “When we talk about something like creme brulee, it’s just a basic custard with a torched sugar top, so there’s, there’s not a lot to it, but being able to dial in that custard to the perfect consistency where it sets but it’s not too set, it has this like nice, beautiful, creamy, velvety texture. Dialing in cooking time, so that it’s not too cooked, it doesn’t get curdled, it doesn’t get eggy. There’s a very fine line in a lot of those things that even though it is simple, it’s also very simple to mess it up.”

Here, we salute these simple pleasures, with everything from panna cotta to tres leches cake. Save some room for sweets at these 18 restaurants (and a few standout patisseries and sweet shops) around metro Detroit touting some seriously decadent dessert menus.

Did we miss your favorite restaurant's dessert menu? Make your case in the comments Twitter, Facebook, or community forums. You never know. Your suggestion might make our next update.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Selden Standard

This award-winning restaurant has stolen the hearts of diners and critics with its small plates and craft cocktails. Like chef Andy Hollyday's menu, the desserts are modern takes on delicious classics. Even a simple sundae takes on a refined form here, made with brown butter, pears, candied pecans, rum caramel, and toasted meringue. Past favorites have included a chocolate chip semifreddo, corn tart with blackberries and kettle corn; and a seasonal peach shortcake with whipped ricotta.

3921 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Also featured in:

Mabel Gray

Although this Hazel Park restaurant's menu is in a constant state of change, you can always expect quality sweets to finish out your meal. Past eclectic selections have included a towering spumoni ice cream cake, a light lemon creme brulee, and a classically delicious tres leches cake. The sweets are headed by the talented pastry chef Ali Sesnovich, who we’re told is badass.

23825 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Also featured in:

Flowers of Vietnam

Southwest Detroit’s modern Vietnamese restaurant and bar is the ideal spot for a night out with friends for its shareable Korean-inspired caramel chicken wings, bountiful servings of papaya salad, pork and sausage-spiked crispy rice, and expertly prepared cocktails. The desserts, though, also deserve accolades. Notable standouts include the Terroirs of Vietnam, made with longevity ice cream, coffee, and marou chocolate and bánh phô mai Nhât Ban — a Japanese-style cheesecake with fruit and passionfruit curd.

4430 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Also featured in:

Myomee

Conveniently located within New Seoul Plaza — also home to Daebak Korean barbecue and the KPop Nara shop — the sweet specialties at this cafe include Korean pastries ranging from sweet milk bread to sausage bread and patbingsu, otherwise known as Korean shaved ice. Piles of shaved ice are covered in toppings like red bean paste, condensed milk, and mochi.

27566 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034

Baker's Keyboard Lounge

A trip to this Livernois icon should be on every Detroiters' bucket list. Both the music and the food stand out, and no visit can be complete without a overflowing hot terrine of cobbler crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Life is indeed very sweet sometimes.

20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48221

Also featured in:

SheWolf Pastificio & Bar

This modern Roman restaurant mills its own flour for pasta and focaccia perfection. Chef Anthony Lombardo’s menu features pasta essentials like cacio e pepe and carbonara as well as intriguing seasonal dishes. For dessert, don’t miss out on a selection of gelatos and sorbettos; honey ricotta zeppoles — Italian doughnuts — dusted in cinnamon and sugar and drizzled with nutella; and the chocolatey torta tenerina with cherry chocolate cream and blueberry compote.

438 Selden St, Detroit, MI 48201

Also featured in:

Isla Detroit

Isla Detroit is the fast casual Filipino eatery with a refined approach, featuring a selection of rice bowls, noodle bowls and desserts, and entrees that are reflective the cooking styles of Iloilo, a province in the Philippines’ Visayas region. The desserts out of this charming establishment are also impressive. Brightly-hued tropical ube cakes are always a standout and if you’re dining in, try the Buko Halo-Halo — the quintessential Filipino dessert featuring crushed ice, evaporated milk or coconut milk, along with various toppings like fruit and jellies.

2496 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ISLA Metro Detroit ☀️✨ (@isla_metrodetroit)

Also featured in:

8 Essential Places to Get Filipino Food in Metro Detroit

Le Suprême

This downtown destination launched in late August 2023, bringing a classic, but well-executed French dining experience to the ground level of the historic Book Tower. Enjoy a plate of escargot a la bourguignonne or seafood tower with friends, and other traditionally-inspired specialties. Then dig in on the dessert menu featuring creme brulee made with Tahitian vanilla bean; profiteroles filled with ice cream and topped with warm dark chocolate; and pastry chef Ben Robison’s favorite, a lemon tarte accented with pistachio and strawberries. Guests of both the restaurant and the building can catch the dessert-making action from the spot’s in-house patisserie, which offers a fishbowl view from the lobby.

1265 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226

Lemon tarte from Le Supreme in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

Also featured in:

Warda Pâtisserie

Warda Pâtisserie has been winning the hearts of Detroiters with a sweet tooth for years now. Owner Warda Bouguettaya specializes in stunning tarts, pastries, and breads influenced from her world travels. Look out for options like chocolate and passion fruit tarts, pear and almond frangipane tarts, and quiche. Recent delicacies have included a variety of maritozzos, filled with Italian vanilla whipped mascarpone cream with chocolate or fresh Michigan peaches.

70 W Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48201

Also featured in:

Sugar Factory - Detroit

This downtown establishment is dedicated to those of us looking for an over-the-top dining experience. Yes, there is savory food here, such as a platter of sliders with rainbow buns or a 24-karat burger dusted with gold leaf (served with a milkshake also accented with gold, along with a Fererro Rocher garnishment). The real draw here are the ways in which one can indulge in everything sweet. The main entrance features a retail candy shop, shakes are available in a dozen fantastical varieties, and for the more daring enthusiasts, there’s the Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae. For $99, the sundae is loaded with 20 scoops of ice cream, fudge, caramel, and strawberry sauces, caramelized banana, marshmallows, cookie chunks, an entire glazed doughnut, cupcake... and a whole lot more.

1000 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

JoJo's Shake Bar - Detroit

This eatery came to downtown Detroit in 2023 and offers many 90s throwback vibes — a nod to the millennial audience it’s trying to attract. In addition to play old movies and music, classic bar snacks like wings or mozzarella sticks, soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers, JoJo’s is also obviously famous for its shakes. Shakes are towering with fantastical toppings like s’mores, cookies, as well as cocktails topped with cotton candy and other temptations, this is the place where more is more.

88 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201

Astoria Pastry Shop

This Greektown staple has been turning out sweet treats since 1971. Enjoy cult favorites like baklava or Napoleon pastries. Go in with a game plan — the Detroit location is almost always busy.

541 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226

Also featured in:

Ima Izakaya

Ima is already beloved for its nourishing noodle and rice bowls, raw bar, and excellent bar selection. For dessert, come try the chilled cream cake withstrawberry, vanilla cream, sesame praline, and Thai basil or a coconut tofu custard with blueberry, lemon, cocoa crisps, and mint, and a selection of mochi ice cream.

2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Also featured in:

Baobab Fare

Baobab Fare is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba, who bring Detroiters tasty recipes from their native Burundi. While the spot’s flavorful mbuzi (slowed-roasted goat shank with corn salad, plantains, yellow beans, and rice) and weekly specials like the ugali are already crowd favorites, the desserts menu offers a refreshing sweet taste at the end of a hearty meal. Desserts include the tamu, a sweet pudding made with avocado and passionfruit and the coco mango, a small cup filled with coconut cream and mango coulis, along with toasted coconut flakes as a garnishment.

6568 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48202

Also featured in:

Mezcal Mexican Restaurant-Detroit

This is one of the very few Mexican restaurants in the region that offer a flair of fine dining sensibilities. In addition to its popular birria, tacos representative of several regions in Mexico, and its showstopper aguachile de ribeye, the menu also features a variety of desserts. House-made ice creams come in flavors like avocado or sweet corn, tres leches cake are topped with bits of pretzel, and a pan de elote is accented with house-made whip cream, mazapan crumble, and caramel popcorn.

51 W Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

Also featured in:

Detroit’s Essential Mexican Restaurants

BARDA

Argentinian restaurant Barda has been impressing Detroiters with its meats, seafood, and vegetables all grilled on an open fire since opening in spring 2021. Argentinian-style chorizo, roasted short rib, and bone marrow are all obvious favorites for the meat-centric menu, but desserts are also impressive. Try the Burnt Alaska, flan, or Broken Pavlova with citrus mouse, strawberry, hibiscus, and salmon roe.

4842 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48208

Also featured in:

Good Cakes and Bakes

Charming neighborhood bakery and cafe Good Cakes and Bakes offers fresh cakes and desserts by the slice and to-order on the Avenue of Fashion, and more recently downtown. Owner April Anderson’s gooey butter cakes are a house specialty, while the strawberry crunch cake is a crowd-pleaser. The ideal contribution to any dinner party.

19363 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221

Also featured in:

Mangonadas Del Barrio #2

Mangonadas Del Barrio gets its name from a cool, tangy Mexican treat made with frozen mangos and a combination of chili, lime, and tamarind paste. This mini-chain has several locations throughout southwest and the Downriver area, meaning folks are never too far from a massive ice cream sundae of a cup of strawberries and cream.

4029 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Also featured in:

Serena Maria Daniels is a Chicana journalist and the city editor for Eater Detroit. A recovering daily newspaper reporter with nearly 20 years experience, she is also the founder and Chingona-in-Chief of Tostada Magazine.

© 2024 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Selden Standard

3921 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

This award-winning restaurant has stolen the hearts of diners and critics with its small plates and craft cocktails. Like chef Andy Hollyday's menu, the desserts are modern takes on delicious classics. Even a simple sundae takes on a refined form here, made with brown butter, pears, candied pecans, rum caramel, and toasted meringue. Past favorites have included a chocolate chip semifreddo, corn tart with blackberries and kettle corn; and a seasonal peach shortcake with whipped ricotta.

3921 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Visit Website

Mabel Gray

23825 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Although this Hazel Park restaurant's menu is in a constant state of change, you can always expect quality sweets to finish out your meal. Past eclectic selections have included a towering spumoni ice cream cake, a light lemon creme brulee, and a classically delicious tres leches cake. The sweets are headed by the talented pastry chef Ali Sesnovich, who we’re told is badass.

23825 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Visit Website

Flowers of Vietnam

4430 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Southwest Detroit’s modern Vietnamese restaurant and bar is the ideal spot for a night out with friends for its shareable Korean-inspired caramel chicken wings, bountiful servings of papaya salad, pork and sausage-spiked crispy rice, and expertly prepared cocktails. The desserts, though, also deserve accolades. Notable standouts include the Terroirs of Vietnam, made with longevity ice cream, coffee, and marou chocolate and bánh phô mai Nhât Ban — a Japanese-style cheesecake with fruit and passionfruit curd.

4430 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Visit Website

Myomee

27566 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034

Conveniently located within New Seoul Plaza — also home to Daebak Korean barbecue and the KPop Nara shop — the sweet specialties at this cafe include Korean pastries ranging from sweet milk bread to sausage bread and patbingsu, otherwise known as Korean shaved ice. Piles of shaved ice are covered in toppings like red bean paste, condensed milk, and mochi.

Open in Google Maps

27566 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034

Visit Website

Baker's Keyboard Lounge

20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48221

A trip to this Livernois icon should be on every Detroiters' bucket list. Both the music and the food stand out, and no visit can be complete without a overflowing hot terrine of cobbler crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Life is indeed very sweet sometimes.

20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48221

Visit Website

SheWolf Pastificio & Bar

438 Selden St, Detroit, MI 48201

This modern Roman restaurant mills its own flour for pasta and focaccia perfection. Chef Anthony Lombardo’s menu features pasta essentials like cacio e pepe and carbonara as well as intriguing seasonal dishes. For dessert, don’t miss out on a selection of gelatos and sorbettos; honey ricotta zeppoles — Italian doughnuts — dusted in cinnamon and sugar and drizzled with nutella; and the chocolatey torta tenerina with cherry chocolate cream and blueberry compote.

438 Selden St, Detroit, MI 48201

Visit Website

Isla Detroit

2496 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

Isla Detroit is the fast casual Filipino eatery with a refined approach, featuring a selection of rice bowls, noodle bowls and desserts, and entrees that are reflective the cooking styles of Iloilo, a province in the Philippines’ Visayas region. The desserts out of this charming establishment are also impressive. Brightly-hued tropical ube cakes are always a standout and if you’re dining in, try the Buko Halo-Halo — the quintessential Filipino dessert featuring crushed ice, evaporated milk or coconut milk, along with various toppings like fruit and jellies.

2496 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ISLA Metro Detroit ☀️✨ (@isla_metrodetroit)

Le Suprême

1265 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226

This downtown destination launched in late August 2023, bringing a classic, but well-executed French dining experience to the ground level of the historic Book Tower. Enjoy a plate of escargot a la bourguignonne or seafood tower with friends, and other traditionally-inspired specialties. Then dig in on the dessert menu featuring creme brulee made with Tahitian vanilla bean; profiteroles filled with ice cream and topped with warm dark chocolate; and pastry chef Ben Robison’s favorite, a lemon tarte accented with pistachio and strawberries. Guests of both the restaurant and the building can catch the dessert-making action from the spot’s in-house patisserie, which offers a fishbowl view from the lobby.

Open in Google Maps

1265 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226

Visit Website

Lemon tarte from Le Supreme in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

Warda Pâtisserie

70 W Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48201

Warda Pâtisserie has been winning the hearts of Detroiters with a sweet tooth for years now. Owner Warda Bouguettaya specializes in stunning tarts, pastries, and breads influenced from her world travels. Look out for options like chocolate and passion fruit tarts, pear and almond frangipane tarts, and quiche. Recent delicacies have included a variety of maritozzos, filled with Italian vanilla whipped mascarpone cream with chocolate or fresh Michigan peaches.

70 W Alexandrine St, Detroit, MI 48201

Visit Website

Sugar Factory - Detroit

1000 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

This downtown establishment is dedicated to those of us looking for an over-the-top dining experience. Yes, there is savory food here, such as a platter of sliders with rainbow buns or a 24-karat burger dusted with gold leaf (served with a milkshake also accented with gold, along with a Fererro Rocher garnishment). The real draw here are the ways in which one can indulge in everything sweet. The main entrance features a retail candy shop, shakes are available in a dozen fantastical varieties, and for the more daring enthusiasts, there’s the Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae. For $99, the sundae is loaded with 20 scoops of ice cream, fudge, caramel, and strawberry sauces, caramelized banana, marshmallows, cookie chunks, an entire glazed doughnut, cupcake... and a whole lot more.

Open in Google Maps

1000 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

Visit Website

JoJo's Shake Bar - Detroit

88 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201

This eatery came to downtown Detroit in 2023 and offers many 90s throwback vibes — a nod to the millennial audience it’s trying to attract. In addition to play old movies and music, classic bar snacks like wings or mozzarella sticks, soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers, JoJo’s is also obviously famous for its shakes. Shakes are towering with fantastical toppings like s’mores, cookies, as well as cocktails topped with cotton candy and other temptations, this is the place where more is more.

Open in Google Maps

88 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201

Visit Website

Astoria Pastry Shop

541 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226

This Greektown staple has been turning out sweet treats since 1971. Enjoy cult favorites like baklava or Napoleon pastries. Go in with a game plan — the Detroit location is almost always busy.

541 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226

Visit Website

Ima Izakaya

2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Ima is already beloved for its nourishing noodle and rice bowls, raw bar, and excellent bar selection. For dessert, come try the chilled cream cake withstrawberry, vanilla cream, sesame praline, and Thai basil or a coconut tofu custard with blueberry, lemon, cocoa crisps, and mint, and a selection of mochi ice cream.

2100 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Visit Website

Baobab Fare

6568 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48202

Baobab Fare is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba, who bring Detroiters tasty recipes from their native Burundi. While the spot’s flavorful mbuzi (slowed-roasted goat shank with corn salad, plantains, yellow beans, and rice) and weekly specials like the ugali are already crowd favorites, the desserts menu offers a refreshing sweet taste at the end of a hearty meal. Desserts include the tamu, a sweet pudding made with avocado and passionfruit and the coco mango, a small cup filled with coconut cream and mango coulis, along with toasted coconut flakes as a garnishment.

6568 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48202

Visit Website

Mezcal Mexican Restaurant-Detroit

51 W Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

This is one of the very few Mexican restaurants in the region that offer a flair of fine dining sensibilities. In addition to its popular birria, tacos representative of several regions in Mexico, and its showstopper aguachile de ribeye, the menu also features a variety of desserts. House-made ice creams come in flavors like avocado or sweet corn, tres leches cake are topped with bits of pretzel, and a pan de elote is accented with house-made whip cream, mazapan crumble, and caramel popcorn.

Open in Google Maps

51 W Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

Visit Website

Related Maps

BARDA

4842 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48208

Argentinian restaurant Barda has been impressing Detroiters with its meats, seafood, and vegetables all grilled on an open fire since opening in spring 2021. Argentinian-style chorizo, roasted short rib, and bone marrow are all obvious favorites for the meat-centric menu, but desserts are also impressive. Try the Burnt Alaska, flan, or Broken Pavlova with citrus mouse, strawberry, hibiscus, and salmon roe.

Open in Google Maps

4842 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48208

Visit Website

Good Cakes and Bakes

19363 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221

Charming neighborhood bakery and cafe Good Cakes and Bakes offers fresh cakes and desserts by the slice and to-order on the Avenue of Fashion, and more recently downtown. Owner April Anderson’s gooey butter cakes are a house specialty, while the strawberry crunch cake is a crowd-pleaser. The ideal contribution to any dinner party.

19363 Livernois, Detroit, MI 48221

Visit Website

Mangonadas Del Barrio #2

4029 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Mangonadas Del Barrio gets its name from a cool, tangy Mexican treat made with frozen mangos and a combination of chili, lime, and tamarind paste. This mini-chain has several locations throughout southwest and the Downriver area, meaning folks are never too far from a massive ice cream sundae of a cup of strawberries and cream.

4029 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Visit Website

Related Maps