Cafe 1923

With lots of wood, books, and broken-in couches, this atmospheric cafe is the perfect place to plant yourself and knock out a chapter or two. It’s been in the same Polish family — the Zukowskis — for 80 years in Hamtramck, a city within the city of Detroit. Hamtramck was once a predominantly Polish community, and it still has a lot of signs in Polish. In the summertime, they have a patio in the back that you wouldn’t know was there unless you’ve spent time in the place. In Detroit, summers are so short that if you can be outside you’re gonna be outside.