Downtown Milford City Guide
Discover some of the best places to eat, drink, shop and explore in downtown Milford, Michigan and its surrounding area
By Jaishree Drepaul-Bruder
This city guide is brought to you by Dan Gutfreund Realty Group
This historic village in western Oakland county boasts 30+ restaurants, family-owned shops, and a walkable downtown with ample green space and Huron river views.
Restaurants in Milford
SMOKE STREET BBQ
424 N. Main St.
(248) 529-6464
smokestreetmilford.com
Carnivores will go wild for fall-off-the-bone meats smoked in-house for up to 12 hours with hickory and cherry wood. Choose from six homemade barbecue sauces and wash everything down with a rotating selection of mostly Michigan-made draft beers and creative craft cocktails. Not a meat eater? The generously portioned Killer Mac N’ Cheese will slay your hunger pangs.
SWEET RETREATS CHOCOLATE SHOPPE
314 N. Main St.
(248) 685-9201
This adorable little downtown shop sells high-quality, locally made chocolates, candies, sweets, and specialty groceries. Dentist-approved? Probably not. But the creamy truffles, rich fudge, and chocolate-covered pretzels and Oreos are worth the extra brushing.
RED DOG SALOON
250 W. Summit St.
(248) 685-2171
redogsaloon.com
A hopping outdoor-patio area, pool tables, live music, and dancing make this laid-back sports bar the perfect place for people-watching while you enjoy a popular Red Dog Burger made with meat delivered daily from a local butcher.
BAKERS OF MILFORD
2025 S. Milford Rd.
(248) 685-0505
bakersofmilford.com
For years the Baker family of Milford have been serving up “family friendly Americana dining” in their restaurant and banquet hall. Juicy burgers, wood-fired grilled pizzas, chicken, ribs, and seafood all compliment an expansive beer list. Visit on Tuesday, when you can score a draft beer for the price of a pint, or pop in for the weekly Sunday Cruise (between May and September), where you can ogle hundreds of classic cars that converge on the property.
GRAVITY BAR & GRILL
340 N. Main St.
(248) 684-4223
gravityrestaurant.com
This small, beautiful restaurant has earned a reputation for service as spotless and bright as its white tablecloths. Go for the Sweet Retreats Downtown Milford upscale vibes and seriously good globally inspired dishes made with the best seasonal ingredients: Think Mediterranean nachos made from pita, artichokes, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and za’atar yogurt, or seared Ahi tuna served with Thai coconut rice, a sweet chili vinaigrette and Sriracha napa cabbage slaw.
CHARLIE’S STILL ON MAIN
325 N. Main St.
(248) 676-9978
stillonmain.com
Sure, you live in Michigan — but why not indulge in a “Southern Table” dining experience? Charlie’s is known for tasty, simple comfort foods with a Southern twist, like the delectable Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich or the Still Shrimp N’ Grits. And don’t skip the fried green tomatoes.
RIVER’S EDGE BREWING COMPANY
125 S. Main St.
(248) 685-1625
riversedgebrew.com
This popular microbrewery and gathering place is located on the Huron River and across from downtown Milford’s Central Park, but sweet scenery is not all that’s on offer. Enjoy one of their fabulous pizzas and some chicken tenders on the airy patio, and be sure to sample from the hearty selection of cask-conditioned ales, hard ciders, craft beers, and house-made wines.
Things to Do in Milford
KENSINGTON METROPARK
2240 West Buno Rd.
(810) 227-8910
Every year 2.5 million visitors flock to Kensington Metropark, the glorious 4,486 acres surrounding Kent Lake. Natural beauty stares back at you from every direction and the ways to enjoy it are just as plentiful: Hike, bike, fish, take a boat out on the sparkling water, go into beach bum mode, or just settle in at a bench for a relaxing picnic lunch. Keep your camera close — you’ll want photos of the awe-inspiring sunsets!
HEAVNER CANOE & KAYAK RENTAL
2775 Garden Rd. and Kensington Metropark
(248) 685-2379
heavnercanoe.com
Catering to singles and groups, Heavner Canoe & Kayak Rental has been providing canoeing and kayaking adventures for more than 60 years to locals and visitors alike. They’ll set you up for everything you need for an unforgettable cruise along the Huron River and even offer moonlight paddles. Fun fact: If you paddle out far enough (101 miles) you can reach Lake Erie!
MILFORD TRAIL
Enter beside the YMCA at 300 Family Dr.
Take time to meander along this 5.5-mile trail, which connects to the Kensington Metropark and offers exceptional forest views steadily punctuated with wildflowers in bloom and wildlife sightings. One high-light: a pretty little waterfall that’s perfect for a quick reboot from the city core.
MILFORD FARMER’S MARKET
East Liberty St. between S. Main St. and Union St.
Downtown Milford is the place to be on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 7 p.m., when the Farmers’ Market pops up to offer flowers, fresh produce, baked goods, and extras like cooking demos and kids’ activities.
Where to Shop in Milford
NANA’S NICHE AND CORNER
436 N. Main St
(248) 684-1975
nanasnicheandcorner.com
This bright, colorful corner store is overflowing with so many wonderful and quirky gift ideas, clothing, cards, and jewel-ry that you won’t know where to look first. If it’s unique presents you seek — such as a 1,000-piece Michigan-beer-themed puzzle, a candle that smells like a jar of mouthwatering mango salsa or a unicorn-motif tea set for the younger set — you’ll find it here.
THE CLOTHING COVE
414 N Main St
(248) 685-2500
theclothingcove.com
The lovely folks at Clothing Cove have you covered when it comes to classy and casual ladies’ fashions for all occasions. Serving Milford for more than 30 years, they curate gorgeous collections of clothes, accessories, pet and baby items and attractive home decor. Also expect unique gifts and conversation starters — such as a wallet featuring Norman Rockwell artwork, or a classic layered-mesh fascinator hat that lets you channel your inner Meaghan Markle. Bonus: They’re committed to featuring brands that put the planet before profits and practice social responsibility.
BLUE BIRCH OUTFITTERS
432 N. Main St.
(947) 570-1632
bluebirchoutfitters.com
Blue Birch Outfitters is a one-stop outdoor lifestyle clothing and gear shop for men, women, and children. This family-owned small business carries accessories for the adventure enthusiast, including footwear, backpacks, hammocks, sunglasses, and other small gear (think canteens and blankets) .
TIMELESS TREASURES
222 S Main St.
(734) 748-1207
timelesstreasuresmilford.com
Specializing in sports and celebrity memorabilia, collectibles, beautiful furniture, vintage clothing, and rare art pieces, Timeless Treasures is also renowned for its knowledgeable staff . A great place for both the serious collector of old-time sports trad-ing cards or the more casual buyer of Beanie Babies.
HOOT GIFT GALLERY AND ART MARKET
417 N. Main St.
(248) 714-9633
Hoot Gift Gallery stocks a slew of unique gifts and one-of-a-kind clothing items inspired by vintage textiles and bohemian style. e store recently added a special “men’s table” that’s loaded with goodies like grilling spices and a men’s personal care line from France — and cheekier accessories like socks with “Trophy Husband” printed across them.
LEGENDS OF TIME
453 N. Main St.
(248) 685-0911
www.legendsoftime.com
Dan DeClark and Robert Wainio, the owners of this long-standing art gallery and shop, both have Native American ancestry and are committed to sharing and honoring their culture. Among the gallery’s color-rich displays are a wide variety for goods for sale: bags, buttery leather vests with bone beading, beautiful wrapped packages of ceremonial tobacco, healing crystals, drums, rattles and much more!