Detroit in December hits different. The city is lit up, the air is cold, and somewhere on Woodward Avenue, two English Bulldogs are being treated like the VIPs they've always known themselves to be.
We checked into the Shinola Hotel on a Friday night with two dogs, zero apologies, and absolutely no plan to leave the room before noon.
The Shinola doesn't just allow dogs — they welcome them. No breed restrictions. No weight limits. No side-eye at the front desk. Just a genuine, warm welcome for Hank and Lucy like they'd been expected all along. (Lucy accepted this as her due. Hank was already looking for somewhere to lie down.)
The room was everything. Warm, minimal, Detroit-made details everywhere you looked. But let's be honest — Hank found the softest spot on the bed within four minutes of arrival and that was his world for the rest of the evening. Lucy did a full perimeter check, determined nothing required her attention, and joined him.
Outside, the hotel's dog area gave them a rare December luxury — fresh air, a little space, and the kind of unhurried outdoor moment that bulldogs pretend they don't enjoy but absolutely do. Hank sniffed exactly three things. Lucy stared into the middle distance like she was solving something the rest of us couldn't see.
Christmas in Detroit. Two bulldogs in a boutique hotel. Room service, city lights, and not a single care between them.
If you're looking for a dog-friendly stay in Detroit that actually means it — the Shinola is it. Two dogs, no restrictions, full VIP treatment. Hank would recommend it, if he could be bothered to say so.
The kind of Christmas getaway Hank would approve of — if he could talk. He'd probably just stare at you until you booked the room.
Lucy did a full perimeter check, found nothing requiring her attention, and rendered no further comment.