Eat

Ann Arbor’s community philosophy extends to the eating, with independently-owned restaurants making up the majority of the downtown bistros. Head to Main Street and see the cultural and culinary diversity of this small town. From North Indian eateries slinging baskets of tandoori roti to Southwestern eateries dishing up oversized plates of guacamole, this street serves tasty grub from all over the world, a nod to the international draw of the university. Fans of street-side dining can revel in the sun during the summer, as most of Main Street restaurants offer al fresco dining.

For an Ann Arbor specialty, visitors can grab a fragel – a deep-fried raisin bagel rolled in a lethal combination of cinnamon and sugar. This artery-clogging breakfast delight was invented at the now defunct bagel factory, but fans of a good sugar high can still pick one up at Bagel Fragel (1754 Plymouth Road, Tel: +001 734 332 1555).

Stay

Chain hotels are few and far between in downtown Ann Arbor, although visitors can settle for four-star international brands if they make their way towards suburbia. Luckily, a handful of charming bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels occupy the historic buildings that dot downtown’s streets.

The Bell Tower Hotel (300 S Thayer Street, Tel: +001 734 769 3010), just a stone’s throw from Main Campus, is billed as an “escape from the ordinary” and rightfully so. The hotel was the recipient of the Ann Arbor Award for Historic Preservation. With 66 rooms, it is a small European style inn that combines old world elegance with modern day comforts.

A couple blocks from downtown lies one of the quirkier bed and breakfast options. The Vitosha Guest Haus (1917 Washtenaw Avenue, Tel: +001 734 741 4969) is an 11-room English gothic inn complete with stone chalet house, coach house tearoom and Holtkamp pipe organ. With ten fireplaces, ivy-covered stone walls and period furnishings, the hotel’s ambiance invites guests to channel their inner gargoyle.