The Cochrane House Review: #1 Best Black Owned Hotel in Detroit

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Yanno honestly, Detroit is such an underrated tourist city. Maybe not to other Black people, but the mainstream American travelers, who still have headlines of Detroit from 2008 lodged in their brains, don’t think of traveling to Detroit for fun. WELL THEY’RE WRONG. I spent a solid 3 days in Detroit and absolutely loved my experience, and a lot of that comes down to staying at the Cochrane House.

Many travelers, especially if they are newer or on the younger side, pick the cheapest hotel and go from there. I know, because I am one of those people. After all, you’re only going to be sleeping in your hotel room, right? Why not save your funds for a delicious restaurant, or guided tours, or even some boutique shopping! If I’m being honest, that mentality still determines the majority of my lodging decisions. But…I’m learning the ways of all of you who indulge in a lush vacation bed.

While in Detroit, I was feeling a little bougie – I was in town for a concert and the town was festive for the jazz festival and everything – so I decided to join the plushier travelers and splurge on an accommodation OTHER than the cheapest Hampton Inn on the outskirts of town lol. Spoiler, I chose the Cochrane House haha.

This post nor my stay was not hosted or sponsored, I paid for my hotel stay with my own money.

About

The bottom line is that I chose to stay at the Cochrane House was that it looked really pretty, had a great location (more on that later) and was one of the few, if not the only, Black owned hotel in Detroit. As a Black traveler, as someone whose heritage descended from the resilience of enslaved folks, as someone who experiences systemic and social racism on a daily basis…it’s important for me to support Black owned businesses in my every day life and when I travel.

So even on that alone, I was going to stay and check it out.

That said, the Cochrane House does have some dope history that goes deeper. Built in 1870, the Cochrane House is a historic mansion in Detroit’s Brush Park area in the heart of downtown. The current innkeepers (and owners) are the two art-loving sisters Roderica & Francina James, so the property really embodies the culturally rich history that Detroit is known for in a luxury setting.

Location

Okay, going back to the location. The Cochrane House is on Winder St and, again, is within Detroit’s entertainment district but not in the direct ACTION of downtown. So while the attractions are extremely walkable and nearby, it still feels like a relaxing getaway within the city.

And by walkable, I mean you have the Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field, Fox Theater, Fillmore Theater (where our concert was!), Comerica Park…like all of that is an easy 10 minute walk so you don’t have to worry about outrageous parking fees or long wait times for (surge-priced) rideshares.

Also, The Cochrane House has free parking since it’s on a quieter street. So feel free to rent a car while in Detroit when you’re staying at the Cochrane House, you’ll be good!

Amenities

Aside from being a beautiful property, the Cochrane House as has some amenities to take note of. The first is that the property is adult-only, sorry kiddos! There is also 24-hour security surveillance, so you can have peace of mind throughout your stay.

And of course, there’s some of the more common amenities that we’ve all come to love like free WiFi, bluetooth speakers in room, and some of the rooms even have a steam shower and/or dimmable lighting!

The kitchen is very well-equipped, not that I did any cooking on my trip haha. But they do have 24 hour coffee and tea (caff and decaff!) on hand in the kitchen. I also loved that there is a comfortable living/dining room (with a fireplace!) downstairs that doubles as a workspace – super important since I needed to get a few articles written while I was traveling. So, for all of you who travel with remote jobs, this is a great stay for you!

Outside, there is an outdoor sitting and firepit area with chairs, however it was a bit drizzly during my trip and as I am practically allergic to water, I didn’t venture outside. It was very cute tho!

And then, as a proper bed AND breakfast, the Cochrane House offers hot breakfast delivered to your room in the morning. The innkeepers message you the day before for your breakfast preferences and have a range of options to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free meals, and other dietary concerns. However, you can opt out of the breakfast and save about $20 on your room rate, but in my opinion the breakfast is WELL worth it!

You can even tour the property virtually!

Rooms

Now the fun part – the rooms! There are three room types, and they do vary in both sizes and prices. All three have a one night minimum, and I greatly appreciate the booking flexibility that offers!

Since I am but a broke girl (for now!), I booked the cheapest and thus the smallest room called the Melodic Room. That said, it didn’t feel small. It has a queen sized bed as well as a private and spacious ensuite bathroom with double sinks and a two person shower (heyyoooo). All rooms include wireless speakers, smart TVs, 100% cotton towels, a refrigerator, and a table with seating.

Something I really loved about the room we stayed in, as well as the other two rooms since they let us peak in and look around, are the luxury bath products they supply in their rooms. Had my skin feeling like a straight up DOLPHIN and I hadn’t even shaved. The rooms are thoughtfully decorated and was the epitome of comfort. I’d never slept so good before in my life.

Service

Along with having the innkeepers onsite for any immediate needs, you can also book additional services such as spa services, photography shoots, and even a private chef to curate a special dining experience. I didn’t book any of those services during my stay, but if they are anything like the rest of the quality the Cochrane House upholds, I know they are WELL worth it.

Speaking of service, the customer service and communication at the Cochrane House was unparalleled! I felt like I was a super ultra mega MVP member with how friendly and accommodating they were. We got welcome snacks and lemonade upon checking in too, which was a fun surprised.

Excellent communication and incredible recommendations for activities and restaurants to visit while in Detroit. The service was truly the cherry on top of an excellent stay.

Conclusion

Whether you’re traveling into town or looking for a pampered staycation, I cannot recommend staying at the Cochrane House enough! From the premium styling to its incredible convenience, the Cochrane House is one of the BEST places to stay in Detroit.

Hands down.

Honestly, I’m already planning another trip to Detroit and I cannot wait to book another room here! If you have any other questions that I didn’t cover in the post, let me know in the comments below!

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