The Whitney Mansion, Restaurant, and Gardens

Our Visit

The Whitney, Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI

My sister, seven year old son, and I went to eat at the Whitney today.   The reservation was spurred by restaurant week but we knew that there was a risk we would end up with Sunday brunch.  Brunch was amazing.  Not one item on the buffet tasted old or too cold.  The variety was quite good: bacon and eggs to beef tenderloin and dill salmon.  My son is a very adventurous eater and his appetite has healthy due to our mid-afternoon reservation.  We were charged the full price of the brunch for him; so if your child is a picky eater, it would be a very pricy meal.  I felt it was worth the special treat for him.

The wait staff was excellent.  I had told my son about the house.  He asked our waiter about the secret passage.  The waiter not only explained the history of the house to my son, he also pulled back the carpet and opened the secret passage.  My son was in awe.  We finished by giving ourselves, with permission, a tour of the house.  I will definitely return for a date night with my husband or to entertain out-of-town guests.  

Whitney Mansion History

The Whitney Mansion is located on Woodward Avenue near downtown Detroit.  Completed in 1894, it is an impressive sight  even by today's standards.  The mansion was designed by Detroit architect Gordon W. Lloyd as a home for lumber Baron, David Whitney.  Construction took four years to complete at a cost of $400,000.  The mansion was home to the Whitney family until 1920 when it was sold to the Wayne County Medical Society and later a nurses association.

In 1980, Richard Kughan purchased the Whitney Mansion.  He converted the home into a fine dining restaurant, opened in 1986.  Kughan was a Detroit advocate and passed on his passion for the Whitney and Detroit through the sale of the Whitney to Bud Leiber in 2007.  Mr. Leiber is a former Chrysler executive and Detroit believer.  He maintains ownership today.

The Whitney is considered one of Detroit's fine establishments for its cuisine and exquisite design.  The home boosted 52 rooms covering 21,000 sq. ft.  It still has 20 fireplaces and the original dining elevator.  The exterior pink granite facade impresses viewers from first glance.