Rochester

Rochester is a city in Oakland County, Michigan. It is about 20 miles due north of Detroit. Settlers arrived in what is now Rochester in 1817, making it the oldest settlement in Oakland County. Rochester was incorporated as a village in 1869 and became a city in 1966.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW ^IATA). A major international airport in Romulus, southwest of Detroit. It is a Delta hub and is also served by other major airlines. It is about an hour from Rochester by car. (updated Dec 2019)

Get around

Downtown Rochester is centered at Main St. and Fourth and extends for several blocks in all directions. It is entirely walkable, although there is metered street parking on Main St. and municipal lots within a block or two.

See

• Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Dr, ☏ +1 248 364-6200. (updated Dec 2019)

Do

• Paint Creek Trail. Runs along the Paint Creek which cuts through Rochester just north of Main and University. (updated Dec 2019)

Buy

• catching fireflies, 203 E University, ☏ +1 248-650-3318. M-W,F-Sa 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-8PM, Su noon-5PM. Housed in Rochester's former train depot, catching fireflies is a whimsical shop selling cards, jewelry, gifts, and all manner of cute items. 

Eat

• Andiamo, 401 N Main St (At the corner of Main and Fourth), ☏ +1 248-601-9300, fax: +1 248-601-2406. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-9PM. One of several Andiamo restaurants in the Detroit area, Andiamo Rochester offers high-quality, if slightly pricey, Italian food in a pleasant, subdued setting. Be sure to tell your server it is your first visit and you will receive a complementary risotto appetizer. 
• Lipuma's Coney Island, 621 N Main St, ☏ +1 248-652-9862. A Rochester institution for decades, Lipuma's serves, in addition to Coneys, a large number of other hot dogs, chili, tacos, and soups. Service is friendly and familiar. In the good weather you can sit on the deck overlooking the creek. If you only eat meal in Rochester, it should be here. 
• Red Knapp's Dairy Bar, 304 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-651-4545. Red Knapp's is a classic diner -- a true Rochester staple -- with burgers, fries, cokes, malts, milkshakes, etc. The malts' and shakes' flavors range from chocolate to vanilla, raspberry to lime. The fries, in particular, are delicious (especially the seasoned ones!) This place is a must-see when visiting Rochester. The atmosphere is fun and the food is greasy and delicious! 

Drink

• Bean and Leaf, 439 S Main St, ☏ +1 248-601-1411. This is a local hotspot serving a wide variety of different coffees, teas, and other beverages. They also serve pastries and other small snacks and have free wifi. 
• Rochester Mills Beer Co, 400 Water St (In the old mill), ☏ +1 248-650-5080. excellent beers, good food. (updated Aug 2016)

Sleep

• Royal Park Hotel, 600 E University Dr, ☏ +1 248-652-2600, fax: +1 248-453-8600. A luxury hotel with a very high level of service. The rooms are comfortable, with amenities such as terrycloth robes and two-headed showers. Some rooms have a nice view overlooking Paint Creek. There are two restaurants: The Brookshire, for fine dining, and The Commons, a bar with a casual environment. The Royal Park is frequented by athletes and musicians playing at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and President George W. Bush once stayed there. 
• Spartan Motel, 1100 N Main St (Located about 1/2 mile north of downtown Rochester), ☏ +1 248-651-8100, fax: +1 248-651-6310, info@spartanmotel.net. This property has been a Rochester fixture for over 45 years but has been updated to keep with the times. It offers standard motel amenities such as cable TV, high-speed Internet, and free continental breakfast.