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Michigan Guides

Oakland County · Metro Detroit

Royal Oak city guide hub

Metro Detroit's walkable downtown for dining, nightlife and the Detroit Zoo.

Visit the Royal Oak Guide

Local listings, businesses and events live on royaloakguide.com.

About Royal Oak

Royal Oak is one of Oakland County's densest and most walkable downtowns, built around Main Street and Washington Avenue. On a weekend evening the core blocks fill with people moving between restaurants, patios, cocktail bars and music venues, and the city has spent decades earning a reputation as the place people from across metro Detroit go out.

Away from downtown, Royal Oak is a city of tree-lined residential streets and pre-war bungalows, with steady infill development around the Woodward Avenue corridor. The Detroit Zoo sits at the city's northern edge, the Royal Oak Farmers Market has anchored the community for generations, and the Woodward Dream Cruise route runs right through town each August.

Because the city is compact, it works well as a base: you can park once and spend a full evening on foot, then reach Ferndale, Birmingham, Clawson or Detroit within minutes.

What Royal Oak is known for

  • A concentrated downtown restaurant and bar scene
  • The Detroit Zoo
  • Royal Oak Farmers Market
  • Woodward Dream Cruise route
  • Vintage, antique and independent retail
  • Walkable historic bungalow neighborhoods

Neighborhoods and areas

  • Downtown / Main Street District
  • Vinsetta Park
  • Northwood-Oakland
  • Starr-Culver
  • Barrington Hills

Royal Oak questions, answered

Is Royal Oak walkable?
Yes. Downtown Royal Oak is among the most compact, pedestrian-friendly business districts in Oakland County, with dining, shopping and nightlife within a few blocks of each other.
Is the Detroit Zoo actually in Royal Oak?
Yes. Despite the name, the Detroit Zoo sits within Royal Oak, straddling the border with Huntington Woods at the north end of the city.
What is there to do in Royal Oak besides nightlife?
The farmers market, antique and vintage shops, parks, seasonal festivals and the Woodward Avenue corridor all draw visitors during the day.
Where should I park downtown?
Royal Oak has several public parking structures around the Main Street core, which are usually the easiest option on busy weekend nights.

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