Shinola Hotel

I rarely leave negative hotel reviews, but my recent stay at the Shinola Hotel was one of the most upsetting hotel experiences I have ever had.

Early one morning during my stay, I was awakened by a man violently banging on my door and attempting to force his way into my room. From inside the room, it genuinely sounded like someone was trying to break in. I attempted to call the hotel operator for help, but my initial call did not connect, so I called 911 for help since I feared for my safety.

Hotel security eventually arrived and discovered that the individual was another hotel guest who had become extremely intoxicated and mistakenly thought my room was his. According to security, he was trying to force entry to my room when his key did not work. By the time hotel security arrived, the drunk man appeared to be laying on the floor outside my door (security and hotel staff were standing and talking to him outside my door). Hotel security later informed me that they had told the police they were no longer needed, so in essence they unilaterally chose to cancel my 911 call for help (I never saw the police and do not know if they ever arrived).

What disappointed me most was the Shinola hotel’s response afterward. Security knocked on my door, explained that the drunken guest had been escorted to his room, and suggested I “go back to sleep.” No manager proactively contacted me, and no meaningful effort was made to ensure I felt safe after a frightening experience. Later that morning, I personally had to request a room change because I no longer felt comfortable staying near the guest involved in the incident.

A separate matter but also disappointing, the Shinola hotel failed to provide a scheduled 3:30 AM wake-up call that I specifically arranged with concierge for an early flight. The request had been confirmed with concierge, but apparently never communicated properly to the front desk.

I spoke with management multiple times during my stay. One manager expressed sympathy and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, but ultimately the Shinola hotel declined to provide any meaningful compensation beyond paying for my ride to DTW airport when I departed. I was told that because I booked through a third-party travel portal using Capital One Venture X, the Shinola hotel could not refund any portion of my stay. I have since contacted Capital One Travel for their assistance, but again the Shinola hotel declined further compensation for my troubled stay.

While I understand the intoxicated guest’s behavior was not the hotel’s fault, I do believe the Shinola hotel is responsible for how it handles guest safety incidents and service failures. Between the inability to initially reach the operator during what I believed was an attempted break-in, the minimal follow-up afterward, the cancellation of my 911 call for help without my input, the need to request my own room relocation, the missed wake-up call, and the refusal to meaningfully resolve the situation, I left extremely disappointed.

This stay at the Shinola hotel fell far short of a luxury experience. I cannot recommend this property.

Great part of town sexy hotel great clientele . San Morello RESTAURANT was excellent within the hotel. It was very convenient. We were there for a medical school graduation. It was fantastic.

After a 12 hour flight shinola told me my reservation is cancelled and sent me to anither hotel. They said i shouldve gotten an email about this i didnt.

The experience was exceptional from check in to the valet bringing me my car when I left. Both bars had great drinks and skilled bartenders. The rooms were perfect.

We were attending a concert at Ford Field and were looking for a hotel nearby. Shinola popped up and as we were familiar with the watch brand thought it would be fun to stay at the hotel … exceeded expectations. From check in to check out, our 20 hour stay was perfect. Staff courteous yet personable .. from the valet to wait staff in the 3 bar areas. The front desk was helpful and went beyond the normal check in and out. Our room was comfortable and clean with space to spread out and relax. The hotel common spaces were interesting and inviting. We will definitely stay again when we are in the area. Will be looking for more reasons to visit!

Shinola is easily our favorite hotel to stay each time we are in Detroit. It has a perfect location and San Morello is always delicious. Free admission to the DIA is an awesome perk and the rooms are super quiet + dog friendly! Their staff makes it an easy choice to pick our stay there each time we visit.

Went to Ford Field for a concert. Easy walk to the venue. Nice hotel, clean and friendly staff. Restaurant was good. Would recommend.

I recently stayed at the Shinola Hotel from Saturday to Sunday and wanted to share honest feedback because the experience did not align with the premium, “residential feel” image the hotel promotes.

Prior to arrival, I appreciated receiving an email asking about my preferences. My requests were simple: not to be on Woodward Avenue and not to be on a low floor. Unfortunately, I was placed on the second floor directly facing Woodward. When I asked about alternatives, I was told there were no other rooms available, and no additional options or accommodations were offered. The interaction itself also felt more lightly condescending than welcoming, which was surprising for a hotel positioning itself as luxury hospitality.

The noise level from Woodward was extremely disruptive throughout the night, including motorcycles and repeated Q-Line horn noise. A “residential feel” should include a sense of comfort and escape from street chaos, especially when guests specifically request quieter accommodations.

There were also several cleanliness and service concerns that stood out:
- The carpet in the room was visibly stained.
- Food trays/plates were left in the hallway near the elevators both the first and second day.
- Some of the wood flooring/common areas appeared stained and dirty rather than naturally worn.
- Throughout Friday, despite five valets sitting outside, no one opened the main doors while guests entered and exited repeatedly.

To be fair, on Saturday there was one staff member who did open the door and provided a noticeably better level of hospitality.

The checkout experience was also disappointing. I specifically asked whether there were any charges and requested a printout of my bill. I was told there were no additional charges, and no receipt was provided. Later, reviewing my American Express statement, I saw charges had in fact been posted. I now have to contact the hotel separately just to obtain a copy of the final bill, despite the hotel already having my email address. A luxury hotel should automatically provide accurate checkout documentation.

Overall, the experience felt inconsistent with the standards and atmosphere the Shinola Hotel markets itself on. There is a difference between a relaxed residential feel and a lack of attentiveness, cleanliness, and hospitality.

Rooms were not ready at check in resulting in having to leave bags at the desk and get ready in public restrooms. All common spaces are very dark, including public restroom. Bags were not in room when I was able to get in. I had to call twice to get them delivered.
The room was beautiful and mostly clean - there were used tissues under the coffee bar cabinet. The bed was extremely comfortable. If not for the overbooking/late check in, it would have been a great stay. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Please add ice bucket and ability to get ice in the room!!

Amazing location, walking distance to concert, sporting events, restaurants, shopping.
Beautiful rooms and overall hotel was stunning!

We stayed at Chattanooga for the first time for a weekend trip, and it was so relaxing and restorative. Great food at the restaurant. Amazing location in the heart of downtown. Can't wait to go back!

Beautiful property, great rooms

Great location and wonderful ambiance. A lovely stay in the heart of Detroit. Very nice touch with the Shinola electronics and even a turntable. Highly recommended.

Overall nice. The breakfast isn’t great. The front desk staff and living room staff is very nice. The rooms are nice. Beds too low though.

My husband and I spent the weekend in Detroit to see a comedian with friends. We brought our dog on this trip for the first time and the hotel was extraordinarily accomodating! We were greeted with a welcome back that included a Shinola tennis ball, dog collar with bandana, extra poop bags, and a gift card for a local pet store. The hotel itself is lovely, very clean and comfortable, and the bed was fantastic. The included breakfast at San Morello was great and the discount at the Shinola store was an added bonus! Will definitely be back!

Champagne on arrival, full rundown on what's available, advice on getting to concert venue. Gorgeous hotel, cannot wait to return for a longer stay.

Clean, comfortable room with great amenities. The food was excellent and staff was very accommodating! Even though the hotel is on a main street, the hotel was very quiet.

Had a great weekend staying at the Shinola Hotel. From the moment we walked into the door everyone was extremely courteous and kind. The room was amazing. Location is convenient for many of Detroit’s best restaurants. San Morello is a must for fine dining - try the ricotta dip!

I stayed at the Shinola Hotel in April 2026 for a business meeting and will certainly be returning for a personal trip in the future. Everything about the hotel is well thought out and impressively executed. Understanding the history of the Shinola brand, and the effort that went into developing this hotel into the experience that it is, I was very excited for my stay. The main hotel building is the renovated 1915 T.B. Rayl & Co. building which comes into play as the hotel room amenities are branded after the historic company that the hotel building now occupies. This is just a small touch of the attention to detail the hotel employs.

Upon check in, the front desk associates shared some information on the surrounding buildings, recommendations for food/beverage and were very kind and courteous (as was the entire staff)

When evening came, the housekeeping staff went around to each room to ensure they had everything they needed for the rest of the evening before guests began their evening routines, which was an added touch of detail, especially for guests who may have forgotten essential items like combs, soap, etc.

The rooms were incredibly well appointed. The furniture was solid, bathrooms were spotless clean, and the mini bar was stocked to the gills (if that’s your taste). Each room also came with a set of Bluetooth bookshelf speakers which came in handy during my stay as I played some music during my work to focus. The focus on the guest experience was on full display , and even though I didn’t order any room services, the options were plentiful and included late night options for guest to order overnight into the early morning.

The hotel is exceptional and certainly deserving of its Michelin rating.
If you’re looking for a chic and guest-centric experience on your next visit to Detroit, the Shinola hotel is no doubt, the place to stay.