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A Scottish Guy Walks Detroit at Night: It’s Not What You Think

Doug was here

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As a Scottish guy visiting Detroit for the very first time, I arrived at 8:00 PM and decided to walk the streets alone after dark in search of authentic Detroit-style pizza. Everyone talks about Detroit’s reputation, but what actually happens when you walk the neighborhoods at night?

My search led me past abandoned buildings straight to the legendary Buddy’s Pizza. While waiting at the bar for my pie, I struck up a conversation with two local Detroit Lions fans who showed me true Midwestern hospitality, even handing me $20 to buy a beer on them. Detroit wasn’t what people warned me about; the people and the food completely surprised me.

If you enjoy authentic travel vlogs, American city tours from an outsider’s perspective, and regional food reviews, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe!

20 Comments

@dougwashere Creator 10 days ago Pinned

What's your honest perception of downtown Detroit vs what I experienced here? Let me know!

@marcstov 7 days ago

Thank you for coming. Not perfect, but getting better!

@laurasenko952 8 days ago

Temple Bar is a staple and was featured in the series Detroiters with Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson. It's where you go after a concert, as several concert venues are in the area.

@JohnMcElver 9 days ago

Chicago, while being an actually windy city, didn't get that nickname from natural wind, rather, it was so-named from the hot air blowing out of its politicians' mouths back in the day. 😁

@Baf630x 10 days ago

Detroit style is the best style

@jimmoran973 9 days ago

Gotta give Bedrock credit for transforming the Brush Street neighborhood Doug's walk started in.

@allarese 1 day ago

ARGGGH. Had I know you were coming to Detroit, I would have offered to be your tour guide. Love your channel!

@a00141799 10 days ago

I do love how adventurous you are Doug. Willing to really go anywhere and see things for yourself. You are such nice and friendly person that I am sure that anyone that you meet will instantly befriend you. I know I would. I hope your channel grows to a million subs. You are a Scottish treasure. ♥Best wish from Mila and Rich in Seattle. ♥

@DebraLindsey-c3b 1 day ago

You appear to be on Woodward.. I am from Detroit; born and raised in Detroit. I see you crossing. I'm impressed by what I'm seeing. You just passed the fox theater. I used to walk there from home back in the day. I grew up in the Brewster Projects. Detroit has a comeback and it's all good. The pizza is good but I preferred Pizza Papalis. You are at Grand Circus Park . Enjoy my home . Oh! take the people mover and visit the Ren Center.

@hurin1 1 day ago

Thanks for doing Detroit right. I am a photographer that does a lot of shooting of Detroit. There is a great photo location just across the street from the Fox Theater in a parking garage. Go up to the top and you get an amazing view of the skyline particularly at night when everything is lit up. There is a lot to see in Detroit. From the well lit and sparkly to the dilapidated and abandoned. There is life everywhere in Detroit.

@Grampy1 2 days ago

I've lived in an exclusive downtown highrise for decades. Downtown is cool and rebuilt now. It's not the downtown Detroit of the 70's. Like many in chat say, just stay in areas where the tourist are, and where the Suburbanites go when they come down here for a game. We're very blessed to have lived in our downtown highrise for 36 yrs. Thanks for coming to our city.

@jonathankfouri3431 4 days ago

Haha cheers man! Glad we bumped into you, sorry the bar was dead that night, the night I went it was a good time. Enjoy the pizza 🫡 - Jonathan

@aeroapollo 2 days ago (edited)

There is a very old Irish bar / restaurant in Greek town. It's usually busy...You're safe downtown. It's when you get in areas a long way from downtown that can be bad for crime. I'm so happy the people in Detroit treated you well. People really are happy to see someone from a different country, but it was really nice the guy bought your pizza...

@jeromefeig4209 9 days ago

Doug, There is an old steam heating power plant system under some of the downtown area. A central steam plant supplies steam for heating to many of the older buildings. This is a similar type of system the New York City has.

@jonkoller 2 days ago

Funny thing about the "very well kept" house vs the "little bit creepy" one is that the well kept one was the vampire hangout in Only Lovers Left Alive, great Jarmusch flick with lots of great footage of Detroit from before the full on gentrification.

@johnmc67 9 days ago

Lifer. For 2-3 days, you can have as much fun in Detroit as you in any city in the world. Ya just have to know where to go. So many times, years before the recent resurgence I would bring continental friends here, and this place would blow their minds

@cerridwen5465 9 days ago

Like any other large city, you just have to know where to go and where not to go. I've been living here for 10 years now and have never had a single problem.

@BeerMeASAP 10 days ago

Greektown is the place you should of checked out. downtown is very nice as long as you stay downtown in the right areas. great video!

@mattmays9063 8 days ago (edited)

@2:02 That's a typical old fire department/station building. Think of the building that the Ghostbusters turned into their base of operations. Same deal.

@enkididit8669 1 day ago

I’ve been in and around Detroit for 51 years. I’ve MEVER had an issue down there. Even when Inlived on the East side. Detroit’s have enormous hearts. Say nice things about us!!