Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown opened in 2023 inside the Albert Kahn-designed former home of WWJ radio, the world's first commercial broadcasting station, following a roughly $70 million restoration. It is the first hotel ever to operate in the Art Deco building, blending original 1936 details with Choice Hotels' upscale Cambria brand.
The essentials
Group Cambria Hotels (Choice Hotels)
Opening October 2023
Rooms & suites 154 rooms
Segment Upscale
Designer NC
Entry rate From $140 Learn more → The place The hotel occupies 600 West Lafayette Boulevard in downtown Detroit, inside the Albert Kahn-designed 1936 Walker-Roehrig Building, the original home of WWJ, the world's first commercial radio broadcasting station.
The concept Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown opened with a soft launch in May 2023 and celebrated its grand opening that October, the result of a four-year, roughly $70 million adaptive-reuse project that converted the long-vacant Art Deco radio studio building into the first hotel to ever operate on the site. The design keeps Art Deco cues throughout (geometric patterns, jewel-toned finishes and peacock motifs in the lobby bar) while layering in modern additions like golf simulators and duck-pin bowling.
As an upscale Choice Hotels brand entry, Cambria trades ultra-luxury positioning for a design-forward, moderately priced stay that leans hard on the building's broadcasting history, including nods to WWJ in its cafe concept.
Dining & wellness Cibo Detroit (Mediterranean fine dining), Detroit Taco Bodega for fast-casual Mexican and 24-hour in-room dining, the Art Deco-styled Beve lobby bar, a rooftop lounge, plus Five Iron Golf simulators and duck-pin bowling built into the lobby level.
Our take One of Detroit's better historic conversions for design detail-to-price ratio; worth booking for the Art Deco lobby and radio-history story more than for luxury-tier service, which sits at an upscale, not top-tier, level.
Google guest reviews 4.4/5 · 713 reviews
My girlfriends and I spent two wonderful days at the Cambria Suites. It is the perfect base to tour Detroit. The property was spotless. The decor was fun and contemporary. It has an amazing bar and outdoor space.
What most impressed us was the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff. Michael the bartender was very attentive and efficient. Duane and Antonio at the front desk were delightful and full of helpful suggestions. The housekeeping staff made sure we had everything we needed.
It has been a very long time since we have seen such friendliness and dedication. We hope to return on other occasions with our families or as a group. This hotel was wonderful. Bravo!!
Sigh…definitely far from upscale.
The valet team was very welcoming, and the front desk staff particularly Nick, was helpful.
The location was great and the room was spacious and open which makes my experience even more disappointing.
However, the issues were significant. The sheets and pillowcases were stained, appearing to have fresh blood on them, and also had hair present. The shower door wouldn’t stay closed and continuously slid open while in use, causing water to leak out. There were no washcloths in the bathroom. The refrigerator was filthy, non-functional, and had to be replaced by maintenance, who, to their credit, were quick and helpful. Only one elevator was working during my stay, adding another layer of inconvenience.
For the price point, these problems were egregious. Based on previous reviews, I was hopeful, but unfortunately my experience didn’t reflect what others described. It was especially frustrating since this was an anniversary trip, so we should have been relaxing however it felt like one issue after another.
I’m certain I will not be choosing Cambria for future stays in the area.
My friend Nick and I stayed at the Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown for the 2026 Autorama show at Huntington Place, and it was the perfect base camp for the whole trip. The location could not have been more convenient for the convention center. From the moment we pulled up, the valet set the tone — friendly, professional, and on point. That same level of service carried through every interaction, whether it was the bar staff or the concierge-style help we got throughout our stay. The rooms were genuinely impressive — huge, beautifully appointed, but still cozy and restful at the end of a long day. The bar was a great spot to wind down for the night. Highly recommend for anyone heading to an event downtown!
The service at this hotel is impeccable.From the moment we pulled up to Valet they were there to greet & welcome us! The bellman Dejuan was so friendly and explained everything available within the hotel. Got us checked in and took us quickly to our room. Truly a kind and lovely gentleman . The Doorman Nate is a treasure to this hotel .He was warm, welcoming and is the perfect person to be the face of the Cambria Detroit. I knew the moment we stepped out of the car that we would enjoy our stay. The room was clean and well taken care of and I appreciated the safety of having to check in on the 3rd floor and accessing a different elevator past checking to get to hotel rooms. We were there for a concert and it was just a quick overnight. This morning after checking out our car was already at the curb waiting ( a quick text to retrieve your car) Both Nate and the valet attendant George immediately got our bags loaded. Had our car doors open and wished us a safe trip home.
I travel extensively and have stayed in many upscale hotels and chains. The service and most of all the PEOPLE at this hotel put this quick overnight trip at the top of list of my favorite and best hotel stays. Nate, Dejuan & George are a huge asset to this hotel and if your need a place to stay I’d 100% recommend the Cambria Detroit !
Enjoyed a lovely stay at Cambria Hotel Detroit. Room was clean and efficient. Staff was professional and friendly. Special mention for DuJuan our bellman, and Antonio at the front desk, as well as staff at rooftop bar, Cibo restaurant and valet. However, our room wasn't serviced for housekeeping on the second day even though we requested it. Otherwise, it was a pleasant experience. I will return.
Maria
Farmington Hills, MI
Maria Ford Conliffe · 5/5 See more reviews → 
