Lowlight
Open now, till 12amOrder
Espresso in a double-walled glass
Espresso bar, Corktown, Detroit42.3314° N, 83.0458° W

A standing espresso bar on Michigan Ave. Two grinders, one machine, open until midnight. Move the light around — that's the whole room.

Order ahead →The menu

Lowlight

18gin, 38g out, 28 seconds
7–12open every day, am to midnight
2grinders: house + guest
0laptops after 6pm
Milk being poured into a cup to make latte art
Cortado, 4.50
Espresso seen from above in a dark cup
House espresso
Roasted coffee beans
This month: Huila, CO
02 / House rules

Three of them.

01

Stand or lean

There's a long rail and six stools. Most people drink a shot in five minutes and go. That's the point.

02

No laptops after 6

After six the lights go down and the music goes up. Talk to someone. Or don't.

03

Ask for a taste

Not sure about the guest espresso? We'll pull you a half shot. Free, always.

03 / Story

Night shift people.

"Every coffee shop closes at 3. Nurses, cooks and bartenders drink coffee too."

Dre Wallace pulled shots for eight years, mostly at places that closed before his friends got off work. In 2021 he took over a former shoe repair shop on Michigan Ave with a 12-foot counter and no windows worth mentioning.

He kept it dark on purpose. One warm light over the machine, one over the rail. Lowlight opens at seven for the day crowd and stays open until midnight for everyone else: line cooks, nurses coming off shift, people walking home from the game.

— Dre Wallace, owner

04 / Visit

Find the yellow dot.

1617 Michigan Ave

Detroit, MI 48216, Corktown
Look for the yellow dot over the door. Street parking on Michigan; bike rack out front.

(313) 555-0164

Hours

Mon–Thu7a–12a
Fri7a–1a
Sat8a–1a
Sun8a–10p

Game nights

On Tigers home games we open the side window at 5pm and serve espresso tonics to go. Cash and card.

Shot's on
in 4 min.

Order ahead and skip the rail. Your cup goes on the shelf by the door with your name in grease pencil.

Start an order →