Not Your Average Guide to Royal Oak Michigan

I am super excited to bring you this Not Your Average Guide to Royal Oak Michigan! Royal Oak isn’t just one of my favorite cities in Southeastern Michigan, but also the place that I myself call home.

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Intro: 0:00
The Proving Grounds: 0:21
Housing Options: 1:15
Breakfast!: 2:50
Donut Cutter: 3:32
Detroit Zoo: 4:12
Lily’s Seafood: 6:30
Paper Trail Books: 7:25
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle: 8:37
The Morrie 11:10
Outro: 13:00

In this video we will take a look at Royal Oak’s coffee shops, amazing neighborhoods, family activities, nightlife, restaurants, all of it! Let’s get started!

If you haven’t caught on from my other videos, I LOVE my coffee. It just so happens that my favorite place to grab a hot cup in Royal Oak, called The Proving Grounds, is conveniently located right next to my own office. The original location is in Milford near the GM Proving Grounds, which is where the name originates from. Not only do they have fantastic coffee (I personally recommend the cold brew) but they also feature awesome sandwiches and brown dog ice cream.

Royal Oak has some truly great and unique housing options for its residents. There are many condo opportunities providing excellent living right downtown, along with a ton of gorgeous neighborhoods throughout the area. When a lot of people think of Royal Oak, small yards, tract houses & ranches come to mind, which is very true. However not all Royal Oak neighborhoods fit this definition. Vinsetta is just one of those exemptions. With its broad boulevards, large lots and mix of new construction and homes built back in the 30’s & 40’s, it is an exceptionally beautiful place to live.

Some of my top ranking places to get a hearty breakfast are right here in Royal Oak. Today I’m stopping by a RO favorite called Owl (located right on Woodward) but I have to give a shoutout to one of my other local favorites, Cafe Muse. Located on Washington, Cafe Muse has fantastic French Toast if you stop in for breakfast, but if you visit around lunchtime don’t miss their amazing Grilled Cheese sandwich, which was actually featured on Oprah.

As a Perna family tradition, whenever we would take a trip to the zoo we would always stop by Donut Cutter along the way. Voted best doughnuts in Metro Detroit by Hour Detroit, WDIV Channel 4, Fox News & more, they are old school, delightful and definitely worth the trip. Just be sure to bring cash when you visit as they do not have a credit card machine, which I think adds even more charm to the place.

The Detroit Zoo has been a favorite destination of families for generations. Originally opened in 1883 and located in downtown Detroit, it wasn’t until 1928 that it was moved here to Royal Oak, where it would become the first zoo in America with cage-less exhibits. With over 2,000 animals from around the world, large exhibits and close encounters with their inhabitants, this is a place of beauty and wonder for children and adults alike. As a special treat, I was also able to get a sneak peek at Table 28, the new restaurant providing tasty treats and beverages to the zoo’s visitors.

One of my go to places in Royal Oak, Lily’s Seafood is a great place to grab lunch or dinner. Their food is delicious and I personally recommend trying their crab cakes, fish & chips, fish tacos, and of course their hand cut fries. You won’t be disappointed!

If you like to read as much as I do, check out Paper Trail Books while downtown Royal Oak. My personal favorite little bookstore, they have a gigantic selection of over 20,000 used books, as well as new books and an assortment of collectibles, gifts, comic books & much more!

On the east side of Royal Oak, you will find Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, where many famous comedians got their start and many more continue to perform at. Note these shows are not family friendly events, but make a perfect place to attend for an amusing date night for some drinks and a ton of laughs.

I’m hungry again, so a late night stop into The Morrie is definitely warranted. Opened in 2016 and named after the owner’s father, this is one of my favorite spots to visit for some great food. Not only do I come for the food, but they make great cocktails and feature live music every day of the week, including during brunch.

Thank you so much for joining me for a day in Royal Oak! If you enjoyed this video please give me a like, hit subscribe and let me know what you thought in the comments below!

If you you’re interested in buying or selling a home in Royal Oak, or anywhere in Southeast Michigan, give us a call today and see how we can help you with your next move @ 248-221-2777

[OleGeezerCirca]

I enjoyed your video and comments. I grew up in RO living there from 1951 through 1965. Although the family moved there when I was 10 years old, I consider RO my hometown. In the course of over 70 years much has changed. I worked at the zoo the summers of 1959 & 1960 first in grounds maintenance (1959) and as an animal keeper (1960). Instead of almost $50 today for two admissions and parking, back then both were free. Also went camping in the woods where Beaumont hospital is now. I was a 1950's Woodward Avenue teen drag racer from the Big Boy at the north end, and the Totem Pole at the south. I could write several pages of comments, but it will suffice to say thank you for your work which was of interest to me. 😁

[jenniferwoolley]

I’m going to have to try all of these restaurants now! Heading to arts beats & eats this weekend with the family! Always a good day spent in Royal Oak.

[NickDrinks]

Nice coverage of my home city. Like the video style too. Well colored and composed.

[tomhext]

I worked years ago at the Onion Roll Deli long before it became the OWL. Home town, Royal Oak. Nice video!

[singingwithwolves]

Thank you for making these videos. I just moved to royal oak a year ago for work (I work in Detroit) and honestly chose the city as a last minute place to rent but instantly fell in love with this town.

[danadaniels]

What a great guide !!! Now I'm hungry and I want to go to the zoo :) thank you Michael Perna
This is brilliant!

[WendyPatton]

Amazing video and overview. I watched every second of it!!!

[jessicamatthews]

We live in Royal Oak and absolutely love this city! Thank you for sharing some great spots.

[donaldclark]

What a great video about Royal Oak to get me excited to go as we head out the door to the Arts, Beats, and Eats today! The Comedy Castle is always a good time and I have a giant list of concerts that I've seen at the Royal Oak Music Theater over the years. Thanks for a great tour!

[nadiaalsaadi]

This video made me feel like I really visited the place. I will definitely visit and start with coffee ☺️

[bitkigp]

Honestly this is one of if not the best video i have seen on a city period. Well done! I look forward to watching more of your content.

[robertuceda]

Love it!! great presentation Michael. This is my birthplace. I was born in Royal Oak, Beaumont hospital and so glad to know I was born in a city with culture, best eateries, chicken and waffles, best brewed coffee, best sweet fried potatoes and amazing day time places of interest. Obviously I look Peruvian and nothing of the demographic over there but I'm sure there is a cool melting pot a bit. ahh the Detroit Zoo. Sounds like a place worth visiting on my bucket list!

[MichaelPernaTV]

I had an absolute blast diving into what makes Royal Oak special to me and I hope you enjoyed this video! Let me know your thoughts below and if you have a city to recommend that I do a video on!

[austinpothast]

the ice cream on your nose is hilarious lol

[SC-gpkt]

You're doing it ice cream goes INTO the coffee!!!

You're welcome! 💜🍦+☕💜

[mikedandurand]

My hometown, of course it was very different in the 60s and 70s.

[srtjay]

I been in royal oak since 05-06 best city in my opinion!

[ImReallyGoingUp]

Owl is my go to. Chicken fried chicken 🍗

[jasondarwood]

Please do Ferndale...if you haven't done it yet.

[JamMaul]

I live there it's called little NYC. But. Don't fool yourself it's only 2 or 3 blocks. After that. There's nothing spectacular if you compare with nyc. But definitely. Great spot for metro Detroit area