Do we need a reservation?

A reservation is suggested, however we always try to accommodate walk-ins. Outdoor dining reservations are available for the front porch and fountain courtyard. There are no reservations for the Patio & Deck. Reservations are required for Mansion Tea Service.

May I request a specific room or table?

We will attempt to accommodate all table requests. Private rooms rentals may be available for larger parties . Please alert our hostess to any special requests when making the reservation.

Does The Whitney enforce a Dress Code?

We recommend Business/Country Club casual attire throughout The Mansion. Gentlemen, please feel comfortable in dress jeans and collared shirt or dress sweater.  Jackets and ties are not required though appreciated.   Tee or sleeveless shirts, sports jerseys, shorts, and open toed shoes are prohibited. Please remove ball caps while inside the mansion. Ladies, please feel comfortable in dress jeans, slacks, skirt or dress. 

Sports Jerseys, ball caps, flip flops, yoga pants and tank tops are prohibited. Tattered or disheveled clothing, sweat pants, and any athletic wear is prohibited.  Please check backpacks at the door.

Does The Whitney do anything special for birthdays and Anniversaries?

Please preview our Thursday "Birthday Deal" on the Celebration Dining page. Our reservation staff will be happy to provide additional details.

Is there a charge for valet?

There is a charge of $10.00 for valet. There is paid self-parking across Woodward.  

Does The Whitney offer a shuttle to Detroit events and attractions?

The Qline now provides transportation along Woodward from West Grand Blvd. to Jefferson.  The Qline stops at the corner of Woodward and Canfield.  Please be sure to find out what time our lot will be closing on the day of your reservation.

What can I expect to pay?

All of our dinners are served complete with 4 courses and range from $59 - $89.  Menu with pricing is available on the "menus" page.  The Patio offers it's own unique menu of chilled plates for sharing.  Mansion Tea Service is $49.  Menu pricing will change for Holidays and Special Event Brunches. All prices are subject to change without notice.   

How far in the future may I make my reservation?

 It is recommended that individual reservations are reserved at least 3 months before the reservation date. The Whitney takes reservations 2 years in advance for large groups. Signed contracts and applicable deposits may be required to hold large group reservations. Please contact our sales and marketing department at 313-832-5700 for group reservation details.

Does The Whitney offer vegetarian dishes?

Yes, The Whitney will always have a vegetarian entrée on the menu.

Is The Whitney handicapped accessible?

Yes, The Whitney has a ramp in the back of the building (ask the Valet to direct you upon arrival) and an elevator inside the Mansion.

What days does The Whitney close for business?

Generally, Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, Labor Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. There are also unique occasions when the Mansion may close for a private event.  Please contact us regarding specific holiday closings.

When may I use a coupon or other promotional discount?

Every coupon or discount promotion clearly states the valid dates for usage. Once expired, these discounts are no longer valid. Read your discount promotion carefully for terms and conditions. Only one discount or promotion may be used at any single visit to The Whitney per table or per group.

Can I bring my own food and/or beverage to The Whitney?

The only outside food we allow is special occasion cakes provided by a licensed Bakery. There will be a cake service fee involved. Please note The Whitney is happy to provide you with one of our specialty cakes. Please contact us for pricing and information. Ala Carte guests guests may bring their own bottle of wine with a $35 per bottle corkage fee.

Can we schedule High Tea for Saturday, or another time of day?

We serve High Tea at 11:30 & 1:30 on Saturday and Sunday by reservation only. If you have a large (20 or more) group, we may be able make special timing arrangements. 

Can we just come in and walk around the Mansion?

You are welcome to stroll the Mansion when you’re visiting us for Tea or Dinner, but we limit access to planned tours during non-business hours. Flash, or professional photography of any kind is by appointment only.

What's the Champagne Tour like?

You will be guided through the entire Mansion by a knowledgeable member of our staff and given information on the Whitney Family, the History of the building and it's uses through the years. Champagne (or Non-Alcoholic Champagne) is served at the start of the Tour.

Are you open for Brunch or Lunch?

We offer an elegant "Mansion Tea" a four course light luncheon at 11:00 & 1:30 on Saturday & Sunday.  We will offer brunch & lunch service in mid-December for Holiday dining.

Can I bring in a professional photographer to memorialize our event?

Guests are welcome to take casual photographs via mobile phone or small digital cameras for personal use only. Personal photographs and videos are not to be used for commercial purposes. Portrait and flash photography of any kind is considered professional photography and is permitted during non-business hours, by appointment only. Portrait/Professional and Commercial photography sessions are available for $250/hour and can be booked via email at Events@thewhitney.com . 

WHAT GROUP SIZE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ORDER FROM THE BANQUET MENU?

Parties of 19 or less:
This would be a regular large party reservation. There is an auto 20% gratuity and 6% sales tax, paid on one single check. If you'd like to rent a private room, the room rental fee is $200.00 and paid at the time of booking, along with a $10/person deposit. Please note that we cannot guarantee a particular dining space to you in this scenario. In this scenario, please call the restaurant when you are ready to book so one of our hosts may assist you.

Parties of 20 or more:
This would be considered a banquet and the event would have a 3-hour run time. We offer various food and beverage packages for you to choose from. There is a minimum food and beverage purchase requirement, which varies by room and date,  along with a $200 room rental fee, 21% gratuity, and a 6% sales tax. We would require a 20% deposit to reserve, while final guest count is due 10 days prior to the event and final payment is due 3-5 days prior to the event. 

IS THERE A MINIMUM FOOD AND BEVERAGE PURCHASE REQUIREMENT?

Yes, it will vary based on the day of the week and the room selection.

IS THERE A ROOM RENTAL FEE?

There is a $200.00 rental fee for any private space in The Whitney.

DO YOU REQUIRE A DEPOSIT?

To book with us, we require a 20% deposit of the estimated subtotal along with a signed contract. Final payment is due 3-5 days prior to the event.

WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

There is a credit card authorization form on the contract that will be sent over to you. We can take a personal or cashier's check for the deposit, but no personal checks for the final payment. American Express may be used with no extra fees.

CAN I EXTEND MY EVENT?

There is a $250/hr. fee for additional service above the base time of 3 hours that we allow for events. Our base time that we give for a wedding would be 4 total hours, with the ceremony time counted in. If you decide to include an open bar package, that will give The Whitney a guarantee of service, and we would not need to charge the additional $250/hr. i.e. selecting a 5 hour open bar package would increase the reception time with no additional rental fee involved.

Can I pay for the valet parking for my guests?

Yes, the valet attendants can count up the cars for your specific event. It is $10/car and can be paid for at the conclusion of the event. Guests will need to notify the valet they are here for your event when pulling in through the front gates.

What are guest parking options if I do not want to host valet?

We can still offer valet services for $10/car for your guests to utilize, as that is our main form of parking. There is also a gated self-parking lot across the street for $5/car entrance fee off of Canfield St (credit card only machine).

Can I bring a cake? Do you have a cutting and serving fee?

We allow cakes, but they need to come from a licensed bakery. We will cut and serve the cake for you free of charge.

Can I play my own music?

We do not allow any groups to have their own music played or bring in a live musician unless you've rented out an entire floor of the restaurant. We will have our house jazz music playing through the speakers in your dining space, and we have one pianist playing nightly throughout the three floors.

What do you provide on the tables?

We provide white linen tablecloths & napkins, votive candles/salt & pepper shakers, silverware, glassware, plates, and custom menus. It would be up to you to provide flowers, place cards, place card holders, table numbers, etc.

Can I store decorations at The Whitney the night before my event?

Due to liability issues, we do not allow anything to be left at The Whitney overnight.

Do you offer a projector rental?

We do not offer a projector rental. Tripod projector screen rental is $25.00. Refer to the last page of the banquet package for all AV rentals that we offer.

Do you have Wi-Fi available?

Yes

Full Cancellation Policy (including COVID considerations) and cost:

Your deposit will be applied as a credit to the final bill.  This deposit is non-refundable.  Should you cancel your event, even prior to the cancellation deadline, your deposit will be forfeited.  
The reservation must be canceled by the cancellation deadline in order to avoid incurring any charges.  Reservation cancellations made after the cancellation deadline will result in a charge of 50% of the estimated grand total of the reservation cost.  If the reservation is canceled after the cancellation deadline, the credit card provided will be charged at the time of cancellation.  If you cancel within 72 hours of the event, you will be charged in full for the entire banquet.
As conditions change, cancellation deadlines may be altered based on any extension or reinstatement of stay-at-home orders or state of emergency dates. If the Government enforces a shut down during you the originally scheduled event, The Whitney will transfer your deposit to a future event, or provide you with a gift card to return to dine with us at a future time.