Daxton Hotel Review: Birmingham, MI

The Daxton Hotel is a 149-room boutique luxury property in downtown Birmingham, Michigan, about 20 miles north of Detroit. Birmingham is an upscale suburban downtown with walkable shopping, restaurants, and a residential feel that’s completely different from staying in Detroit proper.

The Daxton opened in 2019 as an independent property and recently joined Hilton’s Curio Collection, which means you can now earn Hilton Honors points and use elite status benefits here. The hotel anchors a mixed-use development right in the center of Birmingham’s downtown district, which puts you within walking distance of most of what the area has to offer.

Location

The Daxton anchors the corner of South Old Woodward Avenue and Merrill Street, which puts you right in the center of downtown Birmingham. Most of what you’d want to walk to—restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques—is within a few blocks. Pierce Street is one block south and has a good concentration of dining options.

The location works well if you’re visiting the Detroit area but don’t need to be downtown. You’re close to corporate offices in Troy and Southfield, about 30 minutes from Detroit Metro Airport, and an easy drive to downtown Detroit when you actually want to be there. For business travel or visiting family in the northern suburbs, Birmingham makes more sense than staying in the city.

Lobby

The Daxton’s lobby is compact and design-focused rather than grand or showy. The space features high ceilings, contemporary furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Old Woodward Avenue. Check-in is handled at a small desk rather than a traditional front desk, which keeps the lobby feeling more residential than hotel-like.

What stands out immediately is the art. The Daxton has a serious contemporary art collection throughout the property—museum-quality pieces, not hotel-lobby decoration. The lobby alone has multiple installations and paintings, and the collection continues into the hallways, restaurants, and guest rooms. If you’re into contemporary art, you’ll notice names you recognize. If you’re not, you’ll still notice that the hotel put real money and thought into the collection rather than just filling wall space with generic prints.

The staff walked us through the art program during check-in and mentioned that the collection rotates periodically, which explains why it feels curated rather than permanent. It’s one of the hotel’s defining features and clearly part of the identity they’re building as an independent property.

Rooms and Suites

We stayed in room 351, a standard double with two double beds. You enter through a small vestibule with the closet and bathroom to the left, then the room opens up into the main sleeping area.

The design leans contemporary with clean lines, neutral tones, and the same art-forward approach as the rest of the hotel. There’s original artwork on the walls—not prints—which is consistent with the Daxton’s overall aesthetic. The room has a small desk, a chair, and enough space to move around comfortably, but this isn’t a suite-sized room. You’re working with maybe 300-350 square feet.

The bathroom is compact but well-designed with a walk-in shower, decent counter space, and upscale bath products. The finishes are very high quality—marble tile, good lighting, no corners cut on materials.

One thing worth noting: the view from this particular room wasn’t great. The window faces the neighboring building’s rooftop, so you’re basically looking at HVAC equipment and a tar roof. It’s not terrible, but it’s not a selling point either. If the view matters to you, ask about room assignments when you book—not all rooms face rooftops.

Hallway and Pantry

Each floor has a small pantry area with complimentary snacks and beverages stocked throughout the day. You’ll find things like chips, cookies, sodas, sparkling water, and coffee. It’s self-serve and replenished regularly, which is a nice touch that saves you from ordering room service or heading out for small stuff. The pantry setup feels more upscale than the typical hotel vending machine approach—closer to what you’d see in a residential building amenity space.

Restaurants and Bars

The Daxton has two dining options. Madam is the upscale restaurant with a seasonal American menu—this is where you go for a proper dinner. The Café handles coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and lighter options throughout the day.

The lobby bar sits next to the lobby and serves cocktails, wine, and small plates. The drinks are good—they actually put thought into the cocktail program rather than just running through the usual hotel bar standards. The space has the same contemporary art collection as the rest of the hotel.

Here’s what stood out: the lobby bar gets packed at night, and not just with hotel guests. Locals treat it like a neighborhood spot. By 8 PM on a weekend you’re competing for seats and the bartenders are slammed. It’s a real scene, which is great if you want energy but not ideal if you’re looking for a quiet drink after a long day.

Amenities

The Daxton has a fitness center on the lower level with cardio equipment and free weights—standard hotel gym setup, nothing fancy but functional if you need to get a workout in.

Parking is valet only, which is typical for downtown Birmingham where street parking fills up fast. There’s a fee for overnight guests, though if you’re just stopping by the bar or restaurant, valet is complimentary for the first couple hours.

The hotel also has meeting and event space on the property, which explains why you’ll see corporate groups checking in during the week. Birmingham’s proximity to Troy and Southfield office parks makes the Daxton a natural pick for small corporate events and client meetings.

Final Thoughts

The Daxton works well if you need to be in Birmingham or anywhere in Oakland County. The location is solid for business meetings in Troy or Southfield, visiting family in the area, or just staying somewhere with good restaurants and shops within walking distance. I’d especially recommend it in the summer when Birmingham’s downtown is at its best—outdoor dining, events, and the whole area feels lively.

The recent addition to Hilton’s Curio Collection is a big deal. You can now earn Hilton Honors points and use elite status benefits, which makes it way more appealing than when it was fully independent. The art collection is legitimately impressive if that’s something you care about—it’s curated contemporary work that rotates periodically, not generic hotel prints.

Here’s what to know: the lobby bar turns into something closer to a nightclub scene after 8 PM, especially on weekends. If you’re looking for a quiet hotel bar to unwind, that’s going to be a problem. If you like energy and a local crowd, you’ll probably enjoy it. Just be aware of what you’re walking into.

Room views vary a lot. Ours faced a neighboring rooftop, which wasn’t great. Ask about room assignments when you book if the view matters to you—some rooms are better than others in that department.

Booking Options

The Daxton joined Hilton’s Curio Collection, so you can now earn and redeem Hilton Honors points and use elite status benefits. This is a big upgrade from when it was fully independent—you’re finally getting loyalty program value here.

One thing to know: Curio hotels don’t participate in the Hilton for Luxury program, so that’s not an option. Hilton for Luxury adds perks like free breakfast, hotel credits, and upgrades at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, but Curio Collection hotels are excluded from the program.

Your booking options:

Hilton Honors Points: Standard award nights usually run 50,000-70,000 points per night depending on dates. If you’re a Hilton elite member, you get the fifth night free on award stays, which can make a longer Birmingham trip more reasonable if you’re sitting on points.

Corporate Codes: If you have access to Hilton corporate rates through your employer, you can usually save 10-20% off the standard rate. Worth checking if you’re traveling for business or still have a corporate code from a past job.

Direct Flexible Rates: Standard rates on Hilton.com typically run $250-400 per night depending on season. You’ll earn points and elite benefits apply.

Advance Purchase Rates: Prepaid, non-refundable rates usually save 10-15% off the flexible rate if you’re locked into your dates.