Where to eat, what to do and where to park for the NCAA games at Little Caesars Arena

Are you visiting the city for this weekend's NCAA Midwest Regionals for Division I Men’s Basketball Championship games Friday and Easter Sunday at Little Caesars Arena? If so, welcome to Detroit!

Whether you are new to downtown Detroit or haven't been in a few years, here's a refresher for where to eat, where to park and what to do in the immediate vicinity of the 885,000-square-foot, multi-purpose arena. Read on for some dining suggestions within walking distance from LCA and some ideas for what else you can do in Detroit this weekend when you aren't at the game (or games).

Finally, if you must drive your own car to the game, we've provided five ideas for where to park, whether you want to be as close to LCA as possible or find a secure space that will let you wander around downtown a little bit.

5 dining ideas for NCAA game visitors

Savannah Blue

This contemporary soul food restaurant has stood the test of time and is open for early dinner and cocktails. The menu has a lot of Southern classics and twists on regional favorites like the Georgian hummus made with black-eyed peas, plus candied sweet potatoes, catfish fritters, braised oxtail and golden raisin bread pudding for dessert. There is a bit of a proper attire dress code here, and they're serious about the no-hat rule for gentlemen. You'll want to have a reservation. Open for dinner Tues.-Sun. at 1431 Times Square. Call (313) 926-0783 or visit savannahbluedetroit.com.

Grey Ghost

For another chef-driven, upscale-ish dining experience, one of the city's new classics is Grey Ghost. The polished and cozy spot serves proteins with grace and style, like their pork belly dish with biscuit crumble, maple glaze and sage or the sea scallops with nduja sausage, potatoes and chive. They also have charred, fried and marinated vegetable dishes and a prized bar burger. Grey Ghost is open daily at 4 p.m. at 47 Watson. Call (313) 262-6534 or visit greyghostdetroit.com to make a reservation, but you may have luck walking in, too. Bar Pigalle is another great choice, just around the corner at 2915 John R. The French-inspired spot has a lush dining room, incredible bar program, an elevated menu and great service, plus an amazing bar burger if you sit at the rail. Because of Easter they'll be open for brunch Sunday, but not dinner service.

Frita Batidos

A Cuban restaurant that has award-winning burgers, thick, tropical milkshakes with or without booze and a fun atmosphere, Frita Batidos is open for lunch and dinner at W. Columbia at Woodward, which is home to a lot of casual eateries that don’t require reservations and are good for all ages. From Frita's, you could also walk to many other family-friendly eateries that don't require a reservation, like JoJo's ShakeBar, Sahara Restaurant & Grill, Good Cakes and Bakes, Union Assembly and Eminem's Mom's Spaghetti.

Golden Fleece

Downtown Detroit is teeming with brand-new restaurants, but for something tried and true and the best lamb gyro you'll find in this area, head to Greek restaurant Golden Fleece. The recently renovated, family-owned business opened in 1970 and is the longest-standing restaurant in Greektown. Besides the classic gyro, Golden Fleece's standouts include the flaming saganaki, spinach pie, grilled lamb chops and the Detroit-style Greek salad, which has beets, pepperoncini, olives, onion, tomato, feta cheese and pink dressing. They also have a lot of Greek wines, plus a whole wine shop next door with more imported goods. Golden Fleece open daily for lunch and dinner, plus late night on the weekends at 525 Monroe. No reservations needed, call (313) 962-7093 or visit goldenfleecedetroit.com for a carryout.

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Detroit classics

Detroit's version of a Philly's cheesesteak or Chicago's Chicago Dog is our coney dog. It's a hot dog topped with chili sauce, white onions and yellow mustard, and they're usually ordered two at a time. The most historic place to get one is Lafayette or American Coney Island, two dueling restaurants that are both around 100 years old. Those who like a more gritty atmosphere will say Lafayette is the better location, while others who like a more spacious dining room and a wall full of celebrity photos will lean toward American. Neither are open 24 hours anymore, but they are open late on weekends. If you want to eat some square Detroit-style pizza in the downtown area, check out Buddy's (1565 Broadway), Shield's (5057 Woodward) or Niki's (735 Beaubien); the latter is open until 1 or 3 a.m. on weekends. For a more historic look at DSP, go to the original Buddy's (17125 Conant), Cloverleaf (24443 Gratiot in Eastpointe) or Loui's (23141 Dequindre, Hazel Park) and for a 20th-century twist on the world-famous pizza, including vegan and gluten-free versions, travel to Grandma Bob's (2135 Michigan) or Michigan & Trumbull (1331 Holden). The latter is our choice for the best new-school Detroit-Style Pizza.

More:Your guide to downtown Detroit sports bars near LCA, Comerica Park and Ford Field

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5 things for visitors to do downtown this weekend

Go to the casino

This may not seem like a particularly creative idea, but not every town has three, 24-hour casinos hotels filled with active table games, dazzling slot machines, sports books, bars and restaurants. Visit the Hollywood Casino at Greektown (1221 Chrysler Drive) if you want to be part of the nightlife and the walkable area of Greektown, which is full of bars, clubs and restaurants. MotorCity Casino and Hotel (2901 Grand River) has the all-you-can-eat buffet action, plus a food court, a concert venue (smooth jazz and R&B musician Brian Culbertson is there Saturday night) and is off the beaten path. MGM Grand Detroit (1777 Third) is somewhere in between with a lot of good dining options including a high-end steakhouse, spacious sports bar, gourmet food hall and a more casual food court. All have on-site parking, hotel rooms and are limited to those 21 and older. Remember that while you’re in Michigan, online gambling is also legal.

Dip into the local music scene

Detroit is the home of Motown, electronic music, the White Stripes and, for some reason, a bevy of White rappers (Eminem, Kid Rock and ICP, to name a few). On any given night, there are stages across the area hosting someone who could be the next big thing or at least a talented, seasoned entertainer. In the downtown area, Cliff Bell's (2030 Park) is your best bet for live music downtown, with local and touring jazz acts nearly every evening. For some electronic music this weekend, check out the Magic Stick (4140 Woodward) or TV Lounge (2548 Grand River). Get sweaty and gritty with some of the city's punk, indie and rock groups at the Corktown Music Festival, happening Thursday through Saturday at various venues in the historic, nearby neighborhood; visit facebook.com/corktownmusicfestival for all the details.

Dilly-dally in an alley

Downtown Detroit is full of artwork, photo opportunities and historic architecture (visit the Guardian Building if you really want to be wowed), but there are two refurbished alleyways that bring a little something different to downtown and they seem to be a bit attraction for both locals and visitors. In Parker's Alley near the Shinola Hotel (1400 Woodward) you'll find boutiques, a gourmet coffee house and eateries from upscale, like San Morello Italian restaurant, to casual, like Mister Dips, which serves ice cream and burgers. The Belt (1274 Library) is another cool walk-through, anchored by art group the Library Street Collective. Swing by and have a cocktail at the Skip or the nationally recognized lounge and restaurant Standby.

Get cultured

The most obvious attraction in downtown Detroit is the world-renowned Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward). Current exhibits include Japanese Friendship Dolls and "Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898 – 1971," plus the impressive permanent collection that includes more than 65,000 pieces from the earliest civilizations to present day. This weekend's programming includes drop-in workshops and films, including one about classical composer and techno-pop artist Ryuichi Sakamoto. Across the street, the Detroit Historical Museum (5401 Woodward) has a lot for those who want to learn more about the city's sports, automotive and musical history. For more world-class museums, check out the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (315 E. Warren) and the Motown Museum (2648 W. Grand Blvd.), which is currently undergoing a major expansion.

Visit another country

If you’ve brought the right documentation, you can head to Canada for a few hours and explore downtown Windsor. Like Detroit, this Ontario city has its own nightlife scene, parks, clubs, restaurants and a casino, Caesars Windsor. Some of the things Metro Detroiters like to do while they're in Windsor is check out the Canadian Aviation Museum, get dim sum at Shanghai Bistro or visit the no-frills Dominion House, one of the oldest bars in the area that dates back to the mid-1800s. There's also a duty-free store at the border.

5 parking ideas for NCAA visitors

Little Caesars Arena

For the closest parking, visit ParkDistrictDetroit.com to view the 32 options for parking in the District Detroit, including next to the arena. Search parking by the specific event you're going to. For example, District Detroit parking for Friday's game ranges from $10 for a spot nearly a half mile from LCA to $40 for one right next door.

SpotHero

Use the SpotHero app or website to find and pay for a competitively priced lot and garage parking ahead of time near the stadium or any destination.

Z Garage

About a half mile from the arena at 1234 Library Street is this art-filled parking structure with 1,275 spaces, window-washing stations, an air pump and electric vehicle charging stations. Why park a 15-minute walk (or about 10 minutes on the Q Line) from the game? The Z Garage is home to more than 100 paintings by more than two dozen local and international artists. It's next to the aforementioned Belt, a cool alleyway with lots of photo opps that is surrounded by cocktail bars and restaurants.

Renaissance Center

Park in the garage for Michigan's tallest building, the Renaissance Center, which sits on the Detroit River. The GM RenCen is home to several restaurants, including Joe Muer Seafood, Andiamo Italia and — for one of the best views in the city — the Highlands steakhouse on the 72nd floor. From here you can take the free People Mover in Tower 200 Level 2, which will bring you to the Grand Circus Station stop, about a 12-minute walk to LCA. The People Mover is having extended hours this weekend for the NCAA games. Learn more at gmrencen.com.

Huntington Place

Our riverfront convention center has more than 2,500 covered and uncovered parking spaces. There's a People Mover station inside Huntington Place on the fourth floor near Congress that will take you to Grand Circus Park, the closest People Mover stop to Little Caesars Arena. The area immediately surrounding Huntington Place (formerly called Cobo Center) includes our riverfront park Hart Plaza and several bars and restaurants. Learn more at huntingtonplacedetroit.com.

Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic

mbaetens@detroitnews.com