Corktown, once a desolate strip just west of downtown Detroit, is a serious hotbed of new restaurants, bars, hotels and more, all sitting in the shadow of one of the most glaring icons of Detroit's demise - the skeleton of the old train depot, Michigan Central Station.

In this ailing city, people look at Corktown as a bright example of what rebuilding can do. The resurgence of Corktown, originally an Irish enclave, began with the 2005 opening of Slows Bar B Q. These days, thanks to low rents and a consumer base hungry for things to do, the area is a vibrant community of passionate restaurateurs, stylish shopkeepers, meticulous coffee connoisseurs and craft cocktailers.

Astro Coffee: Two former employees of London's revered Monmouth Coffee Co opened this spot in 2011, and its impeccable genes are evident in its meticulous sourcing of beans from places like Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco and George Howell Coffee in Acton, Massachusetts. Visitors can flip through old issues of Monocle magazine in a quirky, industrial space with exposed brick walls and high ceilings.

2124 Michigan Avenue. 313-638-2989. Astrodetroit.com

Ponyride: Started by Phillip Cooley, the owner of Slows Bar B Q, this small business incubator in a cavernous warehouse is home to startups like artisanal beans purveyor Anthology Coffee, retail pop-up Detroit Denim, Smith Shop metalwork studio, Dirt Label graphic tees and the Beehive Recording Co. It also hosts workshops, pop-up dinners, movie nights and yoga classes.

1401 Vermont Street. Ponyride.org

Ottava Via: The chefs at this rustic Italian trattoria visit the local farmers' market daily to bolster a menu that includes house mozzarella, crispy stone-fired pizzas and a signature Berkshire pork porchetta topped with onion jam and pork cracklings. The high ceilings hint at the building's origins as a bank, and a patio features a fireplace and a bocce court.

1400 Michigan Avenue. 313-962-5500. facebook.com/Ottavaviadetroit

Detroit Institute of Bagels: Michigan Avenue runs west from the heart of downtown to become Corktown's main drag, and this artisanal bagel shop sits on the neighborhood's edge, welcoming visitors into an airy, sun-filled space with bagels made in house, ingredients from local vendors and a comfortable setting that includes a book exchange and murals by local artists.

1236 Michigan Avenue. 313-444-9342. Detroitinstituteofbagels.com

Two James Distillery: The first licensed distillery in Detroit since Prohibition, Two James offers outstanding house-made vodka, gin and several types of whiskey. The tasting room is open six days a week, doling out unique cocktails that feature ingredients like beet and carrot shrub (a drinking vinegar), plum bitters and orange-peel liqueur.

2445 Michigan Avenue. 313-964-4800. Twojames.com

(China Daily 07/06/2014 page10)