Downtown Birmingham just scored a new late-night player, and it is running on plants. Celebrity chef Matthew Kenney has quietly opened Besos, a plant-forward restaurant on Old Woodward that leans into what it calls a "clean indulgence" vibe. Think familiar comfort formats like pizza, lasagna, and bar snacks, rebuilt with whole-food ingredients and global flavors instead of meat and dairy.
According to Crain's Detroit Business, Besos is Kenney's first restaurant in Michigan and extends his plant-based approach into Oakland County. The outlet's piece today frames the concept as part of his push to make high-end plant cuisine feel a little more approachable for everyday diners.
Menu and hours
On its website, Besos bills the menu as "whole‑food" and plant-driven. That translates into vegan takes on dishes such as heirloom tomato lasagna, heart‑of‑palm crab cake, and Detroit‑style pizza, all built around produce and other plant ingredients. The restaurant lists daily hours that stretch late into the night and handles bookings through Resy. The posted address is 239 N. Old Woodward Ave., a short walk from Booth Park and the Birmingham 8 theater.
What this means for downtown Birmingham
Besos joins a broader wave of spring openings that is reshaping Metro Detroit's dining map and adds a high-profile plant-forward option to Birmingham's Old Woodward strip. Local restaurant roundups have already flagged Besos as one of the most talked-about debuts in Oakland County, signaling growing interest in chef-driven and plant-based concepts outside the urban core. For nearby residents and visitors, the arrival widens late-night choices and gives plant-based eaters a downtown date-night spot that comes with a full bar.
About the chef
Matthew Kenney is a familiar name in plant-based dining circles, with a global lineup of restaurants, culinary education programs, and books that helped push fine-dining vegan cuisine into the mainstream. VegNews has tracked Kenney's expansion and experiments with different formats, which helps explain why his name attached to a Birmingham address turns heads. The Besos website sums up the philosophy in a single line: "Food that's bold, whole, and never boring."
Reservations are available via Resy, and the restaurant lists a contact number for quick questions. With its opening today, Besos gives local diners a late-night plant-forward option that pairs bar energy with whole-food cooking.
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