Essential Detroit-area bars with food as good as their drinks

Bronx Bar

4476 Second Ave.; 313-832-8464
This Cass Corridor dive bar offers classic bar food alongside beer and cocktails. The grilled cheese (dubbed Look Who Just Walked In) is made with Texas toast and optional raw or grilled tomatoes, and it’s an ideal companion to a cold beer. The French fries, onion rings, and deep-fried pickle spears are homemade and delicious.

Photo via Google Maps

Empire Kitchen & Cocktails

3148 Woodward Ave.; 313-315-3131; empirekitchenandcocktails.com
This bistro offers a selection of cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as appetizers, entrées, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and sides. Highlights from the menu include shishito peppers, antipasto salad, and shrimp pasta. Empire also offers brunch and dessert.

Photo via Empire Kitchen & Cocktails / Facebook

Andrew’s on the Corner

201 Joseph Campau St.; 313-259-8325; andrewsonthecorner.com
With shuttles to some concerts as well as Red Wings, Lions, Pistons, and Tigers games, Andrew’s on the Corner is a great spot to pick up a snack and a beer before an event. The food menu includes fried mushrooms, eggplant fries, and classic burgers and sandwiches.

Photo via Google Maps

Wright & Company

1500 Woodward Ave.; 313-962-7711; wrightdetroit.com
Wright & Company’s menu is organized around a shared plate philosophy. Fall offerings include fresh potato chips, pork belly sliders, and paella arancini. For dessert, you can try beignets with bourbon cherry chocolate sauce or a trio of cheesecakes (roasted pumpkin, vanilla bean, apple caramel).

Photo via Wright & Company / Facebook

Kay Jay's

5491 Auburn Rd., Shelby Charter Twp.; 586-731-0531; kayjaysirishpub.com
Kay Jay’s is a classic Irish pub, offering a large selection of beers, bar food, and Irish cuisine. Pub snacks include garlic bread, potato skins filled with cheese, sour cream, and bacon, and loaded tater tots. Kay Jay’s also has sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, and subs. You can also try the stone-fired pizzas and calzones.

Photo via GoogleMaps

CK Diggs

2010 W. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills; 248-853-6600; ckdiggs.com
Greasy burgers always pair well with alcohol. You’re in luck with this bar, which won Best Burger and Best Draft Selection in Oakland County in the Metro Times Best of Detroit reader's poll.

Sava’s Restaurant

216 S. State St., Ann Arbor; 734-623-2233; savasannarbor.com
Sava’s focuses on using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients in inventive recipes. For breakfast, you can try the wild mushroom omelet, avocado toast with micro greens, or a kale breakfast bowl with almond butter and lemon vinaigrette. Their lunch, dinner, and dessert menus are similarly tempting, as is the selection of cocktails, wines, and beers.

Photo via Sava’s Restaurant / Facebook

Brown Iron Brewhouse

30955 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-951-2659; browniron.com
American beer is paired with smokehouse cuisine at Brown Iron, which specializes in “fresh food made daily.” The menu includes pulled pork, brisket, “beer-can” chicken, and more meats smoked fresh in a smoker every day. There are plenty of gluten-free options too. Plus, all dressings and BBQ sauces are made from scratch.

J's Penalty Box

22726 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-398-4070; jspenaltybox.com
This hockey-themed pub offers food and drink specials during games, such as $1 cans of Molson for every Tigers home run and a $16 large pizza and pitcher of domestic beer during Lions games. The food menu includes meat pie egg rolls, homemade chili, and garlic fried pickle spears. They also serve burgers, pizzas, fish and chips, and tacos.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Renshaw Lounge

210 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 248-616-3016; renshawlounge.com
With a full service bar, freshly prepared pizzas and calzones, and a hefty selection of appetizers, burgers, soups, and salads, Renshaw has something for everyone. You can check out the spinach artichoke pizza, chicken melt sandwich, and Philly cheesesteak grinder.

Photo via Renshaw Lounge / Facebook

The Hideout

1110 W. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson; 248-435-2494; hideoutclawson.com
This sports bar offers a variety of draft beers and artisan cocktails, as well as weekly food specials, a jukebox, and pool tables. For lunch or dinner, try the Philly cheesesteak, tuna melt, grilled cheese, or classic burger. The selection of happy hour appetizers include potato skins with cheddar and bacon, chicken breast sandwich, and tater tots with chili, cheese, and sour cream.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Redcoat Tavern

31542 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073
A Royal Oak staple of British-American pub-style food since the early 1970s, Redcoat boasts some of the best burgers in the Detroit area. It’s a no-frills atmosphere with dim red lighting and a famous must-try appetizer: the beef tips and creamy peppercorn sauce. Locals already know this is the classic go-to burger spot.
Photo with permission from @sandys_hungry

Danny's Irish Pub

22824 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-546-8331
Voted the Best Irish Pub in the suburbs in the Metro Times Best of Detroit reader’s poll, Danny’s is worth a visit. The Ferndale staple offers the usual American bar fare such as burgers, sandwiches, wings, and fries.

Royal Oak Brewery

215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak; 248-544-1141; royaloakbrewery.com
This brewery moves beyond traditional bar food, offering updated versions of classic dishes. The black and white dip, for example, is a blend of black bean and Asiago cheese dips, and it’s served with tortilla chips. You can also try the brick oven pizzas, fish tacos, pork schnitzel, and Louisiana jambalaya.

Photo via Royal Oak Brewery / Facebook

Motor City Brewing Works

470 W. Canfield St.; 313-832-2700; motorcitybeer.com
This intimate brewpub offers hot crab dip, baked wings, and vegetarian chili alongside an ample selection of beers, hard ciders, wines and cocktails. You can also try the brick oven pizzas, which come in varieties such as roasted pear and fig, barbecue chicken, and classic margherita.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Love and Tequila

20 W. Adams Ave., Detroit; 313-687-4350; loveandtequiladetroit.com
This Southwest Detroit bar and nightclub serves up great tacos, salmon sliders, fried lobster skewers, and more. The Mexican-inspired food pairs well with the spot’s agave-forward cocktail menu.

Imperial

22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-850-8060; imperialferndale.com
This Ferndale roadhouse offers an impressive selection of cocktails, beer, wine, and liquor. Their Southwestern-inspired food menu includes Sonoran hot dogs, deep-fried Mexican risotto balls, and tamales. You can also try the weekly taco specials, such as za’atar spiced eggplant, grilled halloumi, and seared halibut.

Photo via Imperial / Facebook

O'Connor's

324 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-608-2537; oconnorsrochester.com
This authentic Irish pub was designed by one of five Guiness-approved pub builders, then shipped to the United States and reassembled in Rochester. O’Connors focuses on the three pillars of a good time: biotáille (bar), craic (entertainment), and bia (food). The happy hour specials include Irish poutine made with corned beef, vegetable boxty sticks, and Irish egg rolls.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Ale Mary’s

316 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-268-1939; alemarysbeer.com
Aside from tons of beer, Ale Mary’s serves up all of the necessary comfort food including amazing cornbread, mac n cheese, French fries, poutine, and more.

Berkley Common

3087 Twelve Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-677-0795; berkleycommon.com
Berkley Common is a collective gathering space offering food, drinks, and community. The menu includes inventive takes on comfort food, such as vegan gnocchi, spinach ricotta dip with naan, and chicken tenders with miso ranch. For a sweet snack, you can order the apple nachos, which are made with chocolate, caramel, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, coconut flakes, and candied pecans.

Photo via GoogleMaps