Downtown Detroit has been reinvigorated in recent years, but sometimes on a night out you don’t want to mess with the downtown parking situation. We pulled together 30 spots with cool vibes and even cooler drinks — and won’t leave you stressed out about navigating the concrete jungle.

Raven Lounge and Restaurant 5145 Chene St., Detroit; 313-924-7133 Touted as Michigan’s oldest Blues Bar, Raven Lounge and Restaurant is one of Detroit’s go-to destinations for live music and some seriously delicious soul food. Photo by Marian Krzyzowski, used with permission
Kiesling 449 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2169; kieslingdetroit.com Initially opened around 1890 as a general store, Kiesling is now a neighborhood bar located in Milwaukee Junction that offers a rotating seasonal cocktail menu with vintage decor. Photo courtesy of >Instagram/@kieslingdetroit
Nancy Whiskey 2644 Harrison St., Detroit; 313-962-4247 Originally opened in 1902, Corktown’s Nancy Whiskey offers weekly drink specials, free jukebox on “Whiskey Wednesdays,” and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Photo by Devin Culham
Abick’s Bar 3500 Gilbert St., Detroit; 313-894-9329 One of Detroit’s oldest bars, which has been owned by the same family for six generations, Abick’s Bar is worth checking out if you want to experience a little slice of history (and, of course, a stiff drink). Photo courtesy of Facebook/Abick’s Bar
Batch Brewing Company 1400 Porter St., Detroit; batchbrewingcompany.com Known as Detroit’s first nanobrewery, Batch Brewing Company provides an eclectic and original beer selection and ample outdoor seating in its “Fauci Fieldhouse.” Photo courtesy of Instagram/@batchbrewing Credit: Facebook, Batch Brewing
Woodbridge Pub 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; 313-462-4754; woodbridgepub.com Most of Woodbridge Pub’s food is sourced or grown within five miles of their location, and they boast a selection of more than 80 beers and wines. Photo by Devin Culham
Corktown Tavern 1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5103 Corktown Tavern offers both a small menu of food, live music, and drinks. Photo courtesy of Facebook/Corktown Tavern
Lost River 15421 Mack Ave, Detroit; 313-720-0673;
MotorCity Wine 1949 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-483-7283; motorcitywine.com If you’re a wine connoisseur, checking out MotorCity Wine in Corktown is a must. This wine shop and bar offers regional wines by the bottle as well as live jazz music, making for a sophisticated night out. Photo courtesy of Facebook/MotorCity Wine
Mutiny Bar 4654 Vernor Hwy., Detroit.; mutinybar.com Located in Southwest Detroit, Mutiny Bar offers an eclectic and unique cocktail menu, perfect for having tropical experience without having to leave Michigan. Photo courtesy of The Detroit Optimist Society
The Painted Lady 2930 Jacob St., Hamtramck; 313-874-2991 Located in Hamtramck, The Painted Lady boasts inexpensive beers, an expanding list of spirits, and frequently hosts live rock bands. Photo courtesy of Facebook/The Painted Lady Lounge
The Sugar House 2130 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-0123; sugarhousedetroit.com Known for its original craft cocktails, The Sugar House offers a seasonal rotating menu and hand-picked single barrel bourbons and whiskeys, and claims to have “one of the deepest back bars in the city.” Photo courtesy of Flickr/Yelp Inc.
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300 With an attractive art deco interior and delicious menu of soul food offerings, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge claims to be the world’s oldest operating jazz club. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@michelleheldmusic
Z’s Villa 42 Piquette Ave., Detroit; 313-874-2680; zsvilla.com This longtime bar is known for its pizza and outdoor volleyball in the summer. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@zs.villa
Honest John’s 488 Selden St., Detroit; 313-832-5646; honestjohnsdetroit.com This longstanding humble watering hole and hangover cure haven (Fruity Pebbles French Toast and hair of the dog, anyone?) is a favorite of locals and ballgame pre- and post-gamers. In addition to a classic bar menu, including boozy brunch bevs like Bloody Marys and mimosas, they also offer a pretty extensive food menu with a handful of vegan options. Not quite a dive and not not a dive, Honest John’s speaks the truth, just peep the neon sign above the bathrooms for proof. Photo courtesy of Liza Lagman Sperl, Flickr Creative Commons
Ye Olde Tap Room 14915 Charlevoix St., Detroit; 313-824-1030 Right on the edge of Grosse Pointe Park, this bar with a history that dates back to the Prohibition era offers an extensive beer list with more than 250 beers and a selection of single-malt Scotch. Photo courtesy of Facebook/Ye Olde Tap Room
Motor City Sports Bar 9122 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 313-875-4710 This no-frills Hamtramck spot owned by two Albanian brothers who formerly worked in an auto factory might very well have the best burger in the Detroit area. We also liked the Motor City Chicken Sub, a jumble of smoky, lightly charred pieces of chicken breast, bacon, grilled green peppers, grilled onions, and a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend on a sesame bun. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@dolph.lungcramp
3rd Street Bar 4626 3rd Ave., Detroit; 313-833-0603 This sprawling bar has a fireplace, a patio, slushies, and Skee-Ball. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@3rd_street_detroit
Willis Show Bar 4156 3rd Ave., Detroit; 313-788-7469; willisshowbar.com Once a notorious cabaret, Willis Show Bar reopened in 2018, boasting a beautifully restored Art Moderne interior and a bevy of unique cocktails and live entertainment, including cabaret-style jazz performances on a stage behind the bar, burlesque dancers, comedy, and more. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@willisshowbar
Eastern Market Brewing Co. 2515 Riopelle St., Detroit; 248-556-5512; easternmarket.beer Opened in 2017 and located in the Eastern Market District, this brewery focuses on New England double IPAs and sour beers. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@easternmarketbrewing
UFO Factory 2110 Trumbull St., Detroit; ufofactory.com Take us to your leader, and by leader we mean space captain, and by space captain we mean bartender. At Corktown’s UFO Factory, the drinks are cold and the weird are welcome. Part music venue, part bar, and part hotdog joint (Laika Dog operates out of UFO’s kitchen, slinging fancy dogs at not-so-fancy prices), UFO Factory has been a paradise for many since 2014. Haven’t been in a while? Check out the Cloud Deck, a boozy rooftop patio oasis which overlooks the invasion of those hideous condos and luxury apartment buildings that look like an Ikea had sex with the Blockheads from Gumby. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@meredithsayum
PJ’s Lager House 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668; pjslagerhouse.com This Corktown dive is reportedly a perennial money loser, but remains a favorite thanks to its live music and brunch. Instagram/@pjslagerhouse
Outer Limits Lounge 5507 Caniff St., Detroit; 313-826-0456; outerlimitslounge.com Since opening in 2017, husband and wife owners and local musicians John Szymanski (The Henchmen) and Kelly Jean Caldwell (The Kelly Jean Caldwell Band) have provided a space for many local bands to get their legs — and record their tunes, as Outer Limits Lounge is also an independent record label that has released a handful of LPs. But beyond Outer Limits Lounge’s contribution to the arts and culture scene, it’s a bar — and a bloody good one at that. Like the owners say: “We pack ’em in for shows and the Stroh’s always flows!” Photo courtesy of Instagram/@theouterlimitslounge
Jumbo’s 3736 Third Ave., Detroit; 313-831-8949 This ain’t a fancy Midtown bar — opened since 1940, Jumbo’s remains a Cass Corridor dive. Photo by Kathy Drasky, Flickr Creative Commons
Temple Bar 2906 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-832-2822 A low-key place to grab a beer (as long as it’s not a DJ night), Temple Bar is a longstanding LGBTQ-friendly Cass Corridor destination. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@jonbilous
Two Way Inn 17897 Mt. Elliott St., Detroit; 313-891-4925 Located in north Detroit, the Two Way Inn remains one of Detroit’s best and oldest dives, with a vibe that feels like it could be from a Western film. You won’t find any fancy cocktails here. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@twowayinn
Marble Bar 1501 Holden St., Detroit; 313-338-3674 A former leather daddy bar, Marble Bar reopened in 2015 and has since become known for its DJ nights, in recent years adding a massive courtyard made out of shipping containers for more dancing. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@marbledetroit
The Old Miami 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-831-3830 Opened in 1980, The Old Miami is a favorite of both army veterans (it was founded by a Vietnam vet) and hipsters thanks to its penchant for booking bands. It also has a huge backyard and patio. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@theoldmiamidetroit
Motor City Brewing Works 19350 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-832-2700; motorcitybeer.com One of Detroit’s original microbreweries, Motor City Brewing Works expanded from its longtime Midtown location with a second location along the Avenue of Fashion. Come for the pizza, stay for the Ghettoblaster Ale. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@ motorcitybrewingworks
Sindbad’s Restaurant and Marina 100 St. Clair St., Detroit; 313-822-8000; sindbads.com Located right on the water, this longtime bar features seafood, steaks, and occasional live music. See why ex-Detroit Police Chief James Craig is a fan. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@ 7milebred

Have something to share?

SEND US A NEWS TIP

Since 1980, Metro Times has been Detroit’s premier alternative source for news, arts, culture, music, film, food, fashion and more from a liberal point of view.