When it comes to bars in metro Detroit, there’s a lot more to do than throw back some drinks. From feather bowling and ’80s-era arcade games to comedy shows and live jazz music, metro Detroit bars have something for everyone. Want to play board games or throw an ax? These bars have you covered. Here’s our picks for bars that serve up a lot more than drinks.

Eat, drink, and be merry: These bars offer more than food and booze. Credit: Michelle Gerard
Barcade 666 Selden St., Detroit; 313-285-9410; barcadedetroit.com Step into the past for a craft cocktail, some pub grub, and a large collection of classic arcade games and pinball machines. These classics, from Asteroids to Ms. Pac-Man, are certain to bring on a wave of nostalgia for guests of a certain age. And it won’t cost you a fortune — the games are only 25 cents to play. Barcade also has dozens of beers on tap. Credit: Steve Neavling
The Corner and Detroit Axe 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-720-5468; thecornerferndale.com With two concepts in one location, The Corner and Detroit Axe in Ferndale are divided into a main floor and an upstairs. The main floor features The Corner, a cozy, living room-like space with hundreds of board games, a fireplace, party rooms, and a 3,000-square foot game room. The Corner also hosts trivia and karaoke nights. Upstairs is an ax-throwing venue with a few old-school arcade games. Credit: Detroit Axe, Facebook
Garden Bowl 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-9700; majesticdetroit.com One of America’s oldest continuously operating bowling alleys, the Garden Bowl in the Majestic Theater Complex is a longtime destination in Detroit’s Midtown. The space features 16 bowling lanes, a full-service bar and lounge, and pizza from Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizzeria. For a great night out, try Rock-N-Bowl, a regular event with a DJ, glowing lanes, spinning mirror balls, and smoke machines. Credit: Garden Bowl, Facebook
Willis Show Bar 4156 3rd Ave., Detroit; 313-788-7469; willisshowbar.com Willis Show Bar in Detroit’s Cass Corridor is a live entertainment venue and classic cocktail bar. With a stage behind the bar, the venue offers entertainment that ranges from DJs, jazz, hip hop, soul, and burlesque dancers. Credit: Willis Show Bar, Facebook
Cadieux Cafe 4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit; 313-882-8560; cadieuxcafe.com Located on Detroit’s east side, Cadieux Cafe has hosted feather bowling since the early 1900s and claims it has the only authentic lanes in the U.S. Feather bowling is similar to bocce ball and curling and features heavy wooden rollers and curved dirt alleys. The bar is also known for its Belgian beers and steaming hot mussels dressed in a variety of sauces. Credit: Michelle Gerard
DraftKings Sports & Social 2850 Coolidge Hwy., Troy; 248-282-4997; sportsandsocial.com/troy One of metro Detroit’s newest spots, DraftKings Sports & Social in the Somerset Collection in Troy features live multiple sports viewing on a 32-foot LED media wall and gameday watch parties. If you like sports and gambling, this is the place. Guests can wager bets on various sports, including basketball, football, baseball, soccer, golf, and mixed martial arts. Credit: DraftKings Sports & Social Troy, Facebook
Grand River Ball Room 1260 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-502-5185; facebook.com/grandriverballroom In the basement of the Detroit Beer Exchange in downtown Detroit, you’ll find an immersive space with arcade games, pinball, bocce ball, Skee-Ball, foosball, Polaroid cameras, prizes, and big TVs playing sports. The Grand River Ball Room also serves up pizza, burgers, doughnuts, and a huge selection of beers and mixed cocktails in a can. Credit: Grand River Ball Room, Facebook
Fowling Warehouse 3901 Christopher St., Hamtramck; 313-264-1288 | 3050 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-499-3695| fowlingwarehouse.com At the Fowling Warehouse, football meets bowling, and there’s no place like it in metro Detroit. (Well, except its Ypsilanti sister outpost, which opened last year.) The 34,000-square-foot repurposed industrial site features 20 lanes, where players use a football to knock down their opponents’ bowling pins. The facility also includes a 175-seat beer garden and a stage for live music. Credit: Yelp Inc., Flickr Creative Commons
Checker Bar 124 Cadillac Square, Detroit; 313-961-9249; checkerbar.com The longstanding bar in downtown Detroit renovated its upstairs space for Pop + Offworld, where patrons can play classic arcade games and pinball machines. You’ll also find a full bar, live entertainment, and New York-style pizza. Credit: Offworld Arcade, Facebook
Brew Detroit 1401 Abbott St., Detroit; 313-344-7185; brewdetroit.com With a clubhouse-like atmosphere, Brew Detroit is a cozy brewery with multiple gathering areas, a restaurant, tap room, and plenty of space for darts, shuffleboard, and billiards. If you’re looking for a low-key night out with some friends, farm-to-table food, and craft beer, Brew Detroit won’t disappoint. Credit: Brew Detroit, Facebook
Cliff Bell’s 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543; cliffbells.com An iconic bar with a classy interior, Cliff Bell’s is known for hosting talented jazz musicians up to five days a week. With fine dining options and cocktails, beers, and wine, Cliff Bell’s makes for a memorable evening in an elegant atmosphere. Credit: Jeff Dunn, Flickr Creative Commons
168 Crab & Karaoke 32415 John R. Rd., Madison Heights; 248-616-0168; 168crab.com Tucked inside a strip mall, this bar is loads of fun. With Cajun seafood, karaoke, and a full bar, what else do you need for a fun night out? If you’re shy and don’t want everyone to hear you belt out a tune, this spot offers private karaoke rooms with a complete song list. Credit: 168 Crab Karaoke, Facebook
The HUB Stadium 44325 W. 12 Mile Rd.; Novi; 248-946-8888; novi.thehubstadium.com This entertainment complex features six ice curling lanes, 22 ax-throwing, eight football bowling lanes, six private event rooms, and four full bars with draft beer, craft cocktails, New American cuisine, and an upstairs lounge with a massive outdoor balcony. Whether you’re looking to celebrate with friends or hold a corporate meeting, there’s plenty to do at the HUB Stadium. Credit: Courtesy photo
Detroit City Clubhouse 3401 E. Lafayette St., Detroit; 313-656-2480; detcityfc.com If you’re a soccer fan, there is no better place to watch Detroit City Football Club games than the Detroit City Clubhouse. The watering hole offers watch parties for the soccer club, and the atmosphere can get festive. Throw back some beers and cocktails and order from a reasonably priced menu that includes hamburgers, chicken wings, chili, hand pies, and fries. Credit: Detroit City Clubhouse, Facebook
The Yard at Corktown 1375 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-285-8080; detroitaxe.com This unique entertainment center has two bars, a taco truck housed inside an indoor airstream trailer, a board game room with hundreds of games, pinball machines, ax-throwing, shuffleboard, cornhole arenas, hook and ring games, two outdoor fire pits, and indoor and outdoor decks. In addition to beer, The Yard has a large collection of tequila, whiskey, and mezcal. Credit: Detroit Axe, Facebook
Eastern Palace Club 21509 John R., Hazel Park; 248-850-8165; epchp.com One of metro Detroit’s newest bars, Eastern Palace Club in Hazel Park is a beach-inspired destination with cabana-shaped booths and thatched roof canopies. Enjoy the Key West vibes with pinball, Skee-Ball, a pool table, shuffleboard, giant Jenga, and an oversized Connect Four. Credit: Eastern Palace Club, Facebook
Sid Gold’s Request Room 1511 Broadway St., Detroit; 929-260-1070; sidgolds.com/detroit This piano bar, dubbed “Home of That Baldwin Sound,” has a retro vibe with a U-shaped bar, dim lighting, and 1970s-era chairs and couches. Grab a microphone for karaoke accompanied by a live piano. The full bar offers classic, music-inspired cocktails, along with beer and wine. Credit: Sid Gold’s Detroit, Facebook
New Dodge Lounge 8850 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 313-874-5963; thenewdodgelounge.com This longstanding Hamtramck bar got a bit of a makeover when it came under new ownership in 2022, which included adding TVs and arcade games. It still hosts live music, as well as karaoke and DCFC watch parties. Credit: Viola Klocko
Blue LLama Jazz Club 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-372-3200; bluellamaclub.com This jazz club in downtown Ann Arbor pairs the love of music with mouth-watering food and cocktails and wine. With tables in front of the stage, Blue LLama Jazz Club offers a unique opportunity to dine on quality food while listening to top-notch jazz musicians. Credit: Lee DeVito
Punchline Comedy Lounge 29555 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield; 248-955-3016; comedypunchline.com For some stress relief, head to the Punchline Comedy Lounge, where comedians take the stage five to six days a week. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, steak bites, shrimp, and lamb chops, and you can wash down the food with cocktails, margaritas, or wine. Credit: Punchline Comedy Lounge, Facebook
New Way Bar 248-541-9870; 23130 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; newwaybar.com This laid-back bar hosts live bands, comedy acts, themed events, and popular open-mic nights every Monday and Wednesday. The fully stocked bar also has pinball machines, Skee-Ball, pool table, and a dart board. Credit: New Way Bar, Facebook

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Steve Neavling is an award-winning investigative journalist who operated Motor City Muckraker, an online news site devoted to exposing abuses of power and holding public officials accountable. Neavling...