Detroit may have more of a reputation as a shot-and-a-beer bar type of town, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have classy cocktails, too. When you need something stronger than beer but nicer than well-whiskey, head to one of these 20 metro Detroit cocktail bars.

Words by Mickey Lyons, Devin Culham

Willis Show Bar 4156 Third Ave., Detroit The building on Third and Willis has returned to its roots as a cabaret in the glory days of swing and jazz when it reopened in 2018. Guests can watch local and national acts perform on the bar’s stage, which is located directly behind and above the bartenders, as they sip a variety of martinis and pretend they’re hanging out with Sinatra. Photo by Jesse David Green
Apparatus Room 250 W. Larned St., Detroit Detroit’s world-class hotel deserves an equally stellar bar, and has it in the Apparatus Room. While their food might get most of the critical attention, the Foundation Hotel’s bar serves exquisite drinks in a chic, but homey setting. It’s just so pretty, the gorgeous glassware alone is worth a visit. Photo courtesy of @ashmoreaux
Babs Underground 213 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor Not all cocktails need to be served in a faux-speakeasy. Babs Underground, tucked underneath the Schwaben building on Ashley, has a solid list of classic cocktails and a few interesting twists. Plus, there’s shuffleboard and free pool on Tuesdays. Photo courtesy of @babsunderground
Bad Luck Bar 1218 Griswold St., Detroit Cocktail wizard Yani Moraitis Frye upped the ante, and the stakes, when he opened this jewel of a bar in a back alley last year. Yes, some (but only some) of the cocktails are pricier than we’ve seen in years. But that $60 cocktail everyone rages about comes with a 65+ year-old British Royal Navy Rum, so it’s worth it. The cocktails are on point, and the service and décor are exactly what you’d hope for from a Detroit Optimist Society venture. Photo courtesy of @badluckbar
Castalia at Sfumato 3980 Second Ave., Detroit A cocktail bar connected to a perfumery may seem worryingly hip, but Castalia takes their scents very, very seriously; after all, the majority of taste comes from our sense of smell. Castalia pairs their cocktails with one of Sfumato’s signature scents. If you’re feeling a mood, there’s a drink and scent at Castalia to match it. Photo courtesy of @featherstonemoments
Kiesling 449 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit Newcomer Kiesling quickly managed to become a neighborhood bar for Milwaukee Junction when it opened last spring. Its low-key vibe and streamlined menu belie the skill and experience that goes into developing the menu, including the best Pisco Sour we’ve ever had. Photo by Devin Culham
Lo-fi 220 S. Main St., Lower Level, Ann Arbor If Ready Player One were a bar, it would be Lo-fi, recently opened in the basement underneath other popular cocktail joint Nightcap. Everything is purple and red and neon, including the giant dragon behind the bar. Plus, there’s karaoke to complete this dystopian dream sequence. Photo courtesy of @mollymeyer19
Lost River 15421 Mack Ave., Detroit Near-nightly food pop-ups and a luscious setting have helped the east side’s newest tiki bar quickly become one of the hottest spots in the city. Even when it seems like winter will never end, Lost River’s tropical rum drinks remind us that summer may someday come. Photo courtesy of Lost River
Nightcap 220 S. Main St., Ann Arbor Sleek, industrial, and polished, Nightcap is the big-brother banker to downstairs neighbor Lo-Fi. The cocktails are every bit as refined, making Nightcap a popular date spot. Photo courtesy of @the.tailored.pour
Second Best 42 Watson St., Detroit Unabashedly ’80s, Second Best is the newest venture of sophisticated neighbor Grey Ghost’s creators. If anyone can pull off Gummy Bear shots translated into cocktails in a coupe, it’s the same people who managed to create their very own version of Zima. Photo courtesy of @secondbestdetroit
The Sugar House 2130 Michigan Ave., Detroit There’s a reason Detroit Optimist Society’s Dave Kwiatkowski spawned an empire from this formerly rundown spot on Michigan Avenue in 2011. Sugar House staff is on point with every trend in the business, and the meticulous attention to detail shows. Photo courtesy of @sugarhousebar
Ghost Bar 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit Not to be confused with Grey Ghost, the unassuming Ghost Bar is located on the second floor of The Whitney, the former mansion of Detroit lumber baron David Whitney Jr. The Ghost Bar is shrouded in legend and believed by many to be haunted by the ghost of its former tenant. However, we know it for its tasteful furnishings, live music, and its decadent cocktails like the Duchess of Detroit made with Hennessey VSOP, Luxardo Maraschino, and Dry Sack Sherry. Photo via The Whitney/Facebook
The Keep 140 Cadillac Sq., Detroit The tiny underground bar in the flatiron adjacent to Cadillac Square once served as a mortuary. Currently, it’s known as the bartenders’ bar. The staff there knows their drinks and enjoys playing around with new combinations and draft cocktails, including the underrated Keep Nutty Alexander. Photo courtesy of @thekeep_detroit
The Last Word 301 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor Ann Arbor’s swanky speakeasy has survived seven years in a town notorious for fast turnaround in bars — despite hordes of broke college students. The secret to the bar’s success is its vast menu, skillfully executed by knowledgeable staff. Photo courtesy of @livvykitcher
The Whiskey Parlor 608 Woodward Ave., Detroit When you approach the Whiskey Parlor, it’s easy to get confused by its first-floor sister restaurant Grand Trunk Pub. Walk up the narrow stairwell, however, and you’ll find yourself in one of Detroit’s best-hidden gems. Distinctively dark and serving and abundant list of whiskeys, scotch, and wine, the Whiskey Parlor surprises with it’s tastefully curated craft cocktails, like the Spring Smash, made with Detroit City Distillery bourbon, fresh strawberries, mint, lemon, honey, lemon juice, and soda. Photo via
Candy Bar 1509 Broadway St., Detroit Everything here is touched with just a hint of pink, and that’s the secret to Candy Bar’s glamorous, multi-textured ode to the softer side of cocktail culture. It’s like an apothecary set up shop in a Parisian pre-war apartment. A lengthy cocktail list aids guests in choosing by adding descriptions like “Jolly, Wistful, Bright” for the Hyogo Vice. Photo by Christian Harder
The Oakland Art Novelty Company 201 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale One of the OGs of Detroit’s cocktail revival scene, The Oakland continues its tradition of stellar drinks in a decadent setting. The bar isn’t afraid to push the limits — Oakland had a tiki bar in years past before the latest cropped up — but the staff is perfectly chill and unpretentious. Photo courtesy of @artnoveltycompany
Otus Supply 345 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale Otus Supply came onto the scene in late 2016 and has steadily upped its game since then, with the addition of brunch, an interesting lineup of jam bands, and a top-shelf whiskey program. Cocktails are equally varied and adventurous with special emphasis on complex smokey-sweet pairings. Photo courtesy of @laurajude_
The Library at the Detroit Club 712 Cass Ave., Detroit Located in the Detroit Club, the Library is opened in January of 2019 as a cocktail bar that is inclusive to non-members. With comfortable furnishings, wood paneling, and a magnificent chandelier, you’ll want to visit the Library for the decor as much as the drinks. Photo by Wheeler Visual, courtesy of the Library.
Standby 225 Gratiot Ave., Detroit When you tell your Lyft driver to drop you off at 225 Gratiot Ave., you may receive some confused looks. From the outside, Standby is relatively conspicuous. The speakyeasy-style cocktail lounge located in The Belt boasts an inventive (and rotating!) cocktail menu. New to the lineup is the Jean Claude Pandan, which features made Coriander Rhum JM, Strawberry chartreuse, CocoPandan, Orgeat, Lime, finished off with a mint leaves and Peychauds bitters garnish. Photo via Standby/Facebook

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