Anyone can make an ordinary cocktail bar, but only a select few have created unforgettable cocktail bars. Luckily for us, we’re Michigan natives, and the city of Detroit has set the bar high when it comes to cocktails. From underground, prohibition-reminiscent speakeasies to LED lit karaoke bars, there’s plenty of Detroit cocktail bars that promise a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’ll quit stalling–here’s the Detroit cocktail bars you have to visit and their signature, mostly whiskey-based cocktails you’ll have to try when you visit.
10 Memorable Detroit Cocktail Bars
Johnny’s
COCKTAIL TO TRY: ‘OLD SMOKEY’ OLD FASHIONED
This speakeasy-themed bar and restaurant is the epitome of cool. You enter the bar through a boiler room and walk into this lively historical brick room with glass mosaics. The cocktails are creative (even one that you drink out of a flower pot) and the food is just as fun and top-notch. Most people who go into Johnny’s make sure that their visit is never their last, and for good reason.
Kiesling
COCKTAIL TO TRY: COCOA COFFEE SAZERAC
This general store turned cafe turned bar has over 140 years of history engrained in its wooden floors. Vintage woodland murals add to the low-key and mysterious atmosphere that Kiesling is known for. Their punnily-named cocktails have received rave reviews, as have their NA cocktails. Need a breather from the crowd? There’s an outdoor patio.
Mutiny Tiki Bar
COCKTAIL TO TRY: TUSK OF PLENTY
Grab some food on your way in and hang out at this decked-out cocktail tiki bar with your friends. The cocktail presentation is top-notch, including fun tiki mugs, multi-colored Christmas lights everywhere, and parasols hanging from the ceiling. Mutiny Tiki Bar is the ultimate hang out spot for those looking to relax and unwind without having to book a plane ticket.
P.S. If you happen to enjoy karaoke, make sure you visit the Mutiny Tiki Bar on a Thursday.
Standby
COCKTAIL TO TRY: COOL RANCH WATER
Standby’s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar is the epitome of craft and innovation. Using carbonation, infusion, and pure ingenuity, Standby has cemented itself as a must-visit and must-taste location in Detroit. We highly suggest making reservations to save yourself a seat at this bar; it’s well-known for its stellar cocktails (Check Your Baggage, High Five, Creole Sazerac) and priceless food items (fried deviled eggs, coconut calamari, and BBQ short rib) so you may be waiting for a seat on a Saturday night.
Willis Show Bar
COCKTAIL TO TRY: GOLDEN
If you want dinner and a show, Willis Show Bar is the place to be. From DJs to live jazz bands to comedians, the Willis Show Bar has something new to experience each night. The building was originally a jazz club in 1949, closed in 1978, then reopened as the Willis Show Bar. The stage for performers lies behind the bar with a floor plan that allows every seat to enjoy and engage with the entertainment. They do not serve dinner, so make sure you grab something to eat before you find your limited, 2-hour seat.
Takoi
COCKTAIL TO TRY: ON THE MOVE
Inspired by Thai cooking and farm-fresh ingredients, this restaurant that rose from literal ashes has been creating fun cocktails for Detroit since 2017. Ingredients are harvested from an urban farm in Core City, Detroit, and used in their fun food and cocktail menu. Their interior is decorated with color changing LED lights and groovy furniture to bring the techno theme full circle. Check out their social media pages for events happening at Takoi.
Sugar House
COCKTAILS TO TRY: SUFFERING BASTARD, RAMOS FIZZ, AND THE IMPROVED COFFEE COCKTAIL
This unique cocktail bar has many loyal customers for multiple reasons, but mainly the ways they elevate even the simplest of cocktails with thoughtful touches like their whipped cream made in-house. Whatever kind of cocktail you prefer, Sugar House’s extensive cocktail list will have at least one, if not multiple, that will thrill your taste buds. With a combination of taxidermy and gold framed vintage paintings on the wall, the Sugar House somehow cultivates a cozy, semi-rustic, but also semi-Gatsby vibe. If you’re in Detroit, you simply have to visit this cocktail bar.
UFO Factory
COCKTAIL TO TRY: THEIR MENU ISN’T AVAILABLE ONLINE, BUT GOOGLE REVIEWERS HYPE UP THEIR TIKI DRINKS THE MOST.
The UFO Factory is just as weird and thrilling as it sounds. With numerous vegan food options, out-of-this-world food combinations, quick service, and fun music, this cocktail bar and restaurant can only be seen to be believed. If that’s not quirky enough, they also sell vinyls and DVDs.
Bad Luck Bar
COCKTAIL TO TRY: HECATE
Everything about the Bad Luck Bar is an experience, from locating the unmarked door to the bar to deciding which of the many amazing cocktails you want to try first. The staff is knowledgeable about all things cocktails, so ask away about all the things you’re curious about! Sound intriguing? Make your reservation here.
Barcade
COCKTAIL TO TRY: BODDICKER SMASH
If you have quarters burning a hole in your pocket and a desire to be a kid again, this is the place to be. Play old-fashioned arcade games while you devour cheeseburgers and sip on a cocktail. The best part? No kids allowed! Everyone has to be 21+ to enter.
You can find Flying Ace Whiskey at a retailer near you or at CraftCo tasting rooms. Check out our other blog posts for more thrilling drink recipes and cocktail bars. Remember to sip responsibly and share which Detroit Cocktail Bar you’re obsessed with on social media using #flyingacespirits. Enjoy!
