DETROIT – Detroit natives will be the first to tell you: There is no shortage of good food or drink here.
There’s a wide selection of bars in the Motor City -- some specializing in fine-crafted cocktails, others in local draught pours.
If you’re hanging out in Downtown Detroit proper for the 2024 NFL Draft this week, our team at ClickOnDetroit has a list of our favorite bars for you to enjoy, based on what you’re in the mood for.
Within walking distance of the draft events, you’ll find some of our favorite cocktail bars, perfect bars for grabbing a beer, or spots that are particularly unique to Detroit that are worth checking out.
Check out our recommendations below. Scroll down for a map of the bars listed below.
Craft cocktail bars
Want more than your run-of-the-mill vodka-cranberry? These craft bars make delicious and unique drinks.
- Bad Luck Bar
- Buhl Bar
- Candy Bar
- Shelby
- Standby*
- Willow
- Wright & Company
Good spot to grab a beer
These bars are perfect for hanging out and grabbing a beer. Spots like Checker Bar and The Old Shillelagh are classic spots with a casual feel, while Queens Bar and Grand Trunk Pub feel a bit more cozy and elevated.
- Anchor Bar
- Gilly’s Clubhouse
- Grand Trunk Pub
- Checker Bar
- Queens Bar
- The Old Shillelagh
- The Skip*
- Tin Roof
- Tommy’s Detroit Bar and Grill
Unique drink spots
The opposite of common, these spots have unique vibes all their own. Below you’ll find a lively speakeasy, a neon club, and a quaint yet modern coffee shop/bar/DJ haven, in that order.
- Cafe d’Mongo’s Speakeasy
- Deluxx Fluxx*
- SPKRBOX
*This spot is located in The Belt, which is an artistic alleyway filled with entrances to multiple bars, clubs and more.
There are tons of great cocktail bars, dive bars, pubs and more throughout all of Detroit’s neighborhoods, not just downtown. Some of the most popular spots for drinking and dining are in Detroit’s Corktown, Midtown, Brush Park, and Southwest neighborhoods -- though you’ll likely need some mode of transportation to get to most places. You can walk to Midtown from Downtown, but it’s a bit of a walk!
---> 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit: Everything you need to know to attend