There’s something sexy about having to chase down a bar’s address, look for hidden clues and exchange secret passwords. It’s the allure of the forbidden and dangerous. That’s why the speakeasy bar has remained a draw for decades now. Dim lighting, swanky clothes, and extravagant cocktails make an evening at a speakeasy memorable.
Detroit’s Best Hidden Bars and Speakeasies
Keep your eyes peeled for these clandestine cocktail dens and back alley bars
A “speakeasy bar” is more a vibe than it is a category. What qualifies as a true speakeasy is very much a matter of interpretation. By definition, if they’re operating legally, as these bars are, they’re not technically a speakeasy at all. Some bars definitely lean into the mood of a speakeasy more than others, though, so we’ve rounded up some that fit the bill in Detroit. Think: underground cocktail den the Aladdin Sane and bank vault hideaway Shelby.
New to the Map: It’s a big all around refresh. Cadieux Cafe, Two Way Inn, Bad Luck Bar, Cafe D’Mongos, the Library, Cliff Bell’s, Castalia, the Upright, and Abick’s are leaving the list. In the place, we’re ushering in the Knock Twice, Syndicate, Side Hustle Lounge, London Chop House Bar, and Standby.
— Additional reporting by Serena Maria Daniels
Detroit’s Best Hidden Bars and Speakeasies
Keep your eyes peeled for these clandestine cocktail dens and back alley bars
There’s something sexy about having to chase down a bar’s address, look for hidden clues and exchange secret passwords. It’s the allure of the forbidden and dangerous. That’s why the speakeasy bar has remained a draw for decades now. Dim lighting, swanky clothes, and extravagant cocktails make an evening at a speakeasy memorable.
A “speakeasy bar” is more a vibe than it is a category. What qualifies as a true speakeasy is very much a matter of interpretation. By definition, if they’re operating legally, as these bars are, they’re not technically a speakeasy at all. Some bars definitely lean into the mood of a speakeasy more than others, though, so we’ve rounded up some that fit the bill in Detroit. Think: underground cocktail den the Aladdin Sane and bank vault hideaway Shelby.
New to the Map: It’s a big all around refresh. Cadieux Cafe, Two Way Inn, Bad Luck Bar, Cafe D’Mongos, the Library, Cliff Bell’s, Castalia, the Upright, and Abick’s are leaving the list. In the place, we’re ushering in the Knock Twice, Syndicate, Side Hustle Lounge, London Chop House Bar, and Standby.
— Additional reporting by Serena Maria Daniels
Shelby
Shelby stands by its commitment to the speakeasy calling cards, with a secret entrance and zero outdoor signage. Those in the know hit up this former bank vault for aesthetically pleasing cocktails with a high degree of technicality. During happy hour, the well-made standards (daiquiris, gin martinis, Old Fashioneds, et cetera) are discounted as are snacks like Basque cheesecake. Reservations are accepted but walk-ins are also welcome.
GB in Detroit
London Chop House Bar
London Chop House is one of Detroit’s classic old-school restaurants, harkening back to the days of three-martini lunches and ad men and women schmoozing the day away. The bar is located underground in a dimly lit space in the Financial District, and the ghosts of stogies past linger in the air in memory if not in reality. The bar at London Chop House serves up new twists on classics like the martini, gimlet, and Negroni, and has an attached cigar and billiards bar for those looking for an even smokier ambience.
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The Sugar House
Corktown staple Sugar House takes its name from the Sugar House Gang, a group of ruthless gangsters who ran Detroit during Prohibition and trained the more-famous Purple Gang. The gang inside this bar is more than happy to provide legal libations by the dozen, from the obscure to the 101 “foundational classics.” Reservations are accepted on Tock, but if you’re walking in and need to join the waitlist, it’s easy to grab a drink down the block at LJ’s while you’re killing time.
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Room 1904
Not a lot of Detroit bars remain that might actually have operated during Prohibition as speakeasies. Jacoby’s is one, having been around since at least 1904 — hence the moniker for its upstairs speakeasy-style bar. Only open Thursday through Saturday nights, Room 1904 offers whiskey, wine, and cocktails, along with the traditional absinthe service for a taste of nostalgic decadence. Join a waitlist or book a reservation on Tock.
Room 1904
The Aladdin Sane
An underground cocktail den with a decidedly global flair, the Aladdin Sane in the Book Tower is a tiny little jewel of a bar with seating for eight and lounge space for a couple dozen more. The drinks lean on Japanese cocktails. Luxe options like the caviar-topped Sake and Strange Divine take their names and inspiration from David Bowie songs. The bar has a large selection of Japanese whiskies as well.
Hayden Stinebaugh/Aladdin Sane
Willow
Just under downtown’s Savannah Blue, Willow is dominated by just that: A giant faux willow tree anchors the basement space and extends its branches, decked out with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights, up into the ceiling. Willow is Detroit’s first Black-owned speakeasy bar and pays homage to the state’s rich Black history. Pictures of famous Black Detroiters line the walls, and the spirits and cocktails celebrate Southern heritage too, like the Willow Old Fashioned with Uncle Nearest bourbon or rye, pecan syrup and orange and chocolate bitters. Make a reservation or join a waitlist ahead of your visit on Tock.
Serena Maria Daniels/Eater Detroit
Side Hustle Lounge
Not all speakeasies prefer the 1920s look. This one, tucked into the Belt Alley next to partner restaurant Mootz Pizza, celebrates all things midcentury modern, with a retro Vegas look and bright, sometimes electric-colored drinks with an emphasis on Detroit style. The Detroit Sour is a whiskey sour made with Two James Grass Widow bourbon and topped with a bright red wine float. Paired with bites from Mootz, having drinks at Side Hustle is like hanging out in your grandpa’s basement, but in a cool way.
Side Hustle Lounge
Evening Bar
One of the Shinola Hotel’s bars, and certainly the hardest to find, can be accessed from Parker’s Alley by those who look for the door with the eyes drawn on it. Intimate and warm with amber tones, Evening Bar offers beer, wine, cocktails, and bar snacks. Drinks include nonalcoholic cocktails like the Faux Daisy and No-Groni, or higher octane combinations like the Apricot Fizz and the Fresh Prince, a bell-pepper-infused tequila with herbal and botanical liqueurs and spicy bitters. Reservations can be made online, but it’s a hotel so feel free to drop in.
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Standby
There’s something sufficiently clandestine about ducking down a brick-lined alley, opening up a pair of ponderous doors and blinking away the daylight inside a dimly-lit bar. Standby brings chic elegance and professional know-how to this award-winning bar in the Belt Alley. The menu is subdivided into categories like “Purist,” “Tried & True,” and “Certified Bangers” to help patrons decide based on their mood. Oh, by the way, chef Matty Matheson, that goofy guy from The Bear, developed the food. Book a table on Resy.
Standby
The Ebenezer
Plush leather couches and gilt-framed art adorn this downtown Plymouth cocktail bar known for its emphasis on bourbon, small plates, and high-end drinks. Summer sips include the Instagrammable I Scream You Scream, a tequila, bitters, passionfruit and citrus concoction that comes in an ice cream cone-shaped glass with its own stand.
Melissa Douglas Co./The Ebenezer
The Oakland Art Novelty Company
Ferndale’s worst-kept secret hides in plain sight at the Oakland Art Novelty Company, a mainstay on Nine Mile since 2011. The Oakland’s staff whips up classic speakeasy cocktails alongside a dozen or so house specialties, like the Green Badu, with Thai basil, gin, green Chartreuse, and a smattering of summery vegetable ingredients. This spot is mostly for walk-ins, but larger groups should consider calling ahead.
The Oakland
Syndicate Ferndale
For those who want to sip a glittery purple cocktail at one of Ferndale’s largest (dog-friendly) patios, the Syndicate is a must-visit. The bar and restaurant opened in 2023 in a nondescript concrete building on Vester Street just off of Nine Mile. Snacks and salads are served alongside imaginative drinks like the Violet Stratosphere, the aforementioned purple drink with butterfly pea-infused gin, creme de violette, and gold Electricdust edible glitter.
Syndicate Ferndale
Johnny's
Dim lighting? Check. Brick walls? Yep. Access with a secret code? This Royal Oak basement speakeasy takes its name seriously and only takes reservations for groups of one to six, so call ahead. Once they’re in, guests can expect a full food menu, from small plates to pasta to lamb, and cocktails with flair, like the Peaky Blinders, an egg white sour made with citrus, rhubarb, and strawberry-infused Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Knock Twice
Ever wanted to sing karaoke while sipping a martini in a speakeasy? Knock Twice in West Bloomfield gives guests that chance, with “elevated karaoke” every Thursday night and live music many other nights. Knock Twice accepts reservations and walk-ins, and for those looking to enjoy fresh air, also has an outdoor patio.
- 6430 Farmington Road, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan 48322, United States
- 248-562-7029
- Visit Website
Knock Twice
