Summary: Horrible management that treats patrons terribly. Food is awful. Drinks are fine. View and outdoor area are great.
We were in town with a group of alumni, many of whom travelled from out of state, for a 40th birthday party. We planned to start the night off at this spot and were turned away, even though we had called and confirmed in advance. The manager wouldn’t even engage in a conversation with us or let us take a picture at the rock. Very poor experience.
Heather Stanton-Rudy
We went for a drink before attending a show at the Wharton Center. We did not order food. It was during their brunch menu- so it was a limited food menu, but looked good. The craft cocktail menu was limited - but it may have been due to being brunch. They did say they had a full bar and could make “whatever”. The place was fairly empty. We sat inside. Of concern was that all drinks were served in cheap plastic cups - reminded me of partying in East Lansing. A martini and a glass of wine - in plastic cups!! The quality of the cup was akin to the cup you find in the hotel bathroom. Paying $10-15 for a drink I would expect actual glass. Two gentlemen at the bar had glass, everyone else was served plastic. Maybe if we sat outside - then use plastic. But surely not the cheapest plastic available. I was excited to visit - but so. It expect to return. They had interesting pieces of MSU related items as part of the decor, mostly sports related, and a great view.
Steve Friedland
Drinks were made okay at best for the price of well done drinks. You're definitely paying for the rooftop view.
Monica Robinson
Heads up, they do not allow bar crawls! Called ahead to let them know we were coming in with a group and never at any point was I told bar crawls were not allowed. We were staying at the hotel and could have easily come in without our bar crawl shirts had we known in advance. Staff was rude and wouldn’t even allow us to take a picture.
F C
Had high hopes for this rooftop bar- since the other graduate hotels have such great bars. But this one was subpar. The prices were high & all served in plastic cups due to a Lansing law. The drink with the name MOOD in the title was gross and put me in a foul mood! $15 + 20% gratuity for some nonsense. Will not return.
Raman Pfaff
Not sure about the food, but this is the best view in the city. Staff and drinks are great. Traditional 70/80/90s music. Cocktails better than the wine selection. A great place to enjoy a sunset.
Christopher Nettles
Rooftop bar is a gorgeous space with a fantastic view. Definitely recommend.
Michel Porter
What a blast. Great food and drinks. Highly recommend their brunch. Phenomenal view too.
Crusty Roscoe
The furnishings are definitely something to see
R M
Very cool lounge/bar on top of The Graduate hotel. Beautiful view from the terrace. We just had drinks so I can’t comment on the food. Great vibe.
Best bar in East Lansing, small menu with the friendliest staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charcuterie
Spencer Israel
I recently visited the Graduate Rock Bar after work with some coworkers, and I was thoroughly impressed! The atmosphere is killer—perfect for unwinding after a long day. The rooftop view is definitely a highlight; it’s worth the trip alone. I found it amusing, though, that part of the view overlooks people’s apartments. I couldn’t help but get distracted by one person who spent half an hour cleaning his window—definitely more neurotic than I am!
As for the food and drinks, I ordered the French fries and a local MI Mule. The fries were fantastic—crispy and flavorful. The mule, while well-made, was a bit too sweet for my taste, but that’s more a reflection of my ordering choice than the bar’s offerings. I was thrilled to see white fish salad on the menu, a favorite of my wife’s, and I can’t wait to take her there to try it!
The service was outstanding—quick and friendly, which really enhanced the experience. My only suggestion would be to add some umbrellas for the outdoor seating. It was a sunny day during our visit, and a little shade would have made it even more enjoyable.
Overall, I highly recommend the Graduate Rock Bar for its great vibe, delicious fries, and fantastic service. I’m looking forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Shiba eat U
Atmosphere place to eat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Josep Maria Nadal
Vegetarian options: Very limited vegetarian options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pretzel Bites, Charcuterie
Victoria Churchill
Phenomenal brunch, friendly atmosphere with personable staff and delicious food. One of my favorite places to view the city, have a drink, and a bite to eat. I’ve always enjoyed lunch here. Recently tried brunch and loved it. We tried the banana bread french toast, burger Benedict, and chilaquiles. The banana bread French toast was the perfect amount of sweet and the burger Benedict was savory and very flavorful. The chilaquiles were also delicious with great flavor. I also had a mimosa, which paired well with everything Highly recommend as a favorite brunch spot.
Summary:
Horrible management that treats patrons terribly. Food is awful. Drinks are fine. View and outdoor area are great.
We were in town with a group of alumni, many of whom travelled from out of state, for a 40th birthday party. We planned to start the night off at this spot and were turned away, even though we had called and confirmed in advance. The manager wouldn’t even engage in a conversation with us or let us take a picture at the rock. Very poor experience.
We went for a drink before attending a show at the Wharton Center. We did not order food. It was during their brunch menu- so it was a limited food menu, but looked good. The craft cocktail menu was limited - but it may have been due to being brunch. They did say they had a full bar and could make “whatever”. The place was fairly empty. We sat inside. Of concern was that all drinks were served in cheap plastic cups - reminded me of partying in East Lansing. A martini and a glass of wine - in plastic cups!! The quality of the cup was akin to the cup you find in the hotel bathroom. Paying $10-15 for a drink I would expect actual glass. Two gentlemen at the bar had glass, everyone else was served plastic. Maybe if we sat outside - then use plastic. But surely not the cheapest plastic available. I was excited to visit - but so. It expect to return. They had interesting pieces of MSU related items as part of the decor, mostly sports related, and a great view.
Drinks were made okay at best for the price of well done drinks. You're definitely paying for the rooftop view.
Heads up, they do not allow bar crawls!
Called ahead to let them know we were coming in with a group and never at any point was I told bar crawls were not allowed. We were staying at the hotel and could have easily come in without our bar crawl shirts had we known in advance.
Staff was rude and wouldn’t even allow us to take a picture.
Had high hopes for this rooftop bar- since the other graduate hotels have such great bars. But this one was subpar. The prices were high & all served in plastic cups due to a Lansing law. The drink with the name MOOD in the title was gross and put me in a foul mood! $15 + 20% gratuity for some nonsense. Will not return.
Not sure about the food, but this is the best view in the city. Staff and drinks are great. Traditional 70/80/90s music. Cocktails better than the wine selection. A great place to enjoy a sunset.
Rooftop bar is a gorgeous space with a fantastic view. Definitely recommend.
What a blast. Great food and drinks. Highly recommend their brunch. Phenomenal view too.
The furnishings are definitely something to see
Very cool lounge/bar on top of The Graduate hotel. Beautiful view from the terrace. We just had drinks so I can’t comment on the food. Great vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Best bar in East Lansing, small menu with the friendliest staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charcuterie
I recently visited the Graduate Rock Bar after work with some coworkers, and I was thoroughly impressed! The atmosphere is killer—perfect for unwinding after a long day. The rooftop view is definitely a highlight; it’s worth the trip alone. I found it amusing, though, that part of the view overlooks people’s apartments. I couldn’t help but get distracted by one person who spent half an hour cleaning his window—definitely more neurotic than I am!
As for the food and drinks, I ordered the French fries and a local MI Mule. The fries were fantastic—crispy and flavorful. The mule, while well-made, was a bit too sweet for my taste, but that’s more a reflection of my ordering choice than the bar’s offerings. I was thrilled to see white fish salad on the menu, a favorite of my wife’s, and I can’t wait to take her there to try it!
The service was outstanding—quick and friendly, which really enhanced the experience. My only suggestion would be to add some umbrellas for the outdoor seating. It was a sunny day during our visit, and a little shade would have made it even more enjoyable.
Overall, I highly recommend the Graduate Rock Bar for its great vibe, delicious fries, and fantastic service. I’m looking forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere place to eat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Vegetarian options: Very limited vegetarian options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pretzel Bites, Charcuterie
Phenomenal brunch, friendly atmosphere with personable staff and delicious food. One of my favorite places to view the city, have a drink, and a bite to eat. I’ve always enjoyed lunch here. Recently tried brunch and loved it. We tried the banana bread french toast, burger Benedict, and chilaquiles. The banana bread French toast was the perfect amount of sweet and the burger Benedict was savory and very flavorful. The chilaquiles were also delicious with great flavor. I also had a mimosa, which paired well with everything Highly recommend as a favorite brunch spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...