50 Best Cocktail Bars near Ferndale

“Very cool bar. Staff was super friendly. I would recommend a reservation.“

“Barrel House has become our go-to place to hang out and eat. Their food is delicious, the drinks are great, and the staff are all amazing!“

“If you are looking for a chill vibe with excellent drinks, come to Traverse City Whiskey Outpost in Ferndale! The manager, Dave is the best - he's friendly, attentive, and a true mixologist! I love it here :)“

“Ashley was my bartender tonight and she killed it. She was extremely attentive despite having over 8 tables. As a manager I was extremely impressed with her attention to her menu and care for guests. Personable with everyone and took time to explain distilleries specific products. Amazing aesthetics. Great for pictures. Will be back. Especially if Ashley’s working.“

“We dined here prior to seeing a show at the Fisher. From the minute we walked in we were so Impressed. The staff at the door were super friendly and took us directly to our seats. The waitstaff was extremely attentive, and the food was amazing. We cannot wait to go back. We highly recommend!“

“Loved this place. Went once and will go again. The waitress was super sweet and awesome. She has short hair and I think it was pink? I am giving a late review. I had a BonBon and it was nice. I don’t recall if they had a large selection of food but it would be nice if they had a small selection of finger foods.“

“I just spent a week drinking through some of the best cocktail bars in Tel Aviv and was reminded how none of them come even close to the amazing cocktails that the Kevin, Kyle, and the rest of the Castalia team come up with! Each visit to Castalia, be it your first or one thousandth, is magical and wonderful!“

“more to my origional comment........ french frys say smothered in gravey.... didn't come that was as there was just a small amount of gravey with a large amount of mayo in the middle....... french frys were cold ....“

“I visited this past Valentine’s Day weekend and visited again this past Saturday night. I didn’t have a reservation but still got seated very quickly. It was a hot, muggy night and the hostess said she had a seat on the patio which I was fine with. I had a magnificent server, Florence, who was kind, thoughtful to recommend a drink to the person I was with and even when our drinks were brought out within a short time, apologized for the delay (which wasn’t necessary). I wish I could give a review on the party next to us because they were extremely rude, not only not giving consideration to others being on the patio but were also incredibly rude to Florence. One woman in particular was grandstanding in front of this group and demanded to speak to a manager. Florence and the Manager were both composed and dignified in spite of a rude patron that was looking to get her bill comped (for a party of nearly a dozen people) going so far as to threatening to have everyone at her table write a terrible review. I have worked in the service industry and so have so many people I know and love so this situation had me worked up and I felt it necessary to write a review that our experience was magnificent. Don’t be an a-hole to servers of any kind just because you’re an a-hole yourself. If you give respect, you get respect. Go to The Sugar House. Be a good customer.“

“Amazing place all around. Five stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend“

“We were here after the auto show. Brandon and Kayla were bartending and an awesome team. Great music, great drink, and Brandon was amazing at taking what you liked about a cocktail and building you something special. Would highly recommend!“

“Awesome spot! Food is great, service is superb, and cozy atmosphere (nice and tucked away). It’s a must come back kinda place TD approved! Travelin D’Vas“

“I almost don’t wanna tell the world about another Clawson MI gem, but this place is 🔥🔥. The ambiance, the flavors, the music, the service—all amazing. But don’t tell anyone 🤫🤐😎“

“We walked in to the Buhl Bar and where greeted by George and Aish they where both so friendly and so full of information. We provided our preferences in taste and allowed George to select and make our cocktails. He nailed our tastes and delivered the best cocktails we have had. This place has such a great art deco vide the service was second to none and the drinks amazing. Thank you George and Aish it was a pleasure to have meet you both.“

“Wow. This venue had an incredible energy and vibe! Cannot wait to see what they have planned.“

“This place was amazing! The cocktails and ambiance was so cool!“

“good burgers, very clean place, nice bar tender.“

“Mackenzie's Tavern is a wonderful local drinking and dining experience with something for everyone. The owner and staff are very friendly and efficient in their service. The tavern has a very extensive seafood menu towards the end of the week like Thursday and Friday and sometimes Wednesdays. The rest of the time the tavern has a very good bar food type menu featuring Burger or some such. The only day that the kitchen is not open is Sundays when you can bring in your own food or have it delivered. The tavern has a breakfast service that goes from opening till around lunch time and the omelettes are huge and fill you up. You can watch most local sports there and the tavern features an 85-in TV that is surprisingly large for the size of the tavern.“

“After not being able to enter a few other locations, it was a relief that this bar is wheelchair accessible. When it got crowded it was obviously a bit harder to try and get around, but I was happy to find a table low enough for me to sit with my friends.“

“It was our first time in this place and Ibrahim made our experience so great!! He guided us on the menu and had amazing mixology skills. Will be coming back!“

“Great place! Paul made us some of his delicious cocktails, and the meatballs were on point. Very creative menu.“

“Tucked away in Detroit, Willow isn’t just a speakeasy—it’s an experience that feels worthy of the highest accolades the bar world has to offer. From the moment you step inside, the tone is set by a team that clearly understands the art of hospitality. The hostess welcomes you like you’ve been expected all night, and from there, every detail unfolds with intention.
Behind the bar, Chris delivers more than drinks—he curates moments. Each cocktail is crafted with precision, creativity, and a level of care that borders on obsessive in the best way. And under the guidance of GM Kiara, the entire operation runs seamlessly, blending warmth with elevated expertise. Together, they create an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and effortlessly inviting.
The menu itself is a standout—thoughtfully designed, bold, and memorable. Every item hits, but the matcha martini deserves its own spotlight: smooth, balanced, and unexpectedly addictive. It’s the kind of drink you think about long after the glass is empty, as well as the Goat, the Whisper Twice, The Willow Old Fashioned and Kiara's version (my favorite).
What makes Willow even more special is the shared experience. Being a couple visiting from California—drawn into Detroit to see family but clearly discovering something extraordinary—only reinforced the sense that this place is a destination. Not just locally, but nationally.
Willow isn’t just raising the bar—it’s redefining it. For me, Chris and Kiara are officially my bartenders forever. Thank you both for an unforgettable night.
Until the next challenge.“

“I always love the laid back atmosphere here. Gives you feelings of nostalgia. This use to be one of Detroits jumping spots back in the day. It is still nice to visit and see the old dance floor, pool table and beautiful bar maid. People are friendly, you can go against some really good pool players, and if you like dancing come through. One minor draw back, they don't take debit or credit cards. Lol“

“Had a great dinner here! Only thing that was a bit odd was our waiter explaining the history of the restaurant with a 5 minute story. It felt like it went in forever and was just a bit uncomfortable. Other than that food was great! I recommend the tar tar!“

“First time in Uncle Ray's excellent fish dinner, are waitress Holly best service ever! And even serve me a water glass with no lipstick on it unbelievable even the bathroom is clean !! too good to be true! If you want a good meal great service go to Uncle Ray's“

“Good atmosphere, great food and awesome bartenders“

“I had SUCH an amazing time here! I met up with a stranger here for a date and Kerri didn’t even hesitate to make it comfortable even though it was the second date I brought there in a week. Definitely a girls girl. The cocktails were out of the world. You could tell she knows what’s she’s doin. Also the ambiance is unmatched. It was also an Alice In Wonderland Popup… definitely hit the nail on the head with that. Completely pleased. Def bringing my next date back. Only if Kerri is working.“

“We visited Sakseys on a Saturday evening for dinner and drinks and had a great time! Their burger is delicious might be the best in the city! They play really good 80s and older music and the vibe is very 70s. The cocktails are super tasty as well. They also have view masters with old pics from Dan Gilberts dad's bar which is what Sakseys is modeled after.“

“I planned ahead and made a reservation in advance on 12/3 for Thursday 12/18 at 745pm for 3 people at The Viridian Room. We specifically made this reservation through their Instagram/Resy. My two friends and I show up, and not only is the Viridian Room closed, but so is French Toast, despite their hours stating the close at 9pm. I tried calling to no avail, and ended up going to another Clawson bar, Local, instead. We were so excited to try this place and extremely disappointed we were not able to attend. Attached below is the confirmation of my reservation.

Edit 1/16/26: The manager had reached out to me via text and was kind and apologetic. She offered to reschedule the reservation and provide a free appetizer. My friends and I went back last night and had wonderful drinks and a snack! The bartenders were very kind and prompt. We will definitely go back. Thank you for making things right!“

“The perfect atmosphere for networking, live band, and socializing. I attend weekly and the people are amazing! 💕❤💕“

“Great people and good fun until new management now the drinks are overpriced for the environment they have done absolutely nothing in 20 years to the establishment not even update the televisions but the price jumped two or three dollars on the drinks miss me with it I'll have to find a new watering hole“

“Seeing the city from 24 stories up provided amazing views. It’s a unique experience.“

“I stopped in today because I stumbled upon this cute little spot. I was incredibly happy in all areas. The space is so perfect, it’s not very big inside at all but it doesn’t really need to be. Most people grabbing coffee in town are in and out with things to do. The person greeted us promptly and made a perfectly warmed hot chocolate for my son which he very much enjoyed. He loved the latte art so much. My mother and I had Carmel lattes and they were the best I’ve had honestly ever. They were very good conversation while making the drinks as well. My fiancé is jealous and we will be stopping in again very soon.“

“GB’s is my #1 spot for vegan options. They also offer gluten free dough—and they’ve done a fabulous job recreating it people like me who have issues consuming gluten. The environment is laid back, easy & chill. And the view is spectacular on Michigan Ave. Grabbing a seat at the bar—no problem! You’ll be dazzled by the large selection of craft cocktails—that’s a view in it self! It tends to get crowded quick, so calling ahead or beating the crown is suggested but it’s sooo worth it. The variety of pizza options are many to choose from. And the staff are really personable & quick with service & a smile. 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“everything was very good, we sat at the bar and McKenzie took really good care of us, a must try spot!“

“We always have a great experience here. The food is consistently excellent, and the atmosphere makes it an easy place to relax and enjoy a meal. Service was just as strong—our waitress was very attentive and made sure everything went smoothly from start to finish. It’s the kind of place where you feel well taken care of without even having to ask. Lumen really stands out as a go-to spot for both great food and reliable service.“

“The pizza was so good my boyfriend and I came here twice during our week stay in detroit. The edges are crisped to perfection! And you can tell all the ingredients used are fresh. Highly recommend the Packard pepperoni, perfect amount of spicy and sweet. The pizzas are large enough to share and you have the option to do half and half. The only con is there isn’t a ton of seating so you might end up waiting for a table but it's well worth the wait.“

“Dinner at Le Supreme in Detroit was phenomenal! Delicious food, outstanding service, and a great atmosphere. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Mile was everything. He gave me the best wine. He really brings a friendly vibe to a restaurant. I mean seriously!!!!! Nicest man ever. I felt like i was talking to an old beat friend. Mike. Ill come back to youuuuuuu

Omar was slaying in the kitchen. Great man with so much comedy behind everything he does.

Best experience ive had in detroit in years“

“Great vibes, great coffee and tasty food. What a great place!!!“

“Everything was great. Great musician. Food was good. Drinks were great. Nice ambiance. We did not get served right away, waited 10-15 min to get served. A table that sat after us were attended to first. If not that, I would have left a 30% tip vs 20%.“

“Best spot in Detroit! Love the ambiance.“

“The atmosphere is classic and elegant, with that perfect old-school Detroit charm, but what really made the night special was our server, Alan. He was outstanding—attentive without being overbearing, incredibly knowledgeable, and genuinely made us feel taken care of the entire evening.

Highly recommend asking for Alan if you go—he truly elevated an already amazing experience. We’ll definitely be back.“

“Last night we made a pilgrimage to Detroit for one reason only, to visit TAKOI. We had the 6 course chef’s choice menu (plus another few courses on the house). I had very high expectations, but the staff and food managed to exceed them. If anyone is ever in downtown Detroit. You MUST try Takoi!🍜🍲“

“I like to thank the staff at Andiamo especially Thelma who was our server.. Also, thank you Mike for stopping by to see if everything was good. Im glad that we had chosen that location to celebrate Rosalyn birthday“

“Let me just say I didn't actually go in but I placed a special order over the phone. I spoke with Adrienne and it was a great experience. She did a wonderful job, I will absolutely be going in person now.“

“Fast service, great space with parking right out the front door! Might be the best fries I’ve ever eaten in my life, and super tasty olive dip. My husband had the vegan buffalo chicken sandwich and raved how good it was. Will be back next time we are in town.“

“I haven't been here yet, but form what I see it seems like it is a pretty nice lil cocktail bar.“