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 :)“

“Had a fantastic time at the cocktail class! It was both entertaining and engaging from start to finish. Patrick kept things lively while sharing great tips and techniques that were easy to follow. Learned a lot, and walked away with some seriously improved mixing skills. Highly recommend for a fun night out!“

“What a treat!! This place is fab ♥️ the carajillo cocktail is perfection and the food was fantastic. I had the shrimp tacos and they were phenomenal. My hubs had the cactus mahi mahi and he loved it. Prices are reasonable and the quality is everything. Congratulations Ara on this wonderful new restaurant! We LOVED it!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Beautiful space with amazing energy. So comfortable, inviting and Magickal. The bartenders are captivating and interesting and the Spirits they concoct are divine. The added touches of Spells, Tarot and Gumball Machine Treasures are clever. My milestone birthday was made wonderful by this establishment. Excited to return. ✨️“

“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“

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

“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 🤫🤐😎“

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

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“A MUST GO TO FOR A DETROIT VISIT!!!
My wife and I where checking out the belt and stumbled upon this place. We decided why not and so glad we did the warm family style welcome we got was wonderful. And the service was TOP NOTCH from the DUNKS! The food was amazing and not you typical bar food. They even clued us in that the St Paddys Day parade was about to start so we went to the parade.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“Down the alley! A beautiful addition to downtown Detroit. Service, the small bites, and the drinks. Reservations are well needed. This place is gonna be booming in the summer. Also, if you get Jenny as your server, she goes above and beyond.!! 🔥“

“Good atmosphere, great food and awesome bartenders“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“The bartender Bre is amazing, but the lack of support for the bartender makes it very difficult for them to do their job and keep up with the amazing service, but she did amazing considering she was the only one up here. Drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is amazing, but I do feel bad for the bartenders.“

“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!“

“This place was incredible. We are from out of town, and it’s so good that I would drive back here to eat again. My husband said it’s the best pizza he’s ever had, and I AGREE!! It was so good we came back!!! We ordered SIX different pizzas and they were all DELICIOUS. And the fries tasted like heaven! Good salad too!!! Would recommend adding the hot honey side to your pizza!! 10000000000000% recommend!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!! THANK YOU!“

“First time here! Loved the atmosphere & vibe. Food & drinks were good although over-priced like everywhere these days. The BEST part of my experience was the friendliness of the staff! Sean, pictured here wasn’t even our main waiter but interacted with us, helped us out, & even gave us an extra cheers 🥂 before we headed to the Bruno Mara concert! Sean TY SOOOO MUCH!!! You made my night & gave me a forever wonderful memory! Shout out to our waiter Donovan too😁“

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

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

“If you’re in Detroit and looking for an unforgettable meal, I can’t recommend Lena enough. The food was absolutely excellent from start to finish — the carrots and sweet potatoes were especially memorable (seriously, don’t skip them!). Every dish felt thoughtful, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor.

The staff is just as wonderful as the food — warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. If you can, try to get a table by the kitchen. It adds such a fun, energetic vibe to the experience. And if you get a chance, say “hi” to Bella!

Already looking forward to my next visit.“

“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%.“

“We had an amazing time! My cocktail and wine were excellent. Shelly provided us a phenomenal first time experience. The key lime pie was delicious. And of course our entrees were on point (steak frites and petite filet and lobster tails). We will definitely come back next time we are in Michigan.“

“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!🍜🍲“

“Participated in a grad party given here by a relative. Great food, great service! Staff was very accommodating, and went out of their way to make things perfect! Atmosphere was perfect for an afternoon outdoor party! Would definitely recommend!“

“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.“

“We love HenriettaHaus!!! A perfect spot for a fabulous cocktail or a great beer! The pizza is always soo good and they have killer salads. On top of being a great hang for dinner they were gracious enough to donate to a fundraiser a group of mine was hosting at planet ant a few summers ago, which means they’re great generous people too!!! Cheers!!!“