Essential Detroit-area bars with food as good as their drinks

Nemo’s

1384 Michigan Ave.; 313-965-3180
After over fifty years of brews and burgers, Nemo’s is a Detroit classic. The chili, club sandwiches, and burgers are all house-made with fresh ingredients, and the wings and fries are cooked to perfection. Just one block away from the old Tiger Stadium, Nemo’s offers shuttle service to all Red Wings and Tigers home games.

Photo via Nemo’s / Facebook

Woodbridge Pub

5169 Trumbull Ave.; 313-833-2701; woodbridgepub.com
With mouth-watering menu selections such as spinach and artichoke dip, feta philo with honey, and Michigan cherry salad, Woodbridge Pub is a great spot to grab a beer and a filling, hearty meal. Plus, most dishes are crafted with ingredients sourced from urban farmers and vendors located within five miles of the pub.

Photo via Woodbridge Pub Detroit / Facebook

Vivio’s Food and Spirits

2460 Market St.; 313-393-1711; viviosdetroit.com
Vivio’s is known for their famous bloody mary mix, but their food menu is just as impressive. Since 1967, Vivio’s has been delighting customers with well-executed dishes including classic burgers, mussels, salads, and appetizers. The crab cake po boy, porchetta, and baked spinach dip are all worth a try.

Photo via Vivio’s Food & Spirits / Facebook

Standby

225 Gratiot Ave.; 313-241-5719; standbydetroit.com
The creatively-named drinks at Standby are just one reason to visit this hidden gem. The cocktail lab is outfitted with a centrifuge, liquid nitrogen, and culinary tools to create drinks such as 10 Points for Gryffindor and Proceed to the Route. Standby also offers inventive snacks and plates including prawns and polenta, coconut purple yam ice cream, and mezcal smoked carrots.

Photo via Google Maps

Second Best

42 Watson St.; 313-315-3077; secondbestdetroit.com
Conveniently located off Woodward Ave., Second Best offers thoughtfully-crafted bar food alongside beer, wine, and cocktails. The soft pretzel sticks with honey mustard, blistered shishito peppers, and steak fries are great companions to one of the many local beers and classic cocktails available at Second Best.

Photo via Second Best Detroit / Facebook

Queens Bar

35 E. Grand River Ave.; 313-285-8019; queensbardetroit.com
Queens Bar upgrades traditional bar food with creative twists on classic dishes. The deep-fried mozzarella sticks are served with house-made dill ranch, and the fried bologna sandwich is made with caramelized onions and American cheese. Alongside a feature cocktail like the Monica Blaire (Courvoisier, fresh lemon, berry elixir, and Sprite), these sandwiches and snacks provide the right amount of crunch and saltiness.

Photo via Queens Bar Detroit / Facebook

Northern Lights Lounge

600 W. Baltimore St.; 313-873-1739; northernlightslounge.com
Northern Lights Lounge’s extensive food menu is an ideal sidekick to their beers, wines, and cocktails. The chicken strips, semi-sweet chocolate pie, and asiago chicken sandwich are just a few standouts on the menu of classic bar snacks and diner food.

Photo via Google Maps

Miller’s Bar

23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-565-2577
For burgers in metro Detroit, Miller’s might take the cake. Dearborn residents got lucky with this one, and any outsiders need to visit it to taste what some say is the best burger in the area.

Jacoby’s Bar

624 Brush St.; 313-962-7067; jacobysbar.com
For over 100 years, Jacoby’s Bar has been serving up German treats such as spaetzle, wiener schnitzel, and rindfleisch rouladen. They also have traditional bar food including burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, and salads. Their beer menu includes imported brews from Germany, Belgium, Canada, Scotland and England.

Photo via Jacoby’s German Biergarten / Facebook

Honest John’s

488 Selden St.; 313-832-5646; honestjohnsdetroit.com
In addition to a comprehensive menu of wines, cocktails, and beers, Honest John’s also offers mouthwatering breakfast, lunch, and late-night food options. The Fruity Pebble French toast, spinach artichoke melt, and homemade chili are just a few standouts. For a midnight snack, the chili cheese fries and butterfinger pancakes are great options.

Photo via Honest John’s Detroit / Facebook

Lager House

1254 Michigan Ave.; 313-961-4668; lagerhouse.com
Though PJ’s is known for their beer menu, the food options are just as diverse and satisfying, incorporating classic American cuisine with Southern and Vietnamese dishes. The deep fried pickles, onion rings, vegan po-boy, and exhaustive brunch menu are worth a trip for the food alone.

Photo via GoogleMaps

Ladder 4 Wine Bar

3396 Vinewood St., Detroit; 313-638-1601; ladder4winebar.com
This spot won Best New Restaurant in Detroit in the Metro Times 2022 Best of Detroit reader’s poll. Since opening, Ladder 4 Wine Bar has seamlessly executed the intermingling between great food and great wine.

Harry’s

2482 Clifford St.; 313-964-1575; harrysdetroit.com
This sports bar and restaurant is perfectly situated for a post- or pre-game drink and bite to eat. The wings and Bavarian pretzel sticks are just a couple of the delicious items on the menu. Top it off with a hot fudge sundae or sticky toffee cake, and you’re all set.

Photo via Harry’s Detroit / Facebook

Firebird Tavern

419 Monroe St.; 313-782-4189; firebirdtavern.com
Located in downtown Detroit, Firebird Tavern offers local casual, thoughtful food menus alongside cocktails, wine, and beer. The lunch menu includes paninis, meatloaf, fish tacos, and shoestring fries with truffle mayo. For dinner, options include puff pastry chicken pot pie and Moroccan chickpea bowl.

Photo via Firebird Tavern / Facebook

HopCat

Multiple locations hopcat.com
HopCat's Cosmik Fries, which were recognized by Food Network Magazine as among the top 10 French fries in the country, are well worth a try. Other menu standouts include the Madtown grilled cheese, which is made with dill havarti, gouda, and muenster, and the peanut butter porter pie.

Photo via Google Maps

Common Pub Detroit

5440 Cass Ave.; 313-285-8849; commonpub.com
In addition to a thoughtful selection of beer, wine, and cocktails, Common Pub offers a variety of snacks, salads, sandwiches, and entrées. The duck fried chicken, beet and goat cheese slider, and poutine of the day are just a few of the standouts on Common Pub’s creative menu. The brunch menu includes treats such a biscuits and gravy, French toast, and short rib hash.

Photo via Common Pub Detroit / Facebook

The Emory

22700 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-546-8202; theemoryferndale.comm
When it comes to food, The Emory specializes in sliders and small plates, with plenty of affordable options to choose from.

Cliff Bell’s

2030 Park Ave.; 313-961-2543; cliffbells.com
This storied jazz club serves up a menu of luxe dinner options straight out of the 1920s. Mussels with curry cream, duck wings, and braised beef cheek stroganoff will transport you back to an era of fine dining. The brunch menu includes vanilla french toast, lobster benedict, and short rib hash. The cocktail menu is just as indulgent, with creations like the Detroit Dirty (Tito’s and pickle brine) and The Last Word (Liberator gin, Luxardo cherries, chartreuse, and lime).

  Photo via Google Maps

Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery

441 W. Canfield St. Ste. 9, Detroit; 313-262-6115; jollypumpkin.com
Jolly Pumpkin offers tasty appetizers, salads, pizzas, and main plates alongside cold brews. You can try candied brussels sprouts, farro salad, or a warm artichoke sandwich. The granite baked pizzas include charred broccolini with garlic béchamel, truffle with shiitake mushrooms, and classic margherita.

Photo via Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery / Facebook

Checker Bar

124 Cadillac Sq.; 313-961-9249; checkerbar.com
In addition to an extensive beer menu and a few carefully selected wines, Checker Bar offers a variety of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and snacks. The shoestring fries, Grand Trunk chili, Dearborn kielbasa, and olive burger are standouts on a menu of elevated classics.

  Photo via Google Maps