The Tastiest Dive Bars in Detroit

Mulligan's Pub & Grub

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (17)

"I moved into southfield and wanted to find a local bar that wasn't Fridays or starters.. so I had to head west a little. Great hole in the wall. It's 5 stars for a dive bar. Don't expect servers or a high end menu. Still a fun a place with darts, pool, arcade games, juke box. Chili was good, I'll try the burger next."

The High Dive

★★★★★ 4.7 (11)

"New owner now Called the High Dive. Lenord is the new owner. I love the Asian inspired cocktail options. The ambiance is a lot different than the prior bar in this location I hear. But to me now the vibe is hipster, chill, relaxing. Kind! Community oriented. Make sure to check out the involvement later in the year they might even start a photography group! Check it out. This one received reconciliation in my book and made it to the 5 star mark!"

Eightball Saloon

★★★☆☆ 3 (67) • $

"May not be a 5 star bar but it's for sure a 5 star dive! Cheapest beers in town with pool and games. Dive bars might not be for everyone but this place feels like home. Be sure to check out the world class bathroom art. It's even jam packed with some great advice!"

Drinks Saloon

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (26) • $

"This place is a Downriver gem. My family has been going for those delicious burgers since the '80s. Now I bring my kids. The food is always on point. The staff is always kind and helpful. There games for the kids. Family friendly and the best burgers in the area."

Gabby's On the River

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (6) • $

"Just moved to the area and are looking for a neighborhood bar. Came in on a quiet night. Hubby and I were one of 4 people in the bar. Bud Select and Mich Light are the two draft options (yuck!). Thought of staying for a second beer until getting creepered by a weirdo (who apparently just got out of rehab). At least for as crappy as it was, it should have been cheap- it wasn't. Sorry Gabby's, but I don't think we'll be returning."

Red Dog Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.1 (88) • $$

"Went in again for the second time. All excellent. This time the service was just as good as last time, burger (I had the Frankie Burger) was cooked perfectly and this time because I saw a Yelp review indicating that the fried mushrooms were good, I ordered some. The platter was huge! Big mushrooms, hot, crispy outside, perfectly breaded and juicy inside. Absolutely delicious. My wife ordered a rodeo burger without the bun and had some of the mushrooms and shared my fries. I ended up taking half my burger and half the mushrooms home. Another great experience and we'll definitely be going back again soon."

Salty Dog

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (29) • $

"Given that I come here from time to time, and that I've encouraged people to come here, I feel like I had to come back and update my review from my initial 2 star to where I think it actually deserves to be...at least based on what it is.Look, it's a dive bar, folks. One coin operated pool table. Internet controlled jukebox with which you can annoy the locals. Bartenders wearing no pants.It's a lot of fun to say to people: "Hey, wanna go to a bar shaped like a pirate ship?"Because they ALWAYS go "Hell yeah I wanna go to a bar shaped like a pirate ship!"...and then you arrive...and you get them inside...and the reactions are amazing.Just take it for what it is, and go."

Sam’s Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (9)

"A fun little bar/grill in the middle of no where. Lots of locals. They have a different special every weeknight and Karaoke on the weekends. The food is standard bar food and dirt cheap prices. Beer is sold by the can and you can't beat the atmosphere."

Sneakers Pub

★★★★☆ 3.9 (95) • $

"Definitely a dive bar - the bathroom is an experience. Just a shower curtain dividing the stalls. BUT the beer is good, the staff is nice, the karaoke is always fun and entertaining so it makes it a great bar to go to! Would recommend coming on a weekend night"

New Way Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (78) • $

"I have only been here once with my college friend that lives in Fdale, he likes sitting or standing out on their patio and people watching on Woodward. If it's warm outside and there's room out on the patio and not too much smoke, it's not too bad hanging out here. It's a bit north from the core of downtown ferndale. It's a very casual and laid back bar. Old school looking inside as well. They do have some decent draft beers, ping pong tables, darts as well."

Lenny's Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Re-newed dive bar with decent cocktails and happy hour till 7. Comfy seating old bar stools pool table - everything you need for a great dive bar experience."

Abick's Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (61) • $

"Let me set the stage...hot summer Summer night in July needing a drink but somewhere that brings a vibe unlike your run of the mill bar or pub. I had done my homework and just happened to have the top five oldest bars in Detroit locked into my phone contact list...Abick's shows up in the top two.We find the neighborhood, pull right up front, and walk to the door only to find it locked. Well, I think I was pulling when I should have been pushing...we got in and got greeted by a very large dog. The place was empty and dark resembling that of a joint ready to close. Out from the shadows of whiskey bottles steps a young man that extends a "hello and welcome." We were in and they were Open...Amen! We proceeded to imbibe with some of their finest...I believe I started with a Stroh's...and worked our way to some tasty cocktails. We noticed a TV streaming some words and pictures...happened to be the story of the bar and family that started it. It was a great read and we followed it to the end only to result in a barrage of questions from me. The bartender was cool and seemed to enjoy the questions and conversation. It didn't take too long to discover that he was the 6th generation family member to take over the bar and keep the legacy alive. I'm a big history buff and it warms my heart to know that we have families dedicated to their craft or business and can withstand the test of time...especially in Detroit. The night goes on...drinking and talking about the bar, Detroit, Life, and everything in between. At some point I make a reference to cigars...the bartender asked "do you want one." My eyes lit up, mouth started to salivate, and I responded, "Ya got one?" He walked us three into the back where their was a darker, smaller room housing a humidor, lockers for cigars, and some chairs and couches...the night just got enhanced. He showed us his collection, we each picked out a fine cigar, and retreated to the couches to enjoy the second part of our night. The experience here was one I wouldn't have anticipated and certainly our expectations were exceeded. The kindness, customer service, engagement, and cigars left us with a feeling that you can't create but only can acquire when everything lines up as it did. By the way, you'll enjoy the early 20th century look...classic!In summary, next time I'm in Detroit...I'll be at Abick's bar. Very few places like this exist in our country so enjoy them as much as possible and anytime you're in arms reach. Great job on keeping this place Alive!"

Taylor AC Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (12) • $$

"Thank you to the Taylor AC for hosting our 41rst reunion last week! The food was delicious and I will be coming back! Thanks again for everything"

Ye Olde Saloon

★★★★☆ 4 (148) • $

"What an amazing evening! I had a very stressful day. My job can be devastating. Today I had to tell a family that their very young son/brother is dying. I had to explain what the physicians involved did not clearly articulate. This is what I do. But, some days it's harder than others. This is when I lean on the important people in my life. Today I leaned on that person. We ended up at Ye Olde saloon which is one of his favorite bars from "back in the day." I absolutely loved it there. We had an amazing time laughing and talking. To me this is a perfect night. I had been craving hot dogs and I got my dawg! Lol. For a "dive bar" they had an amazing draft beer list! We played a bit of music bingo, but unfortunately, we had to go. But great company makes everything better!!"

Two Way Inn

★★★★★ 4.6 (47) • $

"This was my first time and I had an AWESOME time.... When I walked in which was extremely early for a Friday -- I was greeted by the bartender, random people, and even the owner. The owner also gave me a FREE shot. As the night continued -- more people entered but it was still a great vibe and everyone was socializing randomly. Hey this isn't no downtown fancy bar which you need to dress up and pay a door fee for pricey drinks.....NO! This is a true bar -- relaxing, cool bartender (he goes by T-Bone but I called him "Steak"), people playing pool, something weird playing on TV but you wouldn't want to watch it (Lol!), and low prices for drinks."

Wheat & Rye

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (94) • $$

"Good bar food and more. Hadn't been there in about 15 years because I moved away, but a great meeting place. We had 6 in our group and they were able to easily accommodate us. Staff were friendly and professional, food portions are HUGE and well prepared. A wide variety of choices. We will be back again soon!"

Second Base

★★★★☆ 3.7 (78) • $

"This place kind of was what I expected.. They have bar food and to be honest it was NOTHING special, NOTHING that great and the wings 10 piece order still had 5 wings left and it was split between 4 people,...Nobody finished them lol which says something. Just so you know they DON'T make margaritas, they don't make Spanish coffees, god forbid a frozen drink...and they didn't have any of the liquor I requested. NOT ONE!!! So it's pretty basic hole in the wall cheap bar.... but hey it's cheap and they are cheap and judging by the crowd they also looked cheap.... There was a mixture of people they played mostly country music The only positive thing about my experience here was that they did have pulled tabs and Keno which I to play but even the keno and Pull Tabs didn't even win me anything I probably will never be back *(by this I WILL NEVER BE BACK)* Sorry establishment but you were a huge disappointment."

Sprader's On the Lake

★★★★☆ 4.4 (25) • $

"Stopped by this cute little place on the lake today for an afternoon cocktail in the sun. They are building a deck soon, which will make it really nice on a sunny day. Love the Bloody Marys. Stop in. Service is friendly, drinks are great."

Kit Kat Klub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (64) • $

"Just when you think the perfect dive bar doesn't exist, you walk into the Kit Kat. Amazing artwork, friendly staff, TVs and great tasting bar food. We had a lot of fun eating here, and it is a great place to hang out and watch the game with friends. All of the food was great, and they even have specials. Definitely recommend the tots and any of the burgers. One word of warning- it's cash only. They do have an ATM but be aware and plan ahead."

Park Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (123) • $

"I'd definitely suggest stopping in at Park Bar especially over the holidays. This year they have transformed into Miracle's pop-up Christmas themed bar which appears in bars all over the country. Last year The Skip hosted Miracle pop-up bar which was awesome but it's even better at Park Bar since it's a much larger space and can accommodate a lot more people and larger groups and feels less squished than at The Skip. Park Bar is located right next door to Cliff Bells and isn't too far from LCA, The Fox, and Fillmore so makes a great place to stop after a show. When you enter you'll notice Christmas lights everywhere, Christmas music playing, and large brightly wrapped presents hanging from the ceiling over the circular bar in the center of the establishment. There is seating around the bar and several tables around the perimeter and a few booths as well. The decorations were so festive and attentive to detail. We sat by a Christmas tree and windows covered in snowflake windows clings and every table is even decorated with a snow covered reindeer scene center piece. Even the bathroom was completely covered in shiny tinsel! The festive atmosphere at Park Bar definitely puts you in the mood for the holidays. If that wasn't enough Christmas cheer, the Miracle menu has excellent Holiday Spirits and I'm not talking about the kind in A Christmas Carol. There are ten holiday themed cocktails and naughty and nice shots. Most drinks are around $12. The menu was pretty similar to last year but changed slightly. My go-to is the Yippie Ki Yay Mother F*****! because Die Hard is a Christmas movie and also this drink is a delicious tropical rum drink with subtle hints of sweet potato flavor served in an adorable Santa Pants mug! What more could you want?! My friend ordered the Jingle Balls Nog, a cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, nutmeg eggnog drink that she said tasted like Christmas in a cup. It was a little small though and is served in an adorable miniature Christmas coffee mug. Although not on the menu, make sure to ask about the Christmas cookies. I believe they bake a different kind each day and for $5 you get two cookies wrapped in a cute cellophane festive wrap. We split the ginger cookies and they were so delicious. If you fall in love with the festive mugs, they also sell them for around $18. We had a great time here. We came after the Eve 6 concert pretty late and there were only a handful of people here but I'm sure it's getting busier here since we're getting even closer to the holidays. If you have time, definitely stop by The Skip after, as they are hosting Beach Bum Barry's Sippin' Santa tiki themed Christmas Bar."

Rustic Cabins Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (24) • $$

"It's odd to think this place is a reminder of my middle school days. A good friend of mine's parents or relatives ran this place. We would get a slice of pizza from Buscemi's next door and sit at a table, it would be a group of us kids inside this cabinesque building with all of the dead animals mounted on the walls.It's odd to say as kid, it strangely felt like a second home here somehow. I have gone back during my early college days and as an adult and it's not as cool as it was as kid. It's still fun to come and have a beer at the bar as an adult and reminisce about decades ago."

Polish Sea League

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8) • $

"Great friendly bar with great prices and service. This is a very clean dive bar jak si masz. Nice and dimly lit with a juke box"

Eastpointe Pub

★★★★☆ 3.9 (7) • $

"It's a dive bar in Eastpointe, people. Don't expect a Birmingham martini bar.This is, however, a cool little place that offers karaoke a few nights a week, and decent, cheap drinks. What more can you ask for?"

The White Lake Inn

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (109) • $$

"Great fish & chips, pizza and salad. The servers are very nice and do a great job. The atmosphere is great, especially in the summer out on the patio overlooking White Lake!"

Whiskey in the Jar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (74) • $

"This is one great dive bar. Tons of character, cheap booze, a not so fancy but still pretty great patio out back, etc. It's not fancy here. This is not where you'll get a real upscale craft cocktail or microbrew but the beverages are cold and the price point is right (aka--low). And on Paczki day? It's a real party! They set up a tent and it's chock full of paczki shots! And polka music! And kielbasa and pierogi! And of course, all the Tyskie and Okocim you can handle. Na zdrowie!"

Stables Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (55) • $$

"Came here with a friend and overall it's a great place for burgers and to watch any sporting event. I had a great time. Place is cozy, dive-bar like, and has great service. I ordered the western burger with a side of chili fries and it was super good for bar food. Plus, their prices seem very reasonable so I will definitely be coming back another day soon."

Club FT

★★★★☆ 3.9 (19) • $

"The place to go on the east side of Detroit for cheap, cheap drinks and a few good laughs. The decorations are ... (there's a mounted fish at least as old as I am, a picture of cats smoking in the bathroom, a coconut, and a variety of classy latch-hook rugs) interesting. The bar stocks just about anything the seasoned dive-goer would look for: Bell's, Red Stripe, Blue Moon, Bud seasonal, and what dive would be complete without PBR? Club F T has THE cheapest drinks in town.There are numerous DJs that frequent Club F T, as well as the occasional weekend show. Although you're not going to catch Van Halen on their small club tour, you might sink a few quarters in the F T juke and hear VH in all their glory, or at least hear a singer do his best David Lee impression without ever having paid cover."

Wagon Wheel Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (74) • $

"Went for karaoke with friends, but will go back for the food. We had the bosco sticks, ugly fries, and a cup of chili. Pretty sure that was the best chili I've ever had. Just typing this has my mouth salvaging for more. It was great and hearty and I will be back!"

Joe & Joe's Bar

★★★★★ 5 (1) • $

"Joe & Joe's Bar is a cool dive bar where the beer is cold and Emily was a great bartender.There is nothing fancy about this place, hence why I call it a dive bar, but dive bars embrace a culture all their own. The ambiance is in the lack of ambiance and walking in here is to walk back in time or maybe to a place where time is suspended and the universe revolves around that cold beer before you.All in all, a very positive experience and I give it five stars."

B&E’s Bar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (2)

"They aren't practicing social distance. You can sit anywhere in the bar. The bartender doesn't wear a mask. The drinks are good and cheap. Good atmosphere. Not sure if food is served. I will visit here again. Nikki is quite great bartender. Told her to surprise me with my drink, and she did excellent ‼"

Port Bar

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (5) • $

"It is a legitimate dive bar. You have to know that. Also, it does get smoky. No, they don't serve food despite the old signage. You can drink all night and still leave with money in your pocket. The owner is very kind and charming."

Suzi's Bar & Grill

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (27)

"Visited this little gem last night. At first we thought it was closed because the windows were pretty dark from the outside but as you walked closer you could see people inside. There was a pool table, a jukebox and a big bar. The music selection was great so it had a great vibe walking in. I was happy they had copper mugs for a Moscow mule which was nice for a dive bar. The owner served us and was very nice and honest. It was greatly appreciated. The only negative thing I can say was some of the bar stools felt wobbly and like they could break easily so be careful. This is definitely a great spot to come for drinks after dinner."

Mt. Chalet II

★★★★☆ 4 (241) • $$

"Carrot cake was great!! I think the plate was warm which made it kinda warm but cream cheese was cold so not entirely sure but it was a greattttt bite! Could be a bit more spicy but I'm also crazy with needing everything incredibly spicy. Cream cheese was perfect not overly sweet!"

Gusoline Alley

★★★★☆ 4 (160) • $

"We were hopping around the RO scene after a show and of course, we had to stop in Gusoline Alley. This bar is always on slam and it's always a fun time. This is a RO classic and a must stop if you're bar hopping."

Drinks Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.1 (16) • $

"You'll never be in Taylor, but if you are, this is where the party at. If by party you mean knife wound, but stop in have a beer with your shank."