Castalia

Castalia left me wowed after my recent visit. We were celebrating a special night out in Detroit and wanted to cap off the night at a new cocktail bar. My husband searched and found Castalia a short drive from our restaurant and we headed over. Located in the basement of a restored Victorian mansion, it's a cozy space with phenomenal service that offers botanical perfumes and scents by day and botanical-inspired cocktails by night. We felt like we were invited into a friend's home to hang out and have a drink as we entered the intimate space that evening. We were early enough to be able to be seated immediately, and we chose the bar when given the option of bar vs table. I love chatting with knowledgeable bartenders, and wanted to be able to talk to Kyle, the great bartender mixing up our drinks that night. You like cocktails? They have you covered. More of a mocktail person? This is the place. Looking for a new sensory experience when you order your drink? You'll find it here. Cocktails with a side of science? The menu offered that with drinks inspired by Alan Turing, Marie Curie, and Rosalind Franklin, just to name a few. My first drink was the Imitation Game mocktail (the "leaded" version of that is the Enigma machine), and it was reminiscent of a tangy margarita at the first sip. But as I sniffed the accompanying botanical scent sample, the drink became sweeter. Very cool! We couldn't resist a second drink so we could linger a little longer and this time I sprung for Crystal Method. It was fruity, sweet, and totally different from the first, but both drinks were full of flavor and beautifully served. Everything has been so thoughtfully planned at this place, from the flavors to the scents to even the logo (check out the back of the menu to learn more). I looked down at the bar and saw the logo on the beautiful metal grate on the rinsing spot of the bar top. If you're looking for a unique and inspiring place to grab a drink with the cozy atmosphere of a speakeasy, Castalia is it. Highly recommend this for your next night out in Detroit!

A wonderful, intimate bar with cocktails and mocktails that take you on a multisensory experience! During the day Castalia is known as Sfumato, a locally based fragrance maker, after hours they become a craft cocktail bar where each beverage is meticulously developed to be presented with one of their scents. Take a good whiff/waft of the foundational scent, then take a sip of your beverage and prepare for a fantastic pairing. What I also love is that each spirited beverage also has a NA option, so you whether you're not a drinker at all, a designated driver, just abstaining for the evening, or you're on steroids because you have laryngitis (me my last visit!) you can still enjoy and share the experience with others. There isn't a ton of seating here so during more peak "going out" times I would recommend making a reservation, but if you're in the area go ahead and stop in and you may find yourself lucky enough to got a spot for an impromptu visit.

I've only been here twice, but each time was a highlight of the night! Their menu is very interesting, always something new to try - and of course the scent component really makes it a unique experience. The bartenders really know their stuff, so if there are seats at the bar available, those are the best in the house! Very cozy atmosphere and just a fun way to start or end a night out.

I absolutely love this place! Small, quaint, and intimate, it offers a truly unique experience. During my last visit, I tried the cocktail tasting, which was fantastic. The mixologist, who also happens to be the owner, shared fascinating stories about the building's history and introduced the innovative concept of pairing cocktails with fragrances. Did you know there's no other craft cocktail bar like this in the country? And it's right here in the Motor City! Detroit truly has its share of hidden gems--this is definitely one of them!

A very unique spot in mid-town Detroit. They pair cocktails with fragrances and it works. This is one of the most unique cocktail bars we've ever been to. You taste, you sniff and back and forth. Nice folks and cool basement vibes here!

Have been to Castalia many times but have neglected to write a review, so sorry! Castalia is a intimate space that is absolutely worth the wait if you have to. The employees are always cheerful and willing to help you choose a drink if you're new. The fragrances paired with the drinks make for an extremely unique experience that I throughly enjoy. They also have NA drinks that are similar to their alcoholic menu so nobody feels left out.I got the Waxing and Waning which was great but the highest praise goes to the Wizards & Roses that my friend ordered, I will be getting that next time. 5 star experience truly.

Super cool concept!Came here with a couple of friends and was shocked by how small it is, which does make it a bit tough to have a conversation without everyone hearing. That said, I still enjoyed my experience and would happily come back.I shared some cocktails with people and all of them ranged from good to very good. My favorite was probably the Waxing & Waning -- the flavor was delicious (I'm a big fan of both mezcal and chamomile) and the paired scent was sooo satisfying. Great place for a date night, but maybe keep the naughty talk super quiet ;)

This was one of the most unique bar experience that I have ever had. The vibes are enchanting and the staff equally so. The drinks were on another level, combining the smell and taste of the drinks by pairing them with fragrances and oils. You are asked to first sip the drink and then smell the fragrance that is on a card and then experiment with smelling and tasting simultaneously. This gives you a chance to pull different flavors and notes from the drink as well as the fragrance. What an elegant evening! My drink was called Wizards and Roses. Definitely tasted like magic.

What a fantastic intimate cocktail/mocktail bar! Cocktails come with paired fragrances which really makes Castalia stand out from all the other great craft cocktail options in Detroit. If you're a craft cocktail fan and haven't been yet put it on your list!

Yes, yes. yes!!! Get a crafted cocktail at this cute spot!! It's small inside so keep that in mind but this is for sure a cocktail experience!