Donovan's Pub

Being from Canada, this is basically the first place one sees after getting off the bridge. It's pretty intimidating seeing as there's no windows, and very rarely is there even cars in the lot!We saw our opportunity to DIVE in after the Cinco de Mayo parade because it was quite busy and there's safety in numbers lol As stated pretty divey but was fairly welcomed. Would be interesting to visit on a normal night now that we've broken the seal!I checked in on FB and many friends were like "are you alive"? Lol

Donovan's is the crown jewel of that expansive stretch of West Vernor that is mostly surface parking and vacant lots, at least until Ford's development of Michigan Central Station turns the entire strip into organic quinoa bars and American Coney opens a satellite takeout location.An old-school dive bar featuring food (that mysteriously no one I know has ever ordered), pool, and sometimes sets of down-and-dirty rock, this is my go-to neighborhood bar if I am in the mood for a Stroh's and naught else. Nay, you shant get a craft cocktail here, but I've always found the staff and clientele charming enough.The place was up for sale for an outrageous sum awhile ago, and I'm not sure what happened with that. Not sure anyone would pay that price-- maybe after they put a PF Chang's across the street with a giant parking lot to serve the cutting-edge Ford mobility engineers who are too lazy to walk those three blocks.

I think I liked this place better when I worked here for a short while 8 or 9 years ago. Back then it was all about cumbia music on Sunday nights and Mexican day laborers tipping me quarters for serving them bottles of Corona and shots of tequila. Now it's infested with cooler-than-thou pasty white hipster types. Seems like they take all the fun out of being a skinny white guy. And the cigarette smoke! I wish I had a horrible case of gas for all the cancerheads in there! Really, take that schitt outside. They did serve Red Bull, or something like it, in the glass for a mere buck fifty, which was nice. They had lotsa bottles of beer and boozy stuff, too.You'd have to ask somebody else about that, though. When my friend's band finished playing I got the eff outta there.

nothing on tap, cheap bottles, quiet, dark, and almost perfect.Thought I'd go grab a fancy pint at Slows just after work, but dinner time crowd coupled with a Red Wings game made the inside a nightmare... popped into Donovan's instead and it was a quiet escape from the raucous Michigan Ave. They've only got miller, bud, pbr, corona, but also modelo especial and stroh's by the bottle. A full bar with tons of old-looking Mohawk liquers you'd probably never want to actually consume (I also noticed the Cocktails for Dummies book tucked beside the register... which could be good or bad... but probably bad). The bar staff was excellent - a TV playing at volume level 2 was also a perfect component. Lots of odd wall decor - occasionally there's live music. A good hang out during the week when you need some time to think through your beer...

Dive bar in Southwest Detroit. It is a bit dark and a small space. I saw pool sticks, but no pool table. The bartender was pleasant, but couldn't give me suggestions on drinks. Even in a dive bar I'd expect the bartender to have ideas for drinks beyond a beer. The pricing is not your regular, cheap dive bar pricing. That turned me off. I tried it during a summer of exploring the city. I wouldn't come back. I will continue for my search of a "go to" bar/pub.

Makin food until " it gets too busy to make food" -SherriInbetween the shadows of the Ambassador bridge and the Michigan Central Station lies Donovans.They entertain the idea of being included in the trendy Mexicantown by adorning a back wall with 2 maps of Mexico, a Corona Sign and a soccer jersey.Similar to the off the boat Irish pubs in Woodlawn Heights on Katonah ave.It has one of those mobile peepholes on the main door. A relic from a haughtier past. They dont have burgers. They have ground rounds. Sherri will make the food and give you Strohs.The owner is Polish, or part Polish, or some mix- I wasnt sure but he was confusing me with his banter, yet very welcoming confusing banter.

It's a small, cheap, low key bar. Nothing much else to say. But I thought it was hilarious that one woman said she couldn't see a pool table... it's a one room bar, where the middle is just a pool table. Just goes to show you that you can't believe everything you read. PS: Sherri makes great pierogi.

I'm giving this place a 2 star because when I left I stunk like the bottom of an ashtray. Yes, you can smoke inside. The bar is dark, dank-y, and the beer is VERY cheap. This is the ultimate hipster dive.

I've been there for beer n burgers for lunch. Great prices & service. Keep up good work.Hung out few times in evenings to late nite. Still kool place to be.

Super rude bartenders. Won't give you water unless you pay for a bottle. Asks for your ID for a water. If you want to make sure that the people in your bar are of age, check IDs when they come in. Definitely won't be back.