Anchor Bar

I pray to God they never take the grilled cheese off the menu…read more (I mean it) (But actually there isn't a bad thing on this menu and it's a great place to gather with friends. They do live music often and it can get kinda loud, but other than that: forever a fan of this place!)

Ever heard of a Shrimp Birria Quesadilla? I didn't either until I went here lol. Normally I'm not a…read more"pubber" which is probably not a word lol but my Brother brought me here and I'm forever grateful lol. The Shrimp Birria Quesadilla and Rosemary Garlic Fries every time for the win! To-Go or quick sit down vibe at a cool Woodbridge Pub with a great staff, has never let me down.

Decor, seating.

Chicken + waffle from the brunch menu

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Yes. I got locked in the bathroom.

Gaelic League Irish American Club

4.6(20 reviews)

1.2 mi

I was there for our work holiday party. The service and the drinks were excellent and they were an…read moreawesome host!

Great, authentic Irish spot. It is a club that requires an annual membership, but at only $25 a…read moreyear the well priced drinks, live music without a cover, and free passage in on parade day and St. Patrick's day more than makes up for the up front free.

2.3 mi•Cultural Center, Wayne State, Midtown

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Common Pub

4.0(96 reviews)

Went downtown and after a nice walk around WSU, we stopped at Common Pub for an early dinner. Had…read morea great time on the patio by the pool. Food was great along with the service. Will certainly return!!

This was a cute little bar I stopped in for lunch between a lecture that I had for the day. The…read moreserver greeted us immediately and there was not a huge selection on the menu, but all solid choices. My friend decided on salmon which she said was delightful, and I got a salad. I didn't care for the chicken in the salad (a breaded situation) but I didn't care what I could either it. It wasn't very crowded at all but started to pick up more as the afternoon went on. It's a decent place to stop instead of typical fast food if you're in the area.

Duck Fat Fries Common Pub Burger Double

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McShane's Irish Pub- Downtown Detroit

3.8(237 reviews)

0.8 mi•Corktown

We stopped in after the Tigers game and had some appetizers and drinks. The bartender was very nice…read moreand kept everything moving and clean. I would definitely go back.

Came in to play pool after dinner and drinks, this is a classic dive bar. This was my first time…read morehere! Nice music playing, and chill vibes. We came in sat at the bar and got our drinks in an instant. Our server was quick and got the job done. I ordered a whiskey and Coke 10/10 because Maker's Mark and Coke don't miss. Also ordered macaroni and cheese 6/10 pretty good for a bar. I proceeded to lose miserably in pool because I am a beginner. I will definitely return for pool lessons

1.0 mi•Cass Corridor, Midtown

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Temple Bar

4.2(74 reviews)

I rolled into Detroit for the first time ever and an unassuming bar stood out and called to me…read moreimmediately. It was the Temple Bar. I walked up not sure if it was even open but a haggard looking woman carrying a bunch of shit popped out and carried on down the road. I knew it was open. When I walked in I was greeted by a friendly bartender with glasses and a handlebar mustache. There were maybe 3 or 4 other people at the bar I could see. A couple more in the back patio. This is a real great bar. They have a pool table, full bar, and great beer selection. Not a huge selection but a good one. Plus it was a gay bar and I couldn't even tell. Great place welcoming everyone. Support local! Cheers!

Obnoxious entitled money grab. This place will scam and rip you off. Go elsewhere. Stick to beer at…read moreleast so you can better audit what you get. A "double" pour -- which they offer you -- is pretty much a single. And you're stuck with a huge bill. I go here once every five years despite living a mile away... because once every five years I say, "hey, Temple Bar, why don't I go there more often?" Then I go, I leave, and I feel scammed..." That's why I only been there a few times since 2010.

1.4 mi•Cass Corridor, Midtown

Ingredients for a perfectly awesome dive bar.

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Found this pog on a counter at the bar.

Honest John's Bar & Grill

3.8(673 reviews)

We went to Honest John's before a performance at the Detroit Public School's Ford theater down the…read morestreet. I've wanted to come here because it was a place my late mom liked. I thought the saloon-type entry doors were a fun touch. I liked the atmosphere, too. The menu is wide-ranging, from breakfast any time to burgers, salads and sandwiches. I don't drink alcohol often, but I noticed they had a good selection of hard cider. I decided to get the one that was on the top of the menu -- something with pineapple. It was sweet but very good. My sister had the Honest John's hard cider that was on draft. It wasn't as sweet, but it was good as well. I had the grilled johnny john sandwich -- chicken, swiss cheese, tomatoes, lettuce on grilled pita. It was very filling; I only ate half! My sister had the chicken Caesar wrap, with the same result. We ordered some plain fries to share. Those weren't anything special. All in all, I liked the restaurant and would go back.

The food is pretty good. Some dishes are better than others, the best item on the menu is the fish…read moreand chips IMO. I would skip all of the breakfast/brunch items, and the burger is standard. They are typically out of at least one or two menu items on a given day. The serve can be spotty but it's usually friendly. The prices are reasonable, and the best thing about this place, it's one of the few places open late with ample street parking at night.

1.8 mi•Midtown, Cass Corridor

Chicken Salad

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Spanish Coffee ~$12 Tia Maria, Orange liqueur, Brandy, Coffee, Whipped Cream, Cinnamon sugar rim

Bronx Bar - Detroit

3.9(305 reviews)

Everyone talks about the cheeseburger. Turns out, it's for good reason. In this economy in Detroit,…read moregetting a huge cheeseburger for less than $15 is great. Getting one that actually tastes good is fantastic. The burger comes with the usual fixins on a giant ciabatta. Is it a bit difficult to eat? Yep. Is it worth it? Most definitely. There are some bites that you're getting no meat but they honestly still tasted pretty good lol. Burger was well seasoned and cooked exactly to my liking. Produce was fresh and the mayo rounded it all up quite nicely. Fries were very good. Not quite S tier, but still a solid A tier. Could have been a bit saltier. A tier on the burger as well. Food was ready in less than 15 minutes. No complaints. Very good burger and fries.

Loved it. Good beer, choice of delicious sandwiches (all size large; we split one and it was plenty…read moreof food) in a fun environment that wasn't too loud.

1.5 mi•Midtown, Cass Corridor

The Chicken/Bacon /Swiss

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Moscow Mule

The Old Miami

3.9(189 reviews)

Stopped in on a weekday around 3pm after visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts. While we were…read morethere the tornado sirens started going off, which made for a memorable experience. Loved the cheap drinks, strong pours, and dive bar vibe

This is probably one of the nastiest bars I've been into and that says a lot. This place REAKS of…read moremold and mildew and it slaps you in the face right when you enter. I swear the odor is so powerful every breath fills your nose with mold. Everything in here doesn't look like it's been maintained cleaned or dusted in 30 years. There's piles of random items above the drink counter that look like it harbors dust from the 80s. Particles going right in the drink. On top of that they charged $10 at the door. And clearly it's a friends benefit kinda place because in the 45mins we were there we were LITERALLY THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO PAID A DOOR CHARGE!! Now we are sitting at the bar no drink menu no nothing. I order a simple 2 green tea shots and the waitress is like staring at me. And I'm repeating my order and she started making clicking noises with her mouth bopping her head like she tweaking. I ask her how much it will be and completely ignores me. She's definitely giving under the influence vibes. I'm like shouldn't be more than 20 dollars. NO I was charged 25 dollars for 2 green tea shots in a plastic shot cup. 45 mins and we were down 45 dollars place was gross af and the green tea shot tasted like straight sour mix.. The lady never even came back to the end of the bar to ask if we wanted something other than a green tea shot. Just spaced out talking to other bartender. We cut our losses and ran straight for the door Place needs Bar Rescue or a wrecking ball.

May the force be with you

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HopCat

3.7(935 reviews)

1.7 mi•Midtown

We had a great evening at HopCat tonight playing Trivia and hanging with friends. The atmosphere is…read morewarm and welcoming to guests and you'll always find a beverage or food to make your visit memorable. Thanks for a good night, folks! The Henry Ford Hotties

Pretty good menu and beer selection. Decent but not amazing service. The fish and chips were…read morelightly battered and the battered and seasoned fries didn't disappoint. However, the coleslaw was dry and had a sour taste to it. We did not eat it. The quinoa citrus salad was great but while I expected a bed of quinoa at first I thought there was very little of it. As I continued to eat it I realized there was actually none at all. I had said something to our server but she seemed bewildered and didn't seem to be familiar with the menu item in question. It's a good place to eat and I will probably be back but the food fell just a little short.

Stairway

Killer Mac & Cheese

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The Lone Goat

3.9(46 reviews)

0.5 mi•Downtown Detroit

Visited for lunch and very much enjoyed the experience. As Brits we're always rather focused on…read moreauthenticity and although Lone Goat is not your classic example of an old English pub, the downstairs pub section has most of the hallmarks we look for. Most importantly, their drafting of Old Speckled Hen, Smithwicks and Guinness is spot on. Do note that if, like us, you're not a fan of chilled glasses be sure to request accordingly. On top of the excellent beers we sampled, we indulged in the Bangers & Mash and Shepherd's Pie. The bangers were great and the Shepherd's Pie (beef and lamb) likewise - not the usual Cottage Pie substitute we commonly encounter. Service was top notch too.

The last time when I was in town, I couldn't make it to the Lone Goat. This time I did. This is a…read moremust when in Detroit! Our bartender, Zach, made the Lone Goat feel like our local watering hole. He was attentive, knowledgeable and truly wanted to make sure we enjoyed our time in Detroit. He went above and beyond. Great pub fare in terms of food and drink.

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Bar area as soon as you walk in!

Bramble Float

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Bar area

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57 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Anjelina B.

3 years ago

Decided to stop in for a quick dinner, it was anything but quick. We (two people) were greeted by the bartender and told to sit anywhere. Sat at a table and waitress (her name started with an L maybe Lilly?) came over, asked for our drink order, we got two waters. After she dropped off the waters she took a little longer than expected to return. Didn't offer any details about the menu or ask if we had questions. came back 15 mins later asked for our order i ordered a salad with fried chicken and my boyfriend got a grilled chicken wrap. Our food took a minimum of 30 mins. absolutely ridiculous when we're the only ones sitting in the restaurant!! food came out and we were told the cook went on break,,,, I am a waitress this is not an excuse, if the cook is smoking or anything you just run out and let them know you put in a ticket!!!!! Reality is she just forgot to put the food in im sure, not ok when you're not busy and we are your only table!!! Food arrived i had no silverware to eat my salad. then she never came back, never asked how it was, no refills. i needed water so i had to get up MYSELF and go to the bar while she sat and talked to a coworker. then waited for the bill for 15 mins then i had enough went up to the bar asked for my bill paid and left. the food was ok, the service was god awful. read more

Ken S.

14 years ago

My first impression of The Anchor Bar was that it was the sort of place one might frequent if they needed to hire a hit man or buy a kilo of some illicit material. Its dark, musty, and generally rough around the edges. Don't let that scare you off though... That said, there are a few surprises. We eat there for lunch from time to time. I like me a good bowl of chili and I can tell you that theirs ROCKS. You would not think that you could get something like that in a bar like the Anchor Bar but there it is. Also the burgers and fries (nice thick steak fries, think Red Robin) are served there as well. The beer selection is about what you would expect of your average bar, meaning bud, bud light, and PBR (thank you hipsters) are about all they have. Lunchtime service has generally sucked. Food can take in upwards of 20-30 mins. Its like the sort of place that waitresses are put to pasture after a long career at such fine dining establishments such as Denny's and Big Boys. The staff have always been friendly however, just a bit on a slow side. Anyway, certainly worth a shot and I still go there from time to time. read more

Gerald R.

17 years ago

Let people say what they want.....an honest review is exactly what this bar deserves! The Anchor Bar is a great place to relax, watch the game, enjoy some food or listen to the jukebox. Diverse clientele along with a great staff makes this a great place to do what you want. Make no bones about it.....if you need to have your hand held and instructed and waited on hand and foot then you surely are in the wrong place. Pick your favorite spot in the place and order a new beer from the extensive beer and lager selection. With great tradition in Detroit, the Anchor Bar is definitely a venue where you can feel at home and never out of place. read more

Billie J.

11 years ago

How is this place so full? What did we miss? Bad pre-made burger patties, warm pickles sitting out on the table, expensive beer, and the nastiest wait staff. Our waitress came over right when we were seated dropped menus and tool our drink orders then we didn't see her for 20 minutes. When she came back I had the wrong beer (right brewer, wrong beer) but my wife's drink was correct. We ordered burgers and as I said were disappointed. Food came out fast but was basically hurled at us and no one ever checked in to make sure we were happy or see if we needed anything. I hate to give bad reviews but save your money this place is all hype. read more

Ethel F.

23 days ago

It has a fun sports bar kind of feel, and Thursday nights are really a good time to go, especially during happy hour. When it gets busy, or there's a game on, it can get a little noisy, but that's to be expected for a bar of this type. The one thing to remember is parking. Street parking and nearby lots are available, but if downtown is busy, finding a spot can be a bit more difficult. Their wine selection is ok, but don't expect a big or fancy wine list. They have a few basic options that are fine for a casual drink. I'd return for the food, drinks, and laid-back sports bar atmosphere. Good for groups. read more

Stephy P.

4 years ago

Glad to be able to go back to my favorite dive bar! Made sure to come for their reopening. Excited to see that the menu still has some of the known food as well as some new additions I can't wait to try. Tonight I was craving the Boom Bang Shrimp Tacos. They are delicious. I highly recommend them. You also can't beat the specials they are running all of April! Make sure to check them out. The service is amazing. You won't be disappointed. read more

Danielle M.

8 years ago

I recently heard about the Anchor bar, and wanted to try it out. A few friends and I stopped in on St. Patty's Day for some food and drinks. I enjoyed the Billy Joe Sandwich which was delicious!! I highly recommend stopping in for pre-event festivities before heading to an event downtown. I will defiantly return to this establishment for it was very satisfying from the food and welcoming staff. read more

Dave B.

9 years ago

This is a good spot to stop in for your standard drinks, and beer. Bar food, which I love, I go here with my friends often. The service is pretty good, the prices are fair. Looking forward to my next visit. You should check this place out, it's a little hidden gem. The crowd is friendly ready going, it's like a neighborhood bar in the middle of downtown. Keep it up Anchor... See you soon! read more

Michael E.

7 years ago

My wife and I travel down state every few months and when we go to Detroit the Anchor Bar is absolutely on our list of stops. The makeover in there is fantastic and we have found ourselves many times saying we are stopping in for one and end up staying for hours. The 'at home' feel that the staff gives us definitely keeps us coming back and we will be customers for life! read more

Caitlin L.

8 years ago

I went into anchor bar with friends over autorama weekend and we had such a great time. Our server was Kenny and he was amazing! Even though it was busy, he never seemed overwhelmed and made us feel important. The prices were good and the service was even better! We stayed way longer than we planned and we'll definitely be coming back. read more

Tim M.

161

7 years ago

First trip to Detroit and we were lucky enough to find the Anchor Bar. Stephanie might be the coolest person ever who took care of us for our drinks and food (that was outstanding) along with letting us finish the rest of the game. Not too big but just big enough, perfect ending to our trip and will definitely be going back again! read more

Blake R.

551

7 years ago

Anchor Bar is extraordinary! My friend and I stopped to visit for our first time and had the best experience! The management and staff were outstanding. It was a very clean and fun atmosphere. Melissa was fantastic! I would recommend stopping by this place anytime you are in Detroit! We had an amazing time here!!!!! Great drinks! read more

Brian K.

430

7 years ago

Anchor Bar is a must stop when in Detroit. The warm and welcoming staff are always a pleasure and the food is fantastic. I especially enjoy when Darian is my server. Her big, bright, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes always makes my day. She could manage the restaurant with how amazing she is but she remains humble. Darian #1 read more

Noah W.

8 years ago

It was our first time at Anchor bar for a night out and we were pleasured with our experience. It was very inviting walking in, the parking is convenient, and the drinks were tasty. Our bartender Hassan made us exceptional drinks and we were so happy! We definitely plan to return! read more

Michael M.

7 years ago

Destination when in downtown Detroit.... Cannot beat the prices or the quality. Great atmosphere and fun and smiling service. Cannot help but have a great time and want to come back for more!! Great place to meet the boys and watch a game... or two! Loved it. read more

JoJo D.

7 years ago

Great vibe! Great food. Staff is friendly, going out of their way to give the best experience and food. Even the manager, Stephanie, made sure to engage with our family, checking on us throughout the time there to make sure we were being well taken care of. read more

Tanya V.

7 years ago

I stopped by on opening day for drinks with my girls and we had a great time. The atmosphere was great and so were the drinks. The parking and location is really convenient. Definitely plan to come again in the future when I'm in Detroit! read more

Gabriel M.

3 years ago

Great spot to go before or after a game or event. This place has a lot of history to it but still has a modern trendy vibe to it. Staff are friendly and attentive. Menu is easy going with a nice fresh twist to it. Definitely recommend! read more

Bugabaer M.

7 years ago

Anchor bar is one of my fave places to lunch. Was there today. Jewel..my waitress..was Awesome. Very consistent. Prompt..polite..and pays attention to detail. I will surely be back. Thanks Anchor bar and Jewel! read more

Pinky L.

7 years ago

I've encountered that bearded man. Be cautious of him and whatever you do NOT take any of his "candy". If he approaches you run... that's how I earned the name pinky Larry is because I didn't know. read more

Anchor Bar - pubs - Updated September 2026

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We had a blast. Secret menu item - the espresso martini. Amazing service from our bar tender. Great…read morecasual sport bar vibe.

We popped in here for a quick drink as we were walking to another bar, but saw this spot…read more The bartender was nice and the drinks were cold. It's a cool local bar that has quick and fast drinks and filled with lots of locals.

Corktown Tavern

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(35 reviews)

Came here after having brunch down the street. A friend was bar hopping down in Corktown and we saw…read morethis place and said why not. The place is pretty simple and has a long bar with chairs in front of it. The back has an outdoor patio with some chairs and tables out there. The bartender at the time was amazing, serving us drinks and chit chatting with us. She was quite entertaining. She even played music that we requested. I would say come to this bar and check it out. You cannot go wrong cheap drinks and good comapny.

I've visited a few times for some drinks and cheap eats…read more Draft beers are $3-$5, bottled beers are about the same. Shots are reasonable, too. I love their $2 food menu! The tots are awesome, as are the fried meatballs. First couple times, I had awesome bartenders. The last time I went, there were two hipstery hipsters behind the bar that were too cool to bother asking customers if they wanted to order a drink or anything. I hate that! Bartenders like that give Detroit a horrible name and reputation. If you're too busy listening to Motorhead and playing with studs on your oh-so-punk-rock vest, do everyone a favor and just quit your job. My expectations are now lowered after my last visit. I'll probably still stop in for day drinks, but if I see those lazy bartenders again, I'll just walk back out the door. Overall, a cool bar to hang out in for a couple hours, but don't come in with high expectations. $10 minimum to use a credit card.

IO Godfrey Lounge

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This "rooftop" is enclosed which is nice for winter months and the large window/doors do open,…read morethere are nice views with plenty of standing and seating. The rooftop is in cork town inside the Hilton Hotel. Parking--there is valet, plenty of street parking too. The drinks are always mixed with care, smooth. Menu has an assortment of drinks and there is a full bar. I've never tried the food, but seems like many enjoy. The bartenders are a bit tunnel visioned but I suppose that can happen when it's busy. I'd go back.

The tried to charge me $300 for a bottle of champagne for the 1.5 L bottle but I ordered the 750mL…read morebottle for half that so I'm glad I caught that lol. Also they auto gratuity so glad I caught that too. Other than that it was alright. The photobooth wasn't working at the time. The crab cakes were good. I didn't like how the waitress assumed I would foot the entire bill as we were guests of my wife's friends' birthday. I happen to be a man so the waitress assumed I would pay for everyone's bill LOL. It was like a party of 15 people. I politely asked for my own separate bill, tyvm

Motor City Sports Bar

4.0

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Pre afternoon tigers game get together! Brought 2 more people,who have never been here. Burger,…read moreburger, cheese & a few like always great service, great food !

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Checkmate

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This is my first time here, it's really nice. There is a dj playing, low lighting, and beautiful…read morelight fixtures. We were searched at the front door and picked our own seating immediately after. There's booth seating and nice lounge chairs and a table for two. Our server was friendly and greeted us quickly. We ordered lamb chops 10/10, lemon pepper wings 10/10, and mashed potatoes 4/10 they were salty and little cold. I ordered a blueberry lemon drop which was delicious 10/10. I can see myself returning.

Nancy Whiskey

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Great friendly atmosphere. The doorman James is always welcoming!…read more We enjoy and look forward to hearing the variety of live bands.

Man! I have to say I was there 10 years ago and I miss you guys so much. Every time I went, I had a…read moreblast. Everybody was so sweet and the honky-tonk music was off the hook. I miss you guys so much. I live in Ypsilanti, but my heart is still with you guys. Got to come soon. You all left a lasting impression!

Greenwich Time Pub

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We just happen to walk up on this spot as we were walking around in the area but was also very…read morehungry too. We were a little concerned at first about the bar tender, it appeared like she was not sure of how to make a drink, we went ahead and took a chance. I didn't really wont to go to deep into the menu, so I ordered a burger and fries and my friend ordered the fish n fries and both a margarita. My burger was decent, fries crispy like I like them. My friend wasn't too happy with her fish, especially because they didn't have any malt vinegar and it was a litte on the greasy side. Now although the bartender wasn't the friendliest to us like she was to the other patrons, the margarita was good and strong, so certainly no complaints from either of us on that, I mean we did order a second one before hitting the road, lol. Now the kicker was the music, LISTEN, it was to die for. All kinds of everything playing, some oldies like the Temptations, some 90's R&B, hell even some Police and Average White Band. I could have sat there all day rocking out and drinking, lol. The whole top off though was the lady we met that was possibly the manager, she was awesome. I wish I could remember her name. But her and the cook were super sweet and so friendly, much different than our bartender. I would definitely recommend a visit here if you want something simple, not over pricey and great music.

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Old fashioned was good but that Espresso martini was amazing bar tender was super nice chill spotread more

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