Awesome time here. Really cool basement bar that has a great liquor selection. Did have to wait about 10 minutes to get in but there was not a cover. Located right in the middle of downtown Ann Arbor. Did seem like a bit of a college bar of note, but also plenty of people a little older than that too. Pretty easy to get drinks though, and it was reasonably priced. Overall great time here and would come back. read more

Great drinks and nice venue, eat before you come! No food offered, just chips. Martinis top notch!

This place is a super, cute bar in downtown Ann Arbor. They offer great cocktails and a dim, lively vibe. The customer service was great. They have pool tables and an open space for sitting and standing. I would recommend this place if you're looking for good, quality drinks. read more

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Great vibes and staff was super friendly. I tried the espresso martini, passion fruit margarita, and the lychee martini and all were amazing. Would definitely recommend read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - espresso martini and lychee martini - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I've been a frequent customer of Bab's for years. Visited the other weekend with some friends, wormed my way up to the bar and waited patiently for the blonde bartender with a floral chest tattoo to finish taking shots with a bearded guy at her bar and serve us. I asked for a green tea shot and was going to also order a PBR, but my friend's bf tapped on my shoulder and asked me to order two and a martini and to put it on his tab. I turned around to tell the bartender this and she refused to take the order. She said that if she let everyone do that, no one would wait in line. This would have been understandable, except for the fact that there was only one other person at the bar well with me actually trying to order anything, and everyone else was just taking up what standing room they could get. I didn't even get the chance to ask for the beer I originally wanted with my shot, because in the midst of her refusal she slid me the toast handheld or whatever they use to close my check. This irritated me so badly that I walked upstairs to ask who the manager was. Apparently, her. I've been in service for a long time and I've genuinely never heard of someone not being allowed to add to a check while the order is still being taken. I could understand her being upset if he'd tapped me to ask for a bunch of fancy cocktails at once, but it was two beers and a martini, and my shot was already made. Pretty weird that she didn't want to crack two cans open. Just weird behavior and weird service‍not a good way to treat a customer, especially as a manager. Hope they fix that read more

Trash bar, hasn't been cleaned in years. If you are in college you will have a good time. If you are a professional, the bartenders are trained to swindle you into drinking something worth more than it is worth. Shiesty and dirty, good luck :) read more

Drink prices were reasonable. The actual layout was unique and comfortable, and I liked that there weren't any really narrow walkways where you might have a hard time moving around when it's busy. The two pool tables are larger and appear well maintained, but they don't have a system to give other people a turn like the Eightball Saloon, so some people are inclined to hog the tables all night. But most places don't have that, so it's hardly a valid complaint. It's evident too that if you're a college student, this is the place to be. In short, a seemingly fun place to hang out depending on when you go. read more

Friendly staff, drinks served quick, and a cool place to hang if You're just having a few drinks with your people. Have yet to have a bad experience here. read more

I've been here twice and both times my drinks have been good. Of course, I had wine so it's hard to mess that up. My husband did not like his Old Fashioned that he had. Way too much bitters. Even I could tell that it was off just by the color of it. The ambiance of the bar is fantastic though. I love the underground vibe there. read more

Babs has that cool speakeasy vibe with young college atmosphere. The group I went with called it a speakeasy but for those of us who have been to an actual speakeasy, it's not. It's labeled! Anywho, pretty decent drink menu and I think they had some munchies. Pretty chill place that I can see someone coming to who is down to go out on the town but doesn't want to hit up the club. Great people watching also. read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - Underground/downstairs entry on an office building - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I don't normally do this but when I went tonight I got treated poorly by the bartending staff. Typically I can brush most things off but when it's the staff being rude and seeking some sort of conflict I can't let it slide. Maybe it was just a bad day for the bartenders but I can't recommend bad service and paying seven dollars for a beer. The ambiance is alright and smelled a little funky. Almost like puke. If I went in the earlier hours of the day perhaps I would've had a better experience. However, rude service, expensive drinks, and funky smells do not suit my night life experience go somewhere else to spend your money at. There's too many options in the area to be treated poorly by staff. read more

I heard about this place and was curious about it. I recently on a whim decided to go with my coworkers and lowkey when I saw the entrance door it kinda looked like a therapist office. Inside there are pool tables and has a nice bar and big space for people to chit chat. The bartender Anthony is super nice and showed us the different drinks. I have to say I enjoyed the la anciana the best strong but sweet. They own different establishments as well so overall good vibes. If you want to play pool you can get the balls at the bar. It closes at like 2 but nearby is the fleetwood diner so that is always a plussss read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - tom collins ! - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I've been coming to this place because I really enjoy the music and the atmosphere. However the service from the bartenders is terrible. I was told that the bartenders "don't work for free" and refused service over a tipping dispute for a $10 bill. The bartenders then continued to discriminate against me even after I told them I would just give them the tip they felt they deserved and had me thrown out of the bar by security guards forcefully even though I was prepared to leave calmly. read more

Wow!!! On our way to Toledo, we stopped to do a little sight seeing in Anne Arbor, MI to check out the University of Michigan and came across this gem. I have to say Bab's is a pretty amazing speakeasy bar. The ambience was definitely gorgeous but the best part of the EXPERIENCE was the customer service. Megan was phenomenal and is a true mixologist. You can tell she loves her craft and takes a lot of pride in her creations. I would highly recommend visiting Bab's to have the same experience we had. Definitely try their Banana Coconut Espresso Martini, The Angry Bird, and their Raspberry Rain Martini. read more

cool bar with great drinks and enjoyable music. Megan is fantastic and free pool on Tuesdays. read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

After our lesson than stellar dinner, we came here for nostalgic reasons. Ann Arbor was my stomping grounds around 30 years ago, then, in the mid-90's, a friend and I were called in off Liberty Street to check out a new place just opening call Bab's Liberty Street Piano Bar. And Babs was the one who hauled us in. It was a great place. Though it didn't last very long, then I heard of this place. Turns out it was the same Babs, though she sold it several years ago. But it remains a great place! We had a couple cocktails and enjoyed the covid stricken atmosphere which they've done well to adapt. And the barten. . .wait. . .he was a real mixologist if you ask me. Great info and accessories on their version of a Toronto. She opted for margaritas. Great work guys!! read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - Babs' Underground - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I love that the place is actually underground. Swanky! Good cocktails and they have pool tables. A nice date night spot.

This is my 'go-to' spot in downtown Ann Arbor when I'm out and about on the town. The drinks here are very reasonably priced, extremely tasty, and all of the staff are awesome. Couple that with pool and shuffleboard tables, and you're in for a great time. I have been coming here off and on for over six years now, and you can definitely tell that the place is becoming more and more popular. I remember when it didn't use to be as busy on the weekends, but the place is awesome and I'm happy to see the crowd growing and the business to be doing well. I will definitely be back, and if you haven't been, you should definitely stop in for a peek. read more

Haven't been here in a year and a half but I figured it was good time to go back for a date night! My date and I both got the Wonder Years and the Crystal Gazer cocktails. My favorite was the Wonder Years except for the fact that they filled our cups almost full with ice :( I would recommend asking if the drink has ice or not so you can ask for light ice so you get your money's worth! We learned that they made the prices of the cocktails all the same, even though some may have more expensive ingredients than others, so it makes it easier to make a choice and try them all if you want to! Our other cocktail was also small, but the blend of ingredients and ambiance of the bar are totally worth it! We were here on a Friday night and it was pretty quiet at 7:30/8 and then got busy around 9 so it's a great time to get a post-dinner cocktail and beat the crowds. read more

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This is a great place for groups to gather. There's plenty of room to spread out at multiple bars, high tops, low tops, banquettes. Service was quick at the bar, music in the background was not overpowering. Lively crowd, but nothing rowdy. A mix of ages, genders, couples, singles. The sign out front is pretty small and up high so be on the lookout, but everything here happens downstairs. You'll be ID-ed at the door-be prepared to flash your pic. Once inside you can have some more pictures made at the photo booth in the corner. read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - Shots for all. Great place for a group gathering. - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Amazing service and great music. Megan makes the best cocktails in town. By far best bar in town.

Babs is a classic Ann Arbor stop! It can get pretty crowded at night but if you are there early enough you can get a good seat. The drinks are absolutely delicious. Everyone who works here is great! The vibe is awesome! They have some pool tables, if you are into that. A great spot overall. read more

Babs' Underground Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I didn't know what to expect from Babs, but I was pleasantly surprised. As others have described, it is definitely a speakeasy-type place, as you sneak in through another building before proceeding to the bar itself in the basement. It would be easy to overlook, especially in the day, when the interior of the first building just resembles a nondescript office. Once downstairs, though, the space is open, and filled with pool tables, booths, and with a spacious and grand old bar in one corner. My friends and I camped out in front of the bar and were able to easily visit. The space was full but not too crowded, probably due to the fact that the school year was over and most of the younger and louder people were gone for the summer! The most memorable part of the visit for me, though, was ordering my drink, and then watching one of the bartenders mix it up. Tall and lanky with a crisp button-down shirt and a bow tie, he elegantly spun from one part of the bar to another, filling a pint glass here, pulling out a sprig of rosemary there. Equal parts whirling dervish and ballet dancer, I was amazed at how he simultaneously took orders, mixed drinks, and delivered beverages, all with a smile and without breaking a sweat. So, head to Babs for a fun time on your next night out in Ann Arbor. Like me, I hope you'll find that it may be one of your new favorites places! read more

I just can't get behind this place. First off, I've been here three times and every single time, literally every time, the bouncer has been a total jerk. I have never entered here without him being SO rude. Sometimes, he goes out of his way to be rude. Last night, I went with a group and when we got downstairs someone in the group whom I had just met said, "Dude, he's always a d**k, I just got used to it." No! I shouldn't walk into a place expecting to be mistreated. A dock off their rating for every time he's been rude to me. The ambiance is dark and the music isn't for dancing. It's more of a place to go with friends and just chat about life. There is a good mix of people, not too young not just oldies. The pool tables are cool, and so are the pinball machines. Sorry, Babs, but there strikes and you're out. read more

We wanted to try this place and finally got to it. I has a really nice vibe. We enjoy playing pool -- even though we're terrible at it -- and were surprised to find a dearth of places that had pool tables; perhaps Ann Arbor is the River City from Music Man. Anyway, the tables here are nice and well-maintained. They aren't coin-fed, so you have to get access from the server. All that is perfectly fine. Here is the issue: a lot of people come here to play pool. There are only two tables, so if you don't arrive early enough, you have to wait until the folks using them are done. We arrived early enough to use the tables. A crowd accumulated to wait for the tables. To encourage us to finish early, some of them began making snotty comments about our skill level. After a while, we tired of the comments and surrendered the table. I am gratified to report that the folks making the comments were no better at pool than we were. In any event, this is a nice spot. They have a full bar and the staff is very friendly. I think the prices are a bit inflated, but that is typical for a speakeasy. read more

Beautiful space, and reasonable priced drinks - I am sold! Bab's underground is on Ashley. The door is a little hard to find, as it is not marked, but look for the address number, go inside the door and head towards the down stairs. You will most likely meet a friendly doorman checking IDs. Very dark, almost uncomfortably dark, however the ambiance created is fantastic. Great TV screens in the lower bar, lounge area and pool table in the upper lounge. It is almost a swanky cigar-bar feel. High backed chairs and rich dark leather in the intimate seating areas make casual convo seem like shade deals going on. How fun! The bar is fully stocked, topped off with friendly bartenders. I forgot how much I liked Bab's. I did notice a small selection of munchies on the menu, reasonably priced as well. Great for groups of friends, bar hopping. read more

I feel like this place could do a little bit more to make it pop and bring it to its full potential. I love the hidden speakeasy entrance and the dark underground feel but it seemed like it was missing something. There is a bar area down a few steps and a game area. The game area had a few pool tables (with no instructions on how to get the balls) and a few ping-pong tables which were fun to play. To me, it felt like this place was thrown together without any real direction to attract the young college crowd. read more

Anthony is an amazing bartender. He makes amazing drinks and is always kind to everyone :)

Great environment, service, and cocktails. I'll definitely plan on returning with friends or even by myself.

I had never been here before, and went with a group of friends on Friday night. THE GOOD: -It almost feels like an office setting, until you take the stairs down and get into the bar area. I wonder if originally it was an industrial space? -The drinks - I had the Strawberry Fields martini ($8) and it was delicious - it had strained strawberries in it. I may have drank it a bit fast because of that, lol. I know that Black Pearl is normally $10-11 for martinis so $8 is not too bad. THE OKAY: -I liked that it was a big space, but it didn't entirely feel like a bar because of that. I'll probably come back to Babs at some point when I am back in the area. read more

I used to frequent this place multiple times a week. My favorite bouncer is the guy with the bald head and the beard who is always smoking a cigar. He's awesome. I was such a lush that he wouldn't card me, but would card my friends because I came way more often than anybody. My favorite staff has left so I only attend on occasion, but I hear that there is a DJ still playing some music on Wednesdays. They have clean restrooms with a huge one in the women's bathroom -- so big it has two doors. They also have pool tables and a photobooth. Their art showings are usually really good local artists. My friend Sarah had her alter-ego series on display a year ago, and it was my favorite because it featured Ann Arbor's favorite young locals, including me as a gangster. Ha! They have a two drink minimum on credit cards, which is really annoying, but something to keep in mind if you have no cash on you. read more

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I like this place. Kristen (sp?) is the most amazing server ever and her memory is impeccable! Wish they served food, but I'm guessing there's no kitchen. They have some interesting martinis ($8 when not on special), which I tend to stick to. If you like chugging bottles of Dimetapp, try the Grape Vine martini. What? Don't look at me like that. I can't have been the only one to do this as a kid. read more

Babs almost succeeds at being a hip underground speakeasy, without the pretension of most speakeasies. It's easy to miss, and walking through the front door really does feel like you're crossing a threshold into a secret but somehow inclusive club. The crowd is mixed--some undergrads, some grad students, some young professionals, some middle-ages couple, groups of coworkers, etc. There's lots of dark wood, a few pool tables, cushy bar stools, well-dressed bar tenders, and edgy art on the walls. Cocktails are made with care. Some are very strong (my date was tipsy before she finished her Manhattan), some less so (my Tom Collins was tasty, but weak). Edison bulbs are suspended from the ceiling, giving off a warm light that's not too bright. So far so good, Babs. But then there is a giant flatscreen tv right next to the bar, which kills the vibe. The sports, the bright blue light, the bros there to watch sportball--none of it fits in. There is also a light gray stone wall and several flashing arcade games by the pool tables. It feels more suburban rich kid basement than speakeasy. read more

Great drinks but the reason I am giving this one star is because I had a server say some pretty discriminatory racist things to me because of the form of ID I presented. The form of ID I presented is an acceptable form of ID in the United States even though he told me it wasn't and proceeded to be very very rude and condescending. This place is in a good area with good drinks but I cannot return after feeling discriminated. read more

I was taken here by some friends. Like other reviewers have mentioned, this bar is certainly not the easiest to find if you don't know it is there. It is in the same complex as the law firm Smith Haughey Rice Roegge. The joint was hopping when we got there, but we managed to snag a table right after coming in. It appeared that they offered wait service, but no one ever came by. The crowd seemed to be a bit older, but this bar definitely caters to a younger crowd. They even advertise special shots. In the end, we got tired of waiting for service and left. Looks to be a nice bar, but if you are over 30, you may want to go elsewhere. read more

Hostest was not accommodating and did not treat us with respect. Did not appreciate the service.

Zero stars. Our party of nine for a bachelorette party tried to get two tables, as parties of over six are not allowed under the mdhhs orders of insane death of a party of nine. They said they don't seat parties that seem to be together above the number of six. Can't separate us into two parties and tables. Our mistake was walking in together. I do not condone any business going above and beyond the ridiculous emergency orders. I emailed the management before posting this review with no response. Disgusting people that don't care about their employees getting work and tips. The hostess had the gaul to snidely say, "Have a nice evening." read more

Does it get a little crowded on weekends? Of course. But Babs' ample space, great music selection, and affordable cocktails more than make up for it. Being in a basement, Babs' has a modern speakeasy feel to it. I thoroughly enjoyed my rye cocktail, and was impressed by the tasteful presentation, especially for a place that can get pretty bro-ey some weekends. Oh, and I forgot to mention, they also have pool tables and some other bar games to keep you entertained. If for the size alone I'll definitely considering having my next birthday here. read more

This was a great little find in Ann Arbor. It was also the only place after the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game that wasn't totally packed. As a person who didn't go to Michigan or live in Ann Arbor, I probably wouldn't have even noticed this place since the door is pretty unmarked and you have to walk downstairs to get in (hence the name Underground Lounge). The drink prices were reasonable, good beer in bottles and on tap (around $5 per pint) and they had a decent cocktail menu. I can see how other reviewers pointed out that this place could possibly be labeled 'swanky' - there's a lot of couch/chaise lounge seating and low tables. I like swank dive since it wasn't the classiest place around, but I don't mind. There's pool tables in the back (not near the front at the bar, which is nice) and a photobooth. Bathrooms are in the back and you think you're going the wrong way to get them but you're not, trust me. I'd come back again as long as the douchey crowd stays out. This place got super busy around midnight just as we were leaving, which was nice. read more

Okay, I went to Babs' Underground Lounge for the first time last night, and I had such a great time! I will admit that I came from the Old German--where I drank a liter of their Porter Beer--so my opinion might be slightly skewed. Regardless, the presence of the staff is what really made this a great night. As soon as we came up to the bar, one of the bartenders gave us a menu and asked if we needed anything right away. We wanted to look at the menu, and then we were ready, another bartender got our drinks. Friendliest bartender ever--Josh made delicious drinks efficiently while I pestered him about Bar Rescue. I had two Lavender Hills, which tasted like melted popsicles. Long story short, Josh is the best and made our night! read more