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    Updated a few days ago

    Castalia Photos

    CASTALIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Castalia

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    Reviews With Photos

    Annette J.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]A wonderful, intimate bar with cocktails and mocktails that take you on a multisensory experience![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    My soul
    Kevin F.

    Quirky fun place with artfully crafted cocktails. The bartender and wait staff understood their craft and it showed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The scents were a cute flourish.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd definitely come back if I had guests visiting and wanted to show them a quintessential 313 hipster experience. Did you hear the one about the hipster who got burned by a slice of pizza? They ate it before it was cool.

    Lisa S.

    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! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cozy atmosphere and just a fun way to start or end a night out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Sara C.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]I absolutely love this place! Small, quaint, and intimate, it offers a truly unique experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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!

    Bar
    Bryan K.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]A very unique spot in mid-town Detroit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice folks and cool basement vibes here![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Jordan B.

    NEW FAVORITE SPOT ALERT!!! A cocktail and fragrance establishment, mixed into one??? Where they base the cocktails off of their signature scents?? It's a WHOLE experience. Let me start by saying the service, IMMACULATE. Literally from the second you walk in the door to the minute you leave, you are taken care of professionally and kindly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Hidden away in the basement of an older home, possibly a wine cellar, is this place!! Very small and intimate, probably only seats maybe 10 people?[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Come early on a weekday/weekend and you'll be great! You first pick a drink, you are served, you will smell the drink and what your take on it will be, then you taste and comment on the notes of the drink...to see if what you smelled and tasted were comparable or different. So neat, really changes your perspective of a craft cocktail and what goes into making it. You learn to appreciate a drink while spending time here, also you will hopefully leave more knowledgeable if your experience was anything like mine! Can't wait to come back and visit!

    Waxing & Waning(pink flower), Wizards & Roses(red bow)
    Ciondra B.

    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.

    Such a cool experience. Definitely a must on your stop midtown Detroit! I haven't had an experience quite like this.

    Gingerbread cocktail
    Tamara K.

    Such a small intimate experience. We did a bar seating of the eight drink cocktail tasting. Absolutely amazing. The detail and ingredients put into each cocktail was so impressive and pairing it with a fragrance was a new way to test my senses. Can't wait for the next menu to go back again.

    Saphace A.

    This place is a perfumery during the day! Kind of unassuming as you walk down some stairs into the tiny bar that it turns into at night. Outside, it looks like a house with a patio. Felt kinda like a cave in there. A handful of tables inside, and a bathroom just up the stairs to the left. We had booked a reservation...but for the wrong day by accident. It happens! And thankfully, the staff was able to accommodate us. They were nice and super friendly! Amazing customer service! We sat inside before any folks who booked reservations came in. But a table opened up outside, so we sat out there and enjoyed the fantastic weather. They pair the drinks with perfume! We all tried different ones of the menu, and it all tasted amazing! Most drinks came with a paper strip to smell before tasting. Some came with a piece of fruit, flower, etc to pair. Really unique concept!

    Mandy C.

    Truly a one of kind experience! By day, fragrance shop. By night, cocktail experience bar. Reservation needed! The cocktail experience is a 2 hour reservation. Cocktails are paired with fragrances, smell and taste are identical! The presentation is rewarding and fun! You'll never really find anything else like this, so if you are on the fence, take a chance! Are you ready for a spirited evening?

    Suzy J.

    My husband and I had the opportunity to try the solstice moon drink along side a sfumato fragrance to enhance different flavors. The paired aroma is intended to create a harmony between the flavor and fragrance. This location is currently closed and will be reopening next week. However, they are doing cocktails to go in these cute little bottles. They also have cocktail cubes which my husband is excited to try soon. They do offer classes about mixing cocktails and spirits. On their website, they offer mocktails as well for people like me who do not drink. I think this is super awesome because I would love to stop in with my husband and drink along side him without having alcohol. It allows you to have that opprtunity to experience these beautiful drinks and aromas together. If you would like to try the to go bottles before they reopen, you can order on their website for pickup.

    Amy W.

    This was a very interesting place. What an amazing concept! He has been here before and knew the owner which made the experience more fulfilling. This was my first time and the owner was very quick to explain the concept. I will first say that this is a small space. It is located in an old mansion in Detroit. Only a few blocks from Woodward. They have a small bar that seats about 4 people and then outdoor seating. We were here fairly early on a weeknight so we were able to get in and sit at the bar. This is a perfume shop by day and a signature cocktail shop by evening. They pair each cocktail with a fragrance. It's a great concept. I ordered "Dawn Of the New Age", which was a fruity drink. They also have a non alcoholic selection of everything. He ordered, "To be Loved by Aphrodite" which was more of a smokey warm rum flavor. They offer cocktail tastings which I said I definitely want to come back and enjoy! I love these unique concepts! The personal touches and great friendly service. We will definitely be back to do a tasting! It was a great way to start off an amazing day!!

    Inside Castalia & view of the cocktail bar

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    Review Insights

    7 months ago

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    Kevin P.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you, Lexi! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit!

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you for the lovely review, Annette! Perfect summary.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you, Sara! We love our hidden gem status!

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    2 years ago

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    Kevin P.

    We're glad you had a great visit! Hope to see you again soon!

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    1 year ago

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    Kevin P.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Kevin P.

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    10 months ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thanks for checking us out, Kelly!

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you!

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    1 year ago

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    Kevin P.

    We love to hear that Shelby, and happy anniversary!

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    3 years ago

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you, Alicia! Glad you enjoyed the experience!

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Kevin P.

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    Kevin P.

    Thank you Alyssa, we appreciate you spending time with us!

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Castalia

    Review Highlights - Castalia

    The space is Sfumato (fragrance store) during the day but at night becomes a cocktail bar called Castalia.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Father Forgive Me

    Father Forgive Me

    4.7
    (59 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    This whole place is such a summer vibe. There is a little something for everyone…read more It was a bit confusing when we first arrived. Here is the lay of the land: Check in at the little red table in the center of the outdoor courtyard if you want "full service". - which means eating and drinking at a table with wait staff. It is not seat yourself at the outdoor tables, like we originally thought. There is a nice sized bar indoors and seating at the bar is first come first served. We ordered several of the small plate "snacks" and I can tell you that the hummus is not to be missed. It is served with (homemade?) tortilla chips that are absolutely addictive. They have lots of choices for wine, beer, and cocktails. Towards the back entrance of the property, there is a drink truck where you can also order "walkaway" food and drinks. Not entirely sure where you sit with the food/drinks you order, as most of the seating seemed reserved for full service. Additionally, there is a photo booth for pics (long line) and Warda Patisserie is right next door and accessible through a garden walkway.

    Father Forgive Me was named #83 on North America's 50 Best Bars list. It's located in a…read more110-year-old church garage, and there's a beautiful courtyard outside for guests to either sit on the grass or their picnic tables. Just an overall beautiful space. The inside restaurant area is also beautiful. We wanted to sit inside at the bar, so we waited for some seats to open up. If you want to sit outside, all you have to do is order at the bar and they'll serve your drinks in plastic cups for you to take outside. The rhubarb pie punch was so delicious I had to order it twice! Probably one of my favorite cocktails I've ever had. I also ordered the maurixio cattelan, which tasted like ginger ale. For a snack before dinner, we chose to get the burrata and it was so refreshing. The service was great and our bartender was super friendly! The logo with the little lamb is adorable. I bought one of their wine glasses with their logo on it too for just $10.

    Photos
    Roasted beets and whipped feta (on the side per our request)
    Roasted beets and whipped feta (on the side per our request)
    Carrot cake cocktail
    Carrot cake cocktail
    Outdoor space

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    Outdoor space
    Bar Pigalle

    Bar Pigalle

    4.3
    (208 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Full bar

    I absolutely love this place! The food was delicious across the board. The butter had a wonderful…read moresweet and spicy kick, and the salad was incredibly fresh and light. Both the steak and fries were cooked to absolute perfection, as was the gnocchi. To top it all off, our server was wonderful. Highly recommend They did provide a sweet birthday crème brûlée!

    Had dinner at Bar Pigalle yesterday early evening…read more Highs Service was stellar. Our server was very welcoming and helped to set up our food order into courses that allowed us a very relaxing evening Cocktails were really good. I had a Last Word and it was very well done. The restaurant is decorated very nicely with warm wood trim. The bar area looked stellar and very French-bistro like. I will sit there next time No so Highs Food was good, but just OK. Between the two of us we had the beet salad, burger and steak tartare. Burger was good, but not the best smash burger that I've had. Beet salad was fine, however the cream cheese was a bit overpowering against the orange oil. It was dying for some citrus. Steak tartare was a bit dry, meaning that a small dab of olive oil would have added to the richness and overall mouth feel. I did not really taste the egg although I did see a dab of yolk on the tartare. Needed a bit of salt also to enhance the taste Menu was small, but it did cover a cross section of French bistro dishes. All in all, I thought it was a bit overpriced. So I will have to consider returning for a full meal. I would come back for a burger and beer at the bar.

    Photos
    Bar Pigalle cocktail Just Friends
    Bar Pigalle cocktail Just Friends
    Chef's selection of oysters with house hot sauce and mignonette at Bar Pigalle
    Chef's selection of oysters with house hot sauce and mignonette at Bar Pigalle
    Bar Pigalle Burger - Single

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    Bar Pigalle Burger - Single
    The Conservatory

    The Conservatory

    4.0
    (11 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    I'm not usually a "hotel lobby bar" kinda person, but we were looking for a place to have drinks…read moreand some bites after a show at the DSO and decided to walk here. I was very pleasantly surprised! The space is beautiful, classy, and airy. We sat at the bar and had a nice chat -- the music was at a good volume. I only ordered wine -- their wine list is alright. Not bad for a bar that's clearly not wine-focused. My wife and a friend had cocktails and they both were good, particularly their espresso martini. For food, we shared patatas bravas, tortilla española, and croquetas de jamon, and they were all delicious. I'd legit come back for a full dinner. My only reason to not give this 5 stars is the drink service was very slow, even though the place wasn't busy. The two bartenders seemed friendly enough but weren't communicating very well, and kept forgetting to take and/or bring our orders. We also asked for the check and they kept forgetting to bring it until we asked again. Overall, it was a positive experience and a nice surprise, but I hope the odd bar service was just a one-off blip.

    Unfortunately the staff was in a tough position when we came to try the Conservatory, as there was…read moreonly one person in the back and nearly half of their menu was unavailable. They could have been upfront about this, but our waiter didn't tell us until after bringing us drinks, letting us see the menus, and after he started to take our orders. We essentially had to ask---what *do* you have? One pet peeve of mine is that they give everyone low ball glasses for water with no ice and a single, narrow carafe of water for the entire table. We had to continuously ask for more water. I tried the espresso no-tini ($11), a mocktail. It was good, but came in cordial glass and was essentially just a shot of chilled espresso. The setas ($14) were listed as a local wild mushroom blend with garlic and lemon. It was probably about a half cup of mushrooms, grilled, and served in a saucer. Finally, the charcuterie y queso ($21) was meat, cheese, sourdough, mustard, pickles, and honey. Everything was very salty and with no variation. It needed balance with a soft cheese, spice, or more sweetness. My charcuterie plate didn't come out until about an hour plus after we ordered, after multiple asks. It's hard to justify the delay when it's just hard cheese and meat, they didn't have to cook, and there were few other customers. (Essentially, we forgot). I still had a wonderful time with my friends in a beautiful space, but I wouldn't come here to eat again. The menu is elaboratey described dishes that come in very small portions and with ingredients that don't live up to the names.

    Photos
    Bar at the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle.
    Bar at the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle.
    Espresso martini
    Espresso martini
    The Conservatory

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    Castalia - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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