What a hidden gem! I really loved the concept and the fact that I found this place by accident made the experience even better. You'll find special cocktails on the menu made with scents and fragrances that will maximize your sense of smell. Service is great. The staff is very friendly and one of the owners came personally to give us some recommendations and explain the concept. I'd love to stay in Detroit longer just to try all the cocktails I couldn't taste that day XD but it's now on my to-do list for my next visit! read more

Castalia - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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I love the intentionality behind each drink. Keeping Up With The Joneses was complex and smoky from mezcal and absinthe, paired with fragrances of wood, anise, and earth. So memorable. read more

Castalia - Keeping Up With The Joneses. Complexity of mezcal and absinthe, paired with fragrances of anise, wood, and earth. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Went on a beautiful evening and sat outside before dinner reservations nearby. Very attentive service. Excellent experience.

My BF and I were thoroughly impressed with Castalia. The concept is unique and a great experience - nothing else currently like it in Detroit. It resides in the basement of the building. Upstairs during the day is the Detroit fragrance store, Sfumato. In the evening Castalia comes to life where craft cocktails are paired with the Sfumato fragrances. The cocktails were crafted with a specific fragrance in mind, so they pair very well. They spray your cocktail napkin with the paired fragrance and suggest you smell the napkin before, during, and/or after taking a sip of your drink. Sounds simple but its actually really fun. It helps shape the taste of the drink and all their fragrances smell lovely. They are described as gender neutral and natural scents. The building itself looks like an old Victorian brick house and it's gorgeous. The space is pretty small and intimate - we came on a Thursday evening and there were only a few people there so we didn't have to fight for a seat. We actually got to sit at the bar and get an up-close view of our drinks being made. Our bartender was Jasmine and she was extremely personable and did a great job making and explaining each drink and their paired fragrance. She even let us sample some of the gourmet nuts they sell as a snack which was very kind of her. We each tried a couple different drinks each and they all met expectations. My BF's favorite drink is an old fashion and that's what he started with (wasn't on the menu) and said that it was definitely one of the best ones he's had. We will be back! read more

Love this cozy spot! Unique beverage pairings with wonderful fragrance served graciously

If you are in the mood for something different, you need to check out Castalia in midtown. This place is down some stairs in the garden level of an old Victorian mansion. The place is small and intimate, so it would make a much better date night than night out with a large group of friends. Each cocktail is inspired by the fragrances from Sfumato, their day business in the same space. The menu does a great job of describing each scent so you have a good idea what your drink will taste like. While the drinks and ambiance are certainly worth the price tag, it can be cost prohibitive if you are on a strict budget. $30 for two drinks but they were definitely worth it. This may be more of a special occasion type of bar. read more

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The owners, the servers, the vibe are always welcoming and the cocktails are always unique and enjoyable. Very cozy spot - not a loud or boisterous establishment in any sense of the work. Nothing elitist at all about the venue or owners and servers. They do have a very specific POV but nothing snooty - just adventurous in concept and very well thought out in delivery. I am not a professional or paid writer of Yelp or any other reviews. I am a local and a fan of Castalia.Best cocktails and cocktail bar experience in Midtown in my opinion. read more

This place will easily elevate date night. I have been wanting to try this place for a little while now and it did not disappoint. The fragrances paired with your cocktails is a nice way to add extra excitement to the scene. read more

Wow! Sexy perfume shop during the day, drinks and night with a touch of daytime fragrances! I had At First Blush. Drink Smell Drink. Just go and experience the atmosphere! Definitely a stop when in Midtown. Did I forget to mention a DJ playing very cool music. read more

Castalia - Food Truck! The NuDeli. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This super unique space has it all: -Amazing + creative drinks. -Beautiful outdoor space. -Clean bathrooms. -Attentive waitstaff. -Amazing alcohol-free options. read more

Cute, intimate spot for drinks. During the day, it's a craft fragrance store but at night it converts into a cocktail bar. The menu has cocktails each paired with one of their fragrances - oftentime, it will be provided in the form of a spray on a napkin or cloth when it comes to the drink for you to inhale as you drink in order to gain the full scope of the flavors and scents. My favorites were the Hirameki and the Heir Apparent, but all of the cocktails we tried were markedly different and you can certainly find something for your taste. A unique concept, to be sure. read more

Cute place. Great service. Unique experience with the perfumes being paired to your drink. A tad pricey. read more

Castalia - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Wow, I'm obsessed with this place. Thought it was just a cocktail bar, but turns out they combine their own fragrances with handcrafted cocktails. My boyfriend and I tried two wonderful drinks last night. His had the fragrance on a napkin so he was supposed to smell then taste his cocktail and it really made the experience that much better. Mine had the fragrance in the ice beneath the cup and it paired so well with my drink! Not to mention the service was outstanding! I can't wait to come back read more

Castalia is a great business model, I'm honestly so impressed! These guys have figured out a way to keep people coming in the door for longer hours than a traditional fragrance house, and they have a truly unique experience of pairing cocktails with their fragrances. I was trying to decide between two cocktails and I ended up choosing based on the scent paired with the cocktail. As savvy as the business model is, it wouldn't matter if the drinks weren't good (and they are!). Although some are better than others, the presentation is always top notch and because the space is very small the bar/fragrance-tenders are very attentive. Personally, I hate waiting in line and I hate making reservations (where is the spontaneity?!). In Midtown it is becoming difficult to find a bar with enough space to breathe, but somehow Castalia manages to maintain an intimate space without any feelings of overcrowding. Kudos! A few drinks in, and it probably won't take much convincing to get you to walk out with a fragrance (which aren't much more expensive than the cocktails)! read more

Stumbled across this place due to its proximity to our Airbnb. What an amazing find! The owner was so amazing! Accommodated us even though we arrived quite late, made us the most amazing drinks and had a wonderful conversation. The atmosphere is so fun. Cannot recommend this place enough!! The drinks we tried, even ones that sounded odd to us, were absolutely amazing and delicious. The paired fragrances were amazing as well! We had cocktails and tried the seasoned nuts, they were delicious! The best cocktails we have come across and even N/A ones available as well! Go! read more

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I ordered to-go cocktails due to The Hot Mess That Is 2020. The bottles were a nice quality, reusable glass. The pours were generous, and everything was stylishly packaged. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their drinks. While I can't wait for life to go back to normal, the to-go business is something I look forward to supporting! read more

This place is beyond a destination. Whether you are from the area or visiting from out of town, this curated, intellectual spot for cocktails is smart on the level of the Aviary in Chicago. The cocktails are delicious, the ambiance is dialed in, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. We will be back time and again. Highly recommend. read more

This has been on my to-do list since it opened. I have to be honest, at first I didn't really get the concept but after doing Kevin's online class and cubes to go, I'm in love. This is so delightfully nerdy and is such a complete experience! I cannot wait for their scented movie experience. It'll be so amazing! The co-owner is brilliant with a history in combustion engineering and previous culinary school. Very neat! read more

We had a wonderful experience tonight with James as the mixologist extraordinaire . We would highly recommend visiting this gem establishment to experience cocktails with a flair and story and sensory experience like no other. Thank you for so much fun and knowledge. read more

If you can go, I highly recommend it. Drinks are amazing. Snacks are good as well. You also have the chance to purchase any of the fragrances they offer. Make sure you visit the store, as drinks are served only outside right now (September 2020). Staff was very friendly and helpful. read more

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I love this little cocktail bar. Wherever I travel, I try to find a craft cocktail bar, usually with a speakeasy vibe. I visited Detroit a couple times for business and found Castalia during my search for cool bars. I highly recommend! It's a small bar that is a perfumery by day and a cocktail bar by night. Each cocktail has a matching scent and is served with a swatch of that scent. It makes for a full sensory experience. My partner had Before the Fall and Ire from Above, and I had Keeping Up with the Joneses and Lazy Dayz. All of the drinks were dynamic. Our favorites were Before the Fall (cozy, sweet but not too sweet, and spicey like a delicious warm holiday cookie) and Lazy Dayz (velvety, floral, somewhat herbal). The music and other guests were cool, the decor was simple but perfect, and the vibe was swanky. Will definitely return. read more

Castalia is a hidden gem in Detroit! I cannot say enough good things about it. The fragrances, the cocktails, the pairing of both, the space, and most importantly the staff! All are top notch. If you want a unique and genuine experience that represents the creative and inventive side of Detroit, go to Castalia now! The staff will take excellent care of you and ensure you have a curated and intimate experience in a warm and inviting environment. read more

What a diamond in the rough. I have never been to a place with this level of ambiance and quality of cocktails. It was incredible. The service was great and the menu is incredible. It's in the basement of a Victorian house so that adds to the charm. read more

Awesome cocktail + scent experience! Truly unique. There's also non-alcoholic versions of many of the cocktails for friends who don't drink. Can't wait to come back soon. read more

Fun experience. Very small and intimate with unique decor. We sat in the "corner seat" which was cozy. Staff did a great job explaining the drinks and the experience they create with the combination of scents and tastes. It was nice there were non-alcoholic choices. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the interesting recipes. read more

Read about the place,then it slipped my mind....my husband and I made a u-turn when driving by, parked the car and ran through the rain to the hidden gem downstairs. Super quaint and, of course, smells so good. Met the owner, very nice. Bartenders were great. They served our drinks with a spritz of the pairing scent into the napkin that my drink rested on. Such a cool concept. We will be back read more

Kevin & James were truly the best! I loved the Pick A Card with the Epiphany fragrance and Curtain Call with Apricity fragrance. I can't wait to be back! read more

This place is cool- fragrance store by day, cocktail bar at night. They deliver good cocktails. This place is small so wouldn't recommend for more than 2-3 people in your party, but definitely worth visiting. read more

Love this place! Great drinks, great atmosphere, great service. If your looking for something different from your typical bar you need to try this place. read more

Great cocktail place, owners are super friendly. Cool concept and cool people. Very unique setting and interesting cocktails.

Stopped here for an after dinner cocktail with friends. The space is intimate and welcoming. Kevin was thorough and engaging in making recommendations for our experience. I would highly recommend experiencing Castalia. It is a breath of fresh scent in a city crowded with nondescript bars. You will not be disappointed. read more

What an incredible experience here. This place is a gem. Fragrance store by day, cocktail bar by night with cocktails inspired by the fragrances they have crafted. Your napkin comes sprayed with the scent carefully paired with your cocktail. Kevin, the co-owner with his wife, has a background in the culinary world as well as the engineering world before turning a fragrance hobby full time. The bar is so beautifully constructed with gorgeous woods, an incredible polished concrete bar, and beautiful lighting from local artisans. And the cocktails blew my mind. Such thoughtful pairings with the fragrances but also amazing drinks that stood on their own. GO HERE YOU WONT REGRET IT. read more

Had such a great time during our private bar booking! Kyle is an artist behind the bar and damned good company besides. I'm already looking at another reservation in March! read more

We came here with a group of friends for my boyfriend's birthday, and the staff showed us a great time. They gave us drink combos that we'd never even heard of before that were so good and unique, and Kevin and Kyle were very friendly hosts!! I'd definitely come back to this place/recommend to friends. read more

Was a skeptic "fragrance and cocktails" but after my first visit I'm sold. Love the atmosphere and the drinks. The owners are incredibly interesting and Jasmine behind the bar is in the best. read more

Castalia is one of the most unique cocktail bars I have ever been too. I thoroughly enjoyed how they paired fragrances with complex cocktails. The bar is also in a very intimate space, which I loved! read more

Stopped by here after dinner at Selden Standard and was excited to try this neat and trendy cocktail establishment. It is located in the garden level of an old house, so look for the sign out front to guide you. The drinks were top notch, and the scents they match the drinks with were spot on. It is definitely a unique place to have a cocktail! Looking forward to going back. read more

Castalia - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Wonderful! They have done an amazing job creating this little cocktail bar in the heart of Midtown. It is very small and only holds about 18 people I think so it may be a good idea to get there early. The space is Sfumato (fragrance store) during the day but at night becomes a cocktail bar called Castalia. They've done an amazing job with the interior. Very well thought out, trendy, classy and welcoming all at the same time. We also met the owners who could not have been any nicer. We had two cocktails (names unfortunately forgotten) but they were both excellent-better than most other cocktail bars that have opened in Detroit over the past few years. This is the "new Detroit" at it's finest. read more

Castalia - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Been here twice in one week. Great service. Friendly staff. Amazing drinks. I'm from out of town, but if I lived in Detroit, this would definitely be a go to spot. read more

Cute little hidden bar in midtown Detroit. The bar matches fragrances with cocktails to deliver a multi-sensory experience. I'm not sure I'm sophisticated enough to fully appreciate all the layers. But the drinks are very enjoyable. Recommend checking this place out. It can be a little odd to find since it's located downstairs and doesn't look like a bar from the outside read more