General Wood Shop is such a fun spot on Bridge Street. They are LGBTQ owned and have tons of events all throughout the week, like drag shows, watch parties, dance parties, etc. I think the vibe is more "party" on weekends and evenings, but the times I've gone earlier in the day have been more my speed. Nate and I recently stopped in to try some of their new food menu and seasonal drinks. The new drink menu is Japanese themed, so we were excited since we went to Japan earlier this year. I got the alpenglow and Nate got the spicy margarita. Both were delicious and beautiful. We also got some happy hour snacks - the dijon sesame salad and the savory cream cheese wontons. Their happy hour is a great deal and I'd love to come back soon for that again. The salad was fresh and a big portion to share. The raw diced onion wasn't my favorite addition to the salad, but I did love the overall flavors. The savory cream cheese wontons were absolutely delicious - definitely very savory and crispy. I'd get these every time! The vibe inside at happy hour was pretty quiet but it can get packed as it's not a huge space. I am so glad that General Wood Shop is here and I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

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The General Woodshop, you will ALWAYS be famous. This bar is near and dear to my heart, when it first opened last year I made an effort to bring anyone with me that would come along. As a queer person, we have to protect our spaces by supporting them. The care that the staff lures into this place truly shows. The rotating menu, the affordable drink options, the ambiance and the way they truly take suggestions from their patrons. They have a new patio addition which has made the smaller spot feel larger aswell. Last fall, I came in on a whim by myself. Callie was my bartender (love), and they were deciding what to do with some Sloe Gin. Thus the "Femme Fatale" was born, there's something magical about watching a craft cocktail come together. Something even more magical about being able to NAME a cocktail at your favorite watering hole. GW is truly a beautiful addition to GR. read more

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I love it here!!! I was surprised the first time that I came when they were new, that we had no wait. They greet you outside to check ID's and to let you in only if there is space. There was no table available for us, but there was room at the bar. We gladly accepted. The bartenders were phenomenal - very attentive and helpful, made good drinks, obviouslyyyyy! I tired the PVPD and absolutely loved it. Very beautiful drink and very delicious. The drink names are fun and playful, and very fitting for the place. The atmosphere is great - I love all the neon going on, it is very lively and kind of gives club vibes, but it is a pretty small, intimate place. I can't wait to come back for food. It looked good, and if it is as good as the drinks, I am sure I'll be impressed. read more

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I love this bar! The neon lights and fun ambiance make it so inviting to come in! My two favorite drinks are The Bean Flicker and Morning Wood. The creative names make me happy but the drink itself tastes amazing every time. The Bean Flicker is basically an espresso martini and just absolutely delicious! The bartenders are super fun and kind! Loved every experience I've had here! read more

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My boyfriend and I decided to stop by after dinner for some lovely drinks. It was a Friday night, so we weren't sure what we were going to expect but we didn't have a huge wait! We were greeted by the doorman, who checked our IDs, and we didn't realize that he should also tell us that there wasn't space inside. Luckily, someone else caught us and asked us to wait outside and it was only a few min before another table was ready. The place is a vibe!! It felt a bit clubby - more than we anticipated - but not in a bad way. We got the PVPD and the Morning Wood. Both good, and the PVPD definitely packed more of a punch than I thought! But not in a bad way. I loved the heat and it was a nice drink to sip on. The server was super friendly and did not shy away from upselling at all! He convinced us to try the churros (said it was easily in his top 3 in GR) and I'm glad we tried them! They came out piping hot and very delicious so I can see where he's coming from. I do look forward to coming back and trying more another time! read more

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Fantastic drinks and service! We got the last 2 seats at the bar and that felt very lucky considering the bar was packed the whole time we were there but a decent amount of turnover. The let's smash is a perfect gin summer drink that is sweet but not overly sweet. The clean and clear was slightly bubbly and refreshing. We also tried a few other drinks that were good. One was spicy but I don't recall which- it is listed as dealers choice on the receipt but I think it was the two in the pink (NA) but with tequila. They have a special of Barbie shots right now that taste like a pink starburst. Rodney was a top notch bartender and gave some other good recommendations in the area and in Detroit. read more

General Wood Shop - Let's smash (right), clean and clear (left) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Glad I finally tried GWS! Fantastic drinks and great music makes for an incredible time. My boyfriend, friend, and I sampled quite a few drinks on our excursion, including the Mary Jane Holland*, Femme Fatale, Morning Wood, Clean and Clear, and Zip and Sip. The Morning Wood is pretty close to an Old Fashioned, which is always a way to steal my heart. *The Mary Jane Holland is their current featured cocktail that's fruity and served in what can only be described as a beaker-looking glass from science class - totally fun and delicious. We munched on some cream cheese wontons which were delicious, and priced reasonably. Service was great. We got there close to opening and the place filled up quickly so they were a little short-staffed once, but service was still good. We sat at the bar, and I will say, when someone opens the door and it's sunny the reflection will blind you lol read more

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Lovely staff, non-alcoholic drink options and entertainment for sure. Great vibes all around. After the show, I made some new friends and overall had a wonderful time read more

Although I wasn't able to get a seat on their opening day, I have been wanting to come back and enjoy GWS for months. My "best Judy" invited me for an afternoon drink before our dinner reservations elsewhere downtown. Cool decor, decent happy hour specials, and regular entertainment make for a great bar. Service was attentive and friendly. If you want to secure a spot, get there early! The large front window really brighten up the interior. read more

General Wood Shop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This was our first visit to grand rapids. Mi and our friend Sue took us to this bar for a Mother's Day brunch. It was an amazing place, beautifully decorated, and a great service, and the food, drinks, and drag show performer were amazing. Everyone in the bar had a great time. It was great meeting the performers. I would definitely recommend this bar in your visiting grand rapids. read more

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good vibes in here to hang with friends! came here at around 12am on Saturday night and our party of 3 was able to get table right away compared to other bars we tried to go to earlier. i was obsessed with the way they served the Swing Fling and it was good too! our server was telling us about the different events they have during the - Sapphire Soiree Wednesdays and Drag Show streaming on Fridays and to check out their social media for more events. i also love the names of the different drinks, they fit the theme really well. i heard and seen good things about the bao here so i'll definitely have to come back to order some food and other drinks! read more

General Wood Shop - swing fling - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Nice bar with a beautiful ambiance and the service was excellent!!! I'll definitely recommend this bar

One of the few places downtown that's open until 2am on a Thursday night! I can't give a super thorough review since all we had was a tequila shot here, but we absolutely loved the ambiance - the staff are really friendly and welcoming, the music is awesome, and we love the design. We came after the kitchen had already closed, so I'll have to try the food and update my review later! I apologize for not recalling your name, but if you work at the General Wood Shop and your birthday was August 3rd, Happy Birthday again! Thank you for welcoming us in and for recommending some tequila to my SIL and I! read more

My 5 friends and I were going to stop here for our first drink of the night for my bachelorette party. It was a Saturday not even 10 PM and the doorman would not let us in, he told us they were at full capacity, but it was obvious looking through the window that there were multiple booths and seats at the bar that were empty, not to mention they have a patio area that not one person was sitting at. I've only been here once before and had a great time and I was looking forward to going here on my special night not sure what the issue was, but I felt profiled and discriminated against, I'll never go there again. read more

I would give this zero stars if I could. On its website, it was supposed to open at 4 p.m., so we took an Uber from our hotel (Amway Grand) on Sunday, June 22. When we arrived, there was a sign in the window that stated "Opening at 5," so we had a drink at the Anchor Bar a few doors down. We returned to the General Wood Shop, where there were three other people waiting. At about 5:10, a woman came to the door and explained that they had a hard time closing the night before, so they would be opening at 5:30. Since it was hot and humid (95 degrees with lots of humidity), we asked if we could wait inside. "No," she said, and closed the door in our faces. Then, she hastily posted a sign reading "Opening at 5:30." If her rude attitude was/is indicative of the rest of the staff, we dodged a bullet. We headed to the Apartment, where we were warmly welcome. I might add that we are former GR residents, and we had returned for a Celebration of Life for a dear friend, so we were in town for only five days. We had been eager to check out this relatively new LGTBQ bar, so it was their loss. read more

We dropped in for some drinks while walking down bridge street. Everyone loved their drinks. Each was very unique and delicious! The space reminded me of cocktail bars in Chicago or other big cities. The bartenders were quick to check and double check on us to be sure we were taken care of. If you want a good cocktail this needs to be a stop when on the west side. read more

This place has great drinks. Great ambience a lot of fun it says that I have to have 85 characters so I'll just keep talking until I'm done

Good. Great staff. Great atmosphere. Would recommend to friends. Thank you for your service

New- Hot Spot. I ordered a specialty drink off the menu and they could not make it because they were out of an important ingredient. Sarah asked what I was looking for and whipped up an amazing concoction of Tequila, Elderflower Liquor, Simple Syrup and club soda. read more

General Wood Shop - Tequila, Elderflower, Club Soda, simple syrup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

It was our first time, and it did not disappoint. Loved the vibe of the whole place. We especially loved how amazing the bartender was. Cameron made me the best birthday drink, glitter and all. While I loved the vibe, our server's personality and kind heart will have us coming back. Thank you for a great night! read more

Amazing staff and service! Super fun and well made drinks! Food is also super good--unexpectedly. Love the vibe of the whole place! Always taken care of at General Wood Shop read more

High end quality drinks and great smells pumped into the air duck system. I'd go again.

Absolutely in LOVE with this bar. The drinks always hit. I've been meaning to try the food, so I'll let y'all know if I do. I also love the $2 fireball shots whenever a truck from the fire station across the street comes out. It's a cute idea and a great way to support firemen. Great music, atmosphere, and service. 5/5!! read more

Food is expressive, service is attentive and knowledgeable, atmosphere is creative and clean. Good deals too. Love the joint!

My partner and I stopped into General Wood Shop last night on a whim and were blown away by this place. Kind faces, a stunning atmosphere, sensational cocktails (I loved the beer, too!), attentive and friendly staff - this place has it all. We weren't expecting to order food, but we were super impressed when we tried the bao buns that Rodney had suggested. We can't WAIT to go back - Welcome to the West Side, General Wood Shop! read more