Overall this is a really good spot. In the best way possible, it feels out of place in Royal Oak. While everything else is overly trendy, this place just continues to b proudly be what it is...a a really good dive bar! Bartenders are very quick and drinks are very strong. Great spot to post up for a while and just chill with your buddies. read more

Cool dive bar Love the '70s Cadillac front end sticking out of the wall that's been there for over 30 years. A buddy of mine who lived in Royal oak back in the '90s turned me on to this place. When I'm in town like to stop in have a drink. But do not expect the bathrooms to be pristine.. it is a dive bar. As long as you know this and accept this you will have no problem. Cool people come here. read more

Gusoline Alley - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

This place is racist!! Terrible experience I was accused of my ID not "looking like me" by the bartender and was scrutinized about a second form of ID as if I were at the bank. Also im 25 my ID was real and the entire situation made me uncomfortable I won't be returning behavior like this is so sad to see in 2026 do better! read more

Today my friends license expires. Per Michigan law the license expires at the end of the day today. She was not served and we were asked to leave. Note to the owner: Your bartender cost you $300 today and thousands of dollars in the future. Absolutely unprofessional attitude. I refuse to spend my money where I am not respected. I wish 0 stars was an option. read more

Maybe they used to be a dive bar, but now they're a hipster, I'm too cool bar. Just because they let you write on the bathroom stalls doesn't make you a dive bar. Drinks aren't cheap and the people aren't friendly. read more

Awesome dive bar that reminds me of Bigfoot Lodge in Los Angeles. My family swears by it, and you can't complain about the affordability read more

Recently started coming to this place because I'm not charged gratuity automatically and the drinks aren't outrageous. Friday night 9-12-25 around 11:30pm. I head on over from having dinner at the Ronin. I had a shot and a beer. So the security is a new guy, (never seen him) he goes yeah you're not coming in. I asked why? He didn't give me any reasons. I didn't have a slur. I tried reasoning with him and talking to him. And he would not answer why. And then he started being disrespectful towards me. Never met this guy a day in my life. Don't know what the problem was?! Thought Royal Oak was suppose to be a nice welcoming neighborhood. Forget it, last time coming. I came in one more time on a Wednesday 9-17-25 9:00-9:52pm after drinking and keeping to myself I spoke to the bartender about it and she was rude and said she agreed with the security. A guy that works once in a blue moon. I am a local, lived in the area for 35 years. Old people should just stay at home on the couch after hours. And nag at their cable bill! Didn't realize this was a prissy bar! It's okay, I'll go to Fifth Avenue. read more

Local Royal Oak bar that has been there for years. As R.O. became a nighttime destination Gusoline Alley became more main stream. Once, it was filled with same people, now millennials have taken over the space. Pinball machines and cheap beer. Place is friendly to strangers walking in. read more

We were hopping around the RO scene after a show and of course, we had to stop in Gusoline Alley. This bar is always on slam and it's always a fun time. This is a RO classic and a must stop if you're bar hopping. read more

Gusoline Alley - Up to no good....lol - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

For the folks out west, Royal Oak is that hip, social town where all ages, races and genders hang and can experience a quality night out. Well, up until Covid-19. From time to time you need to focus less on appearances and concentrate on relaxing with a cold one. Maybe a buddy or two. There's a tiny gem off the main drag, downtown, that fits the bill perfectly. It's Gusoline Alley. Look between Main St and Washington near E. Third... can't miss it The locals know and have been frequenting this spot for years. Newcomers, don't be daunted if it looks crowded. Go in anyway. This is the epitome of the great American dive bar. Once you meet the staff and sample the eats... you'll get it. Oh yeah, don't forget about the spirits. I'm stunned at what they have to offer behind the bar. 03/21 read more

Classic dive bar feel, good spot to grab a cheap beer. Bartenders pour them strong if you're looking for a cocktail.

Great place to grab a quick drink and catch up with friends. Dive bar feel, order at the bar and grab a table set up. read more

Gusoline Alley - Draft two hearted Bottle bud light - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Love this dive bar. It's full of cool people and good drinks. Major fan of have a cold one there. read more

Gusoline Alley - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

This is the quintessential definition of a hole in the wall. This is One of my best friends from college's favorite spot. My best from college loves the ambience in the chillness of this place. If I am ever out with him, we always end up here at some point in evening. I've been here many a times and it's not for the food. My friends like the laid-back atmosphere. I can't see with one of my favorite bars, its way to divey for me. But I get that it is a very laid-back and cool place to hang out and away from all the hustle and bustle of all the latest bars in downtown Royal Oak. I came here for a chamber event as well during a Thursday concert in the park on Center Street. I have to give a credit, since it's been here for ages. read more

Gusoline Alley - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Gusoline is the quintessential embodiment of what a Dive Bar should be. Perhaps by using such descriptors, I've already disqualified my opinion, but I've got to pause for a minute to rave about this great spot in Royal Oak. After living in Michigan for the better part of 5 years, I've spent countless nights in Royal Oak, but didn't get to experience Gusoline until last summer and I'm a little bummed I've missed out for all this time! Gusoline is nestled away in a location where it'd be easy to stumble by if you're not particularly looking for it, but I think that adds to the charm! If you take the time to step into the establishment, you'll be greeted by a vast bar with everything from whiskey to white claw, plenty of seating around the bar, and a handful of non-bar seating options around the room as well. I'm not going to wax poetic about a Dive Bar, but I'd say this one is definitely worth your time. The drinks are reasonably priced, the atmosphere is chill, and it's quiet enough that you can have a good conversation with a friend, without being pindrop silent and awkwardness-inducing. Check it out! (or don't and let the rest of us enjoy this hidden gem of Royal Oak) read more

Gusoline Alley - Coors Light - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Good drinks and good service but there was no place to sit for a large group so we stood in the corner by the front door and took a few rounds of shots. Nice dive for RO area! read more

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Service was great, drinks were cheap, and friendly atmosphere. I definitely recommend for a night out !

It is pretty pathetic.....first time here the bartender asked me for payment immediately without asking if I was planning on making a tab....this dipshit next to me who's friends with the bouncer told me to turn my Facebook video volume down because he "wanted to listen to the jukebox music" but he's talking with the bouncer the whole time like are you really listening to the music?....typical dive bar where nobody gives a shit from the bartenders shitty attitude to the bouncer just letting his friend run the place it's a joke don't plan on coming back northern Oakland county offers way nicer "dive bars" read more

My buddy lives near here so I have probably been here 7-8 times over the last few years. Nothing fancy but Great dive bar vibe! Enjoyed it. One question. Did the guy with the beard sitting in corner of the bar come with the bar? Been there every time I have. :) read more

Best dive bar we have found in RO so far. The staff is friendly and speedy. They have a good selection of drafts and can options. Can't beat the prices either! Would recommend if you are looking for a cozy dive option for affordable drinks with friends. read more

Gusoline Alley is one of my fave dive bars. Perfect place to grab a beer with friends after a show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre or as a part of a Royal Oak pub crawl. They actually have a pretty decent beer selection for a dive bar. Last time I stopped in I ordered Perrin's Funk You Berry Much, one of my faves. They often have Final Absolution, Rubaeus, Two Hearted and other Michigan craft beers on tap. They also have some tasty cocktail options and decent liquor selection for non-beer drinkers. Typical dive bar with graffiti , stickers all over the bar, jukebox and a few pinball tables. The layout is a long vertical space with booths along the wall and plenty of seating at the bar. Awesome jukebox with lots of great options from Public Enemy to Radiohead. This bar has a hipster meets garage mechanic/motorcycle man or mama vibe. Patrons are laid back and cool. After a show at ROMT once my friend befriended a regular at the bar decked in motorcycle leather gear and he ended up buying him a Coors Banquet beer, swearing it's cheaper and better than all of the expensive craft beers out there. Gusoline Alley is a really chill, laid back dive bar, with great music, good beer and fun atmosphere. read more

My friends and I recently stopped in to Gusoline Alley before heading to a show at Royal Oak Music Theatre. We were hoping to get some cheap drinks at what seemed to be a chill dive bar. We did get cheap drinks, but friendly customer service wasn't on the menu that evening. We went up to the bar and the lone male bartender took our order. When one person in our party was trying to decide what beer he wanted, the bartender got impatient and left to go make our other drinks. A friendly patron sitting at the bar told us all drafts were $4 since it was a Tuesday. That was the most polite interaction we had there. One of my friends didn't receive her requested lemon with her drink so she went back up to the bar for it. Then she asked the bartender if they had any jello shots or pudding shots and he curtly responded, "Go somewhere else for that." Okay, we get that this isn't a college bar but a polite interaction can go a long way in whether or not someone will return to a business. In this case, I don't think we'll go back to Gusoline Alley as there are many other bars in the area. Not that the bartender will be missing us much! I'm not sure if this rudeness is part of the "thing" of this bar but it's not for me. One highlight was actually the women's restroom as it seems to have been updated recently and is not a typical dive bar restroom. The crowd was mostly a younger 20s/30s crowd. read more

Gusoline Alley - Entrance - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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I've been here a few times now. It's a great dive bar in downtown royal oak. It's a smaller bar so expect to stand if you go on busy nights. The staff is welcoming and efficient. read more

Gusoline Alley - Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I love this place. Every time I'm in Royal Oak, I make a point to stop in. This is a classic punk rock dive bar but you'll find a pretty diverse crowd no matter what day you stop in. Gusoline is one of the few bars I've found that always stocks my favorite hard cider (Vander Mill Blue Gold). So that's a driving factor for my visits. But I still love the comfy booths, cool jukebox, recently-renovated bathrooms (!!!) and relaxed (but not rude) service. If you want a break from the snobbery and high prices indicative of Royal Oak, check out Gusoline Alley. read more

What's not to love about Gusoline? A Royal Oak staple that always delivers. Great casual atmosphere where no one yells if your whole group gets drunk and decides to do the Macarena. Good times. read more

First time here, came here tonight as part of a birthday party crawl of sorts. I had a Founders Rubaeus ($5.75) which I have only recently tried, actually. I'm not really a beer fan but I like that one, it's a raspberry beer. They have a pretty diverse menu including a lot of Michigan beers (and even some hard ciders I'd never heard of, plus standards like Blake's, etc.) and even some cocktails. Women's bathroom was teeny tiny (1 stall) and about what you would expect from a dive bar. I'd come here again, the vibe was nice and it wasn't too crowded by the time I left (around 10:15pm on a Friday). read more

Gusoline Alley - LOL - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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That nice downtown nitty gritty dive bar with excellent jukebox, pool table and darts. Prices are low. Bartenders are cool!!

Did not serve a glass of water that was asked for politely, after a shot was paid for and consumed.

Best dive bar in Michigan! Ok, they only accept cash but a stop at the ATM before you come isn't a big deal. The bartenders have been there for a long time and recognize me every time I come in for a quick drink. This place is usually busy and for a good reason. You can come as you are, no need to get dressed up all fancy. You can be whomever you are without judgement and you get to meet some really cool people just hanging out. It gets super busy on the weekends but it's still a good night out. The drinks are average priced. The service is great, they are always there to help you out and give suggestions. The bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible, this is the only reason I didn't give it a 4 star. They have 3 or 4 booths but no actual tables for a wheelchair to pull up to for drinking. I normally wouldn't give that many stars to an inaccessible place but that's how much I love this place. They could make the bathroom accessible by removing the toilet door and making it a single person bathroom. I've mentioned it to them before and I am hoping by them reading my review, they will change it. If they did, I would definitely give them a lot more business. read more

Help your bouncer out. There is no law stating that a person in his 40s needs a valid ID to enter your bar. My birthday was a few weeks ago and the state of Michigan hasn't sent my new ID yet. I was born in 1979. Your bouncer wouldn't let me come in. Good job! read more

Probably my favorite dive bar in the Metro Detroit area. The bartenders are always welcoming and the bouncers know how to take a joke. "The bartenders know how to take a joke?" - by that, I mean my friend and I always ask "oh, you have to be 21 to get into this place?" And they kind of shoot the sh!t with you about it instead of ignore our bad joke. The bartenders are also "assholes", and by assholes, I mean they threaten you if you don't bring their lighter back. I absolutely love that because it makes you feel like they've know you forever or well enough to joke with ya. Their alcohol is also fairly priced for still being in Royal Oak. They also have a great jukebox selection and snacks to munch on. read more

Although I love a cool dive bar while out with friends, this is not my favorite. It's so loud and crowded with little space to sit down at the bar (not many chairs), the bartenders aren't the friendliest, and you can't pay with a card unless your bill is $10 or $20 minimum. I find that so silly. But, on the plus side, you can buy strong mixed cocktails and beers for cheap. read more

This has more recently become my favorite place downtown Royal Oak. It is very divey, and the drinks are cheap and strong. I usually come earlier in the day and it isn't so crowded. I ended up going one night with my friends and it was packed!!! As it should be. They have pinball, touch tunes, and in the summer time they have their window open. Highly recommend stopping in if you haven't been yet, it might just become your new favorite bar. read more

One of Royal Oaks Top Bars. Beer and a shot kind of place with a solid rock n roll jukebox. Close to everything and located downtown. I dig the nostalgia of this spot. read more

Gusoline Alley - Great dive! If you like rock music, cheap drinks, and low lights this is your place. - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Michigan beers are supposed to be a dollar off on Sunday. The female bartender started to give me that rate but the male bartender loudly told her not to do so. They seemed very friendly to the couple regulars but I got the feeling I was the wrong color to get the same warm reception. The place was empty but I still had to wait 10 minutes for service as they chatted about nothing with each other. read more

Came here for a random meet up with an old friend on a random Thursday. The drinks are cheap and the bartenders are awesome. There's a pinball machine and jukebox with a wide variety of 50's-80's songs. Oh and you can hear your own voice as well as the music for a change. The atmosphere is a bit grungy, seedy, and very chill---my kind of hole in the wall bar. When you wanna get away from "typical" downtown royal oak and have a drink with a few close friends, I recommend this place. 4 stars because I wanted to play pool and they don't have one. Darn. read more

Gusoline Alley - $4 Valentines vodka and gin on Thursdays! - Dive Bars Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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Went here on a Friday night to catch a cheap drink with a friend and ended up having the time of our lives. We met the most amazing bartender, Alissa, who took such wonderful care of us and protected us from some creeps that lingered a little too long. We stayed until close and our tab was practically nothing compared to the majority of bars in Royal Oak. Do yourself a favor and check this place out! read more

If you have partied and walked around in Royal Oak then you know this place, it's centrally located downtown and you can hear it(and practically smell it!) from around the corner! I reccomend for all curious! read more

I stopped by here with a group of friends last night after a recommendation from our lyft driver. If you're looking for a dive bar, this is the place to go. It has a biker bar feeling to it. There is little seating other than up at the bar, so it can be difficult to find a seat if you're with a large group. The drinks were pretty good though, they have different specials every night, as well as a happy hour. Overall it was an okay experience. It's a good place to sit and have a drink with a friend, but not someplace to go if you want to party. read more

Came here with friends after grabbing dinner next door. My drink (whiskey/diet) was lackluster, tasting very heavy on the "diet" and very light on the whiskey. Since we stopped in for just a bit I opted to stick with just that drink. The door was open the entire time letting an in an unfortunate draft on an unseasonably cold day. It's got a very cool dive bar aesthetic and vibe while having plenty of seating choices. Lots of different music played on the jukebox while we talked, and the volume was the perfect level. I would come here again, especially to grab one of the specials. From the other reviews I will stick with that or another beer and I think my experience will likely lead to an update (and hopefully higher score). read more