New Way Bar

Sneakers Pub is a 10/10! The best dive bar in Ferndale by far. The staff are all amazing and make…read moreyou feel like family, especially Christina, Ari, Chris, Abby, Heather, and Becca! Truly enjoy stopping by any day of the week. Also....Charlie the door guy is pretty great too!

Would kill for them to carry rittenhouse. Older bartender with the big ol bazzoingas is always…read moresuper friendly.

Sneakers burger

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The Loving Touch

3.7(92 reviews)

I have been to a couple shows here by now and I honestly love this venue! I definitely prefer…read moreconcerts at smaller venues and this place is about as small you can get while still having room to move. I usually park on the residential street behind the venue because by the time I arrive, the surrounding parking lots are all full. This works out in my favor though because I have not had to pay for parking. You enter through the back where they check your ID and scan your ticket. They have a nice little seating area with benches towards the back and a decent sized area for a "pit" where you would watch the show. All of their drinks seem fairly priced for a music venue. I paid $8 for a Bell's Oberon Eclipse. It does get SUPER hot in there, especially if you are in the mix closer to the stage. I feel like the music sounds pretty good here and I usually leave feeling super pleased with my experience.

Intimate venue: no joke intended. Sound is fantastic. Staff was very nice. The artists deserved a…read morebigger crowd, but weeknights are rough and made it especially intimate.

1.7 mi•Downtown Royal Oak

Gallows Bound

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Gusoline Alley

3.9(163 reviews)

Cool dive bar Love the '70s Cadillac front end sticking out of the wall that's been there for over…read more30 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.

Overall this is a really good spot. In the best way possible, it feels out of place in Royal Oak…read more 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.

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Bar

Ye Olde Saloon

4.0(157 reviews)

1.2 mi

I've only been up here once on a Wednesday evening. The place was packed but my friend and I were…read moreable to squeeze in the corner at the bar. It was mostly a younger crowd but there was a few people our age and older. Service was fine and the drinks reasonably priced. It was a little too loud for my liking but I can see why people come up here. It's divey and they serve food, typical bar menu. For downtown Royal Oak the prices can't be beat and they do have a private parking lot which is always a plus.

Ye Olde Saloon is an absolute Royal Oak classic. This place has been around since 1975--I was five…read moreyears old when it opened--and it's still going strong for a reason. Incredible burgers, great drinks, and that perfect old-school dive bar vibe you just can't fake. It's the kind of place that feels comfortable the second you walk in. The atmosphere is always solid, and the staff is amazing--friendly, attentive, and clearly proud of the place. Whether you're grabbing a burger, having a few drinks, or just soaking in the history, Ye Olde Saloon never disappoints. If you're in downtown Royal Oak and haven't been here, you're seriously missing out.

Shoe string flies

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Barrel House

4.5(67 reviews)

I had never been here before. I live in the neighborhood and wanted to give it a try! I was meeting…read morea longtime friend (after a hiatus) for dinner, so we had a lot of catching up to do. Our server was so nice and understanding about the vibe we had and gave us enough space to chat and not make us feel rushed (there weren't that many people in the restaurant at the time). The food was decent (4 star) but the server we had made this a 5 for me.

Recently went to attend a meetup here. Had to wait around 30 minutes as a huge party was clearing…read moreout. The inside is no frills but service was excellent with our waitress handling multiple checks. My jerk chicken dish over rice was a bit dry and too mildly spiced for my liking. The sesame wings were delicious. Beer selection was superb. Very casual vibe with ok food. Recommend $$

Interior

Sesame Chicken Wings

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Mezcal & Chill

Second Base

3.7(87 reviews)

1.0 mi

Cool spot. Plenty of seats. It's easy to lose some time with no windows. Check the board for…read morespecials. Service was great and the food was good. Saturdays they have karaoke which was really fun.

The food was good and this place offered good specials and the drinks are cheap! The service…read morehowever was slow and lacked

Menu w/specials

Second Base hamburger. Two 4oz. beef patties, lettuce, pickles, our signature house sauce with chips.

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New sweet and spicy wings on the menu!

Tony's Sports Bar

4.2(48 reviews)

0.2 mi

Been going there for over 15 years. Great experience. Until Tony's daughter took over!!!!!!…read more She's rude and ridiculous. I canceled my order after 20 minutes for hamburger you said "good luck at McDonald's" and swore at me. . Class act! Trailer trash! Other employees have commented too. I know Tony and I know for a fact that he would never ever ever give that kind of response to a customer who just wanted to cancel an order. The burger wasn't even on the grill yet. Didn't just lose my business. The whole gang is done. Another perfect example of a punk kid destroying a parent's hard work! No wonder it's for sale. Tony, hurry up and sell it before she drives it in the ground!!!

Fun spot to watch the game and walking distance from my friend's place. Definitely a dive but the…read morestaff is always really friendly and drinks are pretty cheap. Lot's of seating and parking in the area.

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Danny's Irish Pub

2.7(99 reviews)

0.2 mi•Downtown Ferndale

I LOVE a good dive so I rate this place 10/10. You always have an experience here... it's never a…read morenight to forget. Although drinks are strong so you might LOL They've got popcorn, a full bar, jukebox, breeze vending machine, arcade games, cigs for sale, and a graffiti'd up bathroom. The bartenders are always pretty blunt and busy considering there's usually only 1-2 for the entire place. Everyone working is super nice there!! But you gotta be nice to them. Sometimes customers feel entitled to over-the-top smiles and favors. Here, if you are nice you're gonna get that back. But if you're a jerk, you're probably not gonna have a great time lol. I think it's totally justified. I've been to Danny's many many times and I'll always continue to come back!!

Danny's smells! As a place & literally. Musty as hell. Old people must too, not the good stuff…read more Striking similar to the smell of your grandma's house, the day you decide to put her in a home. Attentive staff nonetheless. Nice jukebox and has a couple of arcade games as well. The bathroom is unfortunate, but to be expected. The stall door smacks the toilet. This entire place feels like a legitimate fire hazard. If you are the age of 60 & are disappointed in where you are in life, this is the place for you.

Bathroom art.

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Guinness

One-Eyed Betty's Beer Bar & Kitchen

4.2(1.4k reviews)

Oh my, what a difference in the past decade! I completely forgot I previously left them a…read moremediocre review over a decade ago. Since then, this place has become our local go to. The servers are all well trained, and highly professional. The food is fantastic. The menu is the standout; it is very creative and has something for everyone. Let's start with their breakfast. This is probably the best breakfast/brunch place in town. Too bad they're only open weekends for breakfast. Whenever we have family back in town or friends from out of town, this is our go to place. Casual relaxed, friendly with quality food. If you haven't been here for breakfast, I would highly recommend it. The only comment I have is they don't open for breakfast until a little bit later in the morning. Usually, there is a line out out front waiting for them to open. We've had most things on the menu and to be truthful, not one thing has disappointed. Dinner: we don't get here too often for dinner because in my mind, this is our go to breakfast place. Last week we tried it for dinner and again, very pleasantly surprised at the professionalism of the wait staff, the quality of the food, and the overall dining experience. Whoever transformed his place from a hipster beer hall to a quality dining experience did a great job. Kudos to them!

Seems like a pretty solid variety of pub food. My BLT was good; generous thick-cut bacon, arugula…read moreis a nice touch. I thought the garlic aoli would be weird at first, but it grew on me. Their onion rings are VERY good. Fries advertised as hand-cut: turns out that means a pretty traditional fry size and shape (we were worried they'd be like steak fries). They LOOKED good, but could be a good deal crispier. So docking a bit for fry quality. Everywhere is expensive now, but this place doesn't feel like it's earning what they charge.

One-Eyed Betty's Beer Bar & Kitchen - Bar

Bar

Spinach Artichoke Dip

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Bloody Cesar

Nine Kitchen and Bar

4.4(57 reviews)

0.1 mi

Great service sitting at the bar for an early afternoon brunch on a Saturday! Drinks were…read morewell-made and the food was delicious. Good portion of shrimp in the appetizer spicy Shrimp and the dressing on the mixed greens served under the shrimp is to-die-for! I wanted a bowl to take home. Lol Great spot in downtown ferndale. Will be back!

Did I hate it? Nah. Did I love it? Nah…read more Chic, cozy and clean. Service was good. Cocktails were average. Food was ok. Recommend the beignets. Do NOT recommend the shrimp and grits. Guessing it was just the wrong choice since it looks like the french toast is what they are known for. I'd only go back to see if they are anything to write about. But other than that, can check it off the list as been there, done it.

Bar

Steak tacos

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Nope N.

12 years ago

Every time I'm in there, just the greatest time. No matter what, a show, comedy, or open mic, everyone is friendly. The bartenders and owner are so great to each and every customer. I recommend this place to everyone that is trying to get out of the Ferndale scene but still not leave Ferndale. Hayley and Jamie are both awesome people. Any day of the week is great, especially day drinking! read more

Joseph F.

15 days ago

Don't eat the food. Nah, I'm being too harsh. I'm just not a fried food guy. 5 for the vibes. 5 for Matt. 5 for Katie. 5 for Michael, and 4.5 for everyone else I can't name off the top of my head right now. Comedy Monday. Karaoke Tuesdays. Music Wednesdays...I forget the rest of the days but Sunday free pool? Go here. Bask in the history and tip well. Tell them Joseph sent you. read more

Greg S.

12 years ago

Ashely works infrequently, but she is a doll and a great server. The food is standard bar-fare, but the "regulars" are as nice as a cool summer breeze (Doobie Brothers reference intended) read more

David G.

10 years ago

Mark the bartender was a classless jerk. Don't support these clowns. Bad job representing your bar.

New Way Bar - divebars - Updated September 2026

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We stopped in here while we waited for D'Amato's restaurant to open. What's super convenient is…read morethat Gracie's and D'Amato's share the space together. They have a number of craft cocktails that are absolutely delicious. I had the Cherry Bourbon Mule and my wife had a Dirty Martini - both were awesome. In fact, I had 2 more Mules afterwards if that tells you anything. The bartender was great - responsive, cordial and even humorous. When we come back to Royal Oak, we will certainly be back. Give it a try!

We tucked into the bar on a Saturday night for an early evening cocktail. They have a Saturday…read morehappy hour menu! So...the lovely barkeep took our drink order quickly so we could partake. A shared Caesar salad and zoodle/pasta dish later and we are sufficiently suffonsified. House made sauces are delicious (we tried the marinara but I'd like to try palomino next time) and there is no pressure to drink like fish or overindulge in food. DJ was setting up as we were leaving, so I'm sure the hospitable atmosphere only improves. We'll return.

Sneakers Pub

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Would kill for them to carry rittenhouse. Older bartender with the big ol bazzoingas is always…read moresuper friendly.

Connie's Finish Line

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I have been a patient of Dr Capps from the beginning and he is very polite and knowledgeable.read more

Connie's Finish Line is great for a casual night out. It's a very you-get-what-you-get type of…read moreplace, but the drinks are cheap, the karaoke is fun, and as long as you're not put off by a dive-bar type atmosphere, you'll have a blast here!

Traverse City Whiskey Co. Outpost

4.3

(46 reviews)

Amazing food, top notch & creative cocktails (with booze clearly but appropriately coming through,…read morewhich I appreciate), and a cozy warmly lit interior. Lina my bartender was really kind, efficient with orders, and helpful in answering my questions about the area. Would recommend, will definitely be back!

It's a cool, dark cocktail bar. Stopped in for a drink after dinner at Como's which is attached…read more Had an excellent old fashioned. They have some food that comes out of Como's kitchen, and share the rear entrance and bathrooms. We liked the vibe and the drinks, worth a stop for sure.

Shift

3.8

(60 reviews)

Food was fantastic. We had the lamb lollipops and tuna wontons. Very flavorful and perfectly…read morecooked. We went on a Wednesday evening which is 50% off wine bottles. Service was quick and friendly. There was live music via a piano player

Shift has a really cool vibe and excellent happy hour specials (5-7 on weeknights). They had live…read moremusic on Wednesday night and food is 40% off and 50% off drinks. Our server Scott was a sweetheart and the food came out pretty quickly. He even made me a mocktail that wasn't on the menu with grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and soda. My favorite item was the filet tips- the quality of meat was so good and it was seasoned well. It came with some goat cheese, peppers and arugula. I will say that it was a rather small portion of food though- maybe 6-8 bites of meat. The lamb lollipops were good with the balsamic drizzle but I preferred the filet tips since they were leaner. We also got the beet salad, the vinaigrette was good but otherwise the salad was just ok. Edamame was standard. Veggie/hummus tray was fresh. Lettuce wraps were good but had a bit of a kick. You can park free for 2 hours in the lot accross the street.

Hansen’s Hall

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Great place, cool owner. Nice visit from doggie customers…read more Regulars so far are awesome, but just visited once for a need to decompress, and reminded me of when not everyone was a cellphone cyborg. It's in Oak Park but everything about it feels like Ferndale. The food from Pie Sci is nice. I was told the beer selection rotates weekly for most.

Such a cute place off 9 mile in Oak Park, not too far from downtown Ferndale. The drinks are…read moredelicious. The bartender was super friendly and welcoming. No food but Pie Sci is next door and we brought pizza over to eat.

The Rock On Third

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(148 reviews)

I've been in several times before comedy shows at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. I'm no regular by…read moreany means but the service at the bar has always been prompt and friendly. For a Royal Oak bar, prices are very reasonable for drinks and food. It's a fairly large place and can usually accommodate a group in the early evening, though that might be tougher as the night goes on. I normally just go with my husband and we find spots at the bar. It's a clean enough place with a decent bar food menu and good prices. In RO, that's about the best you can ask for.

I've been coming here for over 20 years and still love it. Cold beer and good chicken strips. I…read morehad their chicken noodle soup today and it did not disappoint. Come check them out.

Trixie's Bar

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No longer a trixies virgin- saw a friends - friends band - great house band . Drinks are…read morereasonable. Fun place - dive bar. Bartenders hustle! Only issue I had ,was too many people allowed in - tough getting anywhere - yet was still fun !

Fun place for a night out! Visited here recently to hear some live music and the experience did not…read moredisappoint. The staff was friendly and place was clean. Overall vibe was great! Parking is not too difficult on the street. I would return.

The Loving Touch

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(92 reviews)

Intimate venue: no joke intended. Sound is fantastic. Staff was very nice. The artists deserved a…read morebigger crowd, but weeknights are rough and made it especially intimate.

Bosco Lounge

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