Oh boy how do I describe this place! Do I tell everyone what a secret gem this is? Or do I keep it to myself? Pulling up to the front of this place you would never know what was behind the door. We walked in and it is a 1970s vibe lounge. I love the decor in this place it gives it such a cozy feel, and the place is clean! Everywhere you look it is spotless I was amazed. Ivan the bartender is definitely a bonus to this place, he was friendly and inviting, he gave us lots of information and was so kind and inviting us back when we're getting ready to leave. So we did, the next day, I was out with a group and they needed a place to lunch, we came back and enjoyed a very good lunch, with a nice selection, something for everyone. The only drawback, but I'm not going to take a star away for that, is the waiter we had that particular day might not have been on point. But everyone has that day. Stop in, and enjoy a relaxing cocktail. read more

I had a wonderful night here last night with my family & friends. Dj GoodB.O.I. Had us turnt & dancing. The service was nice at the bar. They kept the drinks coming. The chicken remind you of them good coney wings. Drinks could've been stronger. I love the booths in this place. The ambience is everything! read more

Northern Lights Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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So I've come here with friends and coworkers for years. Tonight, I am convinced that this is it for me. My friend and I were determined to have veggie botanas and a couple cocktails after work. That was a no go. The first server was great. Marcus was attentive and is usually my server when I visit and sit at the bar. No such luck this evening. He was our server until his shift ended. It was his birthday and he should be allowed the evening to celebrate. Then we cashed out and were handed over to the other server, Kristi. We, two women of color, spent almost fifteen to twenty minutes trying to get her attention to take our orders. This should have been a sign that we were not valued, but we soldiered on. As time continued to tick, we found it easier to cut into Marcus's off time to get him to remind our new server that we were still waiting to place orders. She had not even glanced at us. When we finally did get our food, the botana was full of avocado, but not much else. The beans and cheese were very skimpy. And usually, one botana is enough for me to eat for two days. I had dreams of eating my leftovers for lunch at work. Not today. Oddly enough, she seemed well aware of the table full of white gentlemen seated well after us. This was new to us as we've been coming there for years and even rode out the lounge's COVID-era closure. No matter. Our business was not as valuable as others in her section though it was not a particularly busy night on a Wednesday. I ordered a drink and when the server brought it back, she sat it in front of my friend. When she looked again and realized she'd given it to the wrong person, she simply stated your drink is over there and walked away. The appropriate thing to do is to put down the other drinks for the gentlemen that came after us and give me my beverage. I was proudly a server in college. No way would I have done such. Won't happen because, again, I'm all done here. The nail in the coffin was my friend paid with a $50 bill for one small item. She did not receive the proper amount of change and had to drive back to the venue to get her money. No thanks. I think that Detroiters of color need to be respected as much as the new folks who have recently discovered the area. I'll keep my dollars in my handbag if you can't manage to see me. read more

Hidden gem with good food and fast service. Great place to get drinks and a casual bite to eat before the Fischer. There is a parking garage right across from the entrance. The bartender was great! This place has a great brunch on the weekends. I typically order the steak and eggs which are amazing. Food is always well cooked and seasoned correctly. Great mimosas which are pretty reasonably priced. The place host some dope events, lots of house music underground type parties, and you can also find live music. Food wise they're known for their fish and chips, and they often sell out so get there and order early. The fish was good and came pretty quick. I'd recommend this place for parties & drinks more so than food. read more

Stumbled upon this cute bar in New Town Center and they have a good selection of drinks. I have also partied here on the nights House Party hosts. Amazing vibes. Their bathrooms are also really cute inside too. read more

Northern Lights Lounge - vodka cran and AMF - Lounges Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

What a great place. Ivan is an entertaining and engaging barkeep. Really a wonderful place to waste some time. Cheers.

food is good ,but a rip off! a $3.50 sur charge for using a credit card, and it was my debt card!!

I went here for my birthday the day. Marcus was top tier. FOOD, SERVICE AND atmosphere was ALL top tier. Will definitely return. Failed to take pictures because I enjoyed myself that much. Live band good food, and good service. Very grown and sexy. read more

Hispanic night event , nice Spanish vibe , dj was fire. Laid back ambiance . Staff very friendly. read more

Northern Lights Lounge - Strawberry delight mocktail - Lounges Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great food! Had the chili and it was amazing Also the chicken strips are the best!!! read more

Amazing evening spent at Northern Lights for dinner and live music! My server Marcellia was an immense pleasure and recommended the chicken strips that are brined in house-they were fantastic! I complimented them with French fries & Mac & cheese and stayed for a few drinks enjoying live music on the patio and a very enjoyable lounge vibe inside. Food was delicious and Marcellia was attentive & efficient with bringing all food & drink. I will certainly be returning! Thank you!!! read more

I love coming here. The drinks and bar service are good and the patio is really nice in the summer. The indoor seating is also very comfortable when you need a break from dancing because some nights they have great local djs playing (check their instagram!). This place also has the nicest bathrooms of the bars I frequent. They're always very clean and the women's has a nice sitting room. read more

Northern Lights Lounge - Lychee martini - Lounges Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Was told food was good, had to find out for myself. Yes, it was very good. One of the chefs wanted us to taste her dressing and smothered pork chops she brought out a sample..... OMG that was great too. (does mostly on Thursday) Will definitely go back. prices good too read more

Great music. Great environment. Very nice server. But the 2 stars is because the food is inedible. It was the single worst meal I have ever had and it's not an understatement. Everything was bland. No flavor. No salt. It was just terrible terrible food. That shouldn't be served. They get the 1 for music and the server was nice. read more

Food was good, drinks were super strong. Staff was really nice!! Cute bar near my home office. First time visit because of a work party.

I probably won't go back. I had the displeasure of having a waitress who practically rushed me to pay my bill when I was still eating. Let me finish my damned food and have a chance ti enjoy my drink. No, the bar wasn't closing and there was no rush. She was training a new hire and was obnoxious. I will note that the new hire was nice. I hope that she does not copy the unprofessional behavior of her trainer. I'll take my money elsewhere next time. read more

My daughter and I ate an excellent breakfast at Northern Lights today. The food was great, but it was difficult to enjoy it because the dining room was so cold. We asked if the heat was on because it was just that cold. I would love to return, but I won't until the spring or Summer. It's just too cold. read more

Great service and good food; weak drinks :( Just had brunch here today on the lovely patio with nice tree coverage offering good shade. Brunch/food prices were reasonable and the food was delicious. I'd give that 4 stars. However, the alcohol prices were ridiculous and you could NOT taste it in the drinks. My friend added an extra shot to her Bloody Mary and it was $8 and she could not even taste it. The Red Bulls and vodka were also $8 for the vodka plus another $5 for the Red Bull -- which they used 1 can amongst 3 drinks!! -- and the glass was not full and I could NOT taste the vodka!! And I could have had there been any in there! So just beware the weak overpriced drinks!! 2-stars for drinks ... so 3 stars overall. Maybe stick to the $5 mimosas ;) read more

Stopped here for brunch to meet a friend and told the server I wanted exactly what he was having which was pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs ( his eggs had no cheese). So I Ordered pancakes with scrambled eggs with sausage priced at 16. My order came with cheese over the eggs but because I had to leave I didn't send it back even though I am lactose intolerant. At this time of order I asked for water which wasn't served until the food was served approximately 20 minutes later. At that time I asked for syrup because the syrup on the table was empty and the request was immediately forgotten as I watched my server bussing a table. After a good ten minutes, I got up and went inside to get syrup. My pancakes were then cold as I was seated outdoors and it was a breezy midday. When it came time to pay I asked the server to take off the cheese which cost $3 and brought my bill to $20. My request was denied because she simply brought out the same check. I very reluctantly left a $3 dollar tip. On my way home, I called the restaurant and informed them of services received. They listened and apologized. My goal was for the server to get proper training. read more

Absolutely love this place in both of it's incantations. Love it there was food after 8pm would have stayed and had cocktails. Leaving with a party of 7. Sorry y'all missed out. read more

Super pleasantly surprised by this little hidden gem in downtown Detroit! I attended a business networking event there and had two drinks but did not try the food. The service was excellent and the patio is really nice on a beautiful weather day. There is a giant well lit parking deck right across the street making it super convenient to visit without struggling for street parking or having to walk far from the nearest deck. All in all, will definitely not hesitate to be back! read more

This is THE go-to spot for a good time. The food is amazing, indoor and outdoor seating available, and a really friendly staff. They also feature local DJs some nights- I follow them on IG so I know who's coming when. The sets are always a vibe. Perfect spot for a night out or a lunch date. read more

My favorite spot to visit when i'm in town. Has a beautiful patio and great food. love the local DJs and live-band nights as well

Great place to hang & mingle. Best patio scene around! I think you'll enjoy yourself!

This is a perfect after work bar with an awesome happy hour. Outside the good priced food and drinks, this place is hopping on almost any week night. It's a fun atmosphere, and is a cool vibe of a place. You should check this place out, it even offers free parking, which is rare for downtown. read more

Northern Lights appears to be an old-fashioned bar. It's dark, not too modern and has a space for live music. There was no live music when I stopped by. It's a convenient and lower priced option for those going to the Fisher Theatre for a show. The menu is filled with comfort foods. While cheaper than some of the pricey options in the surroundings, the food is not cheap for what it is (e.g. $12 for chicken tenders and $8 for a grilled cheese sandwich). I ordered the chicken tenders and onion rings, which are both made fresh in house. They were not bad, but the chicken was a little overcooked. I was less thrilled with the service. It was a bit slow and a couple of our orders were wrong or delayed. read more

One of my favorite bars in Detroit! Great music and food always. Service is great too.

cool furniture for a dive bar that makes you feel like you're somewhere really unique. imagine if you went to siren bar but didn't have to pay $100 a head-- northern lights definitely has a great price point. i will say the food is good-- classic american bar food made well. the chicken tenders are wayyyy better than your average. love the weekend bartenders. this place is my go-to. read more

This is easily my favorite bar in Detroit. I owe Yelp for helping me discovering Northern Lights, and figured it'd be a perfect choice for my 400th review. I was lucky enough to meet my good friend Carole via Yelp a few years ago. Through Carole, I was introduced to Northern Lights. It's truly a love story as old as time. NLL is chill. It's dark. It's romantic. It's always buzzing. Their prices are beyond fair, and you'll quickly become a regular to the bartenders and servers after a couple visits. I'm a fan of their weekend brunch from 11 to 3. You can snag a liter of mimosa to share (or not) for only $10. They serve up some tasty breakfast dishes, too. My husband digs their spare rib omelet; give it a try if you like savory breakfasts. Let's talk about their patio: it's bangin'! There's no shortage of seating, and they provide a few areas with shade. Service is harder to come by on the patio, so I just buy my drinks at the bar and go outside. It's perfect for summertime sipping. Northern Lights is casual and upscale at the same time. It's got a retro vibe with diverse customers, making it one of the best bars in Detroit. read more

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This might be our new favorite place, at least in the summer! The patio is FABULOUS. As for food, we only tried the batter-dipped chicken fingers with blue cheese (as the server suggested) and onion rings, both of which were actually very good. They were perfectly crispy fried and well-seasoned, and they make the blue cheese dressing in-house, which is a bonus for me. I'm glad our friendly server suggested it! Another bonus: the BATHROOMS. I know, that's a weird thing to rave about, but this bathroom really is a lounge. It has a separate sitting room with a couch and a lamp, and the separate bathroom area. It's so cute, I could actually "lounge" in there! Lol Seriously though, this is the best bar bathroom I've ever been in. Ever. I can't wait to go back. Maybe today for happy hour! read more

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The atmosphere, new food and drink menu, music, and service is all around great. Very fun and comfortable setting, would recommend anyone to stop by and enjoy the great vibes. read more

This retro looking establishment is only about two blocks from the Fisher theater. Fun fact! Went here prior to a show with a friend. I was being good so I had the fish with veggies and rice. Simple, fairly healthy, and well made. My friend had the taco salad with chicken which she liked - except for the excess of black olives. Another friend had fish and chips- looked good. She had the "punch" mixed drink and was not overly fond. I'd like to come back when I'm not feeling healthy since their burgers have a "special" blend that's a bit of a splurge. I'll be back to this low lit, retro, cool vibe place with a mixed crowd. read more

Great bar to go to if you want to get berated for being a "cis white male"... bartender Ashley will put you in your place unprompted. She can tell just by looking at you that you're a terrible person for being born a "white male heterosexual", I guess. I used to come here a long time ago when you could see great live jazz music and Jack White sitting at the bar. Different place now. The rest of the bartenders were great and apologized for the behavior. Very strange encounter. read more

I can't even begin to explain how disappointed I am in the management at this establishment. I had a review saved in my drafts extolling their awesome brunch menu, but after what happened on my most recent visit, I will not be frequenting Northern Lights again, under any circumstances. Every year, after the Michigan Burlesque Festival (#MiBF17), the producers treat the crew and performers to brunch as a thank you for the hard work everyone does to create th weekend. Every year, we go to Northern Lights Lounge for mimosas and food. This year, we made a reservation for 30+ people, months in advance. They called 3 days prior to confirm the reservation, so they knew what they were in for. We my partner and I arrived to the restaurant (30 minutes late, per usual) our group was already seated. They had rearranged the seating themselves. There was only one waitress for our entire party, which was in no way fair to her or us, or the other patrons. My friends waited a long time to get drinks, and we arrived just in time to place our food orders. They provided us with a short menu, for ease on the cooks. Basic breakfast food (hash, eggs, toast, fruit, etc). Forty-five minutes after ordering, they informed us they didn't have any fruit, so several people didn't get what they wanted. Almost another hour passed before food actually started coming out. Not in order of orders placed, but random orders just started appearing, half of them being incorrect or under-cooked. Out of the 30 people, 7 got their orders. It took another 30-40 minutes to get the second round of food out, also incorrect and random. We had to start busing our own table, and most of us were STILL waiting on food. At this point, my partner and I had to leave. What happened after we left (our friends stayed behind, hoping to get their food and to square up on the bill), is why I am giving a one-star: not because of the food, the service, the chaos, but this: By hour three of being in the restaurant, and talking to the supervisor and manager about how unpleased we were, they said everything else would be out in 10 minutes, and that they would discount our bill. By this point, people had to leave to catch buses or go to other obligations, so they didn't eat anything at all while they were there. Some orders came out about 20 minutes after their 10-minute deadline, still prepared wrong, and still no food for the pregnant lady. My friend told them to bring the check because those who hadn't eaten were going somewhere else, and that we would not be paying for the food that was disappointing and served under-cooked and three hours later. It took over 10 minutes to bring us a check, in which they said they took $150 off. My friend told them that still wasn't good enough, because we had 7 people who still didn't get orders, and several people who left because they never got orders. Management agreed, and brought us a new check with just the drinks on it. My friend got the money together, as well as a large tip for the waitress. Although her service wasn't the best, she deserved the tip. She was understaffed, overwhelmed, and doing the best she could to accommodate us. For knowing well in advance that we were coming, they really threw her under the bus. My friend handed our server the tip personally, because they wanted her to know her efforts were appreciated. The supervisor came up, took the money for the bill, snatched the waitress's tips out of her hand and said it was going towards the food (which was taken off our bill, so it should have been written off at that point). When I heard this part of the story, I was floored .Never in my life have I heard of such unprofessional, disrespectful conduct toward, to have management literally steal money from waitstaff. This is unacceptable in so many forms, and my friends expressed that. The owner would not come out and talk to them, even though he was there. Instead, the supervisor just said she had to please her boss, as she put the waitresses tip in the register. A tip for service is just that. It's not to pay for the food your cooks screwed up. It's not to line the pockets of the owners. It's for the service workers. If your restaurant screws up, you need to rectify the problem. Not punish your waitstaff for your errors in being unprepared (even though you should have been). The supervisor finally gave her the tips back, and hopefully it stayed that way after my friends left. We go to Northern Lights every year for our festival brunch, but never again! They have lost my business forever, and I can only encourage others to also boycott them. I don't care how good your french toast is, I will not give money to any establishments that steals from their waitstaff. read more

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Even if the food wasn't good, my experience at Northern Lights Lounge was so awesome it was worthy of 5 stars alone. I was with a large party and Jonathan was an awesome waiter that handled us all on his own. He was really personable which I appreciated. I had a carafe of the CP mimosa and the braised short rib omelette. The omelette had more fillings than eggs, which doesn't bother me. I believe that the group I was with enjoyed their food. We ultimately were there just to fellowship with each other and Northern Lights was great for it. Thank you Jonathan for taking such good care of us! The only CON to Northern Lights was that they cannot accommodate splitting of checks. We had to split our checks in groups of 5 and then just Venmo each other. read more

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Have come here for brunch a couple of times with some friends. All I have to say is do NOT sit outside unless you are ready to be attacked by bees literally the entire time. Even the employees couldn't clear off the tables without avoiding them. Their food is good and their prices for mimosa pitchers are great as well, but nothing that is really to die for that you couldn't get somewhere else. Service is rather slow. Takes awhile for them to notice someone sat in their section, takes awhile for food to come out, takes awhile for them to bring the bill, and for them to come back with your card. Overall its a really chill place. The inside is older and really dark (which is why I wish I could sit outside without being attacked). But if you are in no hurry and don't mind sharing your food with bees, then go for it. read more

Northern Lights Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I always feel like I pulled up on the Island of Misfits when I come here. Bartenders are super cool and the patio is nice. No bar service on the patio, so you have to navigate that for yourself. A better playlist on the patio would have enticed us to stay longer. A handful of grungy techno heads ruled the inside, but a majority of us were on the patio where a playlist of 80's music ruled barely audible. So much potential, but identity crisis? read more

Northen lights lounge where a good time is all the time. Dancing the night away on a summer night on the patio or the main dance floor is is the best thing to do in Detroit hands down. So stop reading this and head up to NLL. Se you on the dance floor. read more

Had a great time there. Easy going crowd. Service sucked at first then we sat at the bar and Ryan kicked ass. The chicken tenders and fries were good, we ordered before kitchen closed. Overall, yes I would recommend stopping by there. read more

I was totally blown away. Tastes like home. Trying to kill time before our tour of Motown Museum. The ticket agent recommended this spot and WOW what a great decision. I was a little leery walking into this dark lounge midday looking for brunch but it surpassed all negative thoughts. I ordered the bacon n egg breakfast croissant. It came with breakfast potatoes and side salad with balsamic dressing. Needless to say I had a happy plate. I ate every bit. And the $4 cranberry mimosa was an added treat. The service was decent and the price was great. I can see myself returning to try other menu items. read more