Who doesn't love a good speakeasy? The ambiance was great in this place and was just what you would expect from a hideaway speakeasy like this. It is tucked away in the downstairs of an old historic bank. You walk downstairs to the coffee shop and will need to ask about the Shelby. They will take you through a yellow door into a dark corridor, which happens to be the vault area of the bank. The area is relatively small, so would definitely recommend a reservation. I was there on a random Tuesday for a work trip, so I didn't have any issues finding a seat at the bar. The staff was very personable and the drinks were very unique and had beautiful presentation. I actually requested that the bartender make some off-menu items, which he graciously did for me. This is a perfect date-night location, and with a cool and intimate vibe. I didn't try the food items because I had already eaten, but they sounded amazing. I would definitely go often if I lived In Detroit. read more

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As I always love checking out the latest new spot in Detroit, I was very eager to check this place out! Be sure to know where you are going if you are visiting Shelby, as there is no signage to locate...which adds to the allure. Also be sure to book a reservation beforehand, as when I visited this was the only way you could enter. Shelby is located inside Coffee Down Under (a coffee shop I need to go back and check out someday). Follow the blue coffee sign downstairs and look for the blue door to enter Shelby. This bar/restaurant is located inside an old bank vault and adds to the atmosphere for sure. What a cool location for the latest Detroit hot spot! At the time, the menu was by QR code, which was efficient. The food and drinks were slightly over-priced especially for the portion sizes, but the experience was fun to check out. We ordered the charcuterie, which was delicious (but again small portions, possibly not worth the price tag). And were lucky to be seated within the vault. It was a fun experience and a nice addition to the Detroit bar/restaurant scene. read more

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Came here for drinks and a snack late one night and while we were not disappointed by the food and drinks, we didn't really get the "speakeasy" aspect. We ordered: Charcuterie- very good! Sauce, bread and meat were delicious on their own and together. Viva la vida - Mezcal came through. Fruity sweet and smoky. Riptide - Rum-y bitter & balanced. Apple, baking spices. Sharp. The biggest downside was that it didn't feel like a speakeasy. For being in a vault you'd expect it to be really cool being down there but it was very underwhelming to say the least. read more

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The set up here is super cool! The old bank vault to the mirrored walls at the bar. There's a cute coffee stand that sits out front and it has two wash rooms there. They keke get custom drinks to your liking and play good music. read more

shelby - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Updating my review after trying it when it first opened. I feel like they've changed many things since then. The drinks have a wider variety and had some that I enjoyed & wasn't so strong tasting. I think a good mix. The white fish & bread/cake goes so well together. The salty fish compliments the sweet cake, def get this. The other must have is the esca-no (mushroom) that's probably my favorite. The colors beautiful and the flavor is great. Definitely don't miss the meat or cheese board. This place is more of a bar with light snacks, but they do have specials everyday for dinner. I was able to try the roasted chicken on palenta, that was delicious. Also, there was this veggie noodle dish, that was really good also. read more

The bar /speaks easy is very relaxed and a nice place to hang out. The staff are very friendly. Loved the speakeasy vibe to this place. Very unique atmosphere and ambiance as they had seating inside an old bank vault. Entrance is at a basement of a building through a coffee shop which gave it a cool speakeasy feel. They also played good music in the background. I would've given it five stars, but the drinks were just okay and a bit pricey. Would go back though and try the food. read more

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Such a lovely date night at Shelby.Chef Matt Tulpa and his team have put together such a lovely and perfect menu of yummy drinks and perfectly paired food. You can't go wrong with the speakeasy feel of this place and the beautiful lit bar. We enjoyed some cocktails and tried their special: saag ricotta and also the escar-no (their take on escargot but with mushrooms!) and then their chocolate creameaux. Everything was delicious and I can't wait to come back! read more

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This is a very unique experience and it would be fun to take out of town guests here. They are open until 2am, which is rare these days, and they serve fantastic cocktails. It's expensive, but the drinks are handcrafted with lovely ingredients. They actually have 0-Proof rum, and they make a drink called the Beach Bum with it. It's perfect! Pretty, balanced flavors, and served in a martini style glass, I really fooled myself into thinking I was drinking a real cocktail. ;) The service was excellent. Be aware, it is HARD TO FIND. There is no sign outside. When i went on Saturday, I wasn't even sure the doors to Coffee Down Under were open - but they were. And that's where you have to go. You go into the building through the glass front doors, go downstairs into the coffee shop, and through the blue door in the back. They will ask you if you have reservations before you get to the door, and making reservations online was very easy. Spacious booths are available for larger parties. This space is a converted 100-year old bank vault, and they kept some of the original details while modernizing the bar and lighting. It is split up into 2 distinct areas - a bar area and another smaller room that is actually the old vault. I could see that a small private event would be really nice in that room. It's located in the finance district right across the street from Trust, so it could be a great place to meet before heading there or anywhere else more downtown. This would also be a great happy hour spot in the winter - it's cozy and close to lots of offices. Looking forward to my return. read more

I really enjoyed the service and the drinks. I would definitely take the recantations of your waiter. The first drinks we had were amazing. Very well balanced. The second were good but not Amazing. The experience and bank vault ambiance was great. It was not too loud which I like about the place. You should go there if in Detroit. read more

I attended a pop up event here with a special menu presented by Arrie. The Shelby is a speakeasy inside of a coffee shop. We thought we were in the wrong place until the great guy at the counter took our name and walked us to a random door. As soon as the door opened we were inside of this dark, almost sexy space with R&B music playing. We were taken to our table which is inside of an old bank vault. It's very cute inside but once we were seated and tried to read the menu, we became aware of just how dark the space was. The pop up had a special menu and I started with a rum based drink that I can't remember the name. The waiter brought the drink and gave me directions on how to drink it because the top layer was a lime filled with more rum. I ordered the melon salad and a hoppin John. My sister ordered the oxtail, per the waitress' recommendation and we shared the bread & butter. The melon salad was fresh & the melons were the perfect level of sweetness. The hoppin John was delicious! There was a bit of spice in the beans that added an unexpected layer of flavor. The bread & butter was thick and cold. It probably would be good if warmed. My sister says the oxtail was just OK. read more

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Great service, cool ambiance, chill vibe. I'd definitely recommend this place for cocktails, but not for food. While we did enjoy some of the small plates, almost all came with bread. Would've been better to have more options that were not spreads or dips. read more

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Hidden gem. Located underground. It's a speakeasy. Make sure you make reservations because the wait is crazy. The food was ok. Drinks were definitely on point. I would go back. Vibe is more intimate. read more

First of all let me say the service at The Shelby Is SUPERB !!!! Everyone was so nice ... EVERYONE!!!! This is one of the best upscale bars that I have been to. The drinks are great I had a few of the high thymes . The food was good. I had the whitefish and the shrimp cocktail ... but if you're really hungry you want to eat before or after because the potions are really small and for snacking. The ambiance is amazing. I will definitely be going back soon ! read more

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Great ambiance! Drinks were amazing. The place felt super exclusive but was also warm and inviting. Our server said he named the best drink on the menu, "Fresh to Death" , it was amazing! The espresso martini was amazing!!! Would definitely go back!! read more

shelby - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

The ambience here cannot be beat, and the bartenders were super friendly and provided great service. The old fashioned at happy hour was only $8 which is a great price!! We also tried the escar no appetizer, as well as the cheeseboard. The bread they used for both was so good. I believe they said they get it from a bakery in Ann Arbor. I'll be back! read more

shelby - Cocktails - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

(At the risk of sounding pretentious) To put it plainly are a pair of people who've dined all over the world. We've had excellent food here in Detroit and can not believe how bad our Vday dinner here was. It is almost offensive and that this place is being presented as an elevated dining experience. I'm literally writing this review as we look for a pizza place that's open after leaving The Shelby on Valentine's Day. Upon being seated we had to sit and wait for at least 12 minutes with no greeting or service. We finally asked someone who our server would be and that person came back apologizing saying they didn't realize we were their table. Drinks were interesting. The mezcal used tastes cheap. I am giving this restaurant one star because the drinks were inventive. That's it. The entire Valentine's Day menu was terrible. First course we had the muscles--liter no flavor. Just the natural sea salt. So much color in the dish and absolutely no flavor in the preparation. Rice was green mush. Server brought us the mushrooms since we didn't like the muscles ; they were equally bland and gross. Served whole in a brown flavorless "broth". Shockingly disappointing. Lol. The main was the wagyu. Underwhelming would be a kind description. Nice flavor and okay texture, but the accompanying kale was literally flavorless and barely sautéed. The "potato purée" was barely a 1/2 teaspoon of some kind of sauce. The flourless cake was crumbly dry and gross. I can't believe this is a menu staple. The whipped cheese dessert my partner tried was so bad it was laughable. I'm not sure if they are skating on the novelty of the reservation process or the vault, but I am literally in awe of how well rated this restaurant is. The vault room seating is boring and I personally was disappointed in the look and feel of the space before we even ate the disgusting food. Shout out to the server for being nice. Will tell everyone I know about this experience because I'm so shocked. read more

Had a reservation for Saturday night. When we ARRIVED we were told our reservation was moved to "Tuesday" because of a "private party". How can you just move peoples reservations like that without telling them beforehand? We are not coming back on "Tuesday" We will never be back and I will tell all that will listen to stay clear of this establishment. read more

Shelby, Shelby, Shelby...what a let down. First of all, it's not a speakeasy. So, that's done. Second, the very basic novelty of it being in a bank vault instantly fades upon entering. It's design is weird. The back room, where most of the seating is, is indeed the inside of a vault. Metal walls, open compartments--all uninviting. We had to ask who our waiter was because after 10 minutes no one had come despite several waiters being in rotation. The rest of the evening was spent with our server, who apologized for his lapse in service, apologizing more. For what, you ask? The food. It was awful. It was genuinely, actually awful and I can't even mince words because I wouldn't want you to miss the most important point. It was so bad. It was so bad it kinda made our date night cute because we bonded over complaining. Every. Single. Dish. Was a fail. Mussels with their long, stringy ends attached doused in flavorless green sauce. Stale cake. Whipped cheese. Overcooked wagyu. So, the waiter spent his evening clearing full plates and wincing in awkward discomfort. The drinks were...drinkable? Cheap liquor is definitely in use. Anyway, who cares that there's a cute code word. It's gross and not interesting enough to make up for itself. Maybe just stick to the coffeeshop its hidden behind instead. read more

I will definitely come back here! ALL of the drinks were great! I had the mushroom appetizer and my friends had the tar tar - both were really good! The main course was the lamb - it was interesting and different. The music that they played the entire evening was on point! The server, Celeste, was absolutely amazing! The only little downside is that our main course took a bit longer to get served than expected. Trust me it's worth the wait! read more

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First things first, this place is a vibe! The ambiance captures your attention immediately when you walk into the Shelby! So my girl and I decided to do a date night in Detroit to kick off our Valentine's Day weekend. We called ahead and booked a reservation (highly recommended) and it was perfect. The cocktails were on point! I had two of the Viva La Vida cocktails cause I really love mezcal! My girl had the grow a pear and she really loved it. Now to the share plates and desserts. We had the smoked whitefish and financiers. I enjoyed them, very tasteful and citrusy. The Poor Man's bread pudding was the best out of the two! It reminded me of my mothers peach cobbler (highly recommended if you have a sweet tooth). All in all, this place is a must try and I'll be back soon with friends! read more

shelby - Viva La Vida Cocktail - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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When you want a night on the town, the Shelby is a must stop in the city. We had a blast and the vibe cool & sultry. read more

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I was really excited to go to Shelby because it's a speakeasy and I had no idea that my friend made reservations to go because we were at another spot earlier that night. So to have a good speakeasy I think you need three things: 1. It's gotta be hard to find 2. Atmosphere - I want to feel like I'm creeping to meet somebody's wife and nobody knows we're there. 3. Good drinks. Shelby does number one very well... enjoy looking for it! The atmosphere I thought was just okay, it was cool to be in a bank vault but it seemed like once were in, the lights were bright and at one point it got loud as hell at the tables across from us, these people were screaming at the top of their lungs... I was entertained but it takes away from what should be a low key vibe and turned it into a regular bar vibe. The drinks get an incomplete grade: I had a town and country which was just okay, and my friend had a beach bum but changed a bunch of ingredients in the drink, so I can't tell you how the actual drink tasted. The drink menu I thought was a little weak though... nothing new or different, but I didn't do my usual two drink taste test. I did enjoy the shortbread dessert... best thing out of all the food I had. I also tried the escar-no/sourdough bread and the shrimp cocktail. Also it is worth mentioning that the folks who worked here were SUPER nice. My suggestion: DO go but don't waste time on the food here. It's too expensive just to be okay. If anything make this your last stop of the night for a drink and a dessert. read more

shelby - Town and Country, "Sort of" Beach Bum - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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We made a reservation here for a cocktail after dinner elsewhere and loved the ambiance. First of all, I could hear my husband! Most speakeasies we've been to are so loud that you can speak easy, but you often can't be heard unless you're shouting. :) Where we sat was great because at one end we had a view of the well-stocked, backlit bar that ran the length of the wall, and at the other end was the vault door standing open as a centerpiece to the back wall. I'm not sure if the guy at the door outside works for them or one of the other businesses, or if they're all owned by the same people, but he is an excellent person for that job. He made us feel welcome and special and was just as friendly on our way out. Our waiter didn't have much of a sense of humor, but we did get him to smile once and he was polite. I ordered a Salt to Spring cocktail, and it was decent, but nothing special. It didn't look particularly good, and the flavor was ok. With the price point I expected to be dazzled. I WAS dazzled by the macaron that was hanging on the side of the glass. It was delectable. Clientele was all over the place in regard to age and the way they were dressed. A lot of the women were dressed to the nines, but there were also people wearing business casual or jeans with a nice top. This is definitely a place worth visiting, even just to enjoy the vibe and soak up the scenery while sipping something sweet. (Ooh, I ended with alliteration for all you English teachers out there!) read more

I recommend checking out Shelby! The service was great. We went with a group of 7 and they were able to easily accommodate us with reservations. They also gave us a free round of shots for my friend's birthday. I ordered the old fashioned and it was good. The ambiance was great, nothing out of the ordinary for a speakeasy. Worth checking out. read more

Atmosphere,atmosphere! Worth seeing even if you aren't into craft cocktails, or their food. I will have to say - if you can think of a drink they probably can create it. Had a very good bartender and the manager kept checking on everything. Food looked decently good . Went beverages only. Standard $14 prices. read more

I had a great time visiting the shelby. Reservations are required , but it's actually a fairly large place and I was able to get one on a weekday. If you do not have a reservation it is first come first serve bar seating. I love that they had a happy hour with some discounted drinks all were of great quality. They also offer a mocktails and my pregnant friend was able to get a fancy drink and enjoy herself. The Mushroom escarfaux was so delicious and I ended up dipping my bread in the broth it was full of pesto / butter and delicious . I would love to come back and try more drinks here. It's a laid-back atmosphere and a cool location and you need to see the pass code as it is a speakeasy. I like the vibe here more than the Plymouth and RO ones. read more

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We met our son for a drink here on 8-25-2023. The atmosphere was very cool and the drinks were delicious. We didn't have reservations, and I understand the staff had to prioritize the table for those who did make reservations...but I felt a little uncomfortable with the clock ticking. read more

Easily the coolest speakeasy I have been to! Super hidden entrance as the stockroom door of a coffee shop. Loved the ambiance here amazing low lighting and velvet green and blue booths. Such a cool experience sitting inside of a bank vault it felt like a movie. Everything was stunning. We were super impressed with their cocktail menu. Loved the State Fair Old Fashioned, so well thought out with a bag of roasted almonds clipped right to the glass. Their food menu however was limited. Not too many options definitely not enough for a meal. This place is all about their drinks and their experience and they do it well! Nothing in Detroit can do it quite like this! read more

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This spot is super cool and fun!!! The experience is awesome! We've been to another speakeasy before in Royal Oak and I will say the food was better there than Shelby! BUT the ambiance here is one of a kind! They are a little funky with making your own drinks and asking for liquor swap outs if their cocktails, but again it's all the experience! They have a charcuterie platter and oh my the bread and spread they serve you is AMAZING and so flavorful with the cheeses and prosciutto. Overall, it was a great place to see, experience, and our server Morgan was awesome! read more

Talk about a discrete place to enjoy cocktails. I love the secrecy of this hidden gem to be honest with you. The menu doesn't have a huge variety of meal options and the portion sizes are small, but I don't believe this spot is that kind of vibe. It's more of a "drop in and grab a cocktail and quick bite" before you go on to the next bar. The overall aesthetic is what did it for me. It's mellow, dark, gives off vault vibes and is just enough space for several people to enjoy but not too many. I do wish the bathrooms were closer to the inside, but it's definitely not a dealbreaker. I can't wait to take my friends and go back! read more

Staff was incredibly helpful and got a party of 4 seated on a Saturday night within 10 min of arriving without a reservation. Owner was very present in the space working, and helping consistently, you can tell he really cares about the full experience of everyone and the atmosphere that is created. Overall great customer service. Did not try any food, came just for the drinks for a friends birthday. Cocktails were very well done and there is a wide selection of interesting options. Would definitely come back to try more on the menu. Our waiter recommended some great options for us and I throughly enjoyed everything we had. Even though we had slight issue, the staff and owner resolved it with grace and professionalism, which in my mind significantly outweighs any mistake an establishment can make. 5+ stars! Thank for the great evening and we will be back! read more

4 1/2 stars! Cool little spot. Worth checking out. Eat before you go if you're hungry. Small plates are just that. I suggest making a reservation and stopping in for a drink. read more

What a VIBE! This place has a cool speakeasy like feel with an entrance located thru a coffee shop! Would definitely recommend making reservations as this place is popping, especially on a Saturday night. Came here with a bunch of my girlfriends and got drinks and apps. The drinks were on point! They had a great variety of options and the staff was super helpful with recommendations. The restaurant is on the pricier side but I guess you are also paying for the ambience. They had several seating options from the bar to inside the vault. The place is kind of hard to find as the building itself doesn't have any signs or anything. Parking, you'll have to rely on street parking or find a lot downtown. read more

I've been wanting to go here forever and finally got to check it out! My first drink was the Red Alert and I highly recommend it if you like fruity drinks! The coconut foam on top really complimented the drink. It was not overly sweet but just the right amount for a fruit drink. We also got the private island which came out on fire! I love the theater of flaming drinks personally! The drink was really solid too... another fruity drink but it had great flavor. The ambiance of this place was really nice. It was dimly lit, modern, and the vault was just a really cool. I would recommend this place to anyone. We also shared some small plates with me and my friends and the food was all fantastic. We got the cheese plate and charcuterie. They also had a special croquette on the menu that evening and it was sooooo good. I could've eaten 10 of those alone! It's not normally on the menu but it should be! read more

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Went here with a friend and had an unforgettable experience. One of the most unique spots in downtown Detroit. Cozy, intimate, friendly and affordable. The staff was super friendly and the service was top notch. For drinks I got the Vertical Garden and the Town and Country. I also got the Millionaire shortbread for dessert which left me so satisfied. I wish I hadn't eaten dinner before coming here otherwise I would've definitely tried other items on the menu. I will for sure be back and could not recommend this place enough! read more

Our first visit was last night. Awesome drinks. Food was really good as well. The ambience is outstanding.

This place is fun to find and has good decor. Drinks were ok, the selection was pretty limited. Appetizers we selected were tasty (had the whitefish and mushroom apps), but not many to choose from. Friendly service. Overpriced for anyone who wants a mocktail ($11!!). Other places, like Standby or Grey Ghost charge half of that. Overall, nice to experience once, but you can hit up one of the other places in the area for better selection and quality of drinks and appetizers/food. read more

This place. Shelby is incredible. I love the vibes and cozy feel of this amazing cocktail bar. I've been here several times and the drinks have never disappointed. The bartenders are super experienced, so when I described the type of drink I wanted, they listened and even made something off-menu for me that was perfect. I moved to Michigan from New York City, and this place makes me feel like I'm back in New York at one of the best speakeasies in the city. It's that good. If you haven't been here yet, you need to! read more

The hosts are rude and immediately give you attitude for no reason. We are visiting Detroit and wanted to stop by here for a drink, and the host (shorter, chubby, curly hair and beard) goes "do you have a reservation?" We said no we we've never been here before and are visiting Detroit, just wanted to grab a drink at the bar! He says "we are full, nothing available today" with such attitude, like we were stupid for asking. I said "oh even at the bar top, just for a drink?" He looks and me and rolls his eyes, and said "I already told you. there's no seats. You have to reserve the seats at the bar. We are full tonight" with sass and a smirk. It's one thing to be fully booked, but it's another to be completely rude to customers. I had no idea you had to reserve a seat at the bar, and I didn't appreciate the attitude, eye rolling, and snarky experience from the beginning, and making us feel stupid. I work in the service industry and would never treat a guest like that. After finding other bars to go to, we heard from a few different bartenders that they've had or heard of similar experiences. After this I have no desire to go there. I've worked in the industry for years and could never imagine being that rude to folks who want to come in and spend money at my establishment. I'd find something else. read more

This was my first time coming to the Shelby and I had brought my sister who was in from out if town and my dad with me. We all loved the drinks given to us. My dad & sister ordered red wine. My sister ordered another drink as well. She quite liked both. We ordered a plethora of the shareable plates: the cabbage, the charcuterie cheese plate, the cocktail shrimp, and the mushroom something. The cabbage wasn't that great, simply a boiled cabbage. The charcuterie cheese plate had delicious butter and cheese but few bread pieces and only 2-3 pieces one one cheese. The cocktail shrimp sauce wasn't great. The best thing was the mushroom one. It tasted the best and was worth the price. Overall, the experience and ambiance were what truly mattered and the memories we made there were ones we'd hold onto. I think it'd recommend this place solely for that. read more

shelby - Inside the bank vault - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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