(WXYZ) — Just as chefs experiment with food, craft bartenders are always on the lookout for a fresh artistic and innovative way to shake up a good time – no matter if you want your drink shaken not stirred, neat or on the rocks.
Our 7 Action News viewers selected the top 7 craft cocktail spots in metro Detroit for our Thursday’s top 7.
7. THE OAKLAND (FERNDALE)
We’re at the Oakland Art Novelty Company in Ferndale and 9 Mile. It’s a true gem of the cocktail scene in metro Detroit. One bartender here has been called "one of the top 25 in the country.”
No doubt the drinks here are creative, beautifully presented in a hip, eclectic and romantic atmosphere.
6. THE WHISKY PARLOR (DOWNTOWN DETROIT)
The Whisky Parlor – an intimate space above the Historic Grand Trunk Pub in downtown Detroit – comes in 6th. It’s the spot for sophisticated cocktails and live music Saturday nights.
5. WILLIS SHOW BAR (DETROIT)
The Willis Show Bar’s legacy dates back to the 1940s. Today check it out for top-notch cocktails and live musicians, cabaret performers, burlesque dancers, deejays and comedians.
4. LOST RIVER (DETROIT)
Want to try craft cocktails with a tiki theme? Check out Lost River on Detroit’s east side. The focus here are rum-based tiki-style drinks. Rotating guest chefs means your experience never gets old.
3. PESO BAR (DETROIT)
Peso Bar in Southwest Detroit brings Mexican food and cocktail flair to the list. The menu includes 20 different margaritas. If you love tequila, also be sure to check out the cantaritos and palomas, too!
2. BARTER (HAMTRAMCK)
Barter in Hamtramck is both a bar and a performing arts space. It’s our runner up! The cocktails here are creative and clean. Sip to live music from both established and emerging artists.
1. THE LIBRARY (DOWNTOWN DETROIT)
Topping our list is the Library at the Detroit Club right downtown. The folks who come here rave about the cocktails.
Peter Veach and his wife Anne just spent the night at one of the clubs 10 hotel rooms. Veach says the drinks here are just right. “They’re made from scratch, home blended. They are excellent.”
The Library offers both classics and contemporary drinks. The atmosphere here is grand but relaxed. “It’s very elegant”, says Anne Veach. “It’s very calm and serene.”
The Library is on the first floor of the Detroit Club on Cass near Fort street. Even though it is a private club, non-members are welcome to stop in for a drink or dinner.
