Best Speakeasy Bars In Detroit

The Metro Detroit area has a great variety of bars, sometimes you just need to know where to look for a something a little different from the "norm." If you're looking for an evening that's laid back and filled with flavor and elegance, here's a few suggestions featuring some of Detroit's best speakeasy-style bars.

Café D'Mongo's is Detroit's not-so-secret speakeasy serving up live music, great cuisine and delectable drinks in an atmosphere reminiscent of days gone by. D' Mongo's is host to an artistic and eclectic crowd. It's a fun spot that's whimsical and somewhat out of the ordinary. It's also a great place to take a date or for a night out with friends, but get there early because Mongo's tends to fill up fast.

Cliff Bell's opened its doors on Park Avenue in 1935, just a few years after prohibition ended. The whole atmosphere and style of the bar is reminiscent of the speakeasy era. It features live music from jazz to world music, along with a full menu, and has a phenomenal Sunday brunch. On any given night, the ambiance is cool and collected and pretty much always host to a great evening out.

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The Oakland's specialty is its tantalyzing cocktails; the drinks all are based on recipes predating prohibition. The ingredients include only top-shelf liquors, homemade syrups and bitters and brilliant fresh-squeezed juices.The cocktails have creative names such as Juliet and Romeo and On The Night You Were Born. The atmosphere has a warm yet dark and mysterious vibe that you're sure to love. You'll want to get to the Oakland early on the weekends because it's such a popular spot.

The Sugar House is yet another gem of Detroit that is offering up handcrafted cocktails with fine-tuned precision. It is located in Corktown right by Slows Barbecue. So technically you could kill two birds with one stone; eat some killer barbecue and they queue up for a rich and robust atmosphere serving up prohibition-style cocktails. This is a great bar for a date, a night out with friends or you could even go by yourself and sit at the bar and enjoy the sublime concoction that your bartender mixes up.

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Valentine Vodka is a distillery and cocktail bar with a special speakeasy vibe that is making all the right moves. It begins with the vodka. You can currently purchase the two flavors (regular and white blossom) of Valentine vodka in local bars and stores. The bar features specialty vodka infusions and creative cocktail creations that are palate pleasers. The vodka infusions change every couple of months or so, some of the fusions have included a luscious apple cinnamon and a bright refreshing cucumber. Two of Valentine's signature cocktails include the Cucumber Chill and the Detroit Dirty which are both crowd pleasers and absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with comfortable seating in an intimate atmosphere.