Michigan · best-of list
The 9 Best Bars & Cafés in Michigan
All 9 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Michigan, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. 1 spot on this list appears on more than one of our routes.
Our curated picks
9 bars & cafés in Michigan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Traverse City 3 picks
Chateau Chantal
Traverse City · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Hilltop winery-inn with views over both bays.
Tip: Go before sunset for the terrace view.
Photo: Chateau Chantal · Attribution
Chateau Grand Traverse
Traverse City · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Old Mission Peninsula's pioneering winery, known for Riesling.
Tip: Tasting room gets busy on summer weekends.
Photo: Dana boomer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Right Brain Brewery
Traverse City · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Traverse City's original microbrewery, known for oddball beers and arcade games.
Tip: Kitchen closes an hour before the bar.
Photo: Sandra Bruening · Google
Detroit 2 picks
Cliff Bell's
Detroit · On our Frankenmuth & Detroit route
Restored 1930s jazz club near Grand Circus Park, with live music most nights and a full dinner menu.
Tip: Reserve a table for the evening set; walk-ins usually end up at the bar.
Photo: Mx. Granger · CC0
Two James Spirits
Detroit · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Corktown tasting room of Detroit's first licensed distillery since Prohibition.
Tip: Try a flight with the Catcher's Rye.
Photo: Lena McLean · Google
Downtown Detroit 1 pick
The Roostertail
Downtown Detroit · On our Detroit New Year's Eve route
Riverfront event venue east of downtown that throws a two-floor NYE party facing the river and Belle Isle.
Tip: Cheaper than the Resolution Ball and closer to Belle Isle for Jan 1.
Holland 1 pick
New Holland Brewing Pub on 8th
Holland · On our Michigan Lake Shore route
Downtown brewpub of the brewery behind Dragon's Milk stout.
Photo: New Holland Brewing - Holland Brewpub · Google
Mackinac Island 1 pick
Horn's Gaslight Bar
Mackinac Island · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route + 1 more
Saloon on Main Street since 1933 with live music and Southwestern food.
Tip: Live music most summer nights.
Photo: Horn's Gaslight Bar & Restaurant · Google
Sleeping Bear Dunes 1 pick
Good Harbor Vineyards
Sleeping Bear Dunes · On our Michigan Lake Shore route
Leelanau Peninsula family winery known for cool-climate whites.
Photo: Good Harbor Vineyards · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Michigan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Michigan has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Traverse City has the most (3 of 9), followed by Detroit (2) and Downtown Detroit (1).
More lists for Michigan
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Traverse City 3 on this list
- Detroit 2 on this list
- Downtown Detroit 1 on this list
- Holland 1 on this list
- Mackinac Island 1 on this list
- Sleeping Bear Dunes 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.