West side suburbanites rejoiced in 2020 when The Ebenezer opened in the basement of a former bank in downtown Plymouth. The large space of the vault is a great place to relax on leather couches and pretend you’re a roaring 20s banker or gangster. Classic cocktails like the Widow’s Kiss and Boulevardier are featured alongside new twists like the refreshing gin-based Cryptic Message and the complex and spicy Blood Ritual, which pairs mezcal and cinnamon with grenadine, lime, and Ancho Reyes chili liqueur.

Getting into Johnny’s requires a little extra effort. Reservations are required for this basement bar, so call or text ahead to get the secret code. Once there, guests enjoy a full farm-to-table dinner menu with Thai and Indian inspired cuisine, alongside craft cocktails and more than 100 whiskies.

Back when speakeasy-style bars were a novelty, the Oakland Art Novelty Company was a pioneer in craft cocktails. The swanky Ferndale spot is lush and dimly lit, with overstuffed chairs and couches scattered to encourage small groups. The Oakland regularly hosts pop-up concepts, including the over-the-top Christmas-themed Miracle at the Oakland, with kitschy drinks and an explosion of winter decor.

The Sugar House was the cocktail bar that launched an empire of bars for the Detroit Optimist Society. After more than 10 years, The Sugar House continues to set the bar for meticulously crafted drinks, and its rigorous bar training program ensures that a vast library of historical cocktails are available at any given time.

Downtown’s Detroit Club operates as a private, member-only hotel, but its Library Bar is fortunately open to the public. Serving texture-oriented cocktails, wine and beer, the Library evokes Parisian salon vibes with airy ceilings, heavy curtains and glittery chandeliers. Sip a “Oui, Oui” with gin, champagne, apple and lemon and ponder the array of bottles.

Head down the back alley behind the Albert to find the snake-adorned entrance to Bad Luck. Inside, the rich gold tones and hexagon motif invite intimate conversations over experimental cocktails. Bad Luck is the spot to impress a date with theatrical, intricate, and innovative cocktails.

Located in the basement of the Shinola Hotel and accessed via a door in Parker’s Alley, this upscale, secluded lounge serves classic cocktails as well as a solid list of well-balanced nonalcoholic cocktails. There are also in-between options with lower alcohol intensity to keep the evening going without suffering the next day.

Owner Larry Mongo is a Detroit treasure. He has hosted the sometimes chaotic but always fascinating collection of people and objects in his not-so-hidden spot for decades and has the stories to show for it. The bar is an eclectic and energizing spot for great conversation and classic drinks like the Detroit Brown, with Crown Royal, Vernor’s and bitters.

Cliff Bell’s is a true Detroit revitalization success story; after the building lay vacant and damaged for 20 years, it was painstakingly restored to its original glory in 2005, right down to the very last detail in the wall murals. Serial Prohibition speakeasy owner Cliff himself would be proud of that his tradition of hospitality and libation continues, with world-class jazz artists performing regularly.

One of the cleverest concepts to appear in Detroit in recent years, Castalia is housed in the basement of a Victorian mansion on Alexandrine (the same building that houses Stadt Garten). By day, the space is a perfumery; at night, the shelves and display cases transform into Castalia, a sensory delight that pairs taste, texture and scent for an immersive experience.

Flemish bar Cadieux Cafe once operated as a prohibition-era speakeasy, and remains a go-to destination for Belgian ales and feather bowling. Book a lane ahead of a visit and bring a group to roll some wheels while sipping beers and eating bowls of steamed mussels.

Two Way Inn is the real deal. The saloon opened their doors in 1876 as a stagecoach stop and tavern, and little has changed since. Ring the doorbell to enter Detroit’s oldest watering hole and enjoy a large selection of craft beers while you admire the original American Chestnut bar, placed there back when the place was an official Stroh’s-sponsored bar.