clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
From left to right: Flashing Lights (mezcal, amontillado sherry, cinnamon, grapefruit); Gold Note (aquavit, yellow chartreuse, clarified pineapple); Espresso martini (vodka, coffee liqueur, fresh espresso from Coffee Down Under)
A selection of cocktails from the Shelby.
Gerard + Belevender

13 Reliable Detroit Happy Hours

Where to find discounts on beer, wine, cocktails, and food too

View as Map
A selection of cocktails from the Shelby.
| Gerard + Belevender

The clock is off and it's time to hit the bars for a little food, drink, and socializing. But where to go? Happy hour is a good time to a neighborhood bar, but it's also a prime opportunity to visit some of the city's finer establishments. Quite a few of Detroit's restaurants and bars serve up excellent cocktails and bites at steep discounts in the latter hours of the afternoon and the late evening.

The pandemic, for obvious reasons, did a number on bars and restaurants and happy hours certainly took a hit. Among COVID-related closures, Detroit lost a local happy hour favorite Roast in 2022. But, thankfully, some happy hours are starting to trickle back into the rotation for folks looking for drink deals and bar snacks. Whether a cocktail, a draft beer, or poutine, these happy hour hot spots are serving up great deals.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Trendy Northern Thai restaurant Takoi offers discounts on its fried chicken sandwich topped with with papaya salad or the foot-long hot dog. Beer, wine, and cocktail specials will also be available at the bar and on the patio. 

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 

Bagley Central

Copy Link

Neighborhood watering hole Bagley Central is pretty affordable to begin with but treats its regulars to a reliable happy hour with a long ordering window where customers can get $4 domestic beers, $9 boilermakers, and $4 well drinks.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday

UFO Factory

Copy Link

Hip indie bar and restaurant UFO Factory already has relatively affordable drinks to begin with, but during happy hour customers can pick up a $1 Hamms or PBR (depending on the night or a $3 well. On Thursdays, take a $1 off draft and bottled beers. Occasionally, visitors can also find a deal on food from in-house kitchen Laika Dog like free tots with a $10 food order.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Dragonfly

Copy Link

The more casual bar counterpart to buzzy Milwaukee Junction tasting menu restaurant, Freya serves a variety of creative beverages as well as wine and non-alcoholic drinks. The bar is walk-in only.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

Detroit Shipping Company

Copy Link

Visitors to Cass Corridor’s shipping container food hall can count on $3 house wine pours, $4 mystery beers, and $5 dealer’s choice cocktails during happy hour.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday

The Block

Copy Link

This well-loved Midtown happy hour haunt features $3 PBRs, $4 wine pours, and $6 margaritas and shots. Make a meal out of the deal with bacon Brussels sprouts, spinach dip, or a quesadilla for $7.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

A server walks through the dining room at the Block with a sign in the background. Michelle and Chris Gerard

Eatóri Market

Copy Link

Find $5 draft beers, $7 well drinks, an $3 off glasses of wine at Eatóri Market during happy hour. On Wednesdays, pick up a full bottle of wine for $25. The menu is filled out with snacks like mussels, shishito peppers, and halloumi grilled cheeses with hand-cut chips.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday

Located in downtown Detroit’s Financial District, this hidden speakeasy offers happy hour customers a tight selection of $8 cocktails and $10 appetizers such as the “Escar-no” with cremini mushrooms, parsley breadcrumbs, and mushroom bouillon or beef tartare with big leaves of iceberg lettuce.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

Just off Campus Martius in downtown, this classy Detroit restaurant offers plenty of sparkling wine and specialty Prosecco cocktails in addition to $8 drinks like the Parc punch with pineapple rum, mixed berry simple syrup, lime, and Averna amaro. The happy hour menu is rounded out by $11 plates of chile honey wings, grilled flatbread, and spiced chicken meatballs with harissa tomato sauce.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Downtown’s Mediterranean-leaning restaurant Besa takes 30 percent off the price of its salads and appetizers like eggplant toast and calamari in addition to serving $4 pours of beers on tap, $6 glasses of wine, and $7 cocktails.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Firebird Tavern

Copy Link

This casual restaurant on the border of Greektown offers half-off American craft brews, wine, and Tito’s vodka in addition to $4 snacks like poutine and crispy chicken sliders.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen

Copy Link

This bustling neighborhood restaurant in West Village preserved the legacy of its predecessor with a great happy hour with options like a double cheeseburger, refried black lentil dip, and creative cocktails.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Good Vibes Lounge

Copy Link

This East English Village bar is popular with happy hour crowds when it serves up daily specials like $3 beers and $5 well cocktails. Pair the drink with Buffalo chicken egg rolls or deep-fried jumbo shrimp and catfish nuggets.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Takoi

Trendy Northern Thai restaurant Takoi offers discounts on its fried chicken sandwich topped with with papaya salad or the foot-long hot dog. Beer, wine, and cocktail specials will also be available at the bar and on the patio. 

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 

Bagley Central

Neighborhood watering hole Bagley Central is pretty affordable to begin with but treats its regulars to a reliable happy hour with a long ordering window where customers can get $4 domestic beers, $9 boilermakers, and $4 well drinks.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday

UFO Factory

Hip indie bar and restaurant UFO Factory already has relatively affordable drinks to begin with, but during happy hour customers can pick up a $1 Hamms or PBR (depending on the night or a $3 well. On Thursdays, take a $1 off draft and bottled beers. Occasionally, visitors can also find a deal on food from in-house kitchen Laika Dog like free tots with a $10 food order.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Dragonfly

The more casual bar counterpart to buzzy Milwaukee Junction tasting menu restaurant, Freya serves a variety of creative beverages as well as wine and non-alcoholic drinks. The bar is walk-in only.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

Detroit Shipping Company

Visitors to Cass Corridor’s shipping container food hall can count on $3 house wine pours, $4 mystery beers, and $5 dealer’s choice cocktails during happy hour.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday

The Block

This well-loved Midtown happy hour haunt features $3 PBRs, $4 wine pours, and $6 margaritas and shots. Make a meal out of the deal with bacon Brussels sprouts, spinach dip, or a quesadilla for $7.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

A server walks through the dining room at the Block with a sign in the background. Michelle and Chris Gerard

Eatóri Market

Find $5 draft beers, $7 well drinks, an $3 off glasses of wine at Eatóri Market during happy hour. On Wednesdays, pick up a full bottle of wine for $25. The menu is filled out with snacks like mussels, shishito peppers, and halloumi grilled cheeses with hand-cut chips.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday

Shelby

Located in downtown Detroit’s Financial District, this hidden speakeasy offers happy hour customers a tight selection of $8 cocktails and $10 appetizers such as the “Escar-no” with cremini mushrooms, parsley breadcrumbs, and mushroom bouillon or beef tartare with big leaves of iceberg lettuce.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

Parc

Just off Campus Martius in downtown, this classy Detroit restaurant offers plenty of sparkling wine and specialty Prosecco cocktails in addition to $8 drinks like the Parc punch with pineapple rum, mixed berry simple syrup, lime, and Averna amaro. The happy hour menu is rounded out by $11 plates of chile honey wings, grilled flatbread, and spiced chicken meatballs with harissa tomato sauce.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Besa

Downtown’s Mediterranean-leaning restaurant Besa takes 30 percent off the price of its salads and appetizers like eggplant toast and calamari in addition to serving $4 pours of beers on tap, $6 glasses of wine, and $7 cocktails.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Firebird Tavern

This casual restaurant on the border of Greektown offers half-off American craft brews, wine, and Tito’s vodka in addition to $4 snacks like poutine and crispy chicken sliders.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen

This bustling neighborhood restaurant in West Village preserved the legacy of its predecessor with a great happy hour with options like a double cheeseburger, refried black lentil dip, and creative cocktails.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Good Vibes Lounge

This East English Village bar is popular with happy hour crowds when it serves up daily specials like $3 beers and $5 well cocktails. Pair the drink with Buffalo chicken egg rolls or deep-fried jumbo shrimp and catfish nuggets.

Hours: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Related Maps