15 cool Detroit bars to take out-of-towners

When your friends visit Detroit, you don't want to take them to just any bar.

You can get vodka sodas anywhere, and even the downtown coney islands serve beer. Show out-of-towners the unique and interesting watering holes we have in the city that offer some culture, a little history or awesome bartenders.

We've plucked these choices with drinking and socializing in mind, not so much what they offer in the way of food, sports-watching or entertainment; those are for different lists.

Willow: A 50-seat cocktail lounge that is going for a speakeasy vibe (you enter through a door in the alley), Willow stocks a lot of Black-owned spirit brands for their craft beverages. Sip an Old Fashioned or mulled sangria, or ask the bartender to make you something using one of the nonalcoholic spirits that they carry. Willow also has wine by the glass and bottle and small plates like charcuterie boards. Open 6 p.m.-midnight Wed.-Thurs. and 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 1431 Times Square, Detroit. (313) 900-3474. Willowdetroit.com.

D'Mongo's Speakeasy: Even though it’s only open a few hours a week, Café D’Mongo’s is a legendary Detroit bar that is somehow off the beaten path and in the mix of everything all at once. Among the heavy-handed drinks is the Detroit Brown, which is Crown Royal, bitters and Vernors and the favorite sandwich is a grilled cheese named after famed teenage drug dealer White Boy Rick. Open 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri. and 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat. 1439 Griswold, Detroit. facebook.com/cafedmongo.

Standby: Cozy and modern, Standby’s cocktail menu doesn’t just describe the drinks' ingredients, but lets you know what kind of glass they’ll arrive in and if they’re shaken or stirred. They also have draft cocktails, shot-and-a-beer specials, wine and champagne. There’s a whole food menu, too, with a house burger, pork ragu gnocchi, coconut calamari, maple-roasted carrots and other sharables. Location is a big plus here, being right in the middle of the action at one end of the Belt alleyway. Check out sister bar the Skip, an open-air lounge next door. Open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Wed.-Sat. and 5 p.m.-midnight Sun. 225 Gratiot, Detroit. standbydetroit.com.

Candy Bar: Cute, tiny and very pink, the Candy Bar is tucked behind a heavy curtain in the lobby of the boutique and eclectic Siren Hotel. It's seriously small, so reservations are a good idea. The 30-seat bar is worth a visit for a glance at the stunning vintage glass chandelier from Paris alone. 5 p.m.-midnight Sun.-Thurs. and 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 1509 Broadway, Detroit. ash.world/dining/candy-bar.

Checker Bar: If you're in the Campus Martius area and you want more of a Midwest dive rather than an upscale cocktail lounge, Checker Bar is your sanctuary. It's also a useful option for those looking for a bar to hang out at during off-peak hours, because this place is open daily and early. Happy hour is weekdays 3-6 p.m. Open 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 124 Cadillac Square, Detroit. (313) 961-9249. Checkerbar.com.

More:Your guide to downtown Detroit sports bars near LCA, Comerica Park and Ford Field

Castalia: This is something truly different and impressive. Castalia is a postage stamp-sized bar at niche perfumery Sfumato. The drinks here are meant to engage not only your sense of taste but are also served with a paired scent to awaken your sense of smell. Castalia’s cocktail menu has just as many spirit-forward beverages as it does nonalcoholic. Reservations and walk-ins welcome. 5-11 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 3980 Second, Suite E, Detroit. (313) 305-1442. Castaliacocktails.com.

Griot Music Lounge: This place is cool as a cucumber, but not pretentious or trendy. Listen to R&B, rock and roll, jazz and more on vinyl or socialize at the bar or lounge seating. The house signature beverage is an organic pineapple-infused vodka and the Griot also hosts pop-up chefs. Wednesday is a hot night with wine specials and happy hour all night. Opens at 5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. 66 E. Forest, Detroit. (313) 920-6075. griotdetroit.com.

Willis Show Bar: A beautifully refurbished art moderne gem, Willis is a polished and cozy time warp that is perfect for a date night. It was a jazz club in the 1940s until it closed in the late '70s. A few years ago it was revived after being dark for 40 years. Every seat faces the small stage, which hosts DJs, singers and jazz combos. In addition to classic and house cocktails, Willis has champagne, punchbowls and bottle service. Open 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Thurs. and 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 4156 Third, Detroit. (313) 788-7469. willisshowbar.com.

Barcade: Started in Brooklyn years ago, the Barcade brand is fairly new to Detroit. The Midtown location has more than 80 arcade and pinball games, plus loads of draft beers, cocktails and pub grub. Open 2 p.m-1 a.m. Mon.-Thurs., 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri., noon-2 a.m. Sat. and noon-1 a.m. Sun. 666 Selden, Detroit. (313) 285-9410. barcade.com/detroit.

Bronx Bar: Part college hangout and part old-man bar, the Bronx is Cass Corridor staple with decent prices, great burgers, a pool table and no frills. Open 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon-2 a.m. Sat.-Sun. 4476 Second, Detroit. (313) 832-8464.

Old Miami: A veterans bar that on any given night could be taken over by punk rockers, artists, students, comedians or locals. The inside is dive-bar dark and appropriately cluttered with Detroit and veteran memorabilia, but the backyard is a green urban oasis with a ton of room to spread out and enjoy a drink under the stars. Sometimes there's a cover if there is live music. Open noon-2 a.m. daily. 3930 Cass, Detroit. (313) 831-3830.

The Sugar House: When the craft cocktail revival started to kick into gear, the Sugar House was Detroit's go-to, and has remained a popular spot since opening in 2011. The Corktown bar has a drink menu of 101 classic cocktails that is as fun to read as it is to order from. Whiskey nerds will want to take a look at their house single-barrel menu. Open 5 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Thurs., 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri., 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. and 3 p.m.-midnight Sun. 2130 Michigan, Detroit. (313) 962-0123. sugarhousedetroit.com.

Two Way Inn: Considered Detroit's oldest (and possibly most haunted) bar, the Two Way Inn is a historic watering hole for those looking for authenticity over a modern vibe. It has history as a brothel and a jail, but these days it's a family owned bar that sometimes offers a soup or Polish dish to have while you unwind from the day. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wed.-Thurs. and noon-midnight Fri.-Sat. 17897 Mt. Elliott, Detroit. (313) 891-4925. facebook.com/2wayinn.

HenriettaHaus: OK, this one’s in Hamtramck, but it’s three blocks and some train tracks away from the Detroit border. The eclectic barroom, lengthy menu of coffee cocktails, imported European beers and other unique stuff make it a quintessential Hamtramck bar, and they also make a shockingly good vegetarian sourdough pizza. It's quiet enough to have a conversation here, and the colorful kaleidoscope of bric-a-brac will give you something to chat about. Open noon-2 a.m. Thurs.-Sat. and noon-midnight Sun. 8609 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. facebook.com/HenriettaHaus. For another unique find, visit nearby witch bar the Black Salt (2764 Florian) for craft cocktails with and without spells.

Mutiny: Visiting this casual tiki bar is really a good excuse to go to southwest Detroit, see some beautiful murals and eat tacos and tamales. This cozy, dim spot is decked out with colorful umbrellas and Christmas lights with a few nods to Detroit’s long-gone tiki bars from the mid-20th century on the walls. The drink menu doesn’t overwhelm, with around a dozen high-octane cocktails that will get you buzzed quickly. Buy a round of rum banana bread shots that are topped with torched whipped cream and make a few friends for life. Karaoke is Thursday. Opens at 5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. 4654 Vernor, Detroit. mutinybar.com.

Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic

mbaetens@detroitnews.com