Best & Cool Bars in Rochester

"La Dolce Vita has been providing some of Detroit’s best Italian food for over 25 years. The menu covers various regional Italian specialties – and you definitely won’t want to miss the iconic Sunday Brunches which feature bottomless Mimosas. And the patio itself?"

"Pasta , Italian"

"This iconic jazz club on Livernois in Northwest Detroit is known for its curved keyboard bar, live entertainers, phenomenal soul food. Seating is available both indoors and on the patio, and there’s also optional takeout. Make sure to call ahead for a reservation and don’t miss the fried chicken and peach cobbler."

"A trip to this Livernois icon should be on every Detroiters' bucket list. Both the music and the food stand out, and no visit can be complete without a overflowing hot terrine of cobbler crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Life is indeed very sweet sometimes."

"The claim to fame for this jazz bar and soul-food restaurant on 8 Mile?. It’s the world’s oldest jazz club. But the claim could just as easily be for their heaping plates of fried chicken and fixings."

"This old world Belgian establishment near East English Village is carrying on the Flemish tradition of featherbowling (similar to bocce ball). Reserve a lane for a group and roll some wooden wheels while sipping a beer. The bar serves a selection of European brews plus the standard domestics and craft beers."

"Cadieux Café is a former speakeasy, and now a family-run Belgian café and bar. What makes it unique?. Well, aside from the wide selection of authentic Belgian beers, this place is also home to a variety of games: feather bowling, darts, and more."

"The proprietors of this Ferndale outpost travel to Kentucky to hand-pick whole barrels straight from the distillers. The chosen barrels are then bottled especially for The Oakland. In addition to these hand-plucked whiskeys, the speakeasy also has a deep “vintage” whiskey list that includes rare and expensive spirits, one actually over 99 years old."

"Serious whiskey hounds head to the Oakland Art Novelty Company, a glam speakeasy in Ferndale, for the “dusty bottle” collection. Bypass the overwhelming list and opt for the Bermuda Triangle: tell the bartender your favorites and dollar limit, and they'll build a mystery flight. Sip, make your guesses, then ask for the reveal."

"Landmark Ferndale cocktail spot the Oakland has reopened for carryout and delivery service. The online menu features tastings of rare liqueurs, whiskeys, and mezcal as well as large-format cocktails, and fancy ice. View this post on Instagram"

"Nektar stands out for its unfussy, come-as-you are aesthetics and highly drinkable carbonated honey wines. Find everything here from meads to beer to cider (and in between varieties like Cyser). Don’t overlook the Kill All the Golfers, a black tea and lemon flavored mead that will make you want to order a pitcher."

"Influenced by sub-pop culture and never satisfied with the status quo, B. Nektar aims to bring a modern twist on mead as well as diversify craft mead, cider, and beer."

"With restrictions that kept the neighborhood bar’s indoor seating closed for a good portion of 2020, Bumbo’s leaned into its patio seating, adding greenery and a pergola to keep customers dry on not-as-nice days. Grab a cocktail and head outside to sip in the shade."

"This refurbished, neighborhood bar in Hamtramck has friendly service and delicious, affordable cocktails and beer. Due to the pandemic, service is exclusively on the fenced-in patio, so dress warm, sit close to a heater, and order a hot beverage."

"Ferndale Project started as the experimental extension of Eastern Market Brewing and has quickly grown into something else entirely. After Axle Brewing shut down their beautiful taproom located on Livernois, Eastern Market Brewing agreed to take it over and created a space with a reconceptualized menu, coffee bar, and well-crafted beers and ciders. Unfortunately, their doors had only been open for a little over a month when COVID-19 hit."

"With roots reaching back to Prohibition, Ye Olde Tap Room has cultivated a deep beer list in its long history. Today the bars serves more than 250 different beers. Sorted by country and style, customers are guaranteed to find something surprising on the list."

"A rock and roll venue that packs in rock, punk, and metal fans. The décor lends a hand to the atmosphere, with gothic architecture and stained glass windows aplenty. It’s almost a church to hard rock, and the congregation are big fans of its quality line-ups."

"La Dolce Vita has been providing some of Detroit’s best Italian food for over 25 years. The menu covers various regional Italian specialties – and you definitely won’t want to miss the iconic Sunday Brunches which feature bottomless Mimosas. And the patio itself?"

"Pasta , Italian"

"This Grosse Pointe Woods delight consistently offers some of the freshest, tastiest seafood in town. Co-owner and Chef Vanessa Gonzalez, always a kind and welcoming presence in the tiny, warmly-lit space, tells us that her shrimp and fish comes from the only supplier in Michigan allowed to offer live lobsters. While the bistro offers many different kinds of arepas -- a kind of South American sandwich served in a scratch-made corn bun -- they have cachapas as well."

"This European and Latin-American bistro is a bit of a surprising place to find the area’s most astonishing ice cream treat. Stacked a foot high, Pistachio Perfection, Strawberry Supreme, and Oreo are just a few of the extreme milkshake options offered. Each of them begins with a Belgium dark chocolate-rimmed glass."

"The Daily Dozen began in Warren, Michigan in 1985 in a former gas station that had since been boarded up. Daily Dozen serves more than forty-five different doughnuts, plus a selection of specialty and seasonal flavors. There are two locations, one in Warren, another in Royal Oak, with a third location that recently opened in Sterling Heights."

"What was once a boarded-up gas station is now a bustling donut shop!. Family owned and operated, Daily Dozen Doughnuts offers limited runs of speciality flavors using the finest ingredients. Try creations like coconut custard, strawberry moon rock and Michigan cherry."

"This metro Detroit doughnut chain now sports locations in Warren and Royal Oak. Hit up either shop for a dose of scratch-made doughnut creativity. Keep things simple with flavors like maple crunch or indulge in a lemon meringue crueller"

"Don’t get distracted by the jarring juxtaposition of delightful, innocent, old world donuts: Dutch Girl Donuts may just have the best donuts in Detroit. Get the glazed crullers and the chocolate crullers and the glazed blueberry and the unglazed blueberry and most definitely the sour cream. And then return for more."

"The one and only Dutch Girl location is on Woodward and Seven mile, just north of Highland Park. It was opened by John and Cecilia Timmer in 1947 and it's been in the same location for more than 70 years. It’s now run by the Timmers' son, Gene, and their grandson, Jon, who operate the business 24/7."

"Near 7 Mile and Woodward, the place slings donuts like no other. Yes, we went through the trouble of ranking their individual donuts, they’re so good. 19000 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48203"