4 days ago
These 15 metro Detroit bars and restaurants offer rooftop patios with spectacular views
Sipping cocktails and mocktails. Dining on everything from appetizers to entrees and desserts. Enjoying music or other entertainment.
These options abound in metro Detroit, and you can take them in on rooftops with sweeping views of cities and streets, or gaze at the sky and outdoors during the warmer months is a popular option in metro Detroit. Dining while enjoying spectacular views is a giant bonus. Around metro Detroit, more than a dozen spots answer the bars in greater downtown Detroit offer panoramic views of downtown Detroit and Canada. Some places are high atop well-known buildings, like Kamper's in downtown's Book Tower on Washington Boulevard and the Monarch Club high atop the Metropolitan Building on John R Street.
Here's a sampling of rooftop bars, lounges, and dining spots. Keep in mind that most are open, weather permitting.
237 Jos Campau, Detroit
Around since 1997, Atwater Brewery in Detroit's Rivertown neighborhood offers a portfolio of award-winning craft beers, including favorites like Dirty Blonde, Atwater IPA and the Detroit Hustles Harder line. The upper deck is now open for service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. The restaurant's menu consists of bar classics like Bavarian pretzels, wings, nachos, salads, hand-helds and Detroit deep-dish pizza.
For info: 313-877-9205 or
600 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
Located at the Cambria Hotel Downtown Detroit, Cielo Rooftop Detroit lounge and cocktail bar opens for the season on May 31 with a Summer Kickoff Party that includes live music and drink specials. Throughout the summer, weather permitting, the rooftop lounge will have a light dining menu that includes wings, short rib sliders and ahi tuna tostadas along with a new drink menu, craft cocktails, wine and beer. Also in the mix: DJ entertainment, a Tuesday trivia night and happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well as all day Thursday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
For info: 313-338-3525 or
92 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms
Fly Leaf is part bookshop, part bistro-cafe and part bar. Along with its selection of books, you can enjoy coffee, cocktails, quiche, avocado toast and Wagyu flatbread. Its rooftop is seasonal and open all day, weather permitting. You can enjoy self-serve coffee and pastries in the morning. That's followed by lunch, happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and the daily evening menu.
For info: 313-771-5544 or
19416 Livernois, Detroit
This restaurant in Detroit's Sherwood Forest District has indoor and outdoor seating on its rooftop. It's a popular spot overlooking Detroit's Avenue of Fashion. The area seats about 80. The menu includes starters, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Favorites include Creole shrimp and cheese grits, shrimp cakes Benedict, chicken and waffles and lamb chops. The rooftop patio opens at 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
For info: 313-739-6601 or
1401 Michigan Ave., Detroit
At the Godfrey Hotel, the I/O (for indoor/outdoor) rooftop spot overlooking Michigan Avenue offers great views of Detroit's trendy Corktown neighborhood as well as the city's skyline. A menu of Mediterranean-inspired small plates will soon be featured. It opens at 5 p.m. daily and DJ sets are featured Thursday-Saturday.
For info: 313-385-0000 or
1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit
Inspired by the cafes of Barcelona, Spain, Kamper's Rooftop Lounge on the 14th floor of the historic Book Tower offers expansive views of the Detroit skyline. The patio seats more than 80, and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The menu features Basque tapas, snacks, pintxos and desserts, including Basque cheesecake.
The more than 4,300-square-foot space has outdoor seating for 86 and room for 40 more inside, plus bar seating. DJs deliver sets 8 p.m.-midnight every Thursday and Friday. Hours are 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday and 3-10 p.m. Sunday.
For info: 313-597-7924 or
1903 Grand River Ave., Detroit
This crown jewel of Detroit's Beacon Park, Lumen Detroit has a cool rooftop patio and an expansive ground-floor patio. It overlooks Beacon Park and offers views of downtown Detroit and its across-the-street neighbor, the Grand Army of the Republic Building. The modern American menu includes starters, salads, entrees and desserts, as well as beers, cocktails, mocktails and a huge wine list. Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and 3-5 pm. Friday and is available for dine-in only at Lumen's main bar and bar-side patio. It features a selection of cocktails and appetizers such as Wagyu meatballs, fried chicken sliders and pulled pork bao buns.
For info: 313-626-5005 or
2601 W. Fort Street, Detroit
You can enjoy a variety of cocktails on Johnny Noodle King's rooftop deck and lounge. Its deck offers views of downtown Detroit and Corktown, including the historic Michigan Central Station and the Ambassador Bridge. The restaurant is known for its variety of ramen dishes. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
For info: 313-309-7946 or
33 John R St., Detroit
Detroit's premier rooftop bar atop the Metropolitan Building is a hot spot and noted for its grand and stunning views of the city. There's also indoor seating. The menu includes cold and warm plate offerings and rotating desserts. A charcuterie board, rosemary truffle fries, brisket sliders, lamb meatballs and spicy margherita flatbread are among the offerings, along with Monarch's signature cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and spirits. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday and 2-8 pm. Sunday.
For info: 313-306-2380 or
470 Canfield, Detroit
In Midtown since 1994, Motor City Brewing Works is one of Detroit's oldest operating breweries. It's also known for its rooftop patio and patio seating in its ground-level beer garden. Build-your-own brick-oven pizzas are a highlight of the bar food-forward menu. Specialty pizzas, include margherita, American Pie and Maui Wowie.
For info: 313-832-2700 or
208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak
Pastaio is known for its handmade pasta, brick oven pizza and craft cocktails. You can indulge in all three while dining on its rooftop with views of Royal Oak. Also offered are a selection of small plates such as meatballs made with veal, pork and beef or broccoli rabe and sausage. More than a dozen pasta dishes are offered, along with plentiful entree and pizza selections.
For info: 248-565-8722 or
1454 Gratiot, Detroit
This recently opened second-floor cocktail bar in the Eastern Market area also has a third-floor patio. Located at 1454 Gratiot Ave. in the space formerly occupied by Collect Beer Bar, Pocket Change focuses on craft cocktails paired with classic cocktails and more. Its third-floor patio is open when weather permits. Plans calls for seasonal pop-ups on the patio.
Hours are 7 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 2-10 p.m. Sundays.
For info:
225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham
Social, from Zack Sklar's Peas and Carrots Hospitality, is the group's flagship restaurant and offers a menu billed as refined comfort food. It features a main dining room as well as rooftop and sidewalk seating. The rooftop, open for lunch, dinner and brunch, serves craft cocktails, starters, salads and entrees. It also hosts private events. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays.
For info: 248-594-4200 or
1550 Woodward, Detroit
Downtown Detroit sports bar Gilly's honors the memory of the late Nick Gilbert, the son of Rocket Mortgage founder Dan Gilbert. The rooftop bar is the upper level of the sports bar and is 'hacienda-inspired,' according to the bar's website. It has a glass ceiling and retractable doors opening to a rooftop terrace offering views of Detroit's skyline. The menu features Mexican street food classics including guacamole, queso, empanadas and tacos. The lower level is spacious and also has an outdoor patio. Hours are 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday and Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m.-midnight Sunday.
For info: 313-651-7050 or
47 E. Adams, Detroit
Across from Comerica Park, Tin Roof has three levels plus a rooftop seating area. It's a busy spot on Tigers and Lions game days, and it's known for its Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich. The buttermilk fried chicken is rubbed with cayenne and served on Texas toast with ranch potato salad and pickles.. The menu also includes tacos, burgers and other sandwiches.
For info: 313-262-6114 or
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@ Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 15 metro Detroit rooftop bars, restaurants to try in 2025
