Looking to try the best sports bars in town?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top sports bars in Detroit, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture for bites, brews and TVs tuned to the latest sports events.
1. Firebird Tavern
Topping the list is Greektown's Firebird Tavern, a casual neighborhood joint that is serving up burgers, cocktails and more than 40 beers. Located at 419 Monroe St. in a historic building that formerly housed a saloon, per its website, it's the highest rated sports bar in Detroit, boasting four stars out of 153 reviews on Yelp.
Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3:30-6 p.m. and features half off American craft beers and wine and a $5 menu of small plates. The elevated bar fare includes poutine, pan-seared chicken and grits, and a corned beef sandwich with creole mustard and housemade slaw.
2. Detroiter Bar
Next up is the Detroiter Bar at 655 Beaubien St., just down the street from the Greektown Casino, with a free shuttle to and from local sporting events. With four stars out of 81 reviews on Yelp, the laid-back sports bar and New American spot has proven to be a local favorite.
On the menu, there are starters like flaming sausage, saganaki and soft pretzels along with sandwiches and burgers like the Detroiter House Special served with steak fries and a mug of draft beer.
Yelp reviewer Mitchell R., who dropped in with a bachelor party, gave the bar five stars: "It treated us well. Cheap beer, great and fast service, good atmosphere."
3. Mike's Pizza Bar
Finally there's Mike's Pizza Bar, which says its foolproof combination of pizza and beer equals "pure joy." Located at 2515 Woodward Ave. in Little Caesars Arena, Yelpers give the sports bar four stars out of 47 reviews. The game is always on at the Midtown spot, which features more than 20 TVs and watch parties throughout the year.
Named for late Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, the entrepreneur who founded the Little Caesars franchise, the bar and eatery offers artisanal and deep-dish pizzas, salads, grinders and more. Standout options include the Godfather grinder with Genoa salami, pepperoni, ham and provolone, the pizza panini on Cuban bread and the s'mores dessert pie.
