Detroit — Before the summer slips away, imagine yourself in your favorite pair of sunglasses, cocktail in hand, feeling the breeze at one of the city’s rooftop bars.
A few years ago, there weren’t many options for sipping and noshing on perches high in the sky, but things have slowly changed. With so many building renovations come new points of view of the Detroit skyline via new bars and restaurants in open-air spaces high above the ground.
In Corktown, the IO Rooftop at the Godfrey hotel is drawing in guests with upscale brunch service and weeknights with DJs and visual artists. Executive chef Masai May says corporate event bookings also keep the open-air bar busy.
“The fact that we’re a year-round rooftop, it kind of separates us,” he said. “We can always open the windows up and retract the roof a little bit and let the sun in, or in the later parts of August we can let in the cool breeze. We’re the only (rooftop) location where you can see a clear view of downtown and the Ambassador Bridge and now the Gordie Howe Bridge.”
It’s not just the view but the cuisine at IO, with things like lobster Benedict for brunch and ceviche, oysters and lamb lollipops during dinner, plus champagne, wine and cocktails.
“We’re leaning into that elegant vibe,” said chef May.
A lot of these aren’t technically roof “tops,” since they aren’t at the very top of these hotels and buildings, but when you’re hundreds of feet high, sipping on an Aperol spritz, who wants to get caught up in semantics?
Here’s our guide to some of the best rooftop bars in and near downtown Detroit, and how to visit them.
Kamper’s at the Book Tower
Named after Detroit architect Louis Kamper, this 14th-floor, open-air bar is going for a Spanish or Basque theme with its food and drinks. Part of a $400 million historic restoration of the Book Tower building, Kamper’s has a small menu of bar snacks and tapas like tinned fish and charred pork belly with rosemary and lemon. Of course, there’s Basque cheesecake for a sweet treat, too. Along with a menu of classic cocktails and featured gin and tonics, Kamper’s bar menu has house drinks like the frozen Carafrijo, their version of a Spanish coffee or a carajillo. The Sky High cocktail is apropos, made with bourbon, Spanish brandy, bitters and spiced with mace.
If you plan in advance, getting a reservation in the indoor area should be no problem, and you can always step outside and enjoy the impressive view of Detroit’s skyline from the northwest corner of downtown. You can request a seat outside, but it’s weather-dependent. Walk-in guests are also welcome; just check in at the main lobby of the Book Tower, and they’ll direct you up if there’s availability.
Open 4 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Thurs., 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri., noon-1 a.m. Sat. and noon-11 p.m. Sun. 1265 Washington, Detroit. (313) 385-5451. kampersrooftop.com.
The Monarch Club at Element by Marriott
Downtown’s true rooftop, the Monarch Club was the first in this new wave of cocktail lounges at the top of renovated Detroit buildings. It’s on the actual roof, too, way up top the Metropolitan Building. The building itself has its own Cinderella story. Having set vacant for 40 years and beset by vandalism and graffiti, the 14-story Neo-Gothic structure was so neglected I’m told there was a large tree growing out the top of the roof before Detroit’s Roxbury Group renovated. Now that roof is home to the posh and polished Monarch Club, a cocktail lounge with panoramic views of the city from the heart of it. There are outdoor spaces on both sides of the indoor lounge, with cozy seating and fireplaces.
Cocktails up here do not mess around. They are strong and expertly made, and the price reflects that (their version of an Old Fashioned or Sazerac will run $24). The Monarch Club also has thoughtful craft mocktails, wine, beer and small plates that reflect the tastes of our region: lamb meatballs, smoked whitefish dip, deviled eggs with candied bacon and Creole crab and a charcuterie board. The Monarch allows guests to reserve a seat at the bar, at a high-top table or on the patio so there’s no stress or guesswork in your visit.
Open 5-11 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 5 p.m.-midnight Fri., 4 p.m.-midnight Sat. And 2-8 p.m. Sun. 33 John R, Detroit. (313) 306-2380. monarchclubdetroit.com.
Pine Hall at Hudson’s Detroit
Easily the hottest seat of the summer is on Pine Hall’s 3,000-square-foot, wrap around deck on the 12th floor of Hudson’s Detroit. Hot because it’s so popular, but also because you just feel closer to the sun when the weather cooperates and warm rays stream in from the patio into the interior of the restaurant. Sit on the deck, at the bar, or in one of the cozy banquettes in the dining room. People are ordering the Maurice salad, the dry-aged burger and crab fritters. I am partial to their “ice box martini,” a well balanced and slightly citrus gin cocktail served extra cold and as dirty or clean as you’d like it.
The restaurant is a project between Bedrock Detroit and New York City’s Union Square Hospitality Group, led by well-known restaurateur Danny Meyer. The name is a nod to the Pine Room, a wood-paneled restaurant that served Detroiters of the 20th century on the 13th floor of the J.L. Hudson Department Store.
Pine Hall doesn’t really take reservations except for large groups. People have been queuing up in the lobby and waiting in line (there is a long bench) to be let up the elevator to the 12th floor. Going on a weekday close to the opening hour is your best bet for a short wait.
Open at 4 p.m. daily. 3000 Nick Gilbert Way, Detroit. (313) 612-8150. pinehall.com.
IO Rooftop Lounge at the Godfrey
This contemporary and upscale rooftop bar is on the seventh floor of newish Corktown hotel the Godfrey. It offers a unique view of the downtown skyline from Corktown. The stylish space is attractive for a date night or girls’ night out. The IO has special events like a “brunch and beats” Sunday service and Friday night parties with music from the 1980s and ’90s. Guest can also opt for VIP treatment with booth reservations that include a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and a dedicated server at one of the bar’s best booths.
Open at 5 p.m. daily, and for special events. 1401 Michigan, Detroit. (313) 463-4751. exploretock.com/godfrey-detroit.
Union Assembly on Woodward
Not so much a “rooftop” as it is a upper-level, open-air patio, Union Assembly does have a view of one of the busiest areas of downtown Detroit. Located right across the street from Comerica Park, the Union Joints restaurant (part of the group that also owns Mom’s Spaghetti, Vinsetta Garage, Clarkston Union and others) serves something for everyone like pizza, salads, sandwiches and bar snacks.
Getting a seat on the rooftop here can be tricky, however, since it’s largely used for private events and isn’t always available if you just want to grab a drink before a Tigers game, for example. It’s best to call ahead to see if it’s open to the public when you want to go. Visit the website for details on how to book the patio for an event.
The restaurant is open daily at 11 a.m. 2131 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 636-6000. Unionassembly.com.
Topa at AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle
This new rooftop destination debuted this spring in Midtown on the 11th floor of the AC Hotel. Enjoy small plates and Spanish-inspired cocktails on the balcony that overlooks the downtown skyline from Ford Field and Comerica Park — you can even see the giant screen from the ballpark — all the way to down Woodward. Guests can sit at large tables and couches under a roof, or turn the corner where there are high tops and chairs surrounding fireplaces for those nights when there’s a chill in the air.
Executive chef Jorge Morales’ menu has small plates, plus a selection of dips and spreads with pita, focaccia and lavash. Three main entrees include fish skewers, chicken skewers and charred lamb chops with fries, feta cheese, shishito pepper and lamb jus. The cocktail menu also has a global touch, with one memorable drink being the Kalimotxo, a red wine and Coca-Cola spritz.
Enter on Eliot street in the door marked “Topa” to access the elevator to the 11th floor. Reservations are easy to make online for either inside or outdoors.
Open 4-11 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., 4 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. 14 Eliot, Detroit. topadetroit.com.
Also work a look: Cielio Rooftop Bar at Cambria Hotel in downtown Detroit; Pocket Change cocktail lounge with rooftop deck in Eastern Market; and Cannons, an English-style pub in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood with a third floor deck.
Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Downtown Detroit’s best rooftop bars and lounges
Reporting by Melody Baetens, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Melody Baetens, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
