Alley Bar
112 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104
Alley Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ann Arbor for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ann Arbor for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
112 W Liberty St
Ann Arbor, MI, 48104 - Phone (734) 662-8757
- Website https://www.alleybarannarbor.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
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Blake A.
Alley Bar is my personal favorite bar in Ann Arbor. If cocktails are your thing, AB is your best bet. Alley is located in a non-descript bar with little signage. Always dark, it gives off a speakeasy vibe and builds on that with a knowledgeable bar staff that make delicious, STRONG cocktails. Your alternatives in the area are Bab's (meh), Ravens' (has food, but pricey), Braun Court (good, just a hair behind AB), and Last Word (probably better drinks, but $/util far worse). Get a rye-manhattan.
(5)Peggah G.
I would call Alley Bar a dive bar as in it's hard to notice, but the atmosphere and such were very nice. This place has no signage, so I'm sure a lot of people have passed by it without realizing that it's an actual bar. The drink 'menu' is just some sheets of paper on some clipboards. Kind of cute, kinda cheap, kinda dive-y. They have 24 oz PBRs for $3.50, which isn't too bad. They have one of the video entertainment systems for people who want slight entertainment, and they also have a Spiderman pinball machine. Which is why this place gets 4 stars. I don't know if they don't charge for coke, or if the waitress just put it on my friends' tabs, but she was great at coming around and asking if we wanted more drinks. Really good service! This place is really cozy and they have some tvs.
(4)Laura C.
We came here a few weeks ago and it reminded me of a Chicago bar since it is long and narrow. It is a pretty dark bar with a cool laid-back vibe. It is a good place to bring your chilled out friends without running into a bunch of too- cool undergrads. The staff was nice and helpful, and we were happy to check it out, especially after hearing so many good things from friends about this place!
(4)Molly K.
Not super crowded, and the bartender catered to my weird whims and made a drink I had found on the internet using Bonal just because I'd never had Bonal before. I was SO happy and I have never been so impressed with the service at a bar as I am with Alley Bar. Jenny is the best!!!
(5)Andrew B.
A little slice of better bars than in the rest A2. I come to A2 pretty often on business and was taken here by a coworker on my most recent trip. A few of us hit Alley Bar as our first stop of the night. A few of my other coworkers chided the decision, "are you going to wear skinny jeans?", "it's overpriced and douchy!" or "why go there when you can go anywhere else and suck on domestic beer for $2" Well, because I know what a good bar is, and what a good bar isn't. This is a damn good bar. Cocktails are creative, strong, and mixed with a smile. Shout out to the bartenders awesome hair when I went. I sucked down a few Gatsby's and switched over to a smoky rita to end the night. All very good. The decor is upscale self aware dive. Muted reds and dark corners accentuated with art for sale adorning the walls under sconces. It was warm and welcoming. I am definitely coming back the next time I am in A2.
(4)Nic Z.
Alley Bar has friendly staff and a unique menu. Their house drinks sounded great, but I was craving something I hadn't had in a long time - a Mojito. Not just any Mojito, but one without simple syrup and/or sugar. Believe it or not, this request elicits strange stares to downright refusal from wait staff at some bars and restaurants; I guess everything really is in pre-made mix form these days. At Alley Bar, not an eyelash batted. My drink arrived perfectly made - even with extra mint leaves, like I asked. Beautiful. Thank you for keeping something uncomplicated...uncomplicated.
(4)Kristen G.
Well you can't have everything in a bar, but at least at alley bar you can get close. The drinks are usually world's beyond most of the bars in this city, but don't show up late on the weekend and expect the same quality. If you come to alley on a Friday night you may get to see a free show! Since the door men aren't really bouncers, they'll let just about anyone in. Including the wasted homeless guys from the other corner. That means once all the pretty boy college students get a few drinks somebody is going to run into someone else and there might be a fight to follow. Aside from the unsavory clientele, this place has the perfect bar atmosphere with enough lighting ambience to make that semi attractive coworker seem hot. The dimmed lights combined with the incredibly delicious bourbon drinks will surely not disappoint. Just make sure you get some water in or you will find yourself in a terrible haze the next morning.
(4)JonNDebby P.
We come here when we're in the mood for an interesting craft cocktail. Out on the town for my husband's birthday, we stopped in for a complimentary Pickleback shot. It was so fabulous, I ordered one, too! We are not big whiskey connoisseurs, but along with the pickle juice chaser, the whiskey-based shot transformed into a salty explosion of savory scrumptiousness. The uniquely-flavored pickle juice is from the Brinery, which is a local gourmet food company. The cocktail menu changes periodically. In general, they are inventive but not always consistent, depending on who is bartending. If you sit at the bar and explain your tastes to the bartender, he/she will make something up for you. That usually works out pretty well. The service is good, and the music is modern. All around, it is a fun, cool place to get some drinks.
(4)Alex H.
$5 cocktails on Monday. Bros with tall boys of PBR on friday. Take your pick.
(4)Nicholas P.
I visited the Alley bar last night with my friends and had a great time. We arrived at about nine and there were only two other people in the place, but by ten the bar had almost completely filled up. The beer selection was good and there are multiple martini and cocktails to select from. I had a couple beers and was pleased with the selection and price: two craft beers for $11. Some of the other reviews mentioned the wait staff, and I can say that we had great service. Our first waitress was attentive without being pushy, and when she left our new waitress introduced herself and was the same. I appreciate that they did not ask to close the bill early. When we asked to cash out, the waitress split up the five people on the bill individually without even asking, which was splendid! There are a few televisions that were showing the baseball playoffs, and most people did not seem that engaged. Although I think you could try to watch a game here, there are other places in Ann Arbor that would be better. Overall, this is a terrific bar to socialize and I highly recommend it.
(4)R S.
The waitresses/bartenders are courteous enough, will get your drinks quickly, and make a good Manhattan--props for those things. But the place is a dump and the staff is pretty oddly clueless about that fact. Don't get me wrong: if you know that your place is a mess and own it (embrace being a dive), that can be just fine. But when we were there the other day the bartenders were complaining about how few people come in when the beer garden around the corner is open, and were making fun of people's patronage of the beer garden. Really, bartenders, you -honestly- don't understand why people would choose to sit outside with a nice beer instead of sitting in your bar that smells like a urinal listening to your witty banter? Don't play dumb, Alley Bar. It's not your strength.
(2)Ryan B.
Unlabeled exterior + pickly interior = a great dive bar. I ventured here with a group of friends, especially 2 that cannot stop talking about a shot called a Pickle Back: a shot of whiskey chased with pickle juice. They found out Alley Bar served them, and it became a goal to go to them here. I don't really drink, and am picky about what I do drink, so I didn't know how this would be. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this place. 1: Great service. Really nice waitress who was overly polite and accommodating. 2: Really energetic and hoppin on a Friday night. 3: Great quality whiskey for the pickle backs (even though I'm not big on whiskey), and definitely an experience that needs trying. I would go back to the AB, especially to just kick it after a busy week.
(4)Heather S.
For starters, Alley Bar isn't a trendy, "meet me here for a drink on the company card" kind of place. Nor is it a divey, cash only, Bud or Bud Light bar. And that's exactly what's great about it. It's a mesh between mixologists and their creations and everyone's favorite cheap beers. On the different occasions I've come in for a drink, they've always had some sort of music, whether live or a DJ. I've always been able to find a booth to sit in and a waitress has always stopped by the table promptly. Picklebacks were suggested by the waitress, but I stopped liking those once I moved out of Philadelphia. We stuck to tall boys of our favorite beers (mind you, on the cheap side - Miller Lite, ). But duly noted the PBR pounders. Side note - bathroom has always been fairly clean (for bar standards) each time I've been here.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Love Alley Bar! Granted I was there for a max of 45 minutes, but it was pretty obvious right from the start that this is where young non-university Ann Arbor hangs out. Awesome pickle-back shots, good music, and super-busy on a Monday. Don't call it a dive bar because it's unpretentious!
(4)Molly H.
This place should totally have a much higher rating. I have been here several times since my last review and every time has been awesome. The bartenders are super nice and make fantastic cocktails. The crowd is good, especially on Monday nights. Still haven't been there on the weekend, but I avoid pretty much every bar on weekends. I'm happy to have this place as a hang-out! If they only had food...
(5)Alex R.
A hole in the wall that is CLEAN with awesome, creative drinks that doesn't feel sterile and everyone is friendly-Amazing! I wish every bar was like this!
(5)Sam G.
I will start out with a limp and finish off with a sprint, I assure you. Alley Bar, I don't like your clientele of bro-nups and make-up-over-users after 10pm, and especially on Thursdays through Sundays. I don't like when 40 year-old men try to relive their fraternal days, trying to mingle with all the cool kids by buying tallboy PBRs. I don't like the thirty-something women who are looking for drinks to be bought for them and who expect Coors Lite to be on tap. I do like your roster of regulars on off nights and off days. I do like your 1) drink menu and quality 2) bartender 3) interior. One or two of the absolutely delicious, strong, and old-timey-esque cocktails expedites the process of letting the world slip away. May I take a moment to be a bartender-adorer? Phil. Is. Amazing. The man is on-point getting people served and attended to all-around. He makes sure every drink is perfect. Just be forewarned, his charm and skill make him the most pernicious and amazing enabler. You will find yourself exponentially counting the amount of sheets you are to the wind. And it will taste SO GOOD. And it will feel SO GOOD. The Manhattan kills here. So do the pickle backs. As do any modifications of classic drinks. They make their own ginger syrup (with bona fide REAL fresh ginger and sugar, boiled down to pure gloriousness). Some of their bitters are even house-made. I love the way this place schools me. I love the way it keeps roping me in for more. If only I didn't need a full week in between visits to recuperate...
(4)Keith A.
Alley Bar was a random stop late night for cocktails. So, that's what I'm primarily reviewing. I ended up getting two cocktails, but that was more because I didn't really dig my first one. It is kinda my fault as I didn't fully read the ingredient list and didn't notice the jalapeno in the list. My bad, but the pepper definitely overpowered the pisco and dash of macallan. I was expecting something a slight bit more sour, but the drink sadly didn't do it for me. I don't fully remember the name, but it's the one with pisco and a jalapeno. But, I did enjoy my pisco sour that was then whipped up. Perfectly sour and just the right amount of everything. I was on a pisco kick, so this more than did the job. I liked the booths here and the vibe was pretty relaxed on the whole. I wasn't in here for too long of a time as it was getting late and it was a short stop. I would like to try more on a return trip, so for now it get's an I dig.
(3)Beck E.
Again with the service... The last time I was here, the waitress took forever to stop by my table and then half an hour passed without a friend & me getting our drink orders. We asked the waitress about them the next time she walked by, and she SNAPPED at us and got defensive. Ugh. The drink was good when it eventually arrived, but unfortunately I had to pound it immediately because my group was leaving the bar.
(2)Nicole T.
Meh, came here with the bf after eating dinner at Pac Rim and we didn't love it here. We thought it would be cool as we walked by it once, so we decided to check it out when we were around main street again. It was too dark in here and was definitely very pub-y. The music was really loud and just kinda a dingy spot. Not exactly our feel. But other people really seem to like it here. The drinks were just okay. I got a pimm's cup since we thought that the bartender would make it with fresh cucumber and mint and orange but he just used liquids instead so it wasn't great. Also not cheap for a drink here, about $10 per drink. I will not be coming back here.
(3)Kristen C.
Alley Bar is definitely a local hangout for several of my friends. I've had good service and bad service here, but you have to be laid back to fully enjoy the experience anyway so relax. I've dragged many friends here for the pickle-back shots which are a MUST try! The pickle juice they use is from a local brinery and it's amazing. They also make an insane cucumber melon martini.
(4)Eliza B.
Loved the staff, the drinks, the atmosphere. Will be back.
(5)Andy M.
I like this place. The staff is excellent and courteous even when they are extremely busy. They have some nice bourbons and a decent selection of cocktails. Its great because there are no TV' s and cheese dance floors like some of the other Ann Arbor spots. Its a great place to have a drink with friends and unwind. I will be back.
(4)Claribelle V.
Since the latest set of management took over (sometime last year/earlier this year), the good old days of Alley Bar are back in a big way. Just visited last Weds in time for Grafitti's night to shake a tail feather to some old school-ish over two bottles of bubbly. Go go if you haven't already!
(4)Andy P.
The first time I went here was 6 years ago. They played the whole Weezer 'Pinkerton' album... Sweet! In recent years they have added couches and new pieces of art on the walls. If you want to go somewhere that has a dark candle lit ambiance with good indie rock and retro music, this is the place to go. It's a great place to have some drinks and hang with friends. The staff are always super cool & friendly (no pretentious Hipsters!) Note to Fist Pumpers: This is not a place for you. STAY AWAY!
(4)Haley V.
Cocktails are strong. And unique. And delicious. They measure everything perfectly and make everything by hand, and use cute garnishes. You can really taste the difference. The atmosphere is dark and intimate. Lots of couches and booth seating for you and your three best friends. Come here early or on a weekday to make sure you get a table.
(4)Doug S.
Dive bar with a pretty good atmosphere and a couple of TVs to watch the game on. I had a beef with the young pretty bartender, though. My (girl) friend and I sat down for a couple of drinks -- she ordered a gin & tonic, I ordered a draft beer -- and I thought the bartender was changing the keg on the beer I just ordered. I said "oh, no need to change the keg for me, I'll just get something else". Bartender replied "we serve ladies first in this bar, and I'm getting ingredients for your friend's drink". WTF? Did I say I that I wished you would pour my beer before you made my friend's drink? No I did not......I was trying to be nice to you, you freaky chick! I didn't say anything (I rarely can think clearly in situations like this) and just kinda sat there, chagrined, with my mouth wide open in pure astonishment. I felt better after I realized this bartender is just plain bat-shit crazy. 5 minutes later a young dude rolled in and walked up to the waitress station (right where the bartender was standing) and asked what kind of beer the bar had in bottles. In one motion, bat-shit crazy bartender handed him a bar menu and said (and I'm not making this up) "here's the bar menu -- but you can't sit here because this is a waitress station and I need to keep this area clear". The Dude (who was standing, and not trying to sit) turned around and saw NOBODY behind him because 1) the only people in the bar were me, my friend, this Dude & bat-shit crazy bartender, meaning that 2) no waitress was even on duty yet. Bat-shit crazy then continued "oh sometimes I over explain too much" meaning, I guess, that she realized that she probably INVENTED, in her head, that Dude had stated how he really wished he could just pull up a stool and sit right in the middle of the waitress station. Ugh. OK, I feel better. Just had to get that off my chest. Beware of very pretty bat-shit crazy socially awkward bartender chick!!
(3)Mike H.
This is not a dive bar. It's an insult to dive bars to call this a dive bar. Seems more like an overpriced spot for undergrads with more money than sense to me.
(2)Tracy L.
Really great cocktails. Strong, tasty, creative. And I think after my second cocktail I started feeling *warm* inside :-) What? They're not in the double digits? Awesome! Overall, I got there on a weeknight around 9-10pm. The perfect size in crowd, the perfect amount of darkness, and perfectly friendly and attentive server. I would come back here to hang out.
(4)Timur A.
The mixed drinks at the Alley Bar are great. If you don't want to break your budget, come on a Monday night (discovered that one randomly... no, I do not have a problem...) -- $5 cocktails. The Gin-gin mule and Cucumber Gimlet are delicious. If you want to try something weird (personally, I'm thinking cough medicine) give Corpse Resurrection #2 a try. Nice atmosphere, although it gets a bit crowded on Friday/Saturdays, but if you show up around 9, it should be pretty easy to grab a table/booth. There are a couple of TVs, the speakers are over the bar and toward the back, leaving the whole front part of it (with cozy couches) as a nice area to hang out and talk. The interior is interesting as nothing matches, but then still kinda fits (yea, it's weird). All around awesome place to hang out.
(5)Robert C.
After 1 a.m., this place becomes the Island of Misfit Toys, which could be fun. Or a mess. Alley Bar really is the place where all the bartenders and servers from other restaurants go. I met three such people last night at individual times. So does that mean the place is top shelf? Not necessarily. The Alley Bar really does fall into the category of "dive bar" complete with cheap beer, dingy bathrooms, and "local flavor." It's not entirely bad, but I suppose it's not as bad as other places that are overflowing with drunken hipsters and preps.
(2)Laura G.
I really enjoyed the martini menu here. The bartender was helpful in picking the ones I'd like and made me a special martini that wasn't even on the menu. A funky decor complements the menu and adds a nice ambiance to an evening out with your trendy friends or on a date. There are intimate, curved booths along the wall for up to 4 people, but there is no seating for large groups. The bar tends to get very crowded which is not surprising for Ann Arbor. So if you want a seat, you need to get there early. If you're having trouble deciding, have them make you a pear martini with fresh juice. It is worth the $
(3)Laura G.
I'm super surprised to see that this bar only has a 3 star rating. What the hell? I guess it's kinda dank looking, but some people like that, okay? The drinks are spectacular. We went here with a friend for (her) birthday drinks. The bar was packed (probably because of Top of the Park starting that night) but the service was fast and friendly. About 15 minutes into our stay the Detroit Party Marching Band busts in, which was awesome, but surely not to be replicated on future visits. One issue, which is not related to the bar or their drinks, is that the trombone player from the DPMB dripped spittle on my face and probably caused the cold sore I got in the following days. Aside from giving me herpes, this bar was tops.
(5)Steve D.
Best bar in Ann Arbor, hands down and by far. Go lowbrow (PBR tallboys) or highbrow (cocktails) with equal results (satisfied inebriation) in a great ambiance that evokes New York's East Village. Solid music, appropriate lighting, attractive non-undergrad patrons, wooden booths for small group conversation, and ample tables and space in the back for group gatherings on off nights. The only thing missing is a dartboard, though that'd probably disrupt the delicate balance that makes it my go-to nightspot.
(5)Paul N.
The Review: The (new) Alley Bar comibines two attractive elements: The ease and informality of a "dive bar" and the offering of inventive, historically-informed cocktails. Where else can I stop - full-sweaty mid-bike-ride - for a lovely Bourbon Smash or a classic Mint Julep. These guys are deteremined to bring fine fresh ingredients and extensive mixological knowledge to a comforatble friendly environment. If you like your high-end libations without any snobbery, this is a place you should go. The Haiku: Salty brine chasing full mouth of malty irish - Alley Bar Pickle Back! P.S. For those of you nostalgic for the old Alley Bar, get over it and have a Negroni.
(5)Aly A.
Love alley bar... The top meeting spots for my friends. Johannes is also one of the nicest bouncers in town (who still gets the job done!)
(4)Dustin W.
Brilliantly Unpretentious. I was hesitant in writing this review because I'd like to keep the place under wraps, but Robbie & Co deserve all the patrons they can handle. The Alley Bar is a great establishment that focuses on one thing- serving a well-crafted cocktail. The staff is very creative and meticulous with their cocktail making, measuring out all of the ingredients; while this may seem like a drawback or like you're not getting a heavy pour, it usually tastes much better. Standard cocktails like a gin and tonic are usually free poured. Service can vary wildly, depending on whether you're sitting at the bar or at a table. Sitting at the bar offers much more flexibility when ordering and a chance to interact with the bartenders who are always willing to show you the ingredients, chat about new cocktails they're developing or just have a bit of a chat. If it's slow, you can often give them a few parameters such as "citrus and not vodka" and have them come up with a drink. This is how I ended up with my new favorite, a bourbon smash. Sitting at a table allows you to sip your drink and have pleasant conversation. The second time we walked in, Robbie remembered exactly what we ordered the first time (both drinks were not on the menu) and asked if we'd like the same- we were hooked.
(5)Marissa B.
I love a good dive bar - BUT I love a good dive bar with some character. This place is not distinctive, it's not memorable, and it doesn't really have much character. Alas, it's a dive bar and if you're looking to escape from some of the snooty Main St. bars, this is the place where you can breathe in (cough, cough) and relax. There are no fancy decorations, no servers, no glam. I've never been in here where you can't find a spot to sit (one point), the bartenders have always been friendly to me (two points), and the crowd usually seems rather nice as well (three points). If they had some decent drink specials or more than one pool table I'd probably come here more often. BOTTOM LINE: It's on the pricey side for what it is, but if you want to escape the Main St. glitz & glam, this is a completely unpretentious, off the beaten track option.
(3)Liz G.
When a friend told me to meet her at Alley Bar one evening, I walked around looking for a bar called Ally Bar, or a bar in an alley, or something of the sort. I finally was able to deduce that this small bar adjacent to a lit alley way was, in fact, Ally Bar--despite the lack of a discernable sign to indicate this. This actually bode well, in my mind, that this bar might be the small, hole-in-the-wal, divey bar with cheap drinks and a laid-back crowd I was hoping for. Alley Bar met most of those expectations. This bar succeeds if you are looking for a dive bar to go with some friends and avoid the usual Main Street crowd and high prices. There is not a whole lot of space, but our larger group had no problem all getting booths around each other. The music was just loud enough to enjoy but still be able to carry on a conversation, and the on-tap selection sported a nice variety of commercial staples, seasonals, and local artisan brews--all at a decent price for Ann Arbor, and at least a couple on $3.50 special. All in all, when you go to Alley Bar, know what you are doing--going to a dive bar to talk with friends over drinks. It fills this purpose quite well.
(3)Charles Y.
Been a little a love hate relationship with Alley Bar, so I find myself conflicted. I had been in periodically over the past three years and been pretty "meh" about the place. I always found the bartenders to be a bit rude and was turned off when I saw one yelling at the customers repeatedly. The drinks are good and I found myself suckered into becoming a regular on Wednesdays (DJ night) probably starting a little before the new year. Wednesday nights totally changed my opinion on Alley Bar. The team they have behind the bar (the bearded man and spunky blonde) are phenomenal. Any other typical busy night, drinks would take ages, but on Wednesday, I get my gin-gin mule prompt and made well. I tried coming in on the weekends, but always felt turned off by the different staff who seemed perpetually in a bad mood. So it's hit or miss. Verdict: Always good drinks, but not always good service.
(3)