proper detroit gem of a joint for music in a close quarters bar in the style of New Orleans or even a Nashville alley.

Such a gem! Live music. Great drinks. Small bites. It has everything you need! Nene was our bartender and she recommended one of their house cocktails - Bees Knees. It was delicious. This place has great live music all night long and tons of tables for everyone to come, sit and enjoy. The vibe inside is very eclectic and such a hidden gem. This is the place! read more

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I will prefise this by saying I have been here multiple times and enjoyed myself each time, even recommending it to others. But after last night I will never be returning. I noticed a man in a booth by himself watching a woman intently with his left hand rubbing himself. I immediately notified my husband thinking maybe I'm seeing things, and at this point the man doubled down and fully reached his right hand into his pants pulling them down to where his bare butt was on the booth. This was in full and obvious view of my husband and I, concerning us with the safety of the woman so we alerted our waitress who noticed the foul behavior and grabbed a woman (her superior maybe?) for backup. These two women told the man to stop and get up which he did, but we were informed he was a performer. At this point two men, the owner and manager (?) confronted us. instead of the expected response of shock and apologizing and correcting the situation which would be removing the perpetrator from the bar, they immediately dismissed our claim stating he may have been scratching himself and they will have to check the cameras, saying we are trying to ruin their business by spreading this information. Even the woman worker from earlier all of a sudden had some form of amnesia where she did not see the incident and claimed we were lying. In what world would we lie about something like this, we have nothing to gain from lying, only wanting the behavior to stop and be prevented for the future. We paid for our drinks 100%. I would love to see the footage and even if the cameras were thoroughly reviewed, showing a perfect angle of the act in question, I'm sure these higher ups would claim he was only scratching himself. For over five minutes, under his pants while staring at a woman standing near him who was bent over talking. Give me a break. I am just appalled but honestly not surprised that in this day and age men like this are not being held accountable for their actions. As a community we have a duty to protect others in this sick world and it's so sad that this clearly is not the priority of this business. If you do come here, which I would not recommend any longer, then please stay vigilant to predators that are very much welcome here. read more

This is the most uniquely hip place I've ever been. Live music, lively people. Just a few Bees Knees to finish it off. read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Me and the guys. - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Amazingly fun place, fun live music, good service and a great crowd. The Detroit Brown is a must try and less sweet than anything w Rock & Rye read more

We enjoyed this place so much! Bring some cash to tip the band bc they always kill it, it's a small joint and the boss man runnin the show was so friendly but also ran a tight ship as far as any riff raft coming through. Our server was so friendly this is def a spot where you get a cold beer or quick Jack n coke not so much craft cocktails (no glassware) or at least they didn't use it when it got busy. But fun spot , everyone welcome and you'll more than likely meet some friends read more

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IF YOU'RE A WOMAN - AVOID THIS PLACE. I want to preface this by saying I've been here multiple times and have always had a good experience until yesterday. My wife and I stopped in after the Tigers game and witnessed a man pleasuring himself at his table. We told our waitress and they witnessed the same thing. The waitress notified management and management rushed over to the guy and told him to stop that it's it....didn't kick him out or anything. When we called management out they said they had to "review the cameras" before they did anything and that they couldn't review the cameras until they closed later. Makes 0 sense....until we found out that the man who was pleasuring himself WORKS FOR THEM....no wonder they didn't want to kick him out. The owner had this guys back 100% and acted like we had something to gain from this accusation. My bill was like $25. It had nothing to do with wanting free drink and I had already paid my tab at that point in an effort to leave as soon as possible. Also, again, their own employee saw the same thing we did. It wasn't just us who saw it. I will never be back here again and I would encourage any female to be cautious about going here. read more

Come here. Live music, great service and strong drinks. We got the grill cheese for fun and omg holy s**t so good. I laughed at my boyfriend for ordering it but found myself wanting more. Great environment & HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Grill cheese - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Can't believe I had never been! Fun vibe. Live music Friday & Saturday. Great Detroit-themed cocktail options. Definitely need to go back and try the White Boy Rick grilled cheese! read more

D'Mongo's is an institution in Detroit. This speakeasy has survived all of Detroit's ups and downs. They have live music and their drinks are great - their bee's knees is really good. The grilled cheese is the perfect toast with a great cheese pull. Just a great spot to take in some Detroit Culture with photos and mafia contracts and art on the walls - but try to get there a bit early so that you can grab a table! read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

One of my favorite spots in Detroit. It is super unique with the decor and overall experience. It is only open on Fridays and Saturday's but there has always been live music when I go which is great. It feels very local-vibe, meaning the bartenders know everyone. The drinks are served in plastic and solo cups but they are STRONG. The staff is so friendly and warm. The decor is awesome - lots of antiques and cool relics. Drinks are reasonably priced and they offer grilled cheeses for food. read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Inside - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Ohhh what a fun time at Cafe D'Mongo's! If you're looking for a cool spot to hangout with friends and enjoy live music this is the spot for you. A Detroit classic, D' Mongos has been around for many years and it has stood the test of time. From the moment waking through the door, you feel like a regular. The staff is awesome, drinks are strong and they have the best grilled cheese hands down. read more

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Gentrification has robbed Cafe D'Mongo's of it's legendary vibe. I say legendary, but they actually have a relatively recent history being about 13 years old. It just feels eclectic and rich with history. There's no cover and the music is top notch. The crowd takes away from the experience. I'm not even talking about drunk people acting like drunk people. ..just several groups of really rude people doing things like putting their feet on tables and being rude to other guests. This isn't a cocktail bar, so keep it simple. Pours are generous though. There's a small food menu, but don't come hungry. Pro Tip: Bring cash to tip the musicians read more

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One of the best bars in Detroit. Great staff. Great service. Great atmosphere. Strong drinks. What more do you need?!

Super cute vibe! Very busy and standing room only but loved the live music. Servers were great too!

I love this joint,, I feel hella bad that I didnt get to stay longer here at this spot. It's a really decent place to get a drink too. These are one of those places that doesnt need to pretend. Everything about this place is old and vintage oriented. Even the clear glass mugs our gin and soda was served in was not matching. Mine was a Lutheran Church and my husbands was christmassy. Now that is cool! Plus our drinks were very strong. I could totally see myself coming back here for a drink or two or three. Probably because it's a grown up spot, or something a Real Tree wearing farmer from the burbs would steer clear from. Anyways, thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day! read more

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TLDR: Don't go here if you're the DD or sober person in your friend group. We came in with a group of 6 people total. The bartender (older lady) approached us and I asked if they served food and she ignored me to tell me about her "spiel " : because they don't charge a cover fee, they have a minimum of a 2 drink order per person that you have to buy upfront. The other 5 people in our group all ordered 2-4 drinks each plus 3 shots. I told her I'm sober and she acted like she's never heard that some people don't drink lol and then I had to repeat myself 2 more times that I don't drink alcohol. She said I still have to purchase 2 drinks (lemonade or pop). I told her I only drink water. She said she has to charge me for water which is fine I understand that business supplies cost money. But she ended up charging me $12 total for 2 cups of tap water in red solo cups. If it was bottled water or even $1-2 per cup of water fine I understand but $6 each is ridiculous. She also never told me it would cost that much. We also brought this to the owners attention and he said yes this is their policy. Every other bar in Detroit/surrounding areas have free water. We won't be back. Edit: we did not tip on our receipt because the waitress was rude and tipping is for good service ONLY. Our receipt total was $26.46 and we checked our account today on 4/29/24 and they actually charged us $34.46 so they charged an unauthorized amount. We are disputing with our credit card company. Definitely avoid this place. read more

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Loved that we were able to experience Cafe D'Mongo as the hours are limited and we were in Detroit for an only 3 days. Enjoyed the place. The owners are super friendly. It is definitely a local place where everyone knows everyone but we felt very welcomed read more

I would give -1 stars if possible. My fiancee and I met 3 of our friends here for the NFL draft. They got there first, sitting at the bar, and had already ordered multiple drinks. The bartender, a middle aged woman, asked my fiancee what she wanted to drink. My fiancee said she just wanted a glass of tap water, because she doesn't drink alcohol. The bartender, then appeared to get very flustered, and immediately have an attitude, saying it's a two drink minimum, that she must order a drink, otherwise she will be charged for water. I said I'll just order two beers, would that be fine? The bartender said she would still charge my fiancee for tap water. She proceeded to charge me $12 for two cups of TAP WATER in red SOLO cups. I asked for an itemized receipt, which she refused to give me. I later found the owner, Larry, who had the same terrible attitude, and who said because they don't charge a cover, they have a two drink minimum. I totally understand having a drink minimum or credit card minimum, no problem with that, IF YOU DRINK ALCOHOL. My fiancee does not drink. She only wanted a cup of water. The worse part is, I made sure to leave 0.0 as a tip. I just looked at my credit card statement.. . and I was charged $34.46. So this bartender also stole from me, because I deliberately made sure to leave no tip. I am disputing the charge, and possibly will file a police report if needed for fraud. Never come here! read more

If you want to have a fun night that is full of good spirits, characters, and laughter you must come to D'Mongo's!

Love this place and the ambiance. It is decorated as a rustic nostalgic place with celebrities all over the walls. I loved the live music and would go back anytime. read more

The best Detroit upscale dive bar! The drinks are cheap, strong and simple. Everyone is having fun. The live music is spot on and keeps the night rolling. EVERYONE IS HAVING FUN. read more

Very interesting hipster-like bar. Didn't know there was only drinks here other than a special sandwich that they make. Other than that, it's a great bar for some quality cocktails and sometimes live music! We stopped in here for a friend's birthday to start our night out. Like I said, we weren't aware that they don't have foot here. We were presented with a menu that had 3 signature drinks on it. The drinks were: -A 1439, which was Captain Morgan Rum with Faygo Rock & Rye -A Detroit Brown, which was Crown Royal with Angostura Bitters and Vernors -A Bee's Knees, which was lemon, simple syrup and Tanqueray Gin. The sandwich, was an interesting sandwich called The White Boy Rick. It was Havarti, White Cheddar and Fontina cheeses on white bread. You could also get a dill pickle and tomato soup with it. Quite strange to say the least but it wasn't an issue for us. We had a reservation elsewhere, but that should be something to note when coming here, that you may not want to come here hungry. On the night we were here, there was a very good jazz band that was here. We were seated in a large booth all the way in the back, which was perfect so that we could all talk and listen to the music at the same time. We rang up a pretty decent bill in drinks and were late for our reservation down the street because it was such a great atmosphere. The interior is dated, but that's by design to flow with how the perception of the restaurant is created to be. read more

We got in before the bar was busy; super cool bar, fun vibe w live music, and cool seats. But our waiter (a 19 yr old kid who couldn't answer any of our questions) and the drinks were terrible. I tried something (forgot the name) that had Faygo Rock n' Rye in it--stuff straight up tasted like Robitusin cough syrup. My crew of 5 all had the same experiences w their drinks. We left as soon as we could drink the required 2 drinks/person. read more

I've been to this bar for many years. This is an unique place with live music and ironically the best grilled cheese you'll ever have. Our server was awesome. There are some interesting choices in drinks, but I'm not complaining. Just an overall good vibe and chill atmosphere. read more

Cafe D'Mongo is what hipsters are trying to achieve, only it does not need to try. Cool space, good music. The only issue is that people know it and the bar can get crazy busy, can't-step-in-the-door busy. read more

Based on the recommendation of some family members, my husband and I (+ some new friends we met at my cousin's rehearsal dinner) headed over to D'Mongo's on a recent Friday night... The place was packed and we knew right away that this was the place to be! We bellied up to the bar and managed to get our first round of drinks from the super laid back, but friendly bartender. We got seated shortly after that in a comfortable booth where we chilled the rest of the evening and had a couple more rounds. (Yes, this was a big party night for me!) D'Mongo's has all kinds of history and Larry, the owner, is there quite often... he was there the night we were there and greeted us with a warm smile! The hostess was awesome and the place just has an amazing vibe that you don't find very often anymore. If you like live music, people-watching, and strong but affordable drinks, look no further, as I cannot imagine finding a better destination than this! We had a blast and ended up closing the place down... As my friend Jeffrey said the next day, we totally got "D'Mongoed." And I would do it again in a heartbeat! read more

Seriously. This is the best freaking bar I have ever been to. I am not from Michigan (very far from it in Southern California) and this place was a breath of fresh air. Upon entry we were greeted by the wonderful sound of Motown on the sound system, and Motown only. This is rad if you are not from Detroit and this is what you hear when you walk into a Detroit bar. When the sound system stops, we had multiple three pieces playing throughout the night. All types of music and all fantastic. They let me sing a Temptations song with them, which was a highlight of my life. The service was insanely good. Our server doubled as a host. Her head was on a swivel. Seating people, serving people, chatting people up. She was an absolute legend and I wish I remembered her name. The bartenders were more of the same. Personable, efficient, great pourers, and you could tell they loved where they worked. I was lucky enough to meet the owner (see picture) who was sitting with the owner of Checker Bar (my other favorite spot on this trip) and it was like meeting George Steinbrenner and Jerry Buss at the same time. Even though it's a little crowded in there, NOBODY seemed to mind. Including me. The bathrooms are a little cramped, but who cares? You are in the best bar of all time. Cafe D'Mongo I will be recommending you to every single person who ever mutters the word Detroit. Whether they live there or not. If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy, I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me. read more

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Came into this spot waiting for a friend. Wanted to grab a drank with the husband and something to eat. We sat at the bar. We got carded at the door. The woman was very nice and chit chatted with us. The bartender attended to us and gave us our drinks in a timely matter. We ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and let me tell you the bomb. I enjoyed this place. I would consider it a dive bar, which you do not see many of these anymore. Do not have to fight for the attention of the bartender to get a drink. Easy going people who just want to chat and have a good time without annoying people. And of course cheap dranks. Would come here again!!! read more

Obsessed with this place. Truly an ambiance unlike anything else you can get in the city. So proud that a place like this still exists downtown. Charles at the door is an absolute G, and Mr. D'Mongo is such a great owner. He's truly proud of the bar and does it all to greet and thank patrons. It was like meeting living legend. It's the kind of care that you can't find at any other corporate hospitality run bar downtown. Servers are amazing and live music is unreal. Can't even explain in words how great this place is. Need to see it to believe it. read more

This place is a MUST if you're visiting Detroit! What a great vibe! Cheap drinks, terrific atmosphere and live music will definitely make you stay longer than you expected. I wasn't hungry that night but I'll have to go back to try the menu :) We met the owner at the entrance and had the opportunity to congratulate him for keeping this place alive. Thank you! read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Bar - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Cafe D'Mongo is a quirky speakeasy with a nostalgic Casablanca meets funky hipster vibe. Green walls, with eclectic knickknacks and wall decor like electric guitars, maracas, and trumpets and a full piano hanging from the ceiling. There's also photography of Detroit and celebrities like Tarantino and Ryan Gossling, who visited the bar. When we first entered, the hostess, an eccentric older lady with gloves, and mink stole, seated us. They had a live band playing but we were seated in this awkward booth by the bar where you couldn't see the band at all, which was unfortunate. The setup is not ideal to see live music from every standpoint as there is a large bar with a few adjacent booths, and another room next to it with more seating where the band plays in one corner. The band was playing covers of seventies songs from Woodstock and we could still hear them. The drinks aren't anything to write home about. They aren't the best drinks I've ever had and aren't really a craft cocktail but warning, they are very boozy. I had a Moscow Mule and it was alright but very strong. My friend and I also tried their signature drink, The 1439 which is Captain Morgan and Faygo Rock & Rye. It's apparently Tarantino's favorite drink. It was just ok tasting, very sweet, cheap tasting and heavy on the booze. We came for a friend's birthday and were waiting for our table at Wright and Company for dinner but we all decided to order their grilled cheese sandwiches to tide us over. These grilled cheese sandwiches were honestly pretty amazing! I wasn't expecting them to be this good but they were hot, toasty, extra cheesy and the three cheese blend was really tasty and they gave us tomato sauce to dip it in. They have around a $10 minimum to put on your card, otherwise it's cash only. I had been wanting to come here for awhile and it wasn't as awesome as I had anticipated it to be but is still worth stopping in at least once. I'd like to return and next time snag a better booth to actually see the band. Don't come here for craft cocktails. They're sugary, cheap and boozy but come here for the eccentric funky atmosphere and people watching. Update: I came back again on a Saturday night in the summer, and it was overwhelmingly crowded. When we came in the winter, it wasn't too busy but this time it was so busy that you could barely walk through the bar and restaurant. It was jam packed. The hostess managed to find us a table right away but it was so busy, they must have forgot about us because no one came back to take our order and we ended up heading to Cornerstone Barrelhouse which was much more calm and laid back. I definitely think Cafe D'Mongo has a great atmosphere and ambiance but I'd probably recommend coming a time other than a busy Saturday night in the summer. read more

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This is now my very favorite dive bar in the Detroit area. Someone said it reminded them of the 80's and it did! Everyone was talking to each other as if they had been friends forever and I only saw one girl staring at her phone. It felt like life before smartphones! I think it has to do with the type of people it attracts. It's not one of the new, high-end cocktail bars or beer halls (not that I'm knocking those - Detroit has a lot of great bars!) It's sort of down-and-dirty - come as you are and hang out with people who you might never cross in your normal life's path. We danced and sang with people young and old. The incredibly nice waiter, Connor, described Carl, the musician, as a "human jukebox." He was right on. Carl has a huge array of music and was open to request. They played mostly the old stuff (80's, 90's) but I would challenge him to play anything out there. The layout of the place makes it feel tight. Take advantage of that and get to know the people standing around you. Tables cleared out after each set. The grilled cheese sandwich - sooo tasty! It comes with marinara sauce and ranch dressing. It almost tasted like a mozzarella sticks so the marinara was a perfect pairing. The drinks are strong so don't come on an empty stomach because grilled cheese is the only menu item. It's only open on Friday and Saturday nights which adds to its mystique. Can't wait to go back! . read more

Love the atmosphere. Great backstory to this place. Detroit's history lives here. Drinks are generous and the grilled cheese sandwich is the best I've had. read more

When my friend said we should stop here I was hesitant as it looked too busy but I gave it a shot and absolutely loved it! Not only did Mr. D'Mongo buy us a round of tequila shots, but the decor was out of this world. There was live music as well! It was packed but that's cause it's a pretty sweet place to hang! If you're looking for a casual spot that's pretty unique, this is the place to go! read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Service, drinks, music and more importantly the people. My first time here we had an amazing time. On the way out I lost my wallet here; slipped out of my pocket. Christine and Larry looked everywhere for it and found it and kept it safe, messaged me and made sure I got it back. Not many places would take that level of care and kindness to do that. If you are in town, make this one of your stops. You'll have so much fun that you won't want to leave, and you'll come back. read more

One of my favorite things about Detroit is the history. This cool bar is dropping with history. It has been a speakeasy in the past and is now one of the most iconic night time spots for a drinking the city. It's only open on the weekends, so I try to get there anytime I can. The drinks aren't pricey and the ambiance is so much fun. The live house band is always jamming out playing hits that everyone knows and loves. I recommend making a trip to Cafe D mongo a priority, it has an old school vibe that can't be duplicated, it's all original! The staff is always friendly and ready to have fun with the patrons. This is one of the unique bars that make Detroit such an entertaining city! read more

Some bathrooms cannot be written about. Some bathrooms can only be experienced. But I'm going to write about it, because I review bathrooms on Yelp. My Girl's bassier frequencies muffle their way through the polyestique scrapwood door as I hear the cook spell out K-u-r-t (whose costumed apprentice is outside on a smoke break, before his return to serenade the crowd and his very patient and proud Courtney) to his FaceTime speakerphone (who didn't infer that tonight a 15 year old ghost would play to their loved one's orders) through the rectanglesque gap in the 1/4" plywood. The bathroom is small. Indeterminate scrawls of arbitrary musings line the walls, procedurally generated wallpaper reflecting the thoughts, concerns, and barroom prayers of those who have passed through this coffin-on-its-side shaped room. Our feet partners, whose pissmud colored four squares cave in under the pressure of our patrons, whose implied piss position forces them to glaze over 'S' and 2540x100 CUBIC FEET and MidwestOrganic and "neVE", whose middle bar height grows diagonally along the iron support holding two ends of the pipes leading to and from the mysterious metal box that unites either end, meeting the nose of its relieved onlookers. The toilet feels is the center of this little world, whose sole purpose is to unite your piss, the toilet bowl, and either ends of the pipe in front of you, to keep the water flowing. It's a good bathroom, for a good place. read more

This place is really old but still cool as s^*#. It had a live band that played a variety of music which I fully enjoyed. The drinks were potent (at least for me, but I am a cheap date). We went a little early to avoid the crowd, stopping in there after dinner. The building is really old and in need of obvious repairs but that was what made it cool. You can feel the history there. I especially loved all the old photos hanging throughout the establishment. It is an experience that I think resembles old Detroit. It is a must-go before the original owner isn't around anymore. read more

Cafe D'Mongo's Speakeasy - Speakeasies Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Kitschy and Classic There's a lot of ways to describe D'Mongo's but if you haven't been, no words will do it justice. It's a world unto itself where ambiance takes on new meaning. Drinks were OK as long as you keep it simple. If you get into anything craft cocktail you might be disappointed, but you're not coming for great drinks as much as you are to people watch. read more