Joey&#x27;s Tavern

This has become one of my favorite bars in town. Casual, gay, fun, good drinks, good prices. My…read morecurrent favorite drink is the guava vodka with sprite, but they have a full bar so you can get whatever you're craving. There is always good music playing and music videos on the TVs. This is a very inclusive and welcoming bar with about 5 booths and bar seating and it can fill up fast on the weekend nights. Park on the street downtown, walk, or take public transportation-no parking lot. They don't have a food menu, but they do have popcorn.

Always a fun vibe. Music and videos playing. Great pour on the drinks. Bartenders and always…read moresmiling and popcorn always popping!

Outside

Entrance to the apartment for those who can't find it

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House Rules

4.9(54 reviews)

1.4 mi

My husband and I met some friends at House Rules. This is a great place where you can have a bite…read moreto eat, grab a drink, and play a game in a relaxed atmosphere. You pay for your table by the hour. You can pick from a wide range of games from their game library. You can also bring your own games or purchase one at the establishment. We played Chameleon while enjoying sandwiches and chicken tenders. The food was pretty good and made with local ingredients. You can order from a QR code on the table and the food is brought to your table. For dessert we ordered a cookie skillet. We had a good time at Hose Rules and highly recommend it.

In terms of things to do in Grand Rapids, visiting House Rules nears the top of my list. I'm not a…read morebig beer drinker, so I had my doubts, but in addition to a half dozen fridges full of beer, they had plenty of non alcoholic drinks, as well as hard ciders, seltzers, and canned cocktails. Many brands were local that I'd never heard of before, and it was fun to experiment and try new things. Their food menu honestly shocked me with how tasty everything was. For a board game bar, I usually expect food to take a back seat or be phoned in, but everything was delicious! I had to try the elote deviled eggs, which was a combo I had never considered but I'm so glad someone did! I also got the truffle mac and cheese and a house salad. Both were excellent! The board game selection was extensive, with old favorites and hidden gems. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to stop in again!

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Seating area

Drip Drop Cocktail Room

4.6(43 reviews)

0.9 mi

I'd heard their espresso martini is one of the best in Grand Rapids and boy it lived up to the…read morehype! The vibe in here is swanky yet approachable. Soft seating and warm but dark and intimate, perfect for date night or a bar crawl with friends. The menu is expansive with something for everyone's taste. The servers and bartenders are super knowledgeable and happy to help make a selection if you know what you normally like. The espresso martini has a salted bite to it while being robust and smooth. Very strong without overpowering. My husband got the root beer float option and it was a fun whimsical interactive option that he enjoyed, it was stronger with more of a strong alcohol taste but still enjoyable. Definitely a great option for folks in Grand Rapids and we will be back for more!

One of the cutest cocktail bars in the area! The menu is broken down into different categories…read more(joy, intrigue, etc) creating a custom drink for your custom feeling. Our server Connor was great- and had great recommendations. Awesome vibes, and delicious cocktails.

Kiwi Cooler

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Interior

Lumber Baron Bar

4.1(40 reviews)

1.2 mi

•$$$

Dark, sensual bar. Service is swell, no interruptions. Great place for a cocktail and good…read moreconversation. Had the Lavender Blues. Favorite cocktail of my life, truly.

Love love love. A super fun place to go inside the amway. Their espresso martini was pretty high up…read moreon our list. We made some new friends and the bar tenders were so fun! We will definitely be back here!

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Lumber Baron Bar

SpeakEZ Lounge

4.2(246 reviews)

1.4 mi

•$$

A very cozy casual soccer bar/restaurant :) i live close by so it's just an easy place to go to for…read morea drink or a quick bite. They have most sports games up but i know they're known for having the early soccer games playing! I've heard great things about their brunch only on the weekends. They brought back their lunch special and it seems like they have trivia there now!! I feel like food is 4/5 but overall the vibe, lots of seating, and staff just make it a fun nonjudgmental place to be :) All the staff are super friendly. Parking is just metered street parking.

We came to listen to live jazz, which they have on Sunday night. It was fun. The musician sounded…read moreamazing. I had a dirty martini and he had a pilsner. They were both fine. He got the Korean shrimp tacos. He said they were pretty garlicky, but OK. I got the drunken noodles with pork. It had good flavor, but it reminded me a little too much of just instant Ramen. Our server was friendly and attentive.

Bacon goat cheese dip

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Bruschetta

Sidebar

4.3(116 reviews)

1.3 mi

•$$

Stumbled upon this little speakeasy inside of a pizza place downtown. We almost walked past it but…read moresomeone directed us towards it. When you step inside it's dark, quaint and has a sexy vibe to it. Very limited seating with a small bar and back room that's beautifully decorated. We both got "my girl" and that drink was delightful and refreshing. Noise level was moderate but we could still talk. Had a nice time with my bff but I could see it being a great first date spot!

We were visiting friends and they heard this place was cute but hard to get into. We took a chance…read moreand luck was on our side. It was a Saturday around 9p and we got the last table. **Reservations are recommended** the space is very small and intimate with only 4 tables. We met the bartender who curated the menu. Each cocktail was designed with intention and he took a lot of pride in them. Would definitely go back! Granda sue was our fav!

Loved the wallpaper and decor

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Back Room

Flamingo Lounge

2.8(8 reviews)

0.5 mi

Great place for a bloody mary. Great way to spend sunday funday. Football is on and the service is…read moreawesome

Yepper's this place is a dive. A dive with a big pink bar and a terrible men's room. It's full of…read morelocals and blue collar folks and a few college kids from the university. Overall a good diver... Drinks were strong and folks were pretty friendly. I have been here a several times and I have never really had a bad time. It looks like a little house with a bunch of Harley's parked around it. If ya dig dives check this place out. Cheers

The drink specials. As seen on a poster in the womens bathroom.

A beacon of hope in the wasteland of 'the west side'

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Silva

4.5(62 reviews)

1.7 mi

We absolutely loved Silva!! My wife surprised me tickets to…read moresee Pattie Gonia here and we thought how cool - dinner and a show. I was honestly having a really crappy day before we got there, but as soon as we walked into Silva for the drag brunch, it turned my whole entire day around. We had the best time & great food before the show next door at The Big Room. The show was incredible and the staff were all so friendly and awesome at The Big Room!! Can't wait to come back. ‍

Silva was easily one of the most eclectic and memorable restaurants I've visited in a long time…read more Every bathroom has its own theme, which was such a fun touch, and our waitress surprised us with an incredible song performance during the meal in front of the whole restaurant lol. I ordered the funfetti pancake with a mimosa for brunch, and my friend went with the avocado toast and paloma. There was a hiccup with a hair in the avocado toast, but they handled it quickly and were happy to remake it, which I appreciated. They did mention they'd comp it for the inconvenience, but that didn't end up happening. That aside, the overall experience was fantastic and I'll definitely be back.

Great entertainment and great food!

Mozzarella sticks

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Main bar

Watersview Rooftop Bar

3.0(3 reviews)

1.3 mi

Awesome rooftop bar with cool lounge furniture and a decent amount of seating. From the elevator of…read morethe hotel or waters building just push "r" for rooftop. The bartender we had was very friendly, and it was overall a pretty relaxing environment with moderate drink prices. Definitely a welcome addition to the "rooftop" scene in Grand Rapids. The selection isn't huge but they do have a couple good craft beers, normal but not great liquor selection and some wine. A big plus was the semi covered area that shielded us from rain. I could see this both as a cool place to come for a chill night and a drink with a view or for a small get together. Since it is at a hotel there will likely be frequent wedding parties and events there I assume. At the moment the verdict remains unknown as to whether it is open to the public all the time or just sometimes. We were neither guests of the hotel or the condos/businesses in the building but were welcomed in and served immediately- however there is little info online about it.

Awesome view, and hang out spot. Smaller selection of drinks but the experience is like no other in…read moreGR. It is now hotel guest access only to get to the rooftop, but if they're not too busy they let others come in, just ask!

Drinks on the rooftop patio with a view of the city!

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Social Misfits

4.2(299 reviews)

1.3 mi

•$$

I wouldn't have ever thought to head to social misfits for my weekday morning matcha but here we…read moreare. the menu includes standards and fun lattes with house made syrups. they also have oat and almond milk for a $2 up charge. i ordered an iced matcha with pistachio syrup and my partner ordered a bananas foster latte (both with oat milk). The pistachio syrup was legit - there were actual pistachio chunks and no fake pistachio extract flavor. i definitely would have preferred my drink sweeter though. i was also impressed by the drink to ice ratio. so many iced drinks are mostly ice but this matcha was FULL and not overly diluted with milk. i really enjoyed the flavor of the matcha itself as well. my partner said he'd give his latte a 9.1 out of 10. unfortunately there do not seem to be any vegan food options so it will be drinks only for us.

This was the restaurant attached to our hotel, bottom floor, loved you could access it from the…read morehotel or from outside. It's very punk rock and lively in there, walking in a sigh said " Please don't do coke in the bathrooms" lol so like ok sure!? lol The whole place menu is built on waffles, sweet and savory! We went with one of each...the pizza stick waffles and a monte cristo sandwich, both were heavy, filling, delicious like bar food, I would say. They were quite busy with every seat filled and we still got very fast service.

Espresso Marini

Son of a Biscuit

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Little Lad

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6 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Libby S.

0

1

2

2 months ago

I've been going to this place for years and have never experienced a bouncer as rude as this one. My friend's Lime bike had a flat tire mid-ride, causing her to fall over. While we were waiting in line, she simply asked for a band-aid. A man who claimed he was an "undercover bouncer" refused to help her, and they then denied entry to our entire group, claiming she was "too drunk." She was completely sober.... Simply shaken up from a fall and looking for basic first aid. Unprofessional, bizarre, and severely lacking in basic empathy. read more

Maddy S.

0

1

0

7 years ago

waited 49 minutes to get a food order and the bartender got my drink wrong twice. paying too much attention to flirting with the patrons

Logan G.

0

3

2

3 years ago

This is the worst service I've ever received. One of the worst bars in Grand Rapids, and do not recommend coming here

Brian H.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Not impressed. Will not return. Our first impression was that we were viewed as aliens visiting from another planet.

Alexander R.

0

1

0

2 years ago

If you deny one of the bartenders then you're banned. Great place though......................................

Greg N.

5

25

1

8 months ago

This is my favorite bar and Grill in the Grand Rapids area just a great neighborhood bar

Joey's Tavern - lounges - Updated September 2026

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Bob's Sports Bar

(36 reviews)

10/10 love this bar. It's our favorite local bar with surprisingly good food. The cheese curds here…read moreare amazing and they've got a great coney dog and cheeseburger. Drink prices are a good deal and love the bartenders. Will be going back again and again

Came here for dinner on a Thursday night specifically for their poutine dish for Michigan Street…read morepoutine week. Bob's Bar served tater tots with garlic herb cheese curds, house made beef gravy, green onion, and bacon bits. It was great! Felt like it was pretty much what you would want out of a poutine dish. I also got the Chicago dogs which is on their normal menu and these were tasty. I had been craving a Chicago style hot dog for a while and these hit the spot. They got all the toppings right. Especially loved the sport peppers. The basket is served with potato chips. There was some sort of alcohol rep there when we were there and he was handing out free drinks and samplings/shots of alcohol that were on the house so that was a nice surprise! Another nice thing about Bob's bar is their parking! They have a lot that is dedicated only to their customers right across Harlan Ave. Otherwise there is side street parking. Loved the vibe of this place. Kinda divey but not gross or unappealing or anything of that matter. They also have a patio/deck area in the back that looks nice but our server mentioned they don't provide service out there so you come in to order and then take your food/drinks out there.

River City Saloon

(19 reviews)

As a handicapped individual i was holding the arm of a friend as i walked into the establishment…read more Apparently this is why the bartender (and self proclaimed manager) refused to serve me as my friends played pool. When I explained my disability she simply stated she was going to call the police. I looked her dead in the eye for 3 minutes after telling i was waiting for an apology i never got. I simply left the establishment never to return and to ensue my fellow handicapped friends follow suit. You should be ashamed of yourself!

Bar food done right - and they have daily specials, like $8 for a burger and fires/tots/onion rings…read morewith a draft pint. That is a steal in an economy where most burgers are $16 and fries are extra. Food is good and the drinks are strong. Service is always super quick and friendly. They have pool tables and various games, along with live music on weekends and a comedy show on Wednesdays. There is a small lot in back for parking, or some street parking.

Putt-Putt's Bar

3.3

(35 reviews)

Putt Putt's is a west side staple dive bar. I noticed their outdoor patio when driving by one day,…read moreso Nate and I stopped by for a bite to eat and a drink recently after visiting the zoo which is down the street. He used to live in this neighborhood so he was familiar with the menu and mentioned the inside has changed quite a bit since he frequented this spot. We ordered a burger on sourdough with tots and the BBQ chicken flatbread. This was great bar food! I loved the burger - it was juicy and the tots were fried and seasoned to perfection. It was a great portion too, so we were able to share (makes me think of Napoleon Dynamite - no stealing tots necessary). I love that you can order your burger on sourdough instead of a bun - it was perfectly toasted. It did get a bit messy and fell apart a little towards the end, but we had plenty of napkins. The flatbread was super tasty. I don't usually go for a BBQ chicken pizza but I saw someone else ordered it and it looked delicious. I'm so glad I copied them, because it was sweet, savory, and covered in chicken and cheese. The included side of ranch just rounded it out. Yum! Our server was quick with refills and around for us to order more drinks when needed. The outdoor space is pretty spacious and covered. Definitely will stop by again soon!

Saw 4.5 stars for putt putts and decided to give it a try... NEVER AGAIN. We came in with five of…read moreus and it was decently busy. A server never came to our table, never brought us a menu (we had to look it up on our phones). Finally go up to the bar and ask for a server (after multiple attempts and having to order drinks from the bar) and she comes over and tells us they only have fried food. We buy some shots and beers (server asks for our card and we pay for them up front) and they never brought them (we had to remind the server we ordered drinks and shots). Overall it was a clusterf*** and we will never be back.

Billy's Lounge

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I went on a Thursday night desperate to find a place to dance at on a random weekday. They…read moreadvertised that Thursday's are their college night. I'm not sure if they meant early 00s like 2000-2010 college era but it was FANTASTIC. I grew up on that early 2000s hip hop and r&B so that was nostalgic. The crowd is exactly within that age group. It was a fantastic fun night. Drinks weren't high end and amazing but for $11 they'll taste like you'd expect. I'd recommend going with a group of friends and staying accountable for one another. The cover is $5 with college ID or $10 if you're an adult not in college. I'll be back to dance here.

How Marissa has a job here still is beyond me, the most rude and awful bartender in Grand Rapids…read more Since you like you delete my reviews from google I'll put it here. This places drugs people and allows others to get drugged and turns a blind eye. The bartenders and security are all doing lines and shooting up before, during and after their shifts. Get better staff and maybe protect your paying customers from being drugged.

The Nightwatch Lounge

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Bartender was fantastic. We had a wonderful time after we found the place (lol)…read moreDrinks were some of the best we had on our GR vacation this weekend. Great interior as well.

Tried out Nightwatch Lounge for the first time!…read more The interior of this place was gorgeous and dim lit! I loved how cozy and nice the seating area was. We were the first ones there on a Thursday night and the host was very kind and so were both bartenders. Looked through the menu and ordered their espresso martini and also the old fashioned. Both drinks were on the pricier side but well worth it. My espresso martini went down easy. I would definitely come back for a drink or two with friends or a good spot for a date :)

Glass House Bar

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We stopped by Glass House recently for some drinks and a snack with friends. It was a Tuesday…read moreevening so trivia was going on, which seemed pretty fun and something I'd come back for. I don't visit Glass House very often, so I was excited to see that they have a full food menu. Unfortunately they were out of the first two things we tried to order (boneless wings and mozzarella sticks), so our server suggested the pizza puffs. The pizza puffs are different than the ones I'm used to at Peppino's, but they were pretty good. They are dough bites that are deep fried, but they almost had a pretzel bite texture/vibe. I prefer the lighter, fluffier ones, but they were a good snack to have with some drinks. Drinks here are pretty cheap and in line with the rest of the bars on Michigan Street. Overall it's a decent dive bar!

The bar food was pretty good. And the bar tenders all pretty nice with great recommendations. We…read morecame for karaoke and stayed for the vibes. It was a fun place to be on a random Wednesday! You definitely wanna catch the happy hour though.

The Silver Derby

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If you like neighborhood dive bars, you'll love this place! Lots of space, it always feels like…read morethere are regulars there, but never gives the vibe of not being welcoming. They don't serve food, but you can bring food in (and JBs Pizza is very close ). Bartenders have always been friendly. Definitely a fun spot!

Five star dive bar. Service was good from the get-go, drinks were cold and served with a smile, and…read morethe place was comfortable overall. I was visiting Grand Rapids to attend a concert the night before visiting The Derby. I was about to head home back to Dearborn but decided I wanted to stop for a shot and a beer before ending my weekend. I was out and about hitting up thrift shops and saw this bar was nearby. We were immediately welcomed upon taking a seat at the bar. We ordered our drinks and they came up quick. A big football game was about to start, so the place filled up not long after we got there. We were never given a food menu, but we saw an ad for hot dogs on the wall. They also had a bunch of snack food available. We noticed Keno, a pool table and a few gambling entertainment machines. There's a lot more to this space than the initial bar area you see when you walk in. Bathrooms were clean, the bill was cheap and the company was great. I'd definitely stop into The Derby again.

Apartment Lounge

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This has become one of my favorite bars in town. Casual, gay, fun, good drinks, good prices. My…read morecurrent favorite drink is the guava vodka with sprite, but they have a full bar so you can get whatever you're craving. There is always good music playing and music videos on the TVs. This is a very inclusive and welcoming bar with about 5 booths and bar seating and it can fill up fast on the weekend nights. Park on the street downtown, walk, or take public transportation-no parking lot. They don't have a food menu, but they do have popcorn.

Always a fun vibe. Music and videos playing. Great pour on the drinks. Bartenders and always…read moresmiling and popcorn always popping!

Rendezvous

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It's a solid spot to meet up before/after a show or if you're otherwise hanging at the Amway. I've…read morebeen here at least a dozen times. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly--and fast. They know their cocktails and they're remarkably consistent with the mixes. My old fashioneds tasted the same every time I've gone. Very limited menu, but it'll do the trick when you're in a rush (or if the Lumberbaron Bar has already closed its kitchen). I like the pizzas, especially the mushroom. Don't let the name fool you. It also comes covered with savory cubes of bacon and fresh greens. It's good! I also like the wide open layout. You never feel crowded. Great place to spread out for a cocktail and light bite.

What an amazing experience!!! We came here for one of their monthly events. We found out about it…read morethat day and the tickets were no longer available. But we took our chances and the manager was able to get us in! So glad he did. They have these types of tastings every month. December will be a champagne pairing. I definitely plan to come back for that! They did a beautiful presentation. We got to try three different scotches which were paired with delicious small plates of food. Afterwards, we went to the bar area and had a drink. The service here was impeccable. The food was delicious and the signature cocktails were delightful! The hotel itself is gorgeous and I was happy we got to experience it all decked out for Christmas!

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