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    Lowertown Bar & Cafe

    4.3 (33 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Lowertown Bar & Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    LOWERTOWN BAR & CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Lowertown Bar & Cafe

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    Vanilla Latte
    Alina S.

    The service was kind and fast. I really enjoyed my vanilla latte and will be having more of them. I can't believe it is my first time stopping in. I love the hanging plants and option for indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely a must try coffee shop.

    Gin martini and spicy margarita
    Aparna B.

    Have never been here but stopped in for a drink after I was out at an event. They have a cool modern space and specialty cocktails as well as classics and NA. They also have coffee during the day. Everyone was friendly and the drink I got was good! The only downside is parking: couldn't figure out where to park and the only information was on the door of the business which isn't super helpful if you're driving. We ended up parking on the street across the street by Kellogg.

    Iced chai w oat milk (skim was not an option???)
    Ainsley E.

    Came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was packed with seemingly students. I just wanted a quick drink so I ordered an iced chai with skim, but they said they only had whole and oat milk (weird?). Not sure if they make the chai or it's from somewhere but it was sweet and bland, and the oat milk combo was not good. I would not order this again; it just tasted bizarre. I'll continue going to Roos for their bomb chai. I figure this place has decent cocktails and coffee, but my experience there today was just not it.

    Outdoor space
    Linda I.

    Super cute spot for some remote work! Classic options for coffee drinks, chai, and matcha, with oat milk as an option for non-dairy folks. A small assortment of sweet and savory pastries as well. I tried their matcha latte with oat milk, which was great. Good quality matcha and the option to not add sweetener, which I appreciated. Also tried a savory spinach, goat cheese, and zataar pastry and it was very tasty! I imagine would be even better a little warmed up :). Wi-Fi is available until 5pm, to help transition the daytime cafe to an evening bar. Cool concept, with switchover to cocktails, mocktails, and other evening beverages later in the day. Interior is bright and comfortable, with plenty of plugs for students or remote workers. They also have a cute outdoor space with plenty of additional seating, some of which is shaded. Parking during the day may be a little tricky as there isn't a dedicated lot onsite. There's a lot across the street that is free after 5pm and all day on the weekends. Do not park in Northside Grill's lot. I ended up street parking a short walk away, but be aware that many streets in the area have time limits.

    Ailun H.

    Glad to see another cafe open up in Ann Arbor, so I knew I had to check it out while I was visiting. One of the few great things about Lowertown is that it opens pretty late (but it's also a bar). My friends and I went earlier in the afternoon (before their one hour closing break from 3-4 PM) this past Tuesday and the vibes were of your typical cafe -- friendly baristas, comfortable spaces and seating to study or hang out with friends. I'm not sure if this is the same ambiance when it's later in the evening and more of a bar kind of vibe. Lowertown gets their coffee beans from Hyperion, which is one of the best Ann Arbor roasters. They also have a small selection of pastries for sale if you want something to complement your drink. Their coffee selection is on the smaller side, but they have all your basic espresso-based drinks (cappuccino, latte -- vanilla & mocha) along with some black coffee (drip & cold brew). I tried an oat milk cappuccino (+0.50 for oat milk) and that was not bad. The espresso notes mixed with the oat milk had a more acidic after taste, which is not my preference. One of my friends got a dirty chai (chai is 5.50 and adding espresso shot was extra) which ended up being closer to 8.00. The chai flavors really shined through and it's on the sweeter side without a strong coffee flavor. The drink was on the smaller side, so probably not worth it. Another friend got an iced vanilla latte which was pretty sweet and he enjoyed it (the espresso flavor was obvious, too). Overall, great new coffee shop that you should check out. The drinks are not bad but the interior is fantastic. I really like the sage green and white walls lined with white oak furniture aesthetic. If I was still a student, I'd definitely spend a lot of my time here studying.

    Outdoor patio
    Grace K.

    Great coffee shop that recently opened up in north Ann Arbor. I discovered it one weekend while biking in the area. There's a large, comfortable outdoor patio and bike rack next to the shop. This shop serves both coffee/tea and alcohol. There were varieties of beers on tap when I visited. I ordered an iced half-caf Americano which was smooth and tasty. Service was fast and friendly. There are also small pastries available if you'd like a bite with your drink. It's a good location for catching up with friends over coffee/tea as well as studying. Will definitely be back!

    Latte
    Shelly P.

    So excited for lower town bar and cafe to finally open up! Been waiting for a cafe with nice ambience to open up in the area. Very conveniently located, excited to see how the outdoor space will translate during the summer months. The large windows allow for lots of natural light, very spacious tons of space to work! Friendly staff despite the busy soft opening! Looking forward to returning soon for more coffee and evening menus!

    Nirvana

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    11 days ago

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    18 days ago

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    6 months ago

    Love the place! Great neighborhood spot. Amazing drinks (morning and evening)! Fun people and ambiance!

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great chill indoor outdoor space. Lots of drink options. Can bring in your own food. Rotating taps. Dogs welcome on outdoor patio

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good coffee. Good service. No parking. Nice outdoor patio and indoor seating. Limited food options.

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    1 year ago

    Great coffee shop and coffee. Nice outdoor area. Good service and atmosphere. Recommended.

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    1 year ago

    Coffee drinks weren't good to me though customer service was good! No suggestions really available and the taste was watery. Got a latte.

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    Ask the Community - Lowertown Bar & Cafe

    Review Highlights - Lowertown Bar & Cafe

    Baristas were very welcoming and inviting, the interior is so cozy and simple, and the taste of the coffee really tops it all off!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    1824 Cocktails & Coffee - The Boujee Lebowski

    1824 Cocktails & Coffee

    4.3(8 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I came here on a Tuesday night so it was pretty quiet! Me and my boyfriend got drinks and sat at…read morethe bar for a little bit. The vibes are super chill. Harry Potter was playing on the TV while we were there. It's very clean and comfortable. Our bartender was friendly and made tasty drinks. Definitely ask to see the seasonal menu because they have some cool combinations that I would definitely want to come back to try! Be ready to spend a bit more, but I think you get your moneys worth with presentation and experience!

    1824 Cocktails & Coffee is an interesting spot to meet up with friends to grab a drink! I can only…read morespeak for the cocktails portion of the joint, but I'll say that I'm definitely interested in stopping back in to try out some coffee! I stopped in with a group on a weeknight recently, and even on a cold December night, we found that there was a small crowd inside, with groups of all sizes grabbing drinks and catching up. The inside of the establishment is a mix of super high ceilings and surpisingly limited seats. There are a fair amount of tables and bar seating as well, but just less than you'd expect by looking at it from the outside! There are a ton of TVs inside, so I could imagine this would be a good place to watch sports -- while we were there, they were playing a Lord of the Rings movie and we heard from the bartender that they often have movies of such high caliber playing! Now onto the important part - the cocktails! We tried a couple of cocktails from their menu and found that though they tasted good, they felt somewhat lacking in alcohol... either the bartender did an amazing job with the mix, or they were light pours. I will say I got an old fashioned after that, and the old fashioned was excellent! Handmade, not pre-mixed, and both the flavor and presentation were excellent. Overall, I'd say we had a pretty solid experience - I'll be back to try out some more drinks for sure (both cocktails and coffee!)

    Photos
    1824 Cocktails & Coffee - The queen's mule

    The queen's mule

    1824 Cocktails & Coffee - Cold Brew Old Fashioned

    Cold Brew Old Fashioned

    1824 Cocktails & Coffee - Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned

    Rabbit Hole - Koel Bird

    Rabbit Hole

    4.4(25 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Ann Arbor is always such an interesting spot for a night out. During the school year, the streets…read moreare teeming with college kids bouncing around, which of course is what you would expect from a great college town. What I do love about Ann Arbor is that they balance out the drunk haunts of young adults with great restaurants and high end bars for the people looking for more than a pitcher of cheap beer. Rabbit Hole is one of those spots. Down the same little alley way as Circ Bar, this underground bar is tucked away, stone hallways and open up and lead to different openings that provide seating, a dance floor and an amazingly stocked bar. If you like bourbon you will love this spot. Our bartender was fantastic, absolutely worked with me on working out a drink. I know I took a pic of an espresso martini, but my drink was made perfect also. Another nice surprise was that it wasn't some crazy price on the drink (I mean any crazier than other places and quite cheaper than around my home), especially for Ann Arbor. Walking away from the bar is a dance floor, and surrounding it are booths in a separate rooms and tables on a level up from the dance floor. There are also two hallways that lead to more booths and tables in different areas of the bar. As you can imagine this is a huge place. We came on a Friday and it wasn't very busy, but school is out and the weather had just broke so not surprising. I really enjoyed my time and the company I was with, and I would definitely go back.

    Another place actually open later, I needed to come and try…read more Rabbit hole definitely has a unique look. It reminded me of visits through caves I just needed some Stalactites. Definitely a bit confusing to figure out where to go. I wish I had been given some direction. There is seating against the wall throughout the winding halls. There is a dance floor and a couple bars. I loved the look which would definitely bring me back if I had also loved the Cocktails. The drink I ordered was way too sweet. I was underwhelmed. Most of their drinks looked on the sweeter side even the bartender mentioned. For my second I just ordered a glass of bubbly. It was also on the sweeter side but an improvement. For the prices, I really don't want to have to get up, find my way back to the bar to order my drink, then walk back to my seat avoiding the people and trying not to spill.

    Photos
    Rabbit Hole - Vaulted Substrate (Old fashioned)

    Vaulted Substrate (Old fashioned)

    Rabbit Hole - Dealer's choice cocktail - just a few descriptions and our craft cocktail bartenders will make your perfect drink.

    Dealer's choice cocktail - just a few descriptions and our craft cocktail bartenders will make your perfect drink.

    Rabbit Hole - Root interior

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    Root interior

    La Serre - Steam Mussels - highly recommended if you are mussels' fan

    La Serre

    4.5(34 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I was staying in the hotel for a work event and decided to dine at La Serra along with my…read moreco-worker. The menu is small but thoughtfully crafted. The dining room is relatively small. Upon our initial seating we were set in at a table that had us way too close to those at the next table. It was a little uncomfortable to say that we were not together. We did ask to be moved and then sat a table in the middle of the dining room which was definitely better. My dining companion and I enjoyed our meals and were both pleasantly surprised about the quality and taste from a hotel restaurant. Our server was very kind and attentive. I would certainly dine here again. However, due to the size and layout of the dining room, I personally would want to visit on a day that was lower traffic.

    Nice spot for an elegant, upscale meal! I was impressed right away with the ambiance. It is…read morebeautiful and polished without getting stuffy or unapproachable. Cocktails were good. Boozy, and balanced. Bartender went a little above and beyond helping me pick out an aperitif for dessert with an extra sample. For food, I tried: - Hamachi Crudo. Light, delicately flavored, bit of a kick! Very nice presentation. I would get this again. - Artichoke Frites. Fried with a lemon truffle dipping sauce. Good concept, could've been crispier! The heart pieces were the best, of course. - Steak Frites. This was good! Not necessarily extraordinary, but priced reasonably (for the area) as well. - Crème Brulee. Fabulous! Not tooo sweet. Location is not the most convenient for pulling La Serre into a regular rotation. They do have valet parking as an option. For anyone already staying at the hotel, this is a must try while there!

    Photos
    La Serre
    La Serre
    La Serre

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    Mani Osteria & Bar - Puttanesca Pizza ($17) - garlic cream, roasted tomato, red pepper, Calabrian chili, caper, garlic. Pretty salty.

    Mani Osteria & Bar

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown Ann Arbor
    $$

    Went here this afternoon with my family and very much enjoyed the entire experience. Staff were…read moresuper friendly, the whole place was very classy. The bread was fantastic. I felt like the portion wasn't super big for bread that was not complimentary, but it was so good. Very light and the honey butter was excellent. The soup was also nice, i liked that it was chicken meatballs. We got all 3 of the d&l chicken. They were able to do a substitution for my mom with some garlic and that was very appreciated. My one note is that i would have liked a noodle base for my chicken, it needed something for all of the very strong sauce, something to soak it up if you will. They also have an inciardi print machine which is an added bonus! Overall it is a good place to be for a nicer than average meal. Still casual enough but can be fancy too.

    Good spot and fantastic service. Has an upscale vibe and not too expensive. Good food and good…read moreportions. I had the carbonara on my first night going there and I wasn't a fan of it probably because they use tagliatelle. Didn't taste authentic like what I've had in Italy. The second night I had the pappardelle bolognese which I highly recommend. For dessert I had the cannoli - maybe I just don't like cannoli but it did look good and authentic. The tiramisu looks amazing though.

    Photos
    Mani Osteria & Bar - Dining area

    Dining area

    Mani Osteria & Bar - Arancini ($11) - tomato, basil, mozzarella, romesco

    Arancini ($11) - tomato, basil, mozzarella, romesco

    Mani Osteria & Bar - Puttanesca Pizza ($18) - Calabrian chili, oven roasted tomato, olive, red onion, parmesan

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    Puttanesca Pizza ($18) - Calabrian chili, oven roasted tomato, olive, red onion, parmesan

    Black Pearl Ann Arbor - Seafood Carbonara ($28) - Linguini, shrimp, scallops, pork guanciale, confit garlic, peas, roasted peppers, spinach, parmesan, parsley

    Black Pearl Ann Arbor

    3.8(434 reviews)
    0.9 miDowntown Ann Arbor
    $$

    Second time here and might be my new favorite spot. The food is phenomenal really gets your taste…read morebuds going. Then the service is even better amazing staff , then to top it all off the atmosphere is out of this world, amazingly designed and I design house.

    Decided to give this another try. It had been a long time. I really want to love this place since…read morethe ambience is nice. We've definitely had better service especially in Ann Arbor. The servers are not very friendly, helpful or welcoming. Service is very slow even on slow nights. No one seems to care either. Given the exceptional service at other restaurants it is a deterrent for returning. Drinks are reasonably priced and a good selection. For being scratch made they are not able to accommodate allergies well. Most things are marinated or prepped ahead. Besides Sushi or ordering plain noodles there isn't much I could order. My husband did enjoy the Burger and would order it again. I just wish there was more I could eat. For the Sushi its not anything outstanding. The flavor of the Crab Salad isn't our favorite. The Black Pearl Roll unfortunately, is not worth the pricing. $25 for a roll with mostly cucumber. It's also not very consistent in sizing. Once it was so large I could barely fit it in my mouth and the other times very small. If you plan to charge $25 for a Sushi Roll it should contain a good amount of Sushi. I can go across the street and get amazing Tuna Tartare for under $15 with plenty of Tuna.

    Photos
    Black Pearl Ann Arbor - Dining area 9pm Friday on home football nights

    Dining area 9pm Friday on home football nights

    Black Pearl Ann Arbor - Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($26) with Grilled Shrimp (+$9)

    Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($26) with Grilled Shrimp (+$9)

    Black Pearl Ann Arbor - Vegetarian Pistachio Pesto Pasta ($20) - Linguini, pistachio pesto, confit garlic, peas, roasted peppers, spinach, parmesan, parsley

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    Vegetarian Pistachio Pesto Pasta ($20) - Linguini, pistachio pesto, confit garlic, peas, roasted peppers, spinach, parmesan, parsley

    Lowertown Bar & Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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