Absolutely loved our experience at SidebarGR -- hands down the best speakeasy in Grand Rapids! From…read morethe moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, classy hideaway that feels both exclusive and inviting. What really stood out was the bartending -- not just the skill, but the passion. After hearing the bartender's take on the Old Fashioned, I let him make it his way -- and it might be one of the best I've had. Balanced, bold, and beautifully smooth. Two of my friends described what they were in the mood for, and the bartender crafted custom cocktails for each of them -- both drinks were spot on and had them raving the rest of the night. If you're in Grand Rapids and want a cocktail experience that goes beyond the ordinary, SidebarGR is a must. Expert mixology, great atmosphere, and personalized service that makes you feel like a regular -- even on your first visit.

I've known about this bar for a while but finally went for the first time recently and it wasn't…read morefull! To find the entrance, go down the stairs towards Big O's Pizza and instead of turning right, take a left and you will see Sidebar's subtle entrance. It's dim lit and quite cozy in there. Limited seating and some spots at the bar were open and we took a seat up there. We did notice to the right of the bar there is a small additional area with more seating but still not a lot. I really enjoyed the espresso martini from here. The drink was so smooth and had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend. We only stayed for one drink but I would definitely come back for another sometime. The bartenders were also really kind and having a good time with everyone in there! Really loved the atmosphere and our experience while we were there.

Ambiance: beautiful sophisticated yet warm lounge. Great seating along each side walls, lounge…read moreareas, bar and patio towards the back. There is a door to an adjoining wine bar as well. Service: we got there as they opened so we got great service. Food: only had a few cocktails and they were great!!? Love the chill vibes of this lounge. Can't Ut for the wine bar to open!!

Love this spot! With unique decor, friendly bartenders, and a wide variety of drinks it's a…read moreguaranteed good time!!

Pursuit of Happiness Co is the girl she says she is!…read more The atmosphere is modern, chic, and makes me want to hang around for hours. I was personally impressed mostly by the Spritz menu. The cherry spritz, mama I dream of it still . My only qualm is that I am a stickler for good glassware ~ I would like to see the beverages with a stem. And based on the aesthetic I know the owner could find some classic glassware. We need more places like this in GR, and I need more POH in my LIFE.

My friend and I popped in the other night to warm up for snacks and bubbles and had a lovely time!…read moreWe sat at the bar and ordered some burrata while sipping on a glass of the brut. It was fairly quiet but the staff was friendly and the vibes inside were so filled with holiday cheer! I love how they decorate the space and you can purchase little things to go and just enjoy time with your friends, whether it's for a fancy girls night or just having a chill night out. Whatever your vibe is, Pursuit of Happiness is a wonderful woman owned business that I love to support! It's kind of tucked away from the bustle of the street, but you can easily find some off street parking around the corner in a lot or find some street parking pretty easily, which is really nice. I always forget this place is here but I always enjoy it when I come back! I need to keep it in my rotation and come back more often! The vibes are just too good.

Wonderful spot to get a crafted drink or two . Rustic design with very comfortable open space to…read moreenjoy your drink. Price is $1 or 2 lower than usual for a cocktail I think. Mammoth makes good gin and rye whiskey.

Blown away. Service and Cocktails. We had a fantastic experience. Love the look of the place. Cozy,…read morewelcoming, stylish. The bartender Katelyn was great. So knowledgeable and a delight to speak with. I had the Blueberry Gin Fizz. My new favorite cocktail. I can't wait to go back. My husband had a Gin and Tonic and the tastings which he enjoyed.. Their Gin is very well made and smooth. More botanical thankfully.

General Wood Shop is such a fun spot on Bridge Street. They are LGBTQ owned and have tons of events…read moreall throughout the week, like drag shows, watch parties, dance parties, etc. I think the vibe is more "party" on weekends and evenings, but the times I've gone earlier in the day have been more my speed. Nate and I recently stopped in to try some of their new food menu and seasonal drinks. The new drink menu is Japanese themed, so we were excited since we went to Japan earlier this year. I got the alpenglow and Nate got the spicy margarita. Both were delicious and beautiful. We also got some happy hour snacks - the dijon sesame salad and the savory cream cheese wontons. Their happy hour is a great deal and I'd love to come back soon for that again. The salad was fresh and a big portion to share. The raw diced onion wasn't my favorite addition to the salad, but I did love the overall flavors. The savory cream cheese wontons were absolutely delicious - definitely very savory and crispy. I'd get these every time! The vibe inside at happy hour was pretty quiet but it can get packed as it's not a huge space. I am so glad that General Wood Shop is here and I'm looking forward to my next visit.

The General Woodshop, you will ALWAYS be famous…read more This bar is near and dear to my heart, when it first opened last year I made an effort to bring anyone with me that would come along. As a queer person, we have to protect our spaces by supporting them. The care that the staff lures into this place truly shows. The rotating menu, the affordable drink options, the ambiance and the way they truly take suggestions from their patrons. They have a new patio addition which has made the smaller spot feel larger aswell. Last fall, I came in on a whim by myself. Callie was my bartender (love), and they were deciding what to do with some Sloe Gin. Thus the "Femme Fatale" was born, there's something magical about watching a craft cocktail come together. Something even more magical about being able to NAME a cocktail at your favorite watering hole. GW is truly a beautiful addition to GR.

I love this place! It's become my regular haunt on Thursday nights. At this writing I'm 74 years…read moreold and some of the servers are young enough to be my grandchildren! However, they are always so welcoming and friendly with this old man. And they are superb conversationalists. I enjoy dry red wines and this place always has exactly what I like. I highly recommend The Grey Rabbit!

This cocktail lounge is one of my favorites in GR. Every single person who works here is so…read morefriendly and accommodating! From their espresso martinis to their wine selection, the owner has thoughtfully designed his menu to be inclusive for everyone. Even their charcuterie boards are to die for! It is an art gallery, which is super cool considering most bars you just sit and talk...this one you can walk around and look at local artists' work. There are also chess boards for those who like to play. 10/10 recommended this spot!!

This is a cool place to drop into especially if you're in town looking to kill some time at a chill…read morebar that has excellent beer options (via a wall of coolers where you can pick out what you want and then enjoy at your seat...seltzers, IPA, porters, whatever you fancy, the selection is vast from the four coolers). I also saw some pretty impressive bourbon options (Weller and maybe a Willett, too). The staff was friendly and if you come with a group or a date there's plenty of games to choose from. If I lived nearby this would be a cool spot to frequent with friends.

Five stars, awesome! This place is so cool!…read moreThis is a board game cafe with good vibes, a full bar, and a yummy food menu. Located downtown across from the downtown market, there is lots of street parking and there's also a paid parking lot a block away. If you come on the weekend be sure to make a reservation for a table because this place is bopping and is busy! Hundreds of game options and the staff can help with learning most games. They also host DnD nights and other events. I love it here!

Such a cool cocktail bar with a fun vibe! It's in the perfect location on bridge street right next…read moreto so many other good restaurants and bars. I like coming here for post dinner drinks because the cocktails are truly an experience here! The service has always been great and they're very patient whenever me or my friends ask what certain things ar ein a cocktail.

The most unique selection of cocktails I've encountered on a menu! My husband had the cornbread old…read morefashioned & loved it. I'm partial to coconut but wanted something different so I ordered the Ethiopian Colada. WOW! Such a unique blend of flavors. I felt like I was drinking a delicious sweet curry. Waitstaff was incredible on the snowy night before Thanksgiving- three different servers kept our water topped off and drinks coming. A great place to chill out while we waited for our dinner reservation across the street. So cozy- much preferable to a loud, crowded bar. This is a place to cozy up in a corner with old friends or a date and savor the cocktails. Get the chips and onion dip if you are munch!

Great ambiance, delicious food, and really good service. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly as…read morewas the potato gratins. Great overall dining experience

We've been dying to try GinGin's for ages and finally scored a 7:00 reservation for last night and…read moreit ABSOLUTELY lived up to the hype. The atmosphere is bustling, but dark and romantic. Service was top notch from start to finish. Plates were cleared between each course, we were checked on often but not too much and felt super taken care of. The tart strawberry mocktail was one of the best I've ever had, refreshing and perfectly balanced. We started with the truffle arancini- it sits on top of a bed of black pepper aioli which was to die for. The gem salad was fresh- loved the addition of crispy prosciutto&mandarins. I had the double waygu burger with fries(highly recommend asking for a side of the black pepper aioli for your fries!!) while my husband had the hanger steak frites. Both were cooked perfectly and SO flavorful. We were stuffed, but had to finish with the tiramisu. It came in a chilled glass- so appreciate the attention to detail. I'll be thinking about this meal until I can come back for more!

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

My new favorite dive bar in Grand Rapids! I went with a group and we had a blast. Not only was the…read moremusic hopping, there were music videos playing on the TVs. The drinks were very affordable and there was even popcorn. The bartenders were friendly and helpful.