No one's fault - probably- but showed up with a party of 5 guys - before tiger game. Told kitchen was down for maintenance. Liquid lunch only. Paid top $$$$ for ballpark food. Waitress was great ! read more

When I tell you, this is one of those locals dive bars that have the best food. No joke. Best poutine fries from anywhere. Bartender is awesome. Service is great. Great music and ambiance too. Would definitely recommend for a quick lunch spot! read more

When I travel, I always look up the oldest bar in town and try to visit. Well, I literally could not find the oldest one (I found out later we were right there. It was a house-front-looking building), so we visited the second oldest, and I am sure glad that we did. I went in and immediately felt like an outsider! This looked like the local pub for the surrounding area. It was not more than 2 minutes before we were invited to the bar and asked about ourselves. We felt at home within 5 minutes. We learned that we were virgins to a shot of alcohol that you must have, which was served to us, and we enjoyed talking with everyone. It turns out we were sitting next to a band member who plays at Cliff Bells (we were at the night before), and then he had played in a local jazz bar in Indianapolis, where we are from! Small world!!!! We made lots of friends and enjoyed this place so much. Glad we missed the oldest bar since we found the one we should have been at anyway! read more

See all

I will never come back to this bar again The bartender Maria or whatever name is is a horribly rude person and you can tell her that I'm not a typical 58er I'm not even out of 58 read more

This dive bar has been a local staple since 1902. The bartender is a real character and always offers great conversation. Plenty of celebrities have stopped by over the years. While it's a local favorite, you'll still feel right at home, though getting a seat at the bar might be a challenge. On a nice day, it's the perfect spot to relax in the "backyard," play some cornhole or Jenga, or just enjoy the laid-back vibe. read more

Kathy treated us to a wonderful historical tour!! Outdoor patio was a spectacular surprise. Great Union history here. read more

Nancy Whiskey - Spectacular place where Solidarity reigns!! - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

It is a true Irish bar. Nice staff. Huge selection of whiskeys. Dark dive bar. Kind of off the beaten path.

Went there for St. Patrick's Day and it was awesome. Nice venue and friendly staff. This is a well established neighbor bar that has been around for many decades, great location near other restaurants bars, and sports venues. read more

Always a good time. Cheap drinks and loud music. The ultimate dive bar. It has a dark past but it is a part of Detroit history.

We finally made it to Nancy Whiskey! I've been wanting to come here forever and St. Patty's Day was a perfect time. My friend has been here before and describes it as a classic. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the crowd was enjoying dancing to an Irish Band. We had an absolute blast. We will most certainly be back! read more

Nancy Whiskey - the back of a woman's jacket with a rose on it - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Drinks, People & especially the music were Good & Strong. Would go back Dailey if I lived here. read more

We went on a bar crawl for my friends 40th birthday and we had such a great time visiting this super old bar and learning about the history. They had a really cute outdoor area as well. read more

Nancy Whiskey - a black and white tiled floor - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This place definitely has some history to it. If you like that, this bar is for you! Hard to miss bar since it's right near a neighborhood and nothing is really around it (other bars, restaurants, etc.). It has that "old fashioned" look to the outside of the building, let aloe the inside. When we walked in there was nobody in there really other than the barkeeps. The weather was poor outside so that was expected. They carry your typical alcohol here, nothing crazy. I'm sure that if we went in on a Friday or Saturday night it would have been a lot busier. read more

Phenomenal neighborhood spot with great music and an amazing vibe. It felt like everyone knew each and they were very welcoming to the new faces. It is worth a visit if you are looking for a good night out in Detroit read more

If you're not a regular don't bother. They will ignore you. Bummer because I really wanted to like this place and was excited to go. Drinks and service was weird, it was like we were intruding, taking up the place that was for the regulars and they so did not want to help us. Went for fish on a Friday and it wasn't bad, but the hole vibe we got made us not want to return. And that sucks cuz we were paying customer and probably won't return. But they won't care. read more

Nancy Whiskey - Sitting at the bar. - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This is a Detroit neighborhood bar with a friendly atmosphere. Service was fast & prices compared to any other small "corner bar". They also have Nancy Whiskey t-shirts for sale, if you're looking for a Detroit souvenir! read more

Well, I couldn't be happier Nancy Whiskey's is back open and in full swing after a fire that had them closed and rebuilding for almost a full year! They are back to business and I couldnt be sadder that some of the greatest memorabilia in the city went up in flames, but NW is slowly regaining their old-school dive bar charm. Weekends you will find live blues (no cover), Thursday is open mic night, every night there are cheap drinks and the bartenders, staff and owners are great. Don't miss St Patty's parade day, St Patty's Day, Tiger's Home Opener and the Friday night before the parade (St Patty's practice) as they are probably the craziest and wildest times of the year. Tents are up in the back for added space. Also Nancy's is a GREAT spot for bar crawls but keep in mind its hard to find a worse neighborhood in the middle of nowhere (actually, they are across the walking bridge - I75 - from old Tiger Stadium, God Rest Her soul). The new backyard is sort of a part of the bar now, and you can go back there for fresh (ok, smoke-filled) air. Also, Nancy virgins are treated with a welcoming gift. Be sure to tell em I sent you :) read more

See all

Nancy Whiskey is a cool spot for what it is: a shot and a beer spot, sometimes they serve hot food, decent prices, and excellent outdoor area that is also dog friendly. I could see how it may come across as a "regulars only" type place but I was with a group and it was early so I didn't really get that vibe but your mileage may vary. read more

Neighborhood "hole in the wall" bar, laid back but can have a big party atmosphere on game day and locally celebrated holidays. Fish and chips are excellent. read more

Best detroit bar good bar food especially the fish fry. Always enjoy the music on Friday and Saturday I just wish their website was updated regularly read more

Atmosphere!! Cool ambiance!! We had the entire bar to ourselves!! Very nice bar and the bartender answered all my questions without hesitation!! We just had a quick drink since it was a "school night!" Ha!! So yes go if you have the chance!! read more

See all

I apologize for being this guy. It has been several years since we have visited Detroit and I wanted my first night to be in Corktown to show off my Irish roots to my wife. After an amazing venture throughout the restaurants and bars in Corktown we decided to make Nancy whiskey's our last stop. When arriving we were harassed at the main entry. When inside, the music (hip hop, pop) was at a decibel level of not even being able to give our order to the lady behind the bar. After we made our way onto the back patio to relax, the conditions were anything but relaxing. There was litter (cups, cans, etc) on every table and on the ground. The seats we found had liquid spilled on the tables & chairs. We decided to make a night half way through our drink. I understand we are coming back from The stressful times of the pandemic and trying to adjust. On that note, I remember Nancy Whiskey's being a cool place to hang out and maybe get a little rowdy from time to time, but had no idea it had become an 80's freshman frat house. This is a black eye for Corktown and the wonderful people of Detroit. read more

Fun Detroit place to go. We saw a live band and had a great time! This place never ceases to amaze me.

Nancy Whiskey was a exactly what I expected and then some. Don't think you're going to a hipster area to have a drink in an old, classic Detroit bar. This joint sits in a semi-rough lookin' neighborhood with little street lights to highlight what you may not think is a safe place to be. We rolled up and there was a gaggle of bikers out front which made us question whether we should roll out in our touristy looking garb. Nonetheless, these guys ended up being firefighters doing a charity ride for burn victims...awesome crew of guys! The bar...we walked in to be greeted by two friendly bartenders and a jammin' blues band on stage. Two drinks deep and we knew we landed in the right place at the right time...this was the first place we hit after getting off the plane. If you want a bit of history coupled with cheap drinks and a real atmosphere...definitely get your butt over to Nancy Whiskey! read more

Nancy Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

Nancy Whiskey is one of the oldest standing bars in Detroit, surviving through Prohibition when they used to smuggle alcohol across the border from Canada. A friend of mine went there for a historical Detroit bar tour and it's said to be haunted. When the bathrooms are empty, you can supposedly hear ghosts turning the water off and on, but maybe that's just the whiskey talking. Classic no frills dive bar. When you're driving up, Nancy Whiskey is located in a shady dilapidated kind of seedy looking area. But don't let that deter you, this bar is pretty cool. Inside there is a large bar to the right decorated with lots of old nick nacks, such as rifles, and lots of hats, sailor hat, helmets, etc and nostalgic photographs of the bar's history. There are tables across from the bar that seat 6-7 people each. There is also an outdoor area with picnic tables and a giant Connect Four. It's literally a fenced in backyard right in a neighborhood. They have a fully stocked bar and they make a pretty decent selection of mixed drinks for a dive bar. We ordered jack and gingers, Moscow mules, seven and sevens, sex on the beach, etc. They also had a few drinks promoted on their marketing for the MoPop fest, with various flavors of Deep Eddy Vodka. Drinks were reasonably priced, $4-$8 depending on what you order. They also had several bottled beers as well. I believe the bartender said they had close to 80 or so bottled beers to choose from. Just a shame they don't list what their bottled beer selection is anywhere. They had bottled Busch beer on special for $1. They have live entertainment on the weekend. We came on a Friday night for a friend's birthday and they had a cover band playing inside on their small stage playing covers of Van Halen, Journey, Tom Petty, etc. Great band, playing fun music and took requests. They have a jukebox when there isn't a band playing and it's free on some nights. Fun people watching here too. Came here after a concert once and a lady was dancing on top of the bar. Lots of people were dancing and having fun when the band was playing too. Seems like this is a destination on quite a few pub crawls so a few large groups came in and out. Recently came for a friend's birthday and we brought in a cake and the band and whole bar sang Happy Birthday to my friend. Definitely a cool, fun place and well worth stopping in. I'm sure it's a blast on St. Patty's Day too, albeit busy. Right on the outskirts of Corktown. I'd definitely stop in again for a late night drink, conversation, people watching, and live music. Not a bad way to spend a night. read more

Nancy Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I love dives. There's something so cozy and familiar about them. We've been here a couple times now, and it seems this place is no different. It's a little secluded from the action of Detroit, which is kind of nice, but the area isn't too sketchy so no worries. The only thing on tap is Guinness, but they've got all the typical bottles plus a handful of nicer options. Prices aren't dirt cheap, but very reasonable. The bartender was chatty and pleasant, and made us feel welcome. Not sure how strictly the $10 CC minimum is enforced, but it seems reasonable enough. I'll definitely be back. And judging by other reviews, it looks like I need to come for the fish dinner or live music next time! read more

Nancy Whiskey - Old feel - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Another dive bar that I feel a gravitational pull towards whenever I'm floating around downtown. From the phone booth where Hoffa once conducted his business to stories about bullet holes, the place that holds the 2nd oldest liquor license in the city is about all you'd expect it to be. Remodeled after a fire, it's well done inside while still staying true to the original concepts and feel. Hat tip to them for that. A good burger, cheap beer, and whiskey available. What else do ya want? read more

Probably my favorite dive in Detroit! Great bartenders, good beers for cheap, food so greasy you'll feel sick and great bands! Big Ray plays here often...bonus! Great place to hit after a game, gets packed at times but always FUN! read more

Classic dive bar tucked into Corktown adjacent neighborhood. Nancy Whiskey is the epitome of a Detroit dive bar. It's dirty, cheap and loud. When I was in I was there to see a live blues band, which I must admit was very entertaining. The bar itself was decked out in Halloween decorations, covering nearly every inch of the bar. It was actually a pretty popular place and people were just starting to dance a little bit when I left. I wouldn't recommend anyone go there on a search for a great whiskey drinking experience, but it is a good spot to grab a cheap beer and listen to some live music. Quick notes: -Check out their events page of their website to see when and who is playing there! read more

Wow. Just wow. I'm reading these reviews...and a lot's been said. So let me just respond. To those who say: "Nancy's is in a rough neighborhood." Screw you. This is my neighborhood. If you want a nice neighborhood then stay the F in Oakland county and go to the Somerset Collection. "Nancy's draws a yuppie/frat crowd." Yeah, ok. It's true. I don't get along with everyone at Nancy's. It tends to draw a pretty young, white crowd. But there are people of all ages. And I'm there half the time, and I'm awesome. I always meet other cool locals or strangers or whatnot and have a good time. This isn't Ye Olde Taproom for Christ's sake. Be cooler. Make fun of the hipsters. Befriend the friendly locals like me. "Nancy's was better before the fire." Yeah? So was Chicago. I still enjoy a good Goose Island Honker's ale every now and then. I still like Wrigley. Ugh. Things change. Nancy's still has more personality in its bathroom urinal then the entire city of Farmington Hills. "Don't order the such and such." Doy. It's a dive bar! I'm sure their mint julep isn't exquisite either. Drink beer and stiff drinks. "It's not an Irish Bar!" Ugh. Yes it is. It's in Corktown--or at least, Corktown before it was split in half by the Fisher Freeway. Nancy was Irish. There's a picture of JFK hanging above the bar. They serve Irish Whiskey. It's a mostly white crowd (not saying it's a good thing). The bands on the weekend are almost always legit Irish bands. And Jacelyn--stay the hell in Royal Oak. "Not that kind of place." Are you kidding me? I'd make fun of you too! You're not in a F'ing Cheesecake Factory. What are they supposed to do? Write $20 on the back of a business card and have Nancy kiss the front of it with a lipstick seal? I'm guessing the Marathon gas station next to my house doesn't sell gift certificates either. Nor does my mechanic or my dentist. The difference between you and I is that I would never think to assume my gas station would "make an exception" and "do me a solid." Just because you're from Royal Oak doesn't mean the world starts and stops at your F'ing convenience. Stay in Royal Oak, sweetheart. Cheers, Nancy's. And Cheryl, Jarrod, Pat, Paul, et all--thank you for joining in and "encouraging us." *post note: I'm glad people have found this post humorous or whatnot, but I have one thing to add---if anyone, ANYONE ever brings a fucking party bus to nancys, parks it outside, drinks in the middle of the street, throws their beer cans on our street (I live on spruce), never buys one (ONE!!!) single drink, and simply comes in to use the bathroom, I swear to god we won't be as nice next time. This time you only got told to get the hell out. Next time I'm slashing tires. Find another bar, because we will destroy you. That behavior is an abortion. That is some of the lamest, weakest, fucked up chokeland county shit I've ever seen. Any guesses where they were from? You got it--Royal Oak. Let that place burn. read more

Nancy Whiskey is a dive bar with plenty of regulars. They have live bands play often and in those cases expect a 2 drink minimum. I have been twice. The first time I didn't get service of a greeting from the bar for about 5 minutes, so I left. It is something about dive bars and Tiger games that leave me like an outcast. This night I came in and the bartender was attentive with getting me a drink. They took forever to cash me out and that was a turn off. I ordered the mini tacos, which were 7 mini tacos deep fried with sour cream and salsa for $3.50. They were the best part of my visit. I can tell that they have regulars because of the attention they give them. It is cool that they know their drinks and have a nice relationship. I didn't get that there and the gentleman at the bar attempted to overcharge me for the mini tacos. I think that a bartender should know the pricing of the menu or at least read it first. read more

Nancy Whiskey - Current menu - Pubs Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Once again I found myself saying "How did I not know about this place?" upon entering Nancy Whiskey's. As this was my first visit, i can't really say what the place was like before the big fire, but i can say that the decor definitely exceeded my expecations and really almost pushes it outside of the label of "dive bar". Either way, the bartender Patrick was super friendly and offerred us up a free shot of whiskey for being first time patrons which was accompanied by nice little story about Nancy Whiskey's history, oh so charming and fun. I really liked the fact that the bathrooms were clean, the bar looked well kept and the drinks were cheap! The bartender informed us that they also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and the jukebox is free before midnight on Saturday night! nice! It's in kind of a weird location, which is really the only drawback, but i guess that's what helps keep a dive bar's allure, right? I loved it and will certainly be back! read more

Very cool, casual place. Friendly people and a great hang out for a less tourist but more local feel. The, Down River, Dan was awesome! Had the whole joint jumpin....... Stephanie the waitress was super cool and very helpful. read more

Nancy Whiskey is an awesome Irish pub!!! Great atmosphere here, live music on the weekends (we went just before St. Patty's day so they had a band playing traditional Irish pub anthems, which was awesome), good drink specials, and great pub grub! : ) read more

The Nancy Whiskey is clearly a neighborhood dive bar and is being reviewed as such. This is a pretty small place that culturally lends more towards sitting rather than standing around, though people do. The crowd is a good mix, but almost all older white folks or neighborhood regulars. I brought a party bus of Ann Arbor folks here with some fear they would not like it, but everyone had a great time dancing to the live music and drinking. Speaking of drinks... they aren't dive bar cheap so don't expect that. You are kind of paying for the entertainment and everything else I guess. The bathrooms are good too. The food looks pretty good even though I have not tasted it yet. They do have a legit kitchen though and you can see the cook peeping out when he isn't making your food. If you drink too much you can saunter on down the street to Hostel Detroit for a cheap bed. read more

How many $1 cans of PBR can I drink on a Wednesday? Apparently quite a few if I'm not working the next day. My friends should feel lucky I decided to forgo the $3 Jameson shots. It's not in a great neighborhood. The week before my friends witnessed a zombie attack first hand while attending the same $1 PBR night. But hey, cheap drinks and a good group of people in attendance isn't worth complaining about. read more

Nancy Whiskey is hit or miss. I used to come here a few years back, when there was jazz music. It was excellent then. But lately? I've been several times and it's a toss up as to whether it'll be a bunch of sweaty hipsters in tanks or pseudo-hipsters in newsies, or whether it will be an almost frat crowd. There is sometimes a cover but it's easy to just walk past the door people. The bartending is really hit or miss; there is a guy there during the week who is pretty good and really nice, but then there's a woman there on the weekends who acts super frazzled as she pours drafts and navigates the register. Don't EVER get a whiskey sour here. It tastes like straight Sunny D. In general, I would say that Nancy is the kind of place where you should already be in a good mood when you arrive. If you're even neutral, it might be better to just get a sixpack and watch a movie at home. read more

It's a dive bar in a sketchy part of Detroit with frequent live bands. You're either going to love it or hate it. It's not very large inside and can get pretty jammed on nights with good music - so get there early or be prepared to stand. My last visit there we sat with 2 random people who were interesting and fun to talk to, they left after the first set and 2 guys took their spot - and again - we all hit it off and had a great time bs'ing. That's pretty much my experience every time I come here - friendly people out having fun. And did I mention a diverse crowd? Young / old / black / white / fancy / not so fancy... This is a real slice of Detroit in here. The band is right in your face and the tiny dance floor means close contact to fellow dancers and the band. Drinks are reasonably priced - it has working bathrooms that aren't too gross - what more could you ask for? read more

This place is really a 2/5 now, but they were so good before the fire - out of respect I'll give them a 3/5. Also - there is nothing "Irish" about this bar, so please stop with calling it an Irish Pub. Just because I can order a Guinness doesn't make it an Irish Pub. The best thing this place has going for it is the off the beaten path location in what is essentially an old house in a Corktown neighborhood a few blocks off of Trumbull. I have seen some really good bands here before the fire, but I've only been back twice since they reopened so I don't know if they still have that going for them. It's unfortunate, but all of the character of this place burned up in the fire, and all that's left is the shell of what it used to be. If you never had a chance to check them out before the fire, do yourself a favor and check out The Ivanhoe (AKA - The Polish Yacht Club) on the east side for a similar experience. read more

I got really drunk here one time about eight or nine years ago. Then I went off to see a show across town at the Majestic. Then I came back to Nancy and proceeded to get exceptionally drunk until way past the time that anyone has any business being out drinking. It was a fun night. The multi-day hangover that followed was not so fun, though. Great little old-school neighborhood dive bar in a cool little old-school neighborhood. Definitely worth stopping in and becoming well acquainted with Tullamore Dew, if you are ever in the area. read more