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The Motor Bar

3.3 (25 reviews)
ModerateBars
Open 12:30 pm - 1:30 am (Next day)

The Motor Bar Photos

THE MOTOR BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - The Motor Bar

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Historic building all lit up.
Nycole K.

Good spot if you are staying at the Westin Book Cadillac and looking for a place to hang out and grab a small bite and cold beverage before heading back to your room to prepare for a night out. It's basically in the lobby of the Westin, but it's definitely an above average "lobby", even as far as world class hotels go. Beautifully refurbished grand ballroom style space with big tall windows, velvet curtains and big cushy chairs. Great spot to chill and watch the world go by. They have several local craft brews on tap and a full bar. The hummus appetizer was so-so, and being Detroit I expected better, but since that's all we ate I can't let that weigh too heavily into my rating. The service was good and the atmosphere relaxing. Not too shabby for a hotel lobby bar!

The entrance to the Westin Book Cadillac
Tiffany D.

The Motor Bar is located on the second floor of the newly restored Westin Book Cadillac hotel. The space itself is beautiful and rich looking. It is decorated with dark woods and light neutrals with splashes of colors everywhere. There is a variety of seating available in the bar area, and I expect this place to rival The Corner bar in the Townsend in Birmingham. The drinks when I visited were well poured. My friend commented that they could've used a larger range of cocktails, but I imagine that is something that will probably happen as the place gets its legs. Right now it's the perfect spot to meet for a drink and realize that Detroit might just be in the middle of that big Renaissance we hear so much about.

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Small selection of food, average flavor, nothing exceptional. Pretty pricey for drinks and food. Staff friendly but not attentive.

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15 years ago

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13 years ago

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18 years ago

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15 years ago

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7 years ago

What a great place for a pre dinner cocktail! Dominique was such a sweet and nice server! She made our experience wonderful!

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15 years ago

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17 years ago

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6 years ago

Take a step back in time. Great place for a late night snack or drink. Friendly staff too!

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15 years ago

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Review Highlights - The Motor Bar

Absolutely adore sitting on the plush couches enjoying coffee and dessert or apps and cocktails.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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The Skip - Fun drink mugs and glasses

The Skip

4.2(240 reviews)
0.2 miDowntown Detroit
$$

If you're looking for pure vibes in downtown Detroit, The Skip is the move…read more This spot is such a fun escape -- colorful, open-air, and full of energy. The music hits, the crowd is always lively, and it just feels like summer no matter what time of year it is. Whether you're stopping by before hitting another spot or making it your main destination for the night, The Skip always delivers. Now let's talk drinks -- because they do not play around. The Long Islands are ON POINT. Strong, smooth, and perfectly balanced. Not watered down, not overly sweet -- just right. You definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth, and they're dangerously easy to sip. I love the overall vibe here. It's social, upbeat, and perfect for hanging with friends. If you want good music, great drinks, and a guaranteed good time, The Skip should absolutely be on your list. This is one of those places you go once... and then it becomes part of your regular rotation.

I love the Skip for its extraordinary efforts in decorating for every season. From tiki to…read moreHalloween, they do it right. Currently, it's the Black Lagoon through Halloween. We made reservations in a weekend but it wasn't necessary at 5. What I didn't know what this theme is a pop up much like Miracle Bar around Christmas. The mugs are not really made for The Skip and can be found online for less. Most importantly is the drinks are not good. They're not spirit forward, they're full of mixers. Such a bummer because they do make good cocktails occasionally. We were one and done this evening due to the bad drinks and loads of people who brought their kids to this bar. The decor is great. Service is attentive and friendly. Not in a rush to return.

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The Skip - Black lagoon

Black lagoon

The Skip - Black lagoon

Black lagoon

The Skip - Atmosphere

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Atmosphere

Standby - Big Eye Tuna

Standby

4.4(712 reviews)
0.3 miDowntown Detroit
$$

If you're looking for a spot that truly elevates the downtown Detroit experience, Standby…read moreabsolutely lives up to the hype. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere pulls you in. It's sleek, intimate, and effortlessly cool without feeling pretentious. The lighting, the music, the overall aesthetic -- everything feels intentional. It's the kind of place that works just as well for date night as it does for a night out with friends. Now let's talk about the drinks -- because that's where Standby really shines. The cocktails are creative, beautifully presented, and perfectly balanced. You can tell there's serious thought behind every ingredient. Whether you're into something bold and spirit-forward or smooth and refreshing, they nail it. The food matches the energy of the bar. Every dish feels curated, flavorful, and plated with care. It's not just "bar food" -- it's thoughtfully crafted and pairs perfectly with whatever you're sipping. Service has always been attentive and knowledgeable. The staff knows the menu inside and out and makes great recommendations without making you feel rushed. Standby is one of those places that feels like a hidden gem even though everyone knows about it. If you want craft cocktails, elevated bites, and a true downtown Detroit vibe, this is your spot. I'll definitely be back.

I hadn't been home in three years, and I probably hadn't been to The Standby in five or six years…read more. and let me tell you, it's still just as amazing as I remember. Downtown Detroit definitely feels different now, and the crowd has shifted a bit, but none of that took away from what The Standby is. That alleyway magic is still there. Walking in honestly felt like a little blast from the past, and it made me really happy. It ended up being a highlight of my trip home. The food was phenomenal. The crab was so buttery, the waffle situation was amazing, and the overall execution across the menu was impressive. We ordered a lot, basically half the menu and everything hit. * Short rib plate: delicious, rich, and comforting * Chicken schnitzel with curry mustard: WOW. Juicy, crunchy, fresh, perfectly seasoned. The curry mustard was everything, and that little pepper on top? 10/10. This was hands down my favorite dish. * Drinks: They had brand ambassadors for Wild Turkey, giving out free Old Fashioneds, which was honestly the perfect touch. We also had a small ounce pour of a mezcal that was beautifully smoked, super aromatic and smoky in the best way. Service was great too, we had two different servers, and both were attentive and kind. The only miss for me personally was the pastrami salmon toast. I wanted to love it so badly because I love salmon and I love smoked fish, but it just wasn't for me. I actually sent it back (which I felt bad about). I think the slight sweetness, (possibly from the tomato jam)threw it off for my palate. I was craving something fully savory with a bit of acidity. I think a thicker, crunchier toast and a more umami-forward, citrusy or pickled element might have taken it where it needed to go. That said, I know pastrami-style salmon is a thing right now, it just didn't work for me. Everything else? Truly amazing. The Standby will forever be a place I come back to when I'm home. I'm excited to return, see what's new on the menu, and relive that magic again. Highly recommend. 10 out of 10. Will absolutely be back.

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Standby - Seating area

Seating area

Standby - Smashed Cucumber Salad

Smashed Cucumber Salad

Standby - Coconut Shrimp

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Coconut Shrimp

The Trolley Room

The Trolley Room

4.2(17 reviews)
0.0 miDowntown Detroit

Breakfasts with servers Eric and Danai were delightful. On early week days only one of them is…read morescheduled to do it all. Serve, bus, deliver food to the table, manage the cocktail bar. The management team needs to add an assistant to help them out on those days! The chef and cooks provided us with delicious meals each morning. Prices were reasonable for the times. $50 for two prior to gratuity. I would have given a 5 star rating if the number if the servers had a helper.

Dinner menu looked good, but the kitchen was long closed when we arrived after the Tigers game…read more(11:30). Came here for breakfast and there was only one person working the tables( serving/ cleaning, etc.). Subsequently, our breakfast took a lot longer than we had hoped for. My husband ordered the sourdough French toast which had fresh fruit and was delicious ($15). I ordered the Trolley Express: 2 eggs with home fries (yum), my choice of turkey sausage and delicious sourdough toast )$25). No regular milk was available and I didn't want soy, almond and whatever the third one was, so I got green tea. It was fabulous, a blend of jasmine and green tea leaves. We ordered it online after, can't wait. Several prints ( blown up postcards) of the trolleys of Detroit; very cool and hence the name. Our stay included 2 complimentary breakfasts ($15 pp) and two drinks; not sure if this is standard. Hoping whomever most likely called out comes in to help this overworked employee.

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The Trolley Room
The Trolley Room
The Trolley Room

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Bad Luck Bar - Back bar.

Bad Luck Bar

4.2(229 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Detroit
$$$

Hannah was such a sweet girl. So knowledgeable of the menu and also on bourbons in general. Let her…read moremake you a drink of her choice! We had 3 drinks from the menu. All were really good. It's a very small space. Back alley entrance! lol, you are going the right way down the freaky alley!

I have been here several times over the last, almost, decade since they opened and have always had…read morea good time. The cocktails can be quite pricey, but are always very good. Sometimes with unique ingredients. I always tend to gravitate to a more zippy fruit cocktail and those have often come with pop rocks, which is super fun. My significant other, during our last visit, got a smoked cocktail which was a fun experience and my sister received a miniature plate of cheese, pickles with hers. There was only a single pickle and a teeny bit of cheese, but it was kind of funny. (For the price, you would think you would get more or they would offer it as an option) The ambiance in there is always moody and romantic in a way. It can be a smidge hard to see the menus depending on where you sit. The place is quite small, we have sat along the back and at the bar, both are nice locations with different vibes. The service is always good, sometimes you have a very talkative bartender and other times they don't say a word, but I'm sure they are all very knowledgeable. It's a bit of a hidden gem, some people that I talk to still don't know it's secretly waiting for them in a mildly sketchy downtown city alley. Part of its appeal!

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Bad Luck Bar
Bad Luck Bar - The Alchemist

The Alchemist

Bad Luck Bar

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Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge - Xiuxos

Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge

4.1(74 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Detroit

Amazing spot for a drink and not a bad spot for some great finger foods…read more It's a really cool vibe with a great cocktail menu. Since the cocktail menu had Yellow Chartreuse, I asked the server to have the bartender mix up a good cola up with yellow chartreuse since it's my favorite. The cocktail was pretty good so we ordered some crab croquettes and they were pretty good. It was a small appetizer but the flavor was amazing.

Leave or to my daughter to find the most off the beaten path restaurant to celebrate her birthday…read more She is obsessed with rooftop views hence how we ended up here. I took one look at the menu and cocktail list, and determed that we would be going somewhere else to eat afterwards, thinking, "this won't be a long visit at all." But oh was I pleasantly surprised. First round of cocktails set the tone and gave us the courage to go ahead and try some of the plates. We decided on the shrimp, pork belly and gorgonzola cheese ones. Absolutely delicious. So then we decided on round two of cocktails the plate of chips, avocado toast and another round of pork belly! Again, divine. Although I will admit, everything got dipped into the pork belly sauce. Was tempted to do a round three to try the highly recommended lobster rolls but decided to save something for the next visit because there will be one. They executed all the small plates exceptionally well. And the cocktails were top quality! Only complaint was the seats are very low to the ground. I'm short and my legs were aching. I can only imagine how uncomfortable those with normal legs feel after dining. BTW my daughter and her friends had a wonderful birthday celebration but ended up leaving us adults there because we were having such a good time!

Photos
Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge - First floor lobby bar at The Book Hotel is just gorgeous.

First floor lobby bar at The Book Hotel is just gorgeous.

Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge - Pan con tomate

Pan con tomate

Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge - The Encanto with mahon gin, coconut, celery bitters, indian tonic

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The Encanto with mahon gin, coconut, celery bitters, indian tonic

The Motor Bar - bars - Updated May 2026

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