Inside: McShane's Irish Pub & Whiskey Bar in Detroit

(Credit: Ese Esan/Metromix)

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Status: Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor were both options for Bob Roberts, Sean McShane and Ryan McShane, but when it came time to chose a location for their bar, Detroit beat out the rest.

“We just love Detroit,” says Sean who opened McShane’s Irish Pub and Whiskey Bar with Roberts, who lives in Ypsi, and his brother Ryan, who lives in Ann Arbor. Sean, however, moved from Ypsi to Detroit when the trio purchased the property formerly known as Hoot’s on the Avenue. “Someone’s got to close,” he jokes.  

The group took over Hoot’s in a management position in January before taking full reign of the property in May. A glossy coat of bright red paint applied last month helped announce the bar’s presence in Corktown.

“It was a diamond in the rough,” says Sean. “It was nice to begin with, but we just wanted to put our touch on it. We’re still working on it. We have a long way to go, but every week, we put a little more of our touch into it with the food and the atmosphere.”

Gear: There’s no dress code, but you’re bound to see sports apparel paired with jeans and other casual clothes thanks to McShane’s proximity to Comerica Park and Ford Field.

Mood: The Corktown Irish bar can hold 177 people in the split-level space and 100 people outside on the patio. Inside, a well-worn tile floor under a dropped ceiling in the front-room whiskey bar reflect the amount the traffic that passed through the space over the years. The upper level has plenty of seating, a second bar and a wall of windows overlooking Michigan Avenue.

People from businesses in the Corktown area help fill McShane's, but a flyer campaign that's underway should help diversify the crowd.

Pick me up: McShane’s boasts a new draft system and about 20 drafts – 14 of which are Michigan-made. Beers average between $3 and $7 while drinks from the whiskey bar range anywhere from $4 from a low-end whiskey to $40 for something more high end. Homemade Sangria is available everyday. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily, and a late night happy hour runs Sunday through Thursday and includes half off drinks from 11 p.m.-2 a.m.

The Irish-American menu has everything you’d expect at a bar including wings, cheese fries, chicken strips and onion rings. You’ll also find Irish staples like shepherd’s pie and Reubens, but if you’re looking for something a little different, Sean recommends the Irish egg rolls (wontons stuffed with braised cabbage, potato, scallion and corned beer with baby Swiss cheese served with blarney stone ground mustard -- $6.99), the Hammer of the Gods (smoked Dearborn pit ham smothered with gouda on baked challah bread toped with sweet Vidalia onion vinaigrette - $6.99-$8.99) or the Bobby McShane’s Brisket Melt (corned beef brisket with caramelized onions, pickles, provolone with mustard horseradish on a hoagie roll -- $6.99-$8.99)

Entertainment: In addition to about a dozen televisions, two pool tables, a juke box and a dart board, McShane’s offers trivia Monday, live entertainment Thursday through Saturday and karaoke Sunday.

There is also a free shuttle to and from home games for customers.

"Come in, try us out," Sean says. "We’re getting better every week."