(Credit: Romaine Blanquart/Detroit Free Press)
After a 10 months of winter, Detroiters are just about insane
(for a lil sun). Bask in the rays or hang under the stars during the summer
months at these hot joints. Many of the area’s bars and restaurants have great
decks and patios to relax with a cocktail; these are just a handful to warm you
up.
Como’s
Restaurant and Pizzeria
For nearly 50 years Como’s
has been serving up pizza, authentic Italian dishes and thirst-quenching
drinks, securing it’s spot as a Ferndale
staple. If not for the pizza, what’s one of the biggest draws? The outdoor
patio of course. Located on the south end of the building, and enclosed by a
large wooden fence and sun-shielding umbrellas, Como’s patio is a hot bed of activity during
most evenings, especially during the weekend.
The restaurant is split into
three distinct areas – the far north side of the building houses the bar, the
middle is the dinging room, and then you have the outside dinging pation. You
can grab a sit in the outdoor space on a sunny afternoon and eat lunch or
dinner, or you can stop in on a Saturday night (with a group of friends) and
have a few cocktails. If there’s a bit of a chill in the air, have no fear. The
Como’s patio
has heat lamps to keep patrons warm during colder weather.
24 Seconds
Opened in 2005, 24 Seconds is the newest sports bar to set
up shop in Berkley.
You can stop in to watch the “big game,” grab a bite to eat, order a ice cold
glass of beer, or take a seat on the rooftop deck and enjoy the weather. With more than 20 high-definition televisions, and two 10 ft. big-screen TVs, you’re sure
to have a “front row seat” for your favorite game.
The food at 24 Seconds is a step above the
typical bar food you’d find at most other sports bars. And when a Detroit sports team is
playing, you’ll find a myriad of drink specials to quench your thirst. During
Piston games, Budweiser, Bud Light and Bud Select bottles are $2.50; when the
Red Wings or Tiger’s are playing, you can get Labatt Blue and Labatt Blur Light
for $2.50; and when the Lions are tearing up the field, you can get Miller
Light, MGD and Coors Light bottles for $2.50.
The Bosco
If you’re looking for a trendy, sleek and sophisticated bar,
look alkong Woodward for the joint with the frosted glass. Behind it, you’ll
find The Bosco, a cozy bar with a cool vibe nestled in Ferndale. The Bosco’s outdoor courtyard is
the big draw in the warmer months.
During cooler weather, the patio is equipped
with heaters so you can still enjoy the fresh air. The outdoor atmosphere is earthy and relaxing
with a wooden deck, honey locust trees and a waterfall. The inside is just as
calm with low seating and a bar made of steel and wood.
Woodward Avenue
Brewery
For more than11 years the Woodward Avenue Brewery, or WAB as
most patrons affectionately refer to it as, has been providing a laid-backatmosphere, yummy food and microbrewed beers. The restaurant and bar has two
floors – the upstairs features large, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows that
overlook Woodward, while the downstairs is generally open only during the
warmer months or special occasions.
During the spring and summer, the large
“garage style” doors are opened and diners can sit outside and people watch
along Woodward. The WAB serves up delicious sandwiches (most using locally
grown, fresh ingredients), burritos, quesadillas and mammoth salads served in
large wooden bowls. Be sure to stop in Monday nights for ½ off food.
Royal Oak
Brewery
As the name implies, the Royal Oak Brewery is located just
of the “beaten path” in Royal Oak,
and has been serving up tasty morsels and 6-7 different microbrewed beers on
tap at any one time, for just about 13 years. With beer staples like Fourth
Street Wheat, Pappy’s Porch Sipping Porter, Brewhouse ESB, Northern Light,
Royal Pride IPA and Royal Oak Red, they also serve up various seasonal beers
every 1 to 2 months.
Just past the expansive, open main dining room is a little
oasis under the sun – the Royal Oak Brewery’s Biergarten Patio, a great place
to enjoy a beer. Surrounded by a high wooden fence, patrons on the patio can
enjoy a great amount of privacy, as well as utilizing the dedicated second
outdoor bar. The outside seats about 60 people, and it open in warmer months,
weather permitting.
The Old Miami
Located on the infamous Cass Corridor, The
Old Miami bar is a legendary hangout for scenesters, rock ‘n’ rollers and vets.
Indeed, the interior is decorated largely with military paraphernalia, creating
a unique drinking environment that can be intimidating to newcomers. Fear not
though; the clientele are welcoming and the staff are equally as friendly.
It’s the large garden area at the back of
the bar that is one of Detroit’s
best-kept secrets though. An area of rare tranquillity in this region, the Koi
pond is stunning and there are benches spread out amongst the garden ornaments. They host outdoor events all through the
summer months so make sure and cool off down there on a balmy Detroit day.
Ye Olde Tap Room
Sat on the border of Grosse Pointe and Detroit, Ye Olde Tap Room,
with it’s startling selection of beers and bizarre cheese menu, has been a
favorite among Detroiters for years. The floor is generally covered in a thick
layer of peanut shells and the toilets are situated in such a way that the
people at the bar can practically see you handle your business. But the serving staff are
warm and the music is always good, for those that like their rock ‘n’ roll.
Out back, the beer garden provides an area
where punters can enjoy the Tap Room’s hospitality without feeling
claustrophobic within the dark interior. It’s not the biggest outside area in
the city, but an exotic beer on a hot day in the Tap Room’s garden is a very
pleasurable experience.
