Who says bars are verboten for your little ones? Nowadays, many fine watering holes are perfectly civilized enough to for the kiddos. Here are a few of our favorites throughout Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
Arbor Brewing Company
- Address: 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
- Phone: 734-213-1393
Try the pierogi for an appetizer, or the delicious drunken chicken marinated in the brewery's own IPA (which would be a great choice of beverage, too). You can't beat the downtown location for its closeness to family-friendly attractions like the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum or the UMS Family Concert Series at Rackham Auditorium.
Bucharest Grill
- Address: 2040 Park Ave., Detroit
- Phone: 313-965-3111
Tucked inside the Park Bar, this hipster hangout has the best shawarma in the D – plus super sausages for those non-ethnic eaters.
Detroit Beer Company
- Address: 1529 Broadway St., Detroit
- Phone: 313-962-1529
In the shadow of Comerica Park and Ford Field, mom and dad can kick back with a cold adult beverage while the kids color or watch sports on the big TVs. Good, hearty pub food.
The Emory
- Address: 22700 Woodward Ave., Ferndale
- Phone: 248-546-8202
Owned by the same folks as the next-door Woodward Avenue Brewers or WAB, also a great spot, with a menu leaning more toward burgers and hearty sandwiches. Swing by for $5 burger Tuesdays and one of the best jukeboxes around for post-hip parents.
Sherwood Brewing Company
- Address: 45689 Hayes Road, Shelby Township
- Phone: 586-532-9669
Don't let this strip mall bar fool you. It serves handcrafted beer, wine and sodas – all made on-site. Plus, you can fill up on a nice array of burgers, sandwiches and pizza, too.
Woodbridge Pub
- Address: 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit
- Phone: 313-833-2701
Fresh, local, innovative food in one of Detroit's most charming revitalized neighborhoods – and families from the neighborhood often can be found socializing here. Check out the community garden across the street that supplies a lot of the restaurant's produce.