Ann Arbor bars and restaurants serve up drinks for takeout. Here is where!
With fewer in-person dining options available and the ever-present risk of COVID-19 in public spaces, it’s never been more appealing to drink adult beverages at home. Luckily, a recent change to Michigan’s liquor control laws now allows those staying in to enjoy the offerings of local establishments at home. Starting this past July, bars and restaurants can sell sealed cocktails and mixed drinks to go. Previously, only sealed bottles of beer or wine were available for takeout.
This new law not only provides convenience for consumers, it also offers a new source of revenue for bars that formerly had no potential, or menu items, for takeout options. One of these, the Bar at Braun Court, pivoted to selling its cocktails to go and also recently added neapolitan pizza and in-house desserts.
“If there’s one thing that we’ve discovered during this, it’s that we could actually have some form of to-go business, which is something that we never did before,” said Eric Farrell, owner of the Bar at Braun Court. “That part of our business didn’t exist but now with cocktails and pizza, it’s very much a viable revenue stream for the future.” After months of reduced business, bars and restaurants continue to look ahead towards uncertainty. Many are making the most of this new opportunity to offer takeout cocktails.
For takeout alcoholic drinks, most local establishments provide ordering online via a variety of platforms, including Aloha, DoorDash, Square, Toast or, when in doubt, simply by phone. Cocktails are typically served in sealed glass or plastic bottles, some in cans or sealed plastic bags (ahem, Good Time Charley’s). Contact locations directly for the most up-to-date offerings and any COVID-19-related changes.
Do you have a favorite place that didn’t make it on the list? Let us know. Send an email with your tip to annarboreditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com.
Babs’ Underground
A lounge tucked onto Ashley St., Babs’ offers unique creations like The Wonder Years, a mix of vodka, gran classico, vanilla orange cordial, lemon and absinthe. Or try several options with the variety pack for $31.
13 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor. 734-997-0800. babsannarbor.com. | Hours: 7 pm-2 am Tuesday-Saturday and 9 pm-2 am Sunday
A daily rotating tap of cocktails offers nine varieties to go, as well as two frozen drink options. Beverages are packaged in branded “howlers,” which are 32 oz. jugs, half the size of a beer growler.
327 Braun Ct, Ann Arbor. 734- 219-3768. 327brauncourt.square.site. I Hours: 4-11 pm Wednesday-Saturday
Blue LLama Jazz Club offers a small number of cocktails for delivery or pickup, such as the Electric Wizard, a drink made with blue butterfly flower infused gin, maraschino liqueur, sugar, and citric acid.
314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200. bluellamaclub.com. I Hours (Delivery & Carryout): 5-10 pm Monday- Thursday, 3-11 pm Friday-Saturday, and 3-9 pm Sunday
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery and Mash
Classic cocktails from Mash (the speakeasy underneath Blue Tractor BBQ) are available for takeout or delivery through the BBQ restaurant, including Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and the signature Smoke & Oak, which is a bourbon drink with house-smoked honey, black walnut bitters, and orange peel.
207 E Washington St, Ann Arbor. 734-222-4095. bluetractor.net. I Hours: 4-10 pm Monday-Friday, 12-10 pm Saturday-Sunday
Both spots offer cocktail kits for takeout. Zola Bistro’s to-go menu includes bellini and mimosa packages. Cafe Zola’s includes an expanded menu of cocktails to go, such as Bloody Mary and Manhattan cocktail kits, or the unique Sleeping Beauty, a prosecco with crème de violette and fresh lemon drink.
Cafe Zola. 112 W. Washington, Ann Arbor. 734-769-2020. cafezola.com. I Hours: 11 am–9 pm, Monday-Friday; 10 am–9 pm, Saturday-Sunday
Zola Bistro. 3030 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor. 734-477-8088. bistrozola.com. I Hours: 10 am-9 pm, Monday-Friday; 9 am–9 pm, Saturday-Sunday
Detroit Street Filling Station
This vegan hotspot offers a rotating list of made-to-order cocktails in a bottle, each of which contains about two drinks and it’s recommended that they be poured over a full glass of ice.
300 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor. 734-224-8262. thelunchrooma2.com I Hours: 11 am- 9 pm Monday-Saturday, 12-8 pm Sunday
Dominick’s
Across from the law quad, Dominick’s is a longtime favorite for its sangria, and now you can enjoy red, white, or both at home. Call to pick up a pitcher to take to your place.
812 Monroe St,. Ann Arbor. 734-834-5021. casa-dominicks.business.site. I Hours: call in orders 12-5 pm, pick-up hours are flexible and by appointment
Ann Arbor’s Cuban street food favorite, Frita Batidos, added six cocktails to it’s pick-up menu, including Pisco Hibiscus Lemonade, pisco with housemade hibiscus syrup and fresh squeezed lemonade.
117 W Washington St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-2882. fritabatidos.square.site I Hours: Pickup 11 am-11 pm, daily
Good Time Charley’s
Miss the Fish Bowls at Good Time Charley’s? Now you can have a nostalgic moment at home by ordering one of their many offerings to go, including adult Capri Suns.
1140 S University Ave, Ann Arbor. 734-668-8411. charleysannarbor.com I Hours: 3-11 pm Monday-Thursday; 3 pm-12 am Friday-Saturday; carryout only Sunday
Grange sells its signature cocktails in glass jars, including the GGGinger, Tea Thyme, and John Daly in two or four serving sizes.
118 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-995-2107. grangekitchenandbar.com. I Hours: 5-9 pm Wednesday-Saturday for pick-up
Isalita Cantina Mexicana
Isalita’s four margarita flavors are now available as 32 oz pitchers to go including Classic, Prickly Pear, Mango Haberno, and El Superior.
341B E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-213-7400. isalita.com. I Dinner Hours: 4-9 pm Tuesday–Thursday, 4-11 pm Friday–Saturday, 4-8 pm Sunday. Lunch Hours: 12-4 pm Saturday-Sunday
With “The Last Word”-branded packaging, cocktails arrive in mini can four-packs or glass bottles. A popular option, “You’re My Boy, Blue” features bourbon, St. Germain elderflower, fresh lemon, and muddled blueberries.
102 S. 1st St, Ann Arbor. 734-623-1443. thelastwordbar.com. I Hours: Pickup 4-8 pm Thursday-Sunday from LIVE (front window on 102 S. First St)
Mani sells cocktail kits of sangria, which come ready to drink and serve five people.
341 E. Liberty St, Ann Arbor. 734-769-6700. maniosteria.com. I Lunch Hours: 12–4 pm Tuesday–Sunday. Dinner Hours: 4–10 pm Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 pm Friday-Saturday, 4-9 pm Sunday
Nightcap
Photo courtesy of Instagram @nightcapa2
With “Nightcap” branded bottles and cans, this bar offers many of its most popular cocktails to go including Paper Plane, a drink of bourbon, aperol, amaro nonino, and lemon juice.
220 S. Main St, Ann Arbor. 734-369-6070. nightcapbara2.com. I Hours: Pickup available 4-8 pm Thursday-Sunday at LIVE (front window at 102 S. First St).
Pacific Rim added several signature tiki drinks to its to-go menu including the “Scorpion,” a tiki sangria with rum, gin, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
114 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor. 734-662-9303. pacificrimbykana.com. I Hours: 5:30-9:30 pm Monday-Thursday, 5:30-10:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 5-9 pm Sunday
Tios Mexican Cafe
Enjoy a margarita alongside your meal from Tios, which sells drinks in glass mason jars. The selection includes margaritas, sangria, or request any mixed drink to-go from Tio’s stocked bar.401 E. Liberty St #2, Ann Arbor. 734-761-6650. tiosa2.com. I Hours: 11 am-10 pm Monday-Thursday, 11 am-12 am Friday-Saturday
