Mutiny Bar opened in Southwest Detroit in November 2017 by Dave Kwiatkowski's Detroit Optimist Society bar group. The bar's vintage wood paneling is in place, topped with some added bamboo and thatch touches. The decor includes fish nets with colored Christmas lights on the ceiling, tiki and nautical pieces hung on the walls, and a selection of framed vintage menus from the area's mid-century Polynesian restaurants. The team of bartenders has been playing with tiki drinks in the Detroit area for years, and the menu is mainly focused on their own tiki-inspired creations.
Its a little out of the way from Detroit downtown in Mexican town. The area is a little sketchy but its safe if you are smart and dont wander around drunk.
The name, drinks and decor are good. Its worth a visit if you are in the Detroit area. The vibe is muddied by the music and crowd. Since El Club is a popular music venue a few blocks away, I feel that the bar tries to cater to those leaking from the shows. The menu is all tiki drinks. The selection on the menu does try to appeal to the uninitiated but there are plenty of choices for experienced tiki fans.
Leo, Devin, and Jane have put together a great tiki bar. The decor is great - a wall of classic tiki bar menus framed, lots of glittering lights & upside down umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, plus an impressive hammerhead shark. They’ve worked hard to add so many wonderful touches of tiki decor - lots of tikis, a sailing ship in the window, great custom sliding cases holding more alcohol than first meets the eye, and the patrons were very friendly. It could use a little more curb appeal so you don’t pass it by, and while they don’t serve any food or bar snacks, they let you bring in whatever food you want. They have several unique drinks but make sure you get their very own House Shot (Banana Bread) which is served with a show of sparks and takes unbelievably great!
Its a little out of the way from Detroit downtown in Mexican town. The area is a little sketchy but its safe if you are smart and dont wander around drunk.
The name, drinks and decor are good. Its worth a visit if you are in the Detroit area. The vibe is muddied by the music and crowd. Since El Club is a popular music venue a few blocks away, I feel that the bar tries to cater to those leaking from the shows. The menu is all tiki drinks. The selection on the menu does try to appeal to the uninitiated but there are plenty of choices for experienced tiki fans.
Leo, Devin, and Jane have put together a great tiki bar. The decor is great - a wall of classic tiki bar menus framed, lots of glittering lights & upside down umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, plus an impressive hammerhead shark. They’ve worked hard to add so many wonderful touches of tiki decor - lots of tikis, a sailing ship in the window, great custom sliding cases holding more alcohol than first meets the eye, and the patrons were very friendly. It could use a little more curb appeal so you don’t pass it by, and while they don’t serve any food or bar snacks, they let you bring in whatever food you want. They have several unique drinks but make sure you get their very own House Shot (Banana Bread) which is served with a show of sparks and takes unbelievably great!
Only visited once and there was a wall jukebox playing hip-hop. Despite paying to try and play relevant songs, we finally gave up and left. Who wants hip-hop music at a tiki bar?
Top 40 tropical themed bar. Not a true tiki bar. As a passionate tiki lover, its sad to see people jump on the bandwagon. Just because you serve "tiki" style drinks doesnt make you a tiki bar. Didnt feel there was any care put into research ir history.
I was really happy to walk in here and exotica music was playing, then some surf music — then Whitney Houston, some 80’s pop and then hip hop. Killed the whole vibe but still fun place with some great friendly bartenders.
Very Tiki… Great drink selection and considerate decor.I was there on karaoke Night so I can’t comment on the music.looking forward to a return trip ASAP.
I need to defend myself with rating Mutiny so low. It was recommended by a friend as a great tiki bar to check out. When I went there were two initial impressions I had: three deep at the bar and smoke everywhere. Staffing was a hilarious three people on a Saturday night and the smoke came from lighting everything they had on fire (rosemary, cinnamon, etc) for the garnish. The drinks were more cocktail bar than tiki bar, I only remember one drink having rum in it. Overall I was disappointed and hope they keep refining the concept, look at the drink menu, and increase staffing.
Nice little bar in Mexicantown in Detroit. Staff was great, and the drink selection, though limited, was inventive and delicious. The bar area was inviting and had a good Tiki vibe, but the rest of the place felt a little too like a Bar-In-A Box. There's more to it than hanging a couple of fish nets and banging up a few un-level pictures. They need to break up the space a bit and create some more intimate spaces. The cool Latino music was enjoyable and befitting the area, but definitely not Tiki. Overall: Good, but not Great.
I heard the owners described it as a "dive tiki bar" and I think that's an apt description. The decor is inviting and tiki, but it's more in keeping with a neighborhood bar. Comfortable, well kept, good crowd for a Thursday night.
The drinks recipes are well-developed. Everyone in my group liked the the gin Harvey Wallbanger. The "Rye Tai" was the big surprise; it's less sweet than a traditional Mai Tai and the rye spiciness an excellent complement to the drink's usual flavors.
It was karaoke night when we visited—not my thing.
The name, drinks and decor are good. Its worth a visit if you are in the Detroit area. The vibe is muddied by the music and crowd. Since El Club is a popular music venue a few blocks away, I feel that the bar tries to cater to those leaking from the shows. The menu is all tiki drinks. The selection on the menu does try to appeal to the uninitiated but there are plenty of choices for experienced tiki fans.