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.
mustashman is a regular at Mutiny Bar, and is usually there Whenever I can be.
April 7, 2022, 10:44 PM
Mutiny has come a long way from when it first opened in 2017. They have been constantly putting up more tiki decor. A very cool blacklight tiki mural has been added to the outside entrance by popular tiki artist Mark Thompson/Topesart. A large tropical themed stained glass piece has been added inside the front of the bar and about 10 huge green fishfloats made into lamps hang above the bar. New tiki pieces continue to be added to the walls. When the place first opened, it looked like a neighborhood shot and a beer joint with Christmas lights on the ceiling and great tiki drinks. Now the place has a great tiki vibe and STILL serves great tiki drinks. I probably go there at least twice a month and drag friends new to the place with me whenever I can. They always love it. My only complaint is that the music is uneven. Sometimes it's appropriate mostly upbeat surf and exotica, but as it gets later, it sometimes turns into loud obnoxious hip-hop and/or rap. Thankfully they've gotten rid of the jukebox loaded with every type of music but heavy on hip-hop and rap, and now program their own choice. The bar seems to attract a younger crowd, 20's and 30's with older folks mixed in - which, I guess, explains the inappropriate-for-a-tiki-bar music later in the evening. I like the place so much that it's worth dealing with the occasional bad music. Great staff, great presentation on the drinks. Do yourself a favor and check it out!
An excellent music selection and a projector with flicks playing (while we were there, it was a Japanese Godzilla movie and then an American greasers-in-Hawaii type movie). The drink menu was split between classics and originals, and my drinks were assolutamente delicious. The Zombie came complete with a nice fire show as some herbs were set on fire and Allspice was drizzled on top. The atmosphere was sufficiently dark and escapist to my taste. Service was great and the staff were very accommodating and chill. There was an Indian food truck park outside with delicious paneer wraps. Would recommend!
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.
mustashman is a regular at Mutiny Bar, and is usually there Whenever I can be.
April 7, 2022, 10:44 PM
Mutiny has come a long way from when it first opened in 2017. They have been constantly putting up more tiki decor. A very cool blacklight tiki mural has been added to the outside entrance by popular tiki artist Mark Thompson/Topesart. A large tropical themed stained glass piece has been added inside the front of the bar and about 10 huge green fishfloats made into lamps hang above the bar. New tiki pieces continue to be added to the walls. When the place first opened, it looked like a neighborhood shot and a beer joint with Christmas lights on the ceiling and great tiki drinks. Now the place has a great tiki vibe and STILL serves great tiki drinks. I probably go there at least twice a month and drag friends new to the place with me whenever I can. They always love it. My only complaint is that the music is uneven. Sometimes it's appropriate mostly upbeat surf and exotica, but as it gets later, it sometimes turns into loud obnoxious hip-hop and/or rap. Thankfully they've gotten rid of the jukebox loaded with every type of music but heavy on hip-hop and rap, and now program their own choice. The bar seems to attract a younger crowd, 20's and 30's with older folks mixed in - which, I guess, explains the inappropriate-for-a-tiki-bar music later in the evening. I like the place so much that it's worth dealing with the occasional bad music. Great staff, great presentation on the drinks. Do yourself a favor and check it out!
An excellent music selection and a projector with flicks playing (while we were there, it was a Japanese Godzilla movie and then an American greasers-in-Hawaii type movie). The drink menu was split between classics and originals, and my drinks were assolutamente delicious. The Zombie came complete with a nice fire show as some herbs were set on fire and Allspice was drizzled on top. The atmosphere was sufficiently dark and escapist to my taste. Service was great and the staff were very accommodating and chill. There was an Indian food truck park outside with delicious paneer wraps. Would recommend!
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.