Sweetest Sips: Must-Try Dessert Cocktails

By: Carolyn Hall | May 14, 2024
Glass of red and mist dessert cocktail close

Metro Detroit’s bar scene isn’t just for beer and spirits—it’s also where dessert dreams are made real with creative dessert cocktails. Combining a nightcap with a sweet treat, dessert cocktails are a great two-in-one to end an evening. Treat your sweet tooth while sampling inventive, visually stunning drinks at these standout spots.

PINKY’S ROOFTOP

100 South Main Street, Rear Alley Entrance, Royal Oak 

Pinky’s Rooftop offers panoramic views and an adventurous drink menu. Set in a cotton-candy pink cocktail bar, patrons can enjoy a plethora of sweet creations. The Pink Circus cocktail is made with vodka, Cointreau, and lemon, and topped with cotton candy tableside. Pinky’s Ice Pops are great for a warm day, as you pick between prosecco and brut rosé to be accompanied by a raspberry vodka, mango rum, or strawberry lavender gin popsicle. For a smokey look, Dancing Raspberries is made with dry ice, along with prosecco, St. Germain, and raspberries. Enjoy these confectionary cocktails while taking in the vibrant rooftop atmosphere overlooking Royal Oak.

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HEMMINGWAY ROOM

111 West 2nd Street, Rochester

For a sophisticated experience, the Hemmingway Room is a craft cocktail bar in downtown Rochester, only open Thursdays through Saturdays. For a refreshing cocktail, check out Tito’s Sparkle, with Tito’s, Chambord, lime juice, and bubbly topped with fresh raspberries. The Lavender Tom Collin is a gorgeous purple-hued beverage with gin, fresh lemon juice, and lavender syrup. The Hemmingway Room’s espresso martini also stands out with vanilla Stoli, Kahlua, and Godiva chocolate liquor. The Hemmingway Room brings a relaxing atmosphere that pairs well with the small plates offered here. 

THE EBENEZER

305 Fleet Street, Plymouth

The Ebenezer serves up one-of-a-kind cocktails with an elevated menu in its speakeasy bar. The Michigan Sour is topped with Rock & Rye foam, and made with Rittenhouse Rye, lemon, red wine, and Demerara, nodding to a Faygo favorite. The Specific Cooler is a Pacific Cooler Margarita served in a pouch, just like a Capri Sun. The Rosé Martini is pink and delicious, with house-made berry-infused Tito’s, pink Aquavit, rosé, and house-made grenadine. Nestled in the basement of the former First National Bank of Plymouth, you’ll find an ambiance of the 1920s perfectly paired with the vibes of today. 

CANDY BAR

1509 Broadway Street, Detroit

Nestled inside the Siren Hotel, Candy Bar lives up to its name with a candy pink-themed interior and whimsical cocktails. Their dessert drinks present fresh fruit notes to deep espresso notes like Espresso Flip, a frothy blend of aged rum, coffee liqueur, cinnamon syrup, and cold brew, or There She Goes, made with Blanco tequila, melon liqueur, key lime cordial, and topped with Malibu-infused whipped cream. Sip your way through dessert in this Instagrammable, retro setting covered in pink.

there she goes dessert cocktail at candy bar
Photo courtesy of Christian Harder for Candy Bar

BITTER TOM’S

120 South Broadway Street, Suite 102, Lake Orion

At Bitter Tom’s, creativity shines with the after-dinner cocktail menu. From the Salted Caramel with rum, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel, to the chocolate martini made with cinnamon-vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, cream, and grated chocolate, Bitter Tom’s does not disappoint with its dessert cocktails. The Canadian Coffee combines flavors of maple and coffee with bourbon, whipped cream, and cinnamon, while Cafe Amore takes cognac, coffee, and amaretto to the next level. Check out the menu for yourself, as these beverages (and plates!) will certainly catch your eye.

SECOND BEST

42 Watson Street, Detroit

Known for its pub grub and hangout atmosphere, Second Best certainly offers cocktails that satisfy an after-dinner thirst. Gummi Bear keeps things sweet with raspberry-infused vodka, peach, house sour, and soda. For something light and refreshing the Cucumber Gimlet combines gin, cucumber, and lime for a cool drink on a warm day. For a touch of color, BB Smash brings blueberries to a new level with vodka, basil, and lime. After you finish a plate of fried cheese curds, jalapeño popper wontons, or grilled jerk chicken wings, try out a cocktail for dessert. 

WRIGHT & COMPANY

1500 Woodward Avenue, Floor 2, Detroit

Elegance and imagination unite at Wright & Company. This gastropub offers seasonally focused small plates, craft cocktails, and more. Cruel Summer offers a gorgeous ombre effect in a glass with Kikori, Green Chartreuse, Iichiko Shochu, orgeat, and lemon, while Wright & Co.’s version of an espresso martini features toasted coconut syrup and Averna. Other excellent cocktail options include Pink Elephant with passionfruit and hibiscus notes and Desert Sun for something with a bit of spice. Wright & Company also offers curated mocktails for those looking to end their evening with a non-alcoholic drink. Enjoy any of its cocktails amid the warm, vintage ambiance, with brick walls and sparkling chandeliers.

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