The Best of Michigan for 2005

Entertainment: BAR TIME

Best teensy Irish bar

Tipperary Pub

8287 Southfield Fwy., Detroit (313) 271-5870

Second place: Malarkey’s Irish Sports Pub

Westland and Southgate locations

Third place: Cloverleaf Bar

12625 DIX Toledo Rd., Southgate (734) 284-7211

Best place to pick up forty-somethings

R.P. McMurphy's

2922 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte(734) 285-4885

Second place: Ernie’s Club

16655 19 Mile Rd., Clinton Township (586) 286-8435

Third place: Sportsmen’s Den

15001 Sibley Rd., Wyandotte (734) 479-4800

Best happy hour

Bookies Downtown Tavern

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit (313) 963-2589

Second place: G Subu’s Leather Bottle

20300 Farmington Rd., Livonia (248) 474-2420

Third place: 336 Main

336 S. Main St., Plymouth (734) 454-6524

Best place to drink all day

Beach Grill

24420 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores (586) 771-4455

Second place: Camp Ticonderoga

5725 Rochester Rd., Troy (248) 828-2825

Third place: Gator Jake's Bar & Grill

36863 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights (586) 983-3700

Best post 2 a.m. bar

City Limits Bar & Grill

24501 Grand River Ave., Detroit (313) 532-8550

Second place: Coachman’s Lounge

5491 Auburn Rd., Shelby Twp (586) 31-0531

Third place: Como’s

22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale (248) 548-5005

Best outdoor deck

Memphis Smoke

100 S. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 543-4300

Second place: Sindbad's

Restaurant & Marina

100 Saint Clair St., Detroit (313) 822-7817

Third place: Pier 500

507 Biddle St., Wyandotte (734) 281-0530

Best old Detroit saloon

Nemo’s Bar

1384 Michigan Ave., Detroit (313) 965-3180

Second place: Old Shillelagh

349 Monroe St., Detroit (313) 964-0007

Third place: Cadieux Cafe

4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit (313) 882-8560

Best stiff drink bar

Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Second place: Crazy Moe’s Cafe

2 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac (248) 322-5550

Third place: Red Dog Saloon

250 W. Summit St., Milford (248) 685-2171

Ricardo Thomas / The Detroit News Not feeling sociable? Escape to Nancy WhiskeyÕs in Detroit, picked as the best place to drink alone. You can comfort yourself with the blues sounds of George McNally, Rick Strickland and Eddie Washington.

Best dive bar

Nancy Whiskey’s

2644 Harrison St., Detroit (313) 962-4247

Second place: Bronx Bar

4476 2nd Ave., Detroit (313) 832-8464

Third place: Red Dog Saloon

250 W. Summit St., Milford (248) 685-2171

Best microbrewery

Box Bar

777 W. Ann Arbor Trl., Plymouth (734) 459-7390

Second place: Woodward Avenue Brewery

22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale (248) 546-3696

Third place: Royal Oak Brewery

215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak (248) 544-1141

Best margarita choice

Agave Grill

4265 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 833-1120

Second place: Mexican Village Restaurant

Detroit and Shelby Township locations

Third place: Don Pablo’s

For locations: donpablos.com

Best martini/cigar bar

336 Main

336 S. Main St., Plymouth (734) 454-6524

Second place: Belicoso Cafe

3030 Biddle, Wyandotte (734) 282-2244

Third place: Blue Martini

201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham (248) 258-3005

Best neighborhood bar

Bookies Downtown Tavern

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit (313) 963-2589

Second place: Chesley’s Bar & Grille

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Third place: Rosie O’Grady’s

175 W. Troy, Ferndale (248) 591-91634

Best place to drink alone

Nancy Whiskey’s

2644 Harrison St., Detroit (313) 962-4247

Second place: Coach’s Corner

19170 Farmington Rd., Livonia (248) 615-1330

Third place: Gizzmo’s

3225 Biddle St., Wyandotte (734) 284-3459

Best place to get carded

Mr. B’s Pub

215 S. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 399-0017

Second place: Bastone

419 S. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 544-6250

Third place: Hayloft Saloon

8070 N. Greenfield, Detroit (313) 581-8913

Best new club/bar

Cinq

419 S. Main St., Royal Oak (248) 544-6250

Second place: Crave Lounge

22075 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 277-7283

Third place: Baile Corcaigh Irish Restaurant

1426 Bagley St., Detroit (313) 963-4546

Best west side bar

G Subu’s Leather Bottle

20300 Farmington Rd., Livonia (248) 474-2420

Second place: Blue Martini

201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham (248) 258-3005

Third place: Miller’s Bar

23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 565-2577

Corner Bar

100 Townsend Dr., Birmingham

(248) 594-6272

Best beer selection on tap and bottled

Box Bar

777 W. Ann Arbor Trl., Plymouth (734) 459-7390

Second place: Berkley Front

3087 12 Mile Rd., Berkley (248) 547-3331

Third place: Oak Cafe

1167 Oak St., Wyandotte (734) 283-8380

Best bathroom wall wisdom

Post Bar Downtown

408 W. Congress, Detroit (313) 962-1293

Second place: Gusoline Alley

309 S. Center St., Royal Oak (248) 545-2235

Third place: Roger’s Roost

33626 Schoenherr Rd., Sterling Heights (586) 979-7550

Best bar for food & music

Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Second place: Bahama Breeze

Livonia and Troy locations

Third place: Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen Cafe

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Best bar with its own signature cocktail

Blue Martini

201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham (248) 258-3005

Second place: Crazy Moe’s Cafe

2 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac (248) 322-5550

Third place: Parrot Cove Yacht Club

33475 Dequindre Rd., Troy (248) 585-6080

Best-dressed bar

Capital Grille

2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 649-5300

Second place: Blue Martini

201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham (248) 258-3005

Third place: 220 & Edison’s

220 E. Merrill St., Birmingham (248) 645-2150

Donna Terek / The Detroit News Manager Brent Nelson, 37, relaxes in the bar at Small Plates.

Best cocktail spot before a show

Bookies Downtown Tavern

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit (313) 963-2589

Second place: Small Plates

1521 Broadway St., Detroit (313) 963-0497

Third place: Union Street

4145 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 831-3965

Best dark and cheap family-owned bar

Green Lantern Lounge

28960 John R Rd., Madison Heights (248) 541-5439

Second place: Oak Cafe

1167 Oak St., Wyandotte (734) 283-8380

Third place: Miller’s Bar

23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 565-2577

Best bar for Golden Tee

Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Second place: Buffalo Wild Wings

For locations: buffalowildwings.com

Third place: Blarney Stone Pub

27253 Woodward Ave., Berkley (248) 541-1881

Spectadium

2511 Livernois Rd., Troy

(248) 362-4030

Best sports bar with the most tvs

Buffalo Wild Wings

buffalowildwings.com

Second place: Scorekeepers Sports

Bar & Grill

310 Maynard St., Ann Arbor (734) 995-0100

Third place: Spectadium

2511 Livernois Rd., Troy (248) 362-4030

Best place for last call

Post Bar

postbars.com

Second place: J J’s Pub

32611 Ford Rd., Garden City (734) 838-0782

Third place: Danny’s Irish Pub

22824 Woodward Ave., Ferndale (248) 546-8331

Best bar/club to die in the past 12 months

Cobalt

22061 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

Second place: Center Street Pub

311 E Grand River, Harmonie Park, Detroit

Third place: bird of paradise

312 S. Main St., Ann Arbor

Best bar snack

Pretzels

Second place: calamari

Third place: Fried pickles

Best bar jukebox

Bookies Downtown Tavern

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit (313) 963-2589

Second place: Chesley’s Bar

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Third place: Gusoline Alley

308 S. Center, Royal Oak (248) 545-2235

Best chocolate martini

Blue Martini

201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham (248) 258-3005

Second place: 336 main

336 S. Main St., Plymouth (734) 454-6524

Third place: Goodnight Gracie’s

224 S. Sherman Dr., Royal Oak (248) 584-7400

Double Olive

15128 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park

(313) 823-8892

Best place to drink with only $10 to your name

Chasers Bar & Grill

18204 Jefferson, Riverview (734) 281-3763

Second place: Boondocks Bar & Grill

133 E Chicago Blvd, Britton (517) 451-2410

Third place: Shhh Booms

2100 14 Mile Rd, Warren (586) 939-4030

Best pick-up scene

Tremors

17123 Laurel Park Dr., Livonia (734) 462-2096

Second place: Jack’s Waterfront

24200 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores (586) 445-8080

Third place: Roostertail

100 Marquette Dr., Detroit (313) 822-1234

Best bar for ladies night

Wellington Club

44819 Hayes Rd., Sterling Heights (586) 566-0260

Second place: Star Bar

37235 Groesbeck Hwy., Clinton Township (586) 465-6833

Third place: J Dubs

12850 Sibley Rd., Riverview (734) 283-3990

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News There are no class barriers and no pretensions at Honest John's Bar & Grill in Detroit, where Aubony Bell and Eriike Ousley, both of Detroit, meet for a game of pool.

Best place where upper crust meets lower crust

Honest John’s Bar & Grill

488 Selden St., Detroit (313) 832-5646

Second place: Carbon

11474 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck (313) 366-9278

Third place: Hockeytown Cafe

2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit (313) 965-9500

Best hidden hangout

Bookies Downtown Tavern

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit (313) 963-2589

Second place: The Dive

4822 Greenfield, Dearborn (313) 846-5322

Third place: 7 Brothers

11821 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck (313) 365-6576

Best place to nurse a hangover

Chesley’s Bar & Grille

3717 Fort St., Lincoln Park (313) 388-8500

Second place: Tap Room

201 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti (734) 482-5320

Third place: Bumpers Bar & Grill

31960 N. River Rd., Harrison Township (586) 468-9676