Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileSide Hustle Lounge
Detroit, MI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Side Hustle Lounge is a cocktail bar with a concise menu of six signature drinks, $13-$18. Highlights include the blood orange tequila Part-Time Lover and an Espresso Martini made with local Madcap coffee. The Sour adds a red wine float for a twist. Beer stays domestic and seasonal. Customers praise the cocktails and skilled bartenders, noting a retro, festive atmosphere.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Part-Time Lover ($18), a blood orange tequila cocktail with Aperol and elderflower. The Espresso Martini ($13) is a local-coffee standout; add banana peanut butter whiskey for $4. For a wine-forward option, the Sour with a red wine float.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking creative, reasonably priced drinks in a laid-back, retro setting. Fans of themed pop-ups and local ingredients will find appeal. Beer drinkers can stick to familiar domestic cans.
- When should I go?
- Evenings when the lounge's festive decorations and themed events are active. Happy hour is mentioned by guests as a good time for deals on drinks and appetizers.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails range from $13 to $18; beer prices are not listed. The Espresso Martini can reach $17 with the whiskey add-on. Overall, moderate for a cocktail bar.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu leans on playful, accessible ingredients—blood orange tequila, peach schnapps, lavender syrup—and local Madcap coffee. The Sour's red wine float is a local nod. Guests note a retro bowling-alley-bar vibe with festive event decorations.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Six signature cocktails with creative ingredients and local coffee. Prices are reasonable. The Part-Time Lover and Espresso Martini stand out.
Menu strengths
- — Creative cocktail list with unique ingredients like blood orange tequila and lavender syrup.
- — Local Madcap coffee in the Espresso Martini adds regional character.
Standout selections
- — Part-Time Lover: blood orange tequila, Aperol, elderflower liqueur, lemon. $18.
- — Espresso Martini: Madcap coffee, vodka, amaro pazzo. Add banana peanut butter whiskey for $4.
Pricing: $13-$18 per cocktail; $4 upcharge for banana peanut butter whiskey in Espresso Martini
Wine
Wine appears only as a red wine float in the Sour. No wine list or by-the-glass offerings.
Standout selections
- — Red wine float in the Sour cocktail.
Pricing: No wine pricing available
Beer
Domestic cans and bottles dominate: Miller Lite, Coors Light, Labatt Blue, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra. Seasonal options include Modelo, Blake's, and Yuengling Oktoberfest. Basic but functional.
Menu strengths
- — Offers a variety of domestic and seasonal beers.
Standout selections
- — Yuengling Oktoberfest (seasonal can).; Blake's seasonal beer can.
Pricing: No beer prices listed
Spirits
Spirits appear only as cocktail ingredients: tequila, cognac, vodka, gin, bourbon, and amaro. No dedicated spirits list or neat pours. Limited standalone program.
Standout selections
- — Cognac used in Library Street Hustle.
Pricing: No individual spirits pricing
How it sits with the food
No specific food pairings are documented. The cocktail bar offers a food menu, but beverage-food relationships are not established. Focus on the drinks themselves.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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