Detroit Drunks of Antiquity Historic Bar Tour

Detroit drinks tell Detroit’s story. I like the tour’s mix of old neighborhood bars and sharp local history, and I like that private transportation links three very different stops without asking you to drive after drinking. The main catch is simple: the $64.99 price does not include beer, cocktails, or dinner, so your final cost depends on what you order.

This is not a polished cocktail crawl through downtown lounges. It is a look at Detroit through long-running taverns, family businesses, police hangouts, live music, and tales of frontier drinking, Prohibition, and the Purple Gang. You spend about 45 minutes at each stop, with time in the vehicle between them. A perfect five-star rating from six published reviews, along with praise for the guide and driver, suggests that the people leading the evening are a major part of its appeal.

Key points to know before you book

• Three historic bars in about three hours: The tour visits Two Way Inn, Abick’s Bar, and Nancy Whiskey Pub, with roughly 45 minutes at each.
• Two Way Inn is the oldest stop: It is reported to be the oldest operating bar in Detroit, and the bell by the entrance comes with a very specific warning.
• Abick’s has a strong neighborhood identity: This southwest Detroit bar has been family run for generations and has ties to the Detroit Police Department.
• Nancy Whiskey is the liveliest finish: Expect live music, dancing, and a popular backyard rather than a quiet final drink.
• Transportation is part of the value: Private transportation and taxes are included, so you do not need to arrange the route yourself.
• Drinks are extra: Alcohol and dinner are not included, so budget beyond the admission price.

Why Detroit’s drinking past makes a good tour

Detroit’s drinking story begins long before modern breweries and downtown cocktail rooms. When the city was still a French missionary outpost, alcohol was already part of daily life. Later came frontier-era revelry, Prohibition, organized crime, and the ordinary social world of neighborhood taverns.

That gives the tour a useful angle. You are not simply visiting three old bars. You are using them as places to discuss how Detroit’s residents worked, socialized, argued, celebrated, and built communities.

The city’s major moments often unfolded around a drink. The Purple Gang and National Prohibition provide especially strong material because they connect local bars to larger American stories. You might hear about lawbreaking, policing, and changing attitudes toward alcohol, then sit in a room that has served drinks for generations.

I like this approach because the history has a physical setting. A museum can explain a date. An old pub can show you how people actually gathered. The tradeoff is that the experience depends heavily on the guide’s storytelling and the mood inside each bar. If you want a formal lecture or a carefully preserved historic interior, this may feel loose. If you prefer stories told over a pint, it is a better match.

Three hours, three bars, and a moving classroom

The tour lasts about three hours. Each bar gets approximately 45 minutes, leaving the remaining time for transfers and commentary in the vehicle.

That schedule is brisk but sensible. You get enough time to order a drink, look around, hear the main stories, and enjoy the atmosphere without spending the entire night in one place. You also avoid the common problem of a bar crawl that becomes a long wait between stops.

Private transportation matters here. Detroit’s historic bars are spread across different parts of the city, and moving between them on your own would add planning and raise the question of who drives. The included vehicle keeps the group together and lets you focus on the guide.

The tour can pick up in both Detroit and Ferndale, which is helpful if you are staying or meeting in either area. Exact pickup details should be confirmed when you book. The experience is also near public transportation, although the supplied information does not specify a particular route or station.

The group can be as large as 42 people. That is a sizeable group for a bar tour. A good guide should use the vehicle time well and make sure the talk carries beyond the first few rows. In a busy bar, though, a large group may feel less intimate than a small pub walk. If you prefer a quiet conversation with a historian, keep that limit in mind.

Two Way Inn: Detroit’s oldest operating bar

The first stop is Two Way Inn, reported to be the oldest operating bar currently in Detroit. Its age gives the opening stop real weight. You begin with a place that has kept serving customers through major changes in the city.

The tour allows about 45 minutes here. That is enough time to settle in and let the guide establish the tone for the evening. Two Way Inn is also known for its owners, who are described as memorable characters. Their presence adds a personal layer that a standard historic-site tour cannot easily provide.

There is one amusing rule to remember: only ring the bell if you want to buy everyone a drink. That is the sort of detail that makes a bar feel like a living social place instead of a display case.

The admission cost is included, but your drink is not. You can choose how much to spend, which keeps the basic tour price manageable. Still, if you plan to order at every stop, the total will rise quickly.

I would treat Two Way Inn as the history-first stop. You are here for the age of the place, the owners, and the stories attached to a long-running Detroit tavern. It may not suit you if you want a modern menu or a carefully staged presentation. Its appeal comes from character, age, and the feeling that the bar has its own rules.

Abick’s Bar: a family-run southwest Detroit institution

The second stop is Abick’s Bar in southwest Detroit. It has been family run for generations and is described as both a past and present Detroit Police Department hangout.

That detail gives Abick’s a different angle from Two Way Inn. The focus is not only on age. It is also on neighborhood connection, family ownership, and the working relationships that develop in a local bar over time.

You spend about 45 minutes here. Take time to look beyond the bar itself, especially at the spectacular backyard. Outdoor space is an important feature because it changes the feel of the stop. It gives the group somewhere to spread out and offers another way to understand how the place functions as a community gathering spot.

The police connection also opens the door to stories about Detroit’s past and the people who worked in and around the city. The information provided does not give specific names or incidents, so you should expect the guide to supply the detail during the tour rather than arrive with a fixed list of facts.

Abick’s may be the stop that best rewards your curiosity. Ask questions about the family, the backyard, and the bar’s connection with local police. You will get more from the visit if you look at how the place is used, not just how old it is.

The possible downside is that the setting may feel more local than tourist friendly. That is part of the point, but it can also mean fewer obvious explanations on the walls. The guide’s narration matters here. Fortunately, the tour includes a Detroit history expert, not just a driver who points out buildings from the window.

Nancy Whiskey Pub: a noisy, lively final stop

Nancy Whiskey Pub provides the biggest change of pace. The final stop is known for live music, dancing, and a popular backyard. It is also described as packed and lively, so you should know what you want to drink before you reach the bar.

That advice is practical. A crowded pub is not the best place to study a menu while a large group waits behind you. Decide in advance whether you want beer, a mixed drink, or something simple, then order quickly and get back to the atmosphere.

The 45-minute visit gives you enough time to hear the stories and enjoy the music, but not necessarily enough for a long night of dancing. The exact music lineup is not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular band or style.

Nancy Whiskey’s character comes from the mix of history and entertainment. One story involves the owner arriving on horseback, which gives you a sense of the pub’s playful reputation. You may find this stop less focused on quiet historical detail and more focused on the room, the music, and the people in it.

As a finale, it makes sense. Two Way Inn opens with age. Abick’s moves into family and neighborhood ties. Nancy Whiskey ends with sound, movement, and a busy social scene. If you want the last stop to be calm enough for close conversation, this may be the least comfortable part of the tour. If you want the evening to finish with energy, it should fit well.

What the $64.99 price really covers

At $64.99 per person, the tour costs more than simply visiting three bars on your own. The value comes from the transportation and the guide, not from included food or drinks.

Your fee covers private transportation, all fees and taxes, and a guided tour led by a Detroit history expert. Admission at each bar is free, so you are not paying for separate entry tickets. Alcohol and dinner are extra.

That makes the price reasonable for someone who wants the route handled and the history explained. Driving between three widely separated bars, finding parking, and arranging a safe ride would take time and could cost more than expected. The tour also creates access to places you might not select on your own, especially Abick’s and Two Way Inn.

You should still set a personal drink budget. Three stops can mean three drinks, but nothing requires you to order alcohol at every bar. You might choose a nonalcoholic drink, order less often, or simply enjoy the stories and setting. The supplied details do not specify drink prices or food options, so you should not assume that dinner will be available as part of the tour.

This is a better value for history-minded drinkers than for people seeking a high-end tasting experience. There is no promise of premium spirits, paired food, or a carefully selected beverage menu. The reward is local character and access to a guided route.

How the guide and driver shape the night

The guide is central to this experience. Detroit’s bars provide the setting, but the guide connects them to French missionary days, frontier drinking, Prohibition, the Purple Gang, and the city’s later history.

You should expect stories along the way, not just a short talk at each bar. That helps fill the transfer time and turns the vehicle into part of the tour. It also means the experience may vary depending on how the guide handles a large group and how much time each stop allows.

The driver matters just as much. The tour includes private transportation, and one especially useful detail comes from a winter outing on snowy and icy roads. The driver was praised for handling difficult conditions carefully. You cannot count on winter weather during your own visit, but it is a good sign that the driving portion is treated as an important part of the service.

No guide names are provided, so I would not book this based on a particular personality. Book it for the format, the bars, and the Detroit subject matter. The reported five-star score from six reviews is encouraging, but it is still a small sample. Keep your expectations grounded: the tour has strong character, yet the experience is shaped by busy bars, group size, and the atmosphere on the night you go.

Who will enjoy this Detroit bar tour most

I would recommend it to you if you like local history with a drink in hand and prefer working neighborhood places to formal attractions. It suits friends, couples, and small groups who want a social evening with a clear route.

It is also a good choice for someone visiting Detroit without a car. The tour handles the transportation and gives you three stops that might be awkward to connect independently.

You may enjoy it less if you want a quiet tasting, a downtown-only route, or a meal included in the price. The final stop can be packed, and a group of up to 42 people is not the same as a private pub conversation.

Bring a mobile ticket and expect to pay separately for drinks and dinner. Since the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, make sure your date and meeting plan are firm before paying. That policy is strict, so it deserves attention even though it does not affect the quality of the tour itself.

Should you book the Historic Bar Tour?

Book it if you want Detroit history told in the places where people actually drank, argued, celebrated, and built friendships. The combination of Two Way Inn’s age, Abick’s family and police connections, and Nancy Whiskey’s music gives the evening a useful range.

Skip it if your main goal is a food tour, a premium cocktail tasting, or a small private group. The $64.99 fee is fair when you value transportation and expert storytelling, but you must add your own drink and meal costs.

For the right audience, this is a memorable way to see a less polished and more personal side of Detroit. Go ready for old bars, strong characters, local stories, and a final stop that may be loud enough to make you order quickly.

FAQ

How much does the Detroit Drunks of Antiquity Historic Bar Tour cost?

The tour costs $64.99 per person. Alcoholic beverages and dinner are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours. Each of the three bar stops is scheduled for about 45 minutes.

Which bars does the tour visit?

The tour visits Two Way Inn, Abick’s Bar, and Nancy Whiskey Pub.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation is included, along with all fees and taxes.

Can I join the tour from Ferndale?

Yes. Pickup is available in both Ferndale and Detroit.

How large can the tour group be?

The activity can accommodate a maximum of 42 people.