The Aladdin Sane

Aladdin Sane Offers a Unique Cocktail Omakase Experience in Downtown Detroit | Eater Detroit

"A subterranean Japanese-inspired cocktail bar that debuted in January 2024 sits in the lower level of the 38-story Book Tower and takes cues from the traditional omakase experience, with bartenders using a curated cocktail tasting menu as a method for exploration. Operated by Philly-based Method Hospitality as one of six food-and-beverage businesses and adjoining modern Japanese restaurant Hiroki San, the spot is located behind a curtain next to Hiroki-San in the basement of the historic skyscraper; diners at Hiroki San can feast on wagyu, decadent nigiri platters, and robatayaki, and the restaurant is inspired by 2019 Eater Award–finalist Hiroki in Philadelphia, founded by chef Hiroki Fujiyama. The omakase-style cocktail service quietly launched toward the end of 2024 (reservations are not required): just let the bartender know you’re interested and allow at least an hour to 90 minutes to enjoy a progression of three to four cocktails, starting with an amuse-bouche. The cocktail omakase ranges from $75 to $95 per customer, the menu changes weekly, and the bartender drives the experience much like a “leave it to the chef” sushi bar. The drink menu leans into David Bowie references (the bar is named after David Bowie’s iconic 1973 album of the same name) and includes cocktails such as the whisky-based “Watch That Man,” a sakura-infused and rum-based spritz called Panic in Detroit, and the Ziggy Highball; Panic in Detroit is made with rum, lime, sakura, seltzer, and mint. Beverage director Patrick Jobst tells Eater that rum was used in this drink in reference to the first line of the song, “He looked a lot like Che Guevara,” drawing from Cuban inspiration, and that listening to Bowie’s “Panic in Detroit” reminds him of a darker period in the Motor City’s history; Jobst believes that the use of fresh, bright, and aromatic ingredients like mint and sakura represent the resurgence that downtown Detroit has enjoyed over the past decade or so. Jobst also says, “It’s acknowledging that the [bar] is a huge part of the [city’s] restoration and resurgence.” The omakase experience also showcases a vast spirits collection, boasting rare whiskies including Yamazaki 18 100th Anniversary Edition and, according to a news release, the only bottle of Glenfiddich 29-Year Grand Yozakura available in a Michigan bar. The intimate, moody space features just nine seats at the bar and 23 lounge seats, accented by dark woods and leather with bars and tables set at the same height to evoke an aesthetic reminiscent of Tokyo cocktail bars. Open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday." - Serena Maria Daniels