Chenin

Chenin rules! We had a great time here! The wine list had some great btg options, and we loved all the food we tried! The pizza was super fluffy and delicious, the plate of prosciutto with bread and butter hit the spot, and the ice cream was excellent! The staff were super fun, knowledgeable, and friendly. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Detroit !

everyone here is so hot and cool. great music. owner is cool and will you mix the pizza dough if you wash your hands first. only suggestion would be to add a canard a la presse to the menu.

This intimate wine bar is a beautiful part of Detroit. The wine selection is well-curated, the atmosphere is cozy, and the staff is awesome and welcoming. The attention to detail in everything—from the menu to the decor—makes it clear that a lot of thought went into creating a great experience. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or a long, laid-back evening, it’s a solid choice. Can’t wait to try more of the menu!

I stumbled upon Bar Chenin last weekend and discovered what might be the perfect downtown small intimate bar. Tucked away down a quiet alley but located within The Siren Hotel, this intimate spot has instantly become a new favorite. From the moment you step inside, the thoughtfully dim lighting bathes everything in a warm, amber glow that makes everyone look their best and creates an instantly cozy atmosphere. The décor strikes that perfect balance between carefully curated and effortlessly comfortable—smooth bar countertop, vintage-inspired lighting fixtures, and subtle nods to France through framed photographs and art. Nothing feels forced or overdone. The staff deserves special praise. The were great at describing the menu and offered genuinely thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. And the food! I expected decent bar snacks but was blown away by the quality. The house-made ice cream (especially the olive oil—yes, olive oil!) was transcendent. They also serve small 4-piece pies (pizza) that I will definitely be back to try. What truly sets this place apart is how the entire experience feels cohesive and intentional. The carefully selected playlist complemented the mood perfectly—loud enough to enjoy but quiet enough for conversation. Despite being busy, the space never felt crowded, and the acoustics somehow managed to keep the noise level pleasant. Bar Chenin has accomplished something rare: creating a space that feels both special and comfortable. I can't wait to return and bring more friends to experience this wonderful addition to our neighborhood.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The wine here is fantastic. It’s a beautiful and quaint spot where there’s room to stand and drink when the bar is full or some stools outside. Perfect place

Talk about this gem located just down an alluring hallway of the Siren Hotel. The wine flows and the good vibes are ever so present and check out the handcrafted eats all served up by some great humans!

The sun shines, but we're a few layers of Dan Gilbert concrete away from direct rays. Sunburnt sports fans have been buzzed for hours. We step into Chenin and are immediately in front of the point-of-sale tablet. A relatively tall man with millennial tattoos hands us a menu. The bar's logo on the menu appears to have been printed with a letterpress, or their printer sucks. Either way, we're unknowledgeable about wine, and being unknowledgeable about wine, we ask what he's been enjoying. He provides what we know are great descriptions of the wine, but we can barely hear them. It's because the music is too interesting. We're overwhelmed by the space itself. Small, simple, unpretentious, and enveloping us. It's bright outside, but Chenin's level of dim lighting tells you that it doesn't matter what time it is; you can eat or drink anything on the menu in any combination, it doesn't matter. With this lighting, it was always 6:44 PM and 1:23 AM at the same time. Mans tells you about three wines in 30 seconds. You've been inside for 66 seconds. Mans offers you a sample. You have no clue what of. A white wine that tastes "good" in some sense and "summery" in another. There are 7 seats at Chenin. Placing an 8th chair would cramp everything. There are two strangers seated with a seat in between them. I want to sit with you, but I can't ask the two spaced individuals to move, they're both buried in their phones like many of us are in public. Honesty, I'd rather stare into space and intermittently observe. Actions happening amongst Chenin staff: - Pouring wine - Cracking Budweisers - Clearing glasses and (re+)filling waters - Stepping behind a mysterious curtain - Scooping ice cream into small silver coupes - Removing pizzas from ovens and adorning them with toppings - Preparing sandwiches with large sums of butter and mortadella - Communicating with one another in subtle, cute ways - Being generally kind and accommodating The jerseys leave. Our time standing is over. Standing is a fine, normal mode of existence in Chenin, but we're seat people now. At some point, Westside Gunn starts playing, and it doesn't feel out of place. We've drank one glass of wine. You and I settle on Budweiser next. Order olives. I tell you that not liking olives is a silly. Grow up. The olives are served warm. The olives I ate in tourist traps were room temp. The pairing of Budweiser and olives is odd. Who cares. They're very prompt in refilling the waters here. The people who work here are all hot. Don't think about that; it's 3 months into opening, and they don't hate all the customers (yet). Perhaps they never will. The ice cream is good. We get the potato sesame ice cream, which is indeed a fast-food-influenced, sophisticated delight. I cannot tell if the lil bits I'm tasting in the ice cream are potato themselves or sesame seeds, because they feel soft and not so uniformly shaped. I believe these are microns of potato dancing along my palate. Either way, the ice cream is good and not in a "wow, quite a bit we have going here" way but an "I would get this again here by myself." A pizza is pulled from the oven, checked on each side and then strewn from its metal housing onto a larger board for dressings. Chenin's world is constantly unfolding in front of us. Cheese is added in cute dollops atop the deep red rectangle. Operator begins with a dollop in each quadrant, establishing the four pieces to be cut later, and then steadily fills space until, at least for this particular pie, there's beautiful contrast between the brown crispy crust below, the deep red top, and the white diamond dollops of cheese. The diamonds melt, an intentional transformation and a statement about food as a minor art struggling to stand the test of time. Effect is heightened when you watch the pie come from the oven, get dressed, and land in front of your grubby little hands. Chenin's honesty, immediacy, and openness feel real. You pay cash, we go to Paramita Sound. Thanks Chenin, I'll be back with a different associate or by my lonesome.

I treated myself to a fabulous lil’ Tomato Pie (yes, she’s a star) and a sassy dirty martini! Verdict? Delishhh! 😋✨ The vibes? Immaculate. The music? Groovier than a disco squirrel in bell bottoms 🕺🎶💃

Easily my favorite new spot in Detroit! Is it a wine bar, an ice cream shop, or a restaurant? Well, it's a bit of everything, all packed into the tiniest space possible. Thoughtful wine selection that leans towards low intervention (some "natty," but many fairly traditional in terms of taste), small menu of delicious food (the mortadella sandwich, Coppa plate, and gildas were all awesome), and yes, ice cream served in pretty bowls. Definitely feels much more like something you'd find in Paris, but of course that's exactly what they were going for. It's tiny (like, maybe 8-10 seats unless you count some random stools outside?!) and there are no reservations, so arriving early and/or having a lot of patience is recommended. Vibes are super high and chaotic. If you get asked to do a porrón chug and don't know what that is, just do it anyway and thank -- or curse -- me later.

Super cute & really small cocktail bar. Bar seating and can also stand by the ledge. Went with friends & just got a round of cocktails. The drink was super strong!! Would be a really great first date spot if you are lucky enough to get a bar seat. Didn't try the food but the pizza looked really awesome

We were excited to try this new wine bar located on the back end of the Siren Hotel. I just love this area of Detroit! This is a small but charming wine bar that I think will become very popular. They make all their own wine and the owner was super friendly and helpful. The wine was delicious and they even had food. The couple next to us got pizza which looked absolutely amazing! We truly enjoyed our time here and can't wait to come back.

Incredible cocktails (the vodka martini was perfection) and natural wines. We ordered the mortadella sandwich, pizza, olives, and olive oil ice cream- all were made fresh in front of us and served immediately. The bar is small and intimate, the service personable and knowledgeable. We will be back, great spot.

Just wow ! This place is a great undiscovered gem. We meet the owner and the attention and care to curate the restaurant is great. It is a small intimate venue they have some bar seats and standing room but great for 2-4 people in a group. They are a wine bar first with select spirits available. This has a perfect dim glow with candles burning for an intimate feeling. I will go back everytime I'm in the area

Amazing spot. Nick, the owner, is so welcoming and kind. Along with the entire staff. The vegan chocolate sorbet is to die for. Highly recommend this intimate wine bar. Always great service, ambiance, drinks and food. They are the real deal