Cupola Bar

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. In my opinion, this should be on everyone’s bucket list. The first time I went to Mackinac Island was 50 years ago and it has become considerably more commercialized. This is still a great place to visit. It was an an exceptional five day getaway with my wife and I.

Beautiful view of the Mackinaw bridge from the top floor. Piano music, but expensive cocktails.

Fantastic location for cocktails or drinks, small bites and the best sunset view. We went to the second floor of the bar and had plenty of seating, great hostess, an outstanding view of the MacKinac Bridge and Sunset, and yummy cheese and meat board.

Great place to have drinks at the top of the grand hotel. You can visit the bar if you are not a guest, but in order to walk through the lobby you need to be wearing a suit jacket. The bartender was very friendly and made delicious drinks. Our favorite was the Mackinac Sunset.

The drinks were ok and the service was fine. But come here for the view. It's excellent and whatever you're drinking it'll taste better with the site of the Mighty Mac over the horizon of the lake.

This is my first time here with my husband. We paid the $12 pp to explore the property. We last minute decided to check out this bar and decided to get a snack and a drink. 1. It seems to be a common theme here that servers don’t know the basics of being a server. I did fine dining serving and even BBQ joint serving for years, so I know very well the BASICS. 2. Our server was non existent. Never stopped stopped by after our food was dropped off. Waiting another 20 min then finally had to go to the bar to ask for our check. He took our order and was no longer around or on his phone by the bar. 3. Do not order the tomato burrata salad. It’s not an herloom tomato as listed. The tomatoes were rock hard totally under ripe. I couldn’t even eat it. It was cut in large wedges in a tiny bowl so 1. I couldn’t cut the rock hard tomato’s and 2. There was nothing to it. No salt and pepper on it. No flavor. We paid $18 plus tax for a small ball of cheese. 4. We would have sent it back but our server disappeared. Odane. 5. This is completely unacceptable for the price you pay and the establishment we are at. It was a waste of time and money. This salad should have been taken off but again we didn’t even get a chance to say anything to anyone. It actually put me in a bad mood. Beware going here sunless you want a cocktail or glass of Wine. Underwhelmed and we won’t be back and will warn others to avoid.

We’ve visited this place yearly and have always had great experiences—until this visit. I am visibly pregnant and ordered a non-alcoholic lemonade. After my first sip, I immediately knew something was wrong. The server then admitted she had accidentally given me a Limoncello alcoholic beverage. This is not a small mistake—it could have serious health implications. While the server was apologetic and discreet about it, there was no attempt to offer any form of compensation or acknowledgment beyond the brief apology. For something this serious, I expected management to step in, address the issue directly, and ensure it doesn’t happen again. Unfortunately, this left me feeling not only disappointed, but also deeply concerned about the safeguards in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Kisha was our server and she was amazing. I ordered a whiskey sour and my partner had a vodka Sprite. Both were mixed perfectly. We plan to come here in the morning to see the sunrise since we were told the view for sunrise is amazing.

We really enjoy getting a drink at the top on a clear day. It's such a beautiful view and setting. The drinks are very over-priced for what they are, however, keep in mind you are paying extra for the experience. We have met some interesting people/travelers here who just want to experience this place just like us.

Probably the most expensive two cocktails I've ever purchased in my life, but given the place and the quality of the drinks we got, well worth it. This bar is at the top of the Grand Hotel. You do have to take two sets of stairs to get to it. I didn't see an elevator that would get there all the way up there. But if you're able, get there. There are two levels to this bar so maybe the first level is attainable with accessibility and then the top level might not be. Check ahead. This bar is absolutely gorgeous!!! There is a large or dare I say "grand" Chihuly glass chandelier hanging from the center from the upper section to the lower section, so it can be seen from both floors of this small but beautiful bar. We walked into the lower level first and the bartender immediately turned to us with a great big smile and welcomed us to the bar and asked if we wanted anything to drink. The wallpaper on this bar is light and beautiful and big windows look out over the ground towards Lake Huron. I was mesmerized immediately. Then we went upstairs to the upper level and there are 180° views of equally big clean windows at a beautiful sunny day outside was just breathtaking. We sat at a table and a server came over quickly and offered us cocktails and welcomed us to the bar. The service was kind of like being at Disney with impeccable service. I had the Machiatto Martini, and my aunt had a glass of rosé. The macchiato martini had Van Gogh double espresso vodka, Dorda sea salt, caramel, Dorda double chocolate, Frangelico, Amaretto, and Baileys. It was visually, stimulating and delicate and sweet and rich, as expected. I may try to make these at home - ha ha!! The views were spectacular and there was light acoustic guitar music playing on speakers, but not too loud and just a nice place to be in the moment at this magical hotel and have a cocktail either to end the day or end your time at the hotel. I'll never forget it.

Loved it great ambiance. Service excellent. We ordered a drink of our choice then one off the menu which was excellent. The views are outstanding. The bar decorated so cute. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Found out we can carry our drinks where ever we want. Checked out the pool area then finished out large drink on the porch. Definitely will do this again.

One of my favorites places on the island. Yes, the views are great. But after a day of walking around, it is a welcomed change of pace. Most of the times we go, it is a Friday or Saturday evening with live piano being played. Cocktails and views. Would highly recommend going to experience a sunset or a full moon over the lake. Quality of the cocktails are good, but you really go for the atmosphere and view.

I think this space is more for the views then anything else. The cocktails and delicious. Since we just had dinner we just came here for the views and drinks. We did feel a little underdressed, non the less we had a great time and we enjoyed our drinks. Service wasn't bad either.

We were excited to sneak up to this bar at the top of the Grand Hotel because of the ambiance and mystique! Our hour-long experience was filled with formality and the hors d'oeuvres were very good (the smoked trout dip was our favorite) but the drinks were terrible. For us, it was a once in a lifetime visit that was probably not worth the hype.

Not bad but also falling victim to a similar mixed drink quality similar to downstairs. The views are beautiful although I will say it's a little stuffy on a summer afternoon with people in the bar. The whole room is different shades of blues, aquas, sapphires and on theme with the rest of the hotel. The bar is more on the hidden side in the hotel in comparison to the other two. The drink I got was the Japanese slipper and overall not bad but not overly great. It really could have benefitted from a secondary strain and it was quite icey with ice chips in it making it hard to drink smoothly. Overall 3/5 would recommend to a friend to grab a beer and a view.

We loved our drinks up in the cupola. It felt like a step back in time to a time before our constantly connected lives. The bartenders were quick, friendly, and even helped us learn about the history of Mackinac and of the Grand Hotel. It was certainly extremely pricy, but it should be expected on the island. Overall a great place to enjoy a drink, and we will be back on our next trip to Mackinac

It's worth a trip to the top of the Grand Hotel and the Cupola Bar just to see the view, which is spectacular. Like the rest of the hotel, the decor is fussy and pretentious, with a giant chandelier hanging between levels of the bar. The drinks are okay but grossly overpriced. There's one drink on the menu for $249! We ordered a flatbread and whitefish chowder, which were good but took almost 30 minutes to arrive. The high tea downstairs looked to be a lot more fun.

Beautiful views. The charcuterie board paired well with our drinks. Service was fast as well. Great place for date night.

I called twice and even asked at the front desk about the admission at the front desk and was told our admission to the grand would be taken off our bill at the Cupola. Only to order and get my bill and be told it did not. We had a party of 8 and half of us were done eating before the rest of the food came out.

SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: N/A DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: 6 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 5.17 A MUST GO! if you are visiting Macinac island then you have to visit the Grand Hotel, and when you visit the Grand Hotel you have to go have drinks at this bar. No questions asked... it's a must for you list if you want a fully immersed experience of excellence. Their menu has a lot of classic drinks, and the bartender is very experienced and can make anything that isn't on menu. This bar has drinks that have been made just for their brand which are delicious. The ambiance, and aesthetics are amazing. It's a small bar so make sure to visit during the afternoon or call ahead to see what seating looks like. This bar made the island experience feel like I was a guest of class and sophistication. A place where a lot of great American leaders have journeyed and shared drinks among colleagues. If you visit in the afternoon the dress code seems to be very relaxed. If you don't feel like dressing up then that is the perfect time to get a drink and enjoy the view. If you enjoy putting on nice clothes then I would definitely recommend trying to get a drink in the evening and relaxing with the best view on the island. We did the afternoon but I will definitely be back and next time for evening cocktails. Overall, this bar has higher priced drinks but you aren't paying for the drink. You're paying for the amazing service and gorgeous view inside and out. Don't go if you're going to just look at the menu prices. 5 stars doesn't do it justice. My first review with more than 5 stars.

Good service and atmosphere. A little hike to get to but well worth it. Appetizers and drink variety worth the premium price.

You cannot beat the view from here even if the drinks are so strong you aren't looking at the view. First off- many drinks are $20 each. The Bloody Mary is as big as you head so... well worth it. The setting is extravagant. Mixed and mold patterns are preset . Great to come as a guest as you are steps from your room. Pleasant staff. Live music at times.

Our original plan was to stay over night here but glad we didn't because I found the place creepy and didn't like the vibe. You don't go away on vacation to be made to feel uncomfortable and not worthy of their service. This place is so pretentious and off putting. charging 10 a person to look around the lobby and go up to the bar. Seriously. The view is lovely especially from the cupola bar. If i hadn't read the reviews I would have walked into the lobby .. looked around and left not knowing they charged a fee. We didn't look around much inside the hotel. then we went to the bar intending to have a cocktail and enjoy the view. The prices were very inflated .. i wasn't at all tempted to order the 200 dollar cocktail .. just a margarita. We sit there for 20 minutes without anyone coming to take our drink order ... so i told my husband I was ok with just leaving. so great view of the bar but not worth the price and the service ... didn't happen. Seemed like mainly geriatric upper crust white folks. there were a couple old folk sitting next to us "educating" this younger guy about the charcuterie board items ... ughh annoying. Typical of the crowd we experienced here. glad we took a look and left. Def not someplace I would want to stay . stuffy pretentious over priced. check out the bar menu and the 200 dollar cocktail ... WHATTTTTT . We travel quiet a bit and I like luxury but this was stuffy and offensively supercilious.

Stopped by for a quick bite/late lunch and had such high hopes. We (5 of us) were the only ones there which was fantastic and I was able to enjoy my sparkling rose with the beautiful view. However, it slowly went downhill. We requested three orders of sliders, a flatbread and the shrimp, and only 3 of the 5 orders came back. We then added truffle fries to tide us over until the 2 orders of sliders arrived...which never did. We were told "something happened in the kitchen." Worst part is by this time the entire bar and all of the tables were full, including people standing right by our table under the chandelier having their counterparts take photos from above. What happened to social distancing? We asked for the check and left - with two hungry teens who never received their food and NO comp for inconvenience. Service started off well but this gentleman never had a chance as he was the only waiter and bartender. POOR management to not offer support.

What can one possibly say that's negative about the Cupola Bar, located at the top of the Grand Hotel? That it's pricey and you can't drink on the cheap here? Please, that's a given. Who cares? When in Rome, do as the Romans do, or so they say... Yes, this is one of the many bars/drinking areas located within the hotel. This one boasts the best views around. Seriously, just sit by the window and sip cocktails all afternoon. The vistas are not to be missed, even if the cocktails are $17.50 apiece. No matter the price tag, it's totally worth it. If you want a nice panoramic view while sipping a summery cocktail, sit up in the Cupola Bar and enjoy your drink(s). I know I did. I've had Irish Coffee and their signature Grand Cosmopolitan, as well as a few glasses of wine up here, while my husband has enjoyed their Grand Manhattan and some of their higher end cognacs and they have been some of the best premium cocktails we've had anywhere. Yes, the drinks are same in every bar in the hotel, but the view is so stunning up here, it's definitely something you should not skip. The cocktail consistency from one bar to another in the hotel (Geranium Bar and Audobon Wine Bar) is excellent, so what you get downstairs, you can get upstairs, too, but with a view that is unrivaled. On top of getting your drink on, you can order food up here, too. The food is delicious, the drinks are worth every cent, and the service is beyond reproach. I like the Cupola Bar because there is no waiting, no loud people, the service is super attentive, and you can enjoy the best view from the island from up here while sipping cocktails and kicking back. Now, that's a vacation.

Cramped, hot, and stuffy. Bar does have nice views but nothing else really going for it. Service was good but the space is just too small and stuffy. No air flow and it was very warm, even on a relatively cool day. Instead of going here, go sit on the porch and get a drink from the Geranium Bar. Much better experience.

Love the Cupola Bar! We've stayed at the Grand Hotel a few times now and there is nothing like enjoying a nice cocktail from upstairs in the Cupola Bar. Honestly, it might be my favorite place to get a drink in the Grand Hotel and the hotel is not lacking for decent watering holes, believe me! The view is spectacular. I like sitting back in front of the window watching the world go by from the top of the Grand Hotel while enjoying a classic cocktail. Some of the best cocktails I've ever had were up here. The wine list and premium cocktail specials are excellent and the craft beer choices are great, too. The service is great here, too, as it is everywhere in the Grand Hotel and largely across the entire island. They definitely understand hospitality and how to treat a guest. My wife and I recently made a trip out to the island again this past summer and really enjoyed sitting up here relaxing and having a few drinks. The only drawback? It's up a narrow flight of stairs, so you better not drink too much or a tumble down the stairs might ensue.

We went for a drink. The service wasn't great especially when considering the prices. But the drinks were well made, the flatbread was the best thing we've eaten in this island & the view was spectacular. We met fun people & had an enjoyable time. I would recommend a visit.

I've heard terrific things about the bar with a great view. I do admit the view was spectacular and my cocktail was delicious. I had the Esther Williams Apple Blossom Cocktail and it was truly tasty and unique. My three stars is because of lack of service. I believe there was only one waitress serving the entire bar. She did the best she could. This is supposed to be a 5 star hotel and the lack of staff or service definitely did not meet my expectations. It was over 2 hours for a cocktail and food. On the other hand, there were two staff members making sure $10 were collected in order to have the cocktail. I love Mackinac Island and the history of the Grand Hotel. I have vacationed here many times and I truly wish my experience had been better.

I would have paid $18 for a drink or two. Plus my partner would of spend a lot more since he enjoys craft cocktails but asking for a $10 admission fee to the hotel premises is ridiculous. We decided to pass as it felt like a rip off.

Two starts because of the view. We are suckers and decided to bite the bullet. We paid for the fee to stand on the porch and to check out the views/pay the drink prices at the Cupola bar. Which listen, nothing on the island is cheap and sometimes you just want to say you did something. Anywho, you'd think with all of those fees service would be top notch (and don't even give me the excuse about Covid being the reason for this. If the service is going to be subpar, then drop the fee to enter.) We spent some time exploring and then took the advice of the visitors center to check out the cupola. Our kids were excited for the view and we were excited for a drink. Husband ordered a Manhattan, I had the special porch beer. When the waitress brought our drinks over, she proceeded to spill the beer all over my 10 y/o son and husband. So she sort of offers to help clean it up and then sort of laughs like it's the funniest thing ever. Mind you, my son now smells like beer and my husbands shoes are soaked. This means a comped drink and lots of apologies right? Nope! It wasn't even taken off our bill and then she proceeds to keep bringing it up every time she comes over. "At least you're got the beer spilling over with for the day!" Wtf?! The kicker to this whole thing? Our credit card was charged twice for our bill.

Wow. I ordered a vodka Collins. The waiter took our order twice and brought me vodka on the rocks. Said he didn't understand. I took it to the bartender who put it in a tall glass added a bunch of roses lime juice and it was so sour I couldn't drink it and refused to pay for it. The bartender tried to tell me it was because I ordered vodka instead of gin. Really disappointing

2 gin and tonics $30. From a 38 year old this place feels like I'm drinking in my grandmas house. The view was nice but not worth the $10 to get in and the $30 for 2 drinks.

This has the very best view of all of Mackinac Island! You can see for miles! This restaurant/bar sits at the very top of The Grand Hotel and has 360 panoramic views of the island. They also have a lower bar located just just below this bar (one floor down) with tvs and more of a sports bar feel.The decor is both is super cool too. They have live entertainment most evenings (at the top bar). Full bar as well. If you want to be at the highest restaurant/bar with a primo view, great drinks & great entertainment.... this is the spot for you!!!