Dragonfly
Bar · North End
2929 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
Highlights
Creative cocktails, low-ABV & NA options, small plates
Creative cocktails, low-ABV & NA options, small plates
"More than just a waiting room for uber-popular Freya next door, Dragonfly has a wide range of cocktails, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. The creativity of the bar team shines in their inventive cocktails, with the menu changing up seasonally to take advantage of fresh ingredients. From floral and light thirst-quenchers to intensely aromatic sippers, each drink pairs beautifully with the small plates. Dragonfly’s happy hour extends until 7 p.m. — even on Fridays — for those not ready to rush through the night. Specials include $2 Labatt’s and cocktails, wine, and select dishes for $7 each. Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday." - Mickey Lyons
"Situated next door to tasting-menu establishment Freya, Dragonfly is a casual bar that leans in on the low ABV movement with a variety of cocktails, low alcohol beverages, and non-alcoholic cocktails. Herbal teas, fruits and veggies, and natural sweeteners are used to flavor cocktails. Specialties have included the How Green is Your Garden, made with gin, Bergamot, cucumber, Earl Grey tea, and lemon. This casual, but elegantly designed space in cool blue tones also serves food. Bites have included shareable plates of lamb meatballs, mushroom dumplings, and more, though be sure to peek at the bar menu when you’re there as options may have changed." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Dragonfly, the new bar attached to the Freya tasting menu restaurant in Milwaukee Junction, has a lineup of no- and low-alcoholic drinks. A guilt-free take on an espresso martini is made with homemade NA cynar, coffee, and demerara. The bar’s sip-able housemade white wine made with apple, lavender, thyme, lemon peel, and spruce makes for an ideal alternative to wine. Note, cocktails and mocktails here can be paired with the menu at Freya." - Serena Maria Daniels
"This restaurant-and-bar duo offers dinner and drinks in one building. For $95, diners can experience a multi-course menu that may last several hours and highlights the bounty of each season. (one menu included Island Creek oysters accompanied with compressed melon, Michigan baby carrots charred with toasted pistachio, Michigan sweet corn agnolotti, and chocolate almond custard.) The space feels very relaxed, with a minimal and elegant dining area that features exposed brick and a host stand made of reclaimed wood. An open kitchen allows diners to witness the kitchen team at work. One unexpected element: Diners can select songs to play while they eat, thanks to the restaurant’s robust collection of vinyls. Next door, the Dragonfly bar boasts a low-ABV menu along with a lineup of signature cocktails that changes regularly, as well as creative bar bites like duck tenders. The spot now opens up its space for up-and-coming chefs like the women of Fried Chicken & Caviar, who’ve hosted the Communion Sunday brunch pop-up experience featuring a curated drink menu, special food items, and an eclectic playlist." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Thankfully we live in a golden age for bar food, and Dragonfly’s wagyu pastrami sandwich is particularly indulgent: fatty wagyu pastrami, marinated cabbage, homemade Russian dressing, and funky white cheddar wedged between brioche results in a rich, neatly balanced sandwich that somehow exercises restraint so I didn’t feel totally bogged down afterward; it’s a highlight of their bright, colorful cocktail bar’s happy hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday)." - Serena Maria Daniels
