The Aladdin Sane
Cocktail bar · Downtown ·
Japanese-inspired cocktail bar with David Bowie-themed drinks
Japanese-inspired cocktail bar with David Bowie-themed drinks
"An underground cocktail den with a decidedly global flair, the Aladdin Sane in the Book Tower is a tiny little jewel of a bar with seating for eight and lounge space for a couple dozen more. The drinks lean on Japanese cocktails. Luxe options like the caviar-topped Sake and Strange Divine take their names and inspiration from David Bowie songs. The bar has a large selection of Japanese whiskies as well." - Mickey Lyons
"Downtown’s much-vaunted Book Tower revamp has evolved over the last several years as new restaurant and bar spaces fill out the hotel footprint. One of the most intimate and focused is the basement-level bar, Aladdin Sane, named after David Bowie’s American road trip rock album. The atmospheric and elegant underground space is warm and carefully considered, from the armed bar chairs to the deep booths inviting equally deep conversations. Luxury is the word here: caviar martinis with sake-infused gin, smoked cocktails, and a dazzling list of Scotch and Japanese whiskies. It’s the kind of place that inspires awe and reverence and not a little mystery." - Mickey Lyons
"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
"A subterranean, Japanese-inspired cocktail bar tucked behind a curtain on the lower level of the historic Book Tower (next to upscale restaurant Hiroki‑San) offers an intimate experience with just nine seats at the bar and 23 lounge seats. Designed by Stokes Architecture + Design, the space uses dark woods, leather, and uniform-height bars and tables to evoke Tokyo cocktail-bar aesthetics; subtle anime and pop-culture references appear throughout the décor and menu. The drink program emphasizes rare whiskies — including a Yamazaki 18 100th Anniversary Edition and, reportedly, the only bottle of Glenfiddich 29 Year Grand Yozakura available in a Michigan bar — and showcases cocktails that nod to pop culture, such as the whisky-based "Watch That Man," a sakura-infused rum spritz called "Panic in Detroit," and the "Ziggy Highball." Opened as the sixth food-or-drink venue since the Book Tower's recent renovation, it operates 5 p.m.–11 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday and 5 p.m.–midnight Friday–Saturday." - Serena Maria Daniels
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