Drink and Link: Where to Wi-Fi and Drink Up in Detroit

There’s that scene in “Sweet Home Alabama” where Reese Witherspoon’s character says to an old friend with disgust thinly veiled as wonderment, “You have a baby … in a bar.”

I used to see people with laptops at bars and feel the same way. You have an MacBookPro … a bar.

I was wrong to judge. There are times that call for something more akin to a ‘Mad Men’ style three-martini midday meeting. There are times when a coffee shop and caffeine won’t cut it.

Of course we at Model D would never endorse irresponsible drinking and would never, ever, suggest operating any type of vehicle or heavy machine under the influence. Open up a laptop and a cold one, now and then, and we can get behind that.

As it turns out, Detroit is well plugged in when it comes to finding places to use the Internet and enjoy a tall frosty one. Lots of places you might not expect, like “it” restaurant Roast, for example, offer wireless Internet.

So we sent out a call to our dear readers on Facebook to ask where they like to plug in, log on and enjoy adult beverages. And then we turned to our panel of … ahem … experts: Joe Posch, owner of Mezzanine and blogger about fine home design; Diane Geiger, a freelancer and therefore connossieur of fine wifi; Ryan Hertz, grad student and community activist who often catches up on e-mail and other tasks while  Diane works at her “office.”

Note: If you plan to open the laptop at the bar, you might want to follow some drink-and-link etiquette. (Order something please. Tip your server. Don’t overindulge or your could find yourself married to a Saudi prince or video blogging like her.)

Here are some of the places we found to be best in the city for having a drink and going online.

Honest? John’s
First off, the food is good pub grub, which makes Honest John’s a good place for a breakfast, late lunch or after dinner work session with reliable Wi-Fi. Off-peak hours are suggested because it’s such a busy lunch spot. “These big booths lend them selves to some privacy,” says Hertz of the spacious tables with high-backed benches. “It’s like a little cubicle,” adds Geiger. “These are good for meetings. These are like a conference room tables,” she says. “Minus the glamour,” adds Posch. Honest John’s is not fancy by any means, so no fussy fancy frilly drinks. “I usually think of food when I come here but I usually end up drinking,” Hertz adds. Lots of street parking.

Atlas Global Bistro
You might not expect Wi-Fi at a higher end restaurant, but the bar at Altas is Posch’s wireless hot spot of choice. He likes the classy atmosphere, the big windows, the ambiance and the fact that it’s not an overly smoky establishment. “That’s my favorite drinking and working place of all,” he says, adding, “you don’t feel like you are at a ‘bar,'” “I used to go there in the morning back when they were the only place that had Wi-Fi around here,” adds Geiger. Posch adds that if the Wi-Fi goes down, for whatever reason, “don’t be embarrassed, just ask them to reset the browser.” It’s good advice at any of our locations. The Wi-Fi is a service for customers and the servers want you to stay, and drink, and work. So ask nicely. Lots of street parking or valet.

Angelina Bistro
This newer restaurant has a really wide, really spacious bar, which is great for having your own personal space to open a laptop and a bottle of wine. Ask your server for the password to access the Wi-Fi. If at a table, try to find one with a plug (there’s one near the table smack at the corner of Broadway and Madison). They have a nice wine list that’s surprisingly affordable. The small plates and pizzas also make for good gnoshing, and if you want something less potent, they make a beautiful cappuccino. ” If I am in the mood to drink wine I might choose that place,” says Geiger. And it gets high marks for being nonsmoking, adds Posch. Some nearby street parking or valet.

Park Bar
This is a great place to spend the evening or well into the night. Posch says power is not a problem. “They have outlets around the bar — at the bar – built into the bar.” Nice. Beer would be the order at the Park Bar because of the extensive and impressive offering, our experts agree. It’s smoky, but unless it’s a Tiger’s game day it’s not going to be overly crowded and the big circular bar offers enough space to hold a laptop and a killer chicken schwarma from the Bucharest Grill menu offered at the bar. Park on the street nearby.

Cliff Bell’s
“During the right time of day, it’s an awesome spot,” says Geiger. The right time would be happy hour. They’ve got a happy hour special on now that offers half price wine and food. They’ve just recently added a menu and it’s good stuff. Even the Brussels sprouts are to die for, and the housemade garlic noodles are sensational. Plus it’s got a great location, Geigger adds, “if it gets too busy you  can go to Park Bar next door.” Park on the street nearby.

Other Wi-Fi-friendly bars:

Woodbridge Tavern: Many, many readers declared this their favorite place to drink and go online. Jessi McCabe says they have great food and drink specials like (half off wine on Fridays and Saturdays, nice).

Majestic Café: Reader Melanie Hughs Davies says the café saved her when she was in the area one day and needed a place to work. She was thrilled to find they had Wi-Fi “and it worked perfectly (alongside two Blue Moons).”

Slow’s: Too busy to linger and lunch. On a nice afternoon, try the patio; power’s an issue but some spots are shady enough to see your screen. Great beer and food.

Traffic Jam & Snug. It’s not super hip, but there are tons of tables. Lots of space and good food or drink.

Foran’s Irish Pub: New façade, breakfast menu 4 days a week plus Sunday brunch, and the right downtown on Woodward. Bloody mary and French toast? Yes please.

Motor City Brewing Works: Obviously the beer is excellent, but not enough people know you can get wireless Internet and really fabulous pizza and salads.

Roast and 24 Grille: New Book Cadillac restaurants make for a super classy lunch meeting where you need a laptop. Or try the bars, especially during peak hours. “At Roast, it is super expensive, but if you want that one perfect martini, this is the place,” says Geiger.

Photos:

Detroit singer – songwriter Audra Kubat at The Bronx Bar

Joe Posch with his pink laptop at Atlas Bistro

Diane Geiger with her pink laptop at the Woodbridge pub

“Shakin’, not stirred” at 24 Grille in the Book Cadillac

Artist and Metal fabricator Billy West at the Motor City Brewing Works

All photographs by Detroit Photographer Marvin Shaouni Marvin Shaouni is the Managing Photographer for Metromode & Model D.