Bar Hop Downtown Muskegon

MUSKEGON- A ‘bar hop’ is technically an experience wherein a group of people visit local drinking establishments to enjoy the libations that each place might offer. Nowadays, bars pull out all the stops, with live music, trivia contests, even yoga, dance lessons, and cornhole tournaments.

Muskegon is right in the mix of it all, with numerous local places in Muskegon are full of fun and entertainment. And, if you are going to do a real “Bar Hop,” you better start early- 2 a.m. comes REAL early with these places to visit!

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Rad Dads

470 W Western Ave Suite A

Located in L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center, this low-key industrial outpost serves street-style Mexican tacos alongside beer & tequila drinks. Tons of great dishes and yummy drinks to start out your night! Specials include $2 off Margaritas on Mondays and $1 Pound Town Tacos every #TacoTuesday. And don’t miss their epic Bloody Mary bar on the weekends!

18^th Amendment Spirits Company

350 W. Western Avenue

Nicknamed “The Spirit of Downtown Muskegon,” this establishment offers entertainment, a restaurant, educational events, and a retail outlet. Truly a unique place to congregate, imbibe, shop, and enjoy the newly reinvigorated spirit of Downtown Muskegon.

By definition, 18th Amendment Spirits Co. is a craft distillery, but it’s far more than a distillery or bar. The building houses a vintage Brunswick bar, originally built in Muskegon, where patrons can enjoy exceptionally well-crafted cocktails at reasonable rates.

Socibowl by Pigeon Hill

441 W. Western Avenue

At its heart, Socibowl is three separate spaces- a full-service restaurant ready to fill your glass and belly, a duckpin bowling alley where your inner kid can escape, and an indoor beer garden with yard games, darts, and pinball! You can find all of them in Socibowl’s indoor beergarden! 

When the weather cooperates, the best of the outdoors is combined into a fun communal (and oh, so kitschy) space.  Always warm and safe from the snow, the beergarden is the most casual space at Socibowl.  Here, you can grab a beer and play some games while you wait for your tables or lanes.

Burl & Sprig

333 W. Western Avenue

A unique place for the connoisseur and the novice patron to experience, Burl & Sprig offers six rums that they distill at their sister distillery in Panama called Las Cabras, where one of the owners used to apprentice 5 years ago. The rest of their portfolio is made right in Muskegon.

They practice the art of true mixology. Every single product they sell is made from scratch, including over 30 mixers. Using fresh juice, mixers are made from the highest quality ingredients, using techniques and equipment most craft cocktail places dream of.

They won awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2019, where they took home medals for their rums– beating every rum distillery in the world.

Rooted in the idea of seeing beauty in that which others may originally pass over, celebrating both the old and the new, and creating something that can be enjoyed by everyone, from food to cocktails.

They specialize in a rum-centric spirit line under the West Michigan Rum Company, borne from the unrelenting desire to distill, blend and discover designer rums of exceptional quality and taste. They also offer gin and vodka to lend diversity to their cocktail solutions but mainly focus on their specialty rums.

Pigeon Hill Brewing Co. Brewer’s Lounge

895 4^th Street

You can’t NOT enjoy a great craft beer here- located at their production facility at 895 4th Street in Downtown Muskegon (the big blue building), the Brewer’s Lounge blends a mix of traditional taproom seating and a chance to sit amongst the towering stainless steel tanks.  Whether you are looking for a drink (they offer over 20 taps of craft beer, draft cocktails, wine, and cider) or a bit to eat, this taproom offers something for everyone.

Much like the community taverns of early American history, the Brewer’s Lounge is a community gathering space.  There are no TVs; instead, you’ll find board games, cards, and darts. 

Seating ranges from single seats at the bar to small tables to communal picnic tables.  It is a place where all are welcome, whether seeking a moment alone, a night with family, or a chance to meet new friends.

You’ll find events here as well, including (but never limited) to run group, dart league, euchre night, live music, game days, and more.

Unruly Brewing Company

360 W. Western Avenue

Unruly was born from a punk-life attitude and the drive to make awesome craft beer. If you’re looking for a quaint coffeehouse-style brewery to sip on some dessert beer rimmed with sugar, this isn’t the place for that. But if you want to drink some damn good beer and kick back to some really great music, this is the place for you.

Located beneath the taproom in the basement of the 1890’s circa building, this 5bbl Portland Kettle Works brew system keeps fresh craft beer flowing to the taproom daily.

They are proud to be different- “We make kick-ass beer, and we bring an against-the-grain attitude to the craft beer industry. We are one nation, the Unruly Nation. We have one life, and we live it UNRULY.”

On any given day, you’ll hear pumping through the speakers the likes of Green Day, Mustard Plug, Johnny Cash, might get into Motown, or maybe even a little Matt Williams if they’re feeling down home and country. Friday and Saturday nights, they tend to kick things up a notch with live music on the stage bringing in acts from all over the nation.

Skeetown Tavern

1308 W Sherman Blvd

This out-of-the-way stop on your pub hop is not only to taste their libations (Voted 2019 best bloody Mary in Muskegon at Muskegon JayCees Winter Fest), but to enjoy their award-winning food (Voted best steak in Muskegon by MLive and voted best soup at 2020 Muskegon JayCees Winter Fest for shrimp and sausage etouffee).

They take pride in their hand-crafted food that is cooked to order, with homemade roux, stocks, and sauces are foundations for their dishes. Fresh hand-cut chicken is brined for 24 hours. Handmade taco shells, hand-cut ribeye, in-house smoked pork and hand-battered fried items will send you home with a full belly and a batch of happy tastebuds.

Need a great place to stay while in Muskegon?

Check out all the fun places to stay in the area!

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