The 10 Best Bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI
Last updated September 18, 2026 · ranked from 14,835 Google reviews · How we rank
The best bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI offer distinct reasons to visit: house beers in a historic mill, Irish pub fare with live music, sports screens, or billiards until 2 a.m. Rochester Mills Beer Company at 400 Water St has the largest review count in this guide, with 4,531 Google reviews and a 4.3 rating. Its historic knitting-mill setting, house beers, outdoor seating and trivia nights distinguish it from the sports-bar options.
Griffin Claw Clubhouse at 2265 Crooks Rd pairs well over 100 beers with burgers and other casual food, earning 4.5 stars from 1,989 reviews. Grand Tavern Rochester Hills has a 4.3 rating across 3,440 reviews, with sports TVs, trivia, and happy-hour food and drinks at 3512 Marketplace Cir.
For a later evening, O'Connor's Public House at 324 S Main St combines Irish and American bar fare, craft brews and frequent live music, staying open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Main Street Billiards at 215 S Main St keeps 5 p.m.–2 a.m. hours daily, with pool, weekend DJs and dancing. Hamlin Pub adds karaoke, live music and trivia, while RJ's Pub - Sir Pizza offers pizza, darts, Golden Tee and fall-and-winter live trivia.
Top picks at a glance
1BAUSBAUS shares space with a barbershop, serves cocktails, beer and wine, and receives reviewer praise for espresso martinis.
2Griffin Claw ClubhouseGriffin Claw Clubhouse offers over 100 beer options, cocktails, bar games, sports viewing and happy-hour food and drinks.
3Rochester Mills Beer CompanyRochester Mills Beer Company serves house beers in a historic knitting mill, with live music, trivia nights and bar games.
4.8(458)· Google4.8 out of 5 from 458 reviews (Google rating)
Cocktail bar · $ · Downtown Rochester (Main Street)
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
A cocktail lounge sharing space with a barbershop gives BAUS a distinctive setting at 114 E 4th St in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. Its No. 1 ranking is supported by a 4.8 Google rating across 458 reviews, with reviewers praising welcoming bartenders and espresso martinis, including a tequila version. The drinks menu covers cocktails, beer, wine and liquor, with happy-hour drinks also available. Relaxed weeknights give way to weekend events and bottle service, and Friday and Saturday hours extend to 2 a.m.
Espresso martini praise
Weekend bottle service
Friday–Saturday late hours
“Baus [Bar]ber Rochester Hills has best haircut waiting room - it’s a full service cocktail bar”
4.5(1,989)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 1989 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $$ · The Village of Rochester Hills (Walton & Adams)
Open now · closes 11:00 PM
Well over 100 beer options give Griffin Claw Clubhouse a concrete reason to take rank 3 among bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. The dark-wood sports pub at 2265 Crooks Rd pairs that selection with cocktails, wine, burgers and other casual food. Bar games, sports viewing and happy-hour food and drinks provide several ways to spend an evening. Reviewers praise the beer and cider choices, with one work-group visitor noting attentive service. It holds a 4.5-star Google rating across 1,989 reviews.
Over 100 beers
Happy-hour food and drinks
Sports and bar games
“My work crew stopped here on a Thursday night. The server was attentive and the beverages were great! A greater connection, or view of the brewing process would be cool.”
4.3(4,531)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 4531 reviews (Google rating)
Brewpub · $$ · Downtown Rochester (Main Street)
Open now · closes 1:00 AM
A historic knitting mill gives Rochester Mills Beer Company a distinctive setting for house beers and comfort food in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. Its No. 4 spot reflects the breadth of a bar visit here: live music, trivia nights and bar games complement beer, wine and cocktails, with food available at the bar. Outdoor seating adds another option, and Friday and Saturday hours extend to 1 a.m. A 4.3-star Google rating across 4,531 reviews rounds out its case.
Historic mill setting
House beers
Live music
“The food was overpriced, small portions and poor quality. Didn't care for the beer and the service was mediocre. Second visit and will not return.”
4.3(3,442)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 3442 reviews (Google rating)
Sports bar · $$ · The Village of Rochester Hills (Walton & Adams)
Open now · closes 11:00 PM
Draft beer, sports TVs and trivia nights give Grand Tavern Rochester Hills several reasons to hold rank 5 among bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. Happy-hour offerings include both food and drinks, while pub grub and classic entrees make it an option for dinner as well as a drink. Guests can sit at the bar, choose table service or head outdoors. Its 4.3-star Google rating across 3,440 reviews adds support, and two supplied reviews praise the service.
Draft beer
Trivia nights
Food and drink specials
“Rating is strictly due to horrible drinks and refusal to remove drink from bill. Do not order the espresso martini! It was the nastiest I’ve ever tasted! Menu lists Tito’s, kahlua and espresso- fine! Looked and tasted like there was ZE…”
A comfortable neighborhood feel and a full calendar of bar activities earn Hamlin Pub the No. 6 spot in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. The original location pairs sports viewing with live music, karaoke, trivia, and bar games. Its full bar offers craft beer, cocktails, and rotating drink specials, while the scratch-made menu includes hand-battered fish and chips. One reviewer praises the Guinness pour and says conversation is possible. Thursday through Saturday, the pub stays open until 2 a.m.
Sports and trivia
Live music nights
Weekend late hours
“UK Football (Soccer) local spot.
Fullers London Pride on tap would make you legendary! 🤑”
4.2(1,365)· Google4.2 out of 5 from 1365 reviews (Google rating)
Sports bar · $$ · Rochester Road corridor (Rochester Hills)
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Whiskey, drafts and sports viewing give Johnny Blacks Public House a clear identity among bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. Its No. 7 spot rests on a combination of pub food, beer and cocktails, bar games, and happy-hour food and drinks. Friday and Saturday hours run until 2 a.m., making it useful for later nights. A 4.2 Google rating from 1,364 reviews adds support, while classmates and reunion guests specifically praise the friendly service and atmosphere for group gatherings.
Sports and games
Happy-hour food
Weekend late nights
“We had our 40th Class reunion here. The food, service and atmosphere was amazing!!! Our dedicated servers Riley and Dana were so friendly and went above and beyond. Food was delicious and hot. We could not have been happier!”
4.2(1,798)· Google4.2 out of 5 from 1798 reviews (Google rating)
Sports bar · $$ · Oakland University area
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Regulation-size shuffleboard, live music and a TV-filled room give Red Ox Tavern several ways to spend an evening beyond drinks. It earns rank 8 in our Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI guide with that mix of entertainment, happy-hour food and drinks, and a locally sourced menu. One reviewer praises the large beer selection and friendly staff, while Google records a 4.2 rating from 1,797 reviews. Group-friendly seating and Friday and Saturday hours until 2 a.m. add practical reasons to visit.
Regulation-size shuffleboard
Happy-hour food and drinks
Live music
“A pleasant place with good food, a large beer selection, and a friendly staff.”
4.2(106)· Google4.2 out of 5 from 106 reviews (Google rating)
Cocktail bar · $ · Downtown Rochester (Main Street)
Open now · closes 11:00 PM
More than 150 tequilas give The Backdoor a specific reason to take ninth place among bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. Handmade cocktails, margaritas and happy-hour drinks anchor the menu, with Mexican food served at the bar as well as at tables. Its upbeat, speakeasy-style setting suits a date night or group outing. One reviewer praised the tequila flight, margaritas, mezcal offerings and retro music; another singled out happy-hour value. Its Google rating stands at 4.2 from 106 reviews.
Over 150 tequilas
Happy-hour drinks
Speakeasy-style atmosphere
“Great atmosphere and service. Eva was teaching a new hire (Carly) and they did a fantastic job. The tequila flight and the multiple margs were great. The food was yummy. Don’t sleep on the mezcal offerings. Music was retro-great. H…”
Lions games, karaoke and live-music nights give Tapper’s Pub several ways to fill an evening in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI. It earns the No. 10 spot with draft beers, hearty pub food and a casual, cozy setting, backed by a 4.2 Google rating from 159 reviews. One reviewer praises the atmosphere during Lions games; another singles out the wings, fries and burger. Happy-hour food and drinks, bar games and Friday–Saturday hours until 2 a.m. round out its appeal.
Karaoke and music
Lions game atmosphere
Happy-hour food and drinks
“Not a fan. Kitchen was closed. 1 staff member who wasnt very pleasant. Dark & well wont be hoing back.”
Map of every pick
Compare at a glance
Comparison of the best Bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI
4.2(159)4.2 out of 5 from 159 reviews (Google rating)
$
Rochester Road corridor (Rochester Hills)
Open
Ratings and review counts shown are Google ratings, displayed with attribution.
How we ranked this list
Each bar is scored on a Bayesian-weighted rating (its rating adjusted for how many reviews it has compared with the Rochester category average), how recently we verified its details, and how complete its listing is. Scores and ranks are stored, so the order only changes when the underlying data changes.
Bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI: common questions
Which bars in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI stay open until 2 a.m.?
Main Street Billiards is open until 2 a.m. every day, opening at 5 p.m. O'Connor's Public House and Johnny Blacks Public House close at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Hamlin Pub closes at 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Where can I find live music, trivia or dancing?
Rochester Mills Beer Company offers live music and trivia. O'Connor's Public House features frequent live music, while Hamlin Pub has live music, karaoke and trivia. Grand Tavern Rochester Hills also offers trivia, and RJ's Pub - Sir Pizza runs live trivia during fall and winter. Main Street Billiards has live DJs and dancing every weekend.
Which bars offer happy-hour food and drinks?
Grand Tavern Rochester Hills, Griffin Claw Clubhouse, O'Connor's Public House, Johnny Blacks Public House and Hamlin Pub all offer both happy-hour food and drinks. RJ's Pub - Sir Pizza offers happy-hour drinks.
Where can I have a drink outdoors?
Outdoor seating is available at Rochester Mills Beer Company, Grand Tavern Rochester Hills, Griffin Claw Clubhouse, O'Connor's Public House, Main Street Billiards and RJ's Pub - Sir Pizza. O'Connor's also allows dogs outside. A Rochester Mills reviewer describes its outdoor seating as first come, first served.
Which sports bars have games as well as screens?
RJ's Pub - Sir Pizza at 288 W Tienken Rd has multiple sports screens, darts and Golden Tee. Main Street Billiards offers pool and sports viewing. Johnny Blacks Public House at 1711 E Auburn Rd, Griffin Claw Clubhouse and Hamlin Pub also list both sports viewing and bar games.
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