Nightlife in Hamtramck

At Centaur, the martini is monarch. The menu of seasonally changing cocktails ($9 each, $5 during happy hour) leaves no taste unexplored. The toasted-almond martini swizzles together vanilla, almonds, cocoa, and cinnamon, while the Detroiter uses hometown-hero Vernors ginger ale with splashes of vanilla vodka and spiced rum. Secret agents on the lam after a botched attempt to blow up a supervillain's volcano lair can unwind with the .007 martini's mix of vodka, gin, strawberry, and basil while awaiting further instructions from contacts "Hansel and Gretel," who are enjoying a gingerbread-flavored martini at the other end of the bar. In addition to an extensive selection of beers and wines, Centaur also offers a menu of gourmet small plates for stomachs not quite satisfied by toothpicked olives. Try an ounce of Sevruga caviar ($50), Maryland crab cakes with lobster cream sauce ($10), or three gourmet mini-burgers ($6).

Bottle caps and taps unfurl pints of domestic and imported beers alongside hearty burgers and nachos at Library Sports Pub and Grill's locations in Novi and West Bloomfield. Pizzas baked in circles or squares embrace medleys of meats and vegetables, and Saint Louis–style ribs in full and half slabs revel beneath piquant sauces or dry rubs. Southwestern fajitas sizzle beside cool glasses of Rolling Rock, Stella Artois, Guinness, and 40 other beers, as well as martinis from a seasonal menu and a signature frozen drink of the month. After game clocks run out on the bar's big-screen televisions, local bands, karaoke singers, and DJs entertain diners with boisterous beats. The pub takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to its namesake with frequent-diner "library cards" and complimentary due-date face stamps.

Inside Miss Cue Sports Cafe, guests are greeted with the clatter of pool balls on 22 tables intermingling with the sound of laughter. Between table times, players shore up hand-eye coordination with games of shuffleboard and darts or play shrunken-down versions of sports, such as basketball shootout and foosball.

Sports fans keep one eye on the televisions scattered about the space and the other on the menu of Harry's Hot Dog Hut. The pure vienna beef hot dogs come with innovative toppings such as creamed peas, bacon, baked beans, and a spicy mango chutney made with a house recipe. The full-service bar stands at the ready to concoct libations that wash down dogs better than frosty mugs of mustard.

The self-proclaimed home of the $1 draft, Dooleys Tavern keeps 20 beers cascading from their taps. Those suds complement the chefs' pub food, which includes American tavern classics such as half-pound burgers and up to 50 chicken wings doused in a choice of four sauces. The draft beer house also concocts American dishes with an Irish twist such as corned-beef sliders and a pizza filled with mashed potatoes and topped with bacon and red onions.

Seven nights a week, Dooleys’ three locations keep guests entertained until 2 a.m. on an outdoor patio, in a room full of classic bar games, and with plenty of HDTVs showing the game. The trio of taverns also accommodates up to 100 guests for private parties. Additionally, the Mount Clemens location pairs feasts with sidesplitting routines from standup comics in Carmen's Showroom.

About an hour south of Windsor on the shore of Lake Erie, housed behind the bright red exterior and shaded porch of a historic 1880s home, chefs plate American-style pub cuisine. Servers create natural pairings of beef burgers and hearty entrees with local wines and craft brews, much like police chiefs pair good cops with even better cops. Upstairs, three guest rooms welcome visitors with feather duvet-topped queen beds, fireplaces, and Jacuzzi bathtubs.

With its unique decor and handcrafted specialty cocktails, The Bosco exemplifies class without pretension. According to Metromix, the premises evoke nature inside and out, with decorative trees and a courtyard adorned with waterfalls. At the bar, mixologists create specialty martinis that incorporate fresh fruit juices, simple syrups, liqueurs, and chocolate shavings. Later in the evenings, live DJs spin eclectic tunes at lounge-style events, and patrons enjoy amenities such as valet parking, bottle service, and a direct landline to the president.