Lowertown Bar & Cafe sits at 1031 Broadway in a former mechanic's garage built in 1938. The cinder-block building on Ann Arbor's Northside has traded car repairs for coffee, cocktails, and community gatherings. It's a coffee shop by morning and a cocktail bar around dinnertime. Same room, same comfortable booths. What changes is what's in your cup.
Mornings run on Hyperion coffee, roasted down the road in Ypsilanti, with pastries from Botanical Bakeshop and Beara Bakes. Try the Camo Latte, which combines matcha, espresso, vanilla, and cocoa. The WiFi is fast, and there's no rush to leave, making it an easy spot to settle in with a laptop or a book.
By evening, the cocktail menu takes over. The espresso martini is the bestseller, which feels right for a place that spends half its day pulling espresso shots. The Michigan Rattler features hibiscus syrup the staff steeps for days, while the beer selection includes Kölle.Alaaf Kölsch from Ann Arbor's Hear.Say Brewing. Not drinking? Try the Mock Mule with non-alcoholic whiskey, ginger, and lime, or the London Fog Cream Soda made with Earl Grey tea, vanilla, orange, and soda.
There's no full kitchen, but food trucks park outside most evenings, and you're welcome to bring your own food. The bar also offers a small selection of snacks. There's usually something happening beyond the drinks. Tuesday trivia runs from 7 to 9 PM, while Wednesday's Cocktail R&D nights feature experimental drinks from 4 to 10 PM. Comedy shows, book club meetings, and Premier League watch parties also make appearances on the calendar. Check the full lineup at lowertowna2.com/events.
Lowertown is open Monday and Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 8 AM to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 11 PM. Parking is free, dogs are welcome on the patio, and the outdoor fire pits help keep things cozy when temperatures drop. Follow @LowertownA2 for food truck schedules and event updates.
Whether you're bringing a laptop for morning coffee, meeting friends for trivia, or settling in by the patio fire pits, this old Northside garage has plenty of reasons to come back.
