Detroit Drunks of Antiquity Historic Bar Tour

Detroit’s drinking story is older than many of its buildings, and this three-hour tour puts that story in working bars rather than behind museum glass. You’ll visit the Two Way Inn, Abick’s Bar, and Nancy Whiskey Pub while a Detroit history expert connects old taverns with frontier days, Prohibition, and the Purple Gang.

I like the family-run character of the stops and the private transportation, which lets you concentrate on the stories instead of finding three unfamiliar bars on your own. The main drawback is cost: at $64.99, you still pay separately for every drink and any dinner, and the non-refundable booking policy leaves little room for a change of plans.

Key points to know before you book

• Three old Detroit bars: Visit Two Way Inn, Abick’s Bar, and Nancy Whiskey Pub, each with a different personality and past.
• Private transportation included: Ride between the stops instead of arranging your own driving.
• History with every drink: Hear about Detroit’s early French outpost, Prohibition, the Purple Gang, and local drinking customs.
• Three hours, three stops: Each bar receives about 45 minutes, with the remaining time used for transportation and guiding.
• Pickup in two areas: You can begin in Detroit or Ferndale.
• Drinks are extra: The tour price covers transport, taxes, and the guide, but not alcohol or dinner.

Why Detroit’s bar history makes a good tour

Detroit’s past is often told through cars, factories, music, and labor. This tour takes a different route. It follows the places where people met, argued, celebrated, hid from the law, and passed stories across a bar.

That approach works because drinking places are close to everyday life. The tour’s historical thread reaches from Detroit’s days as a French missionary outpost through frontier-era revelry, National Prohibition, and the violent period associated with the Purple Gang.

You are not simply stopping for a beer. You are using three bars as small history classrooms, with the setting doing part of the teaching. A bar that has operated since 1874 can tell you something that a new restaurant cannot, simply because its walls have seen more changes in the city.

The format is also social without forcing you into a formal lecture. You get a guide, a moving vehicle, and time inside each bar. The result should suit you best if you like local stories delivered in an informal setting and prefer a few focused stops over a long city sightseeing route.

Three hours, three bars, and time to look around

The tour lasts about three hours. Each scheduled stop takes roughly 45 minutes, so the day is divided into three equal sections with driving time between them.

That timing matters. Forty-five minutes is enough to order a drink, hear the main stories, look around, and get a feel for the place. It is not enough for a long meal or a slow evening at any one bar.

I would think of this as a moving history program with drinks, not a pub crawl built around staying late at one favorite spot. You should be ready to leave each bar when the group does. The private vehicle keeps the route practical, but it also means you follow the tour’s pace.

Pickup is offered in both Detroit and Ferndale. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate, but the supplied details do not give a specific pickup address or explain the exact vehicle setup. Check the meeting information carefully before you go.

The maximum group size is 42 people. That is not a tiny private outing, so you should expect a group atmosphere rather than a quiet personal tour. The private transportation is a useful inclusion at this size, especially since everyone can move between stops together.

Two Way Inn, Detroit’s oldest operating bar claim

The first stop is Two Way Inn, described as the oldest operating bar currently in Detroit. The bar dates to 1874, giving the opening stop a clear sense of age and place.

That makes it a strong beginning. Instead of starting with a modern bar and working backward, you begin with one of the city’s oldest drinking rooms and then hear how Detroit’s bar culture developed around it.

The owners are part of the appeal. You are told to expect colorful personalities, and the bar has one memorable rule: ring the bell only if you want to buy everyone a drink. That small detail says a lot about the stop. It is not presented as a polished attraction with a scripted display. It is a working bar with its own customs.

You receive about 45 minutes here, with admission included in the tour. Your drink is not included, so you will want to decide what you want without treating the stop as an open bar.

Two Way Inn may be the most important stop for anyone who wants age and atmosphere. It is also the place where expectations matter most. An old bar is not the same thing as a museum, and the experience depends on enjoying a real drinking place, its owners, and its rules.

Abick’s Bar, a southwest Detroit family tradition

Next comes Abick’s Bar in southwest Detroit. It is described as a family-run bar maintained across generations, and it has ties to the Detroit Police Department as a former and current hangout.

That connection gives the stop a different angle from Two Way Inn. The first bar centers on age and ownership personality. Abick’s brings in neighborhood tradition, family continuity, and the kind of local relationships that grow around a bar over many years.

The backyard is a special feature, so be sure to look beyond the main room. The tour specifically calls attention to it, which suggests that the outdoor space is part of the bar’s identity rather than a minor extra.

Again, you have about 45 minutes. That should give you time to order a drink and hear the story without turning the visit into a full meal stop. Dinner is not included anywhere on the tour, so eat beforehand or plan food separately if you need more than bar snacks.

Abick’s may appeal most to you if you like places shaped by local regulars. Its history is not only about dates and notorious names. It is also about who kept the bar going, who used it, and how a neighborhood place becomes part of a city’s social record.

Nancy Whiskey Pub, music and a lively finish

The final stop is Nancy Whiskey Pub, where the mood shifts toward live music, dancing, and a lively backyard. You are also invited to ask about the time the owner arrived riding a horse, a story that gives the place a playful, unpredictable flavor.

Nancy Whiskey is described as busy and energetic. You should know what you want to drink before you reach the bar, since the stop may be packed and the group will have limited time.

That advice is practical. A 45-minute visit can pass quickly when you are waiting to order, listening to music, and trying to talk with your companions. Have a drink choice in mind, but remember that alcohol remains an extra charge.

Ending here makes sense. After the older, more conversational character of the first two stops, Nancy Whiskey gives the tour a social finish. Live music and dancing may appeal to you if you want the final stop to feel like a night out rather than another quiet history talk.

The tradeoff is noise and crowding. If you prefer calm conversation, this may be the least relaxed stop. If you like a bar with motion and sound, it may be the most enjoyable part of the evening.

What the guide adds to the experience

A Detroit history expert leads the tour and provides the main link between the three bars. No guide names are provided, so I cannot tell you to expect a particular personality or presentation style.

What you can expect is a route built around stories. The subject matter includes Detroit’s early frontier days, drinking during National Prohibition, the Purple Gang, and the way alcohol appeared in major moments of city life.

The guide’s value is not just in naming old bars. You could visit a bar on your own and notice its age, backyard, or music. The guide helps explain why those details matter and places each stop within Detroit’s wider past.

The format should work well for you if you enjoy learning in short bursts. Each stop has a clear subject, and the vehicle gives the guide a chance to connect one part of the story to the next while you travel.

The quality of the outing will also depend on how well the guide handles a group of up to 42 people. A large group can make conversation harder, especially at the liveliest stop, but private transport keeps the party together and removes the need for separate driving arrangements.

Is $64.99 a fair price?

The price is $64.99 per person. That includes private transportation, all fees and taxes, and the guided history tour. It does not include alcoholic drinks or dinner.

For value, compare the price with what you would spend arranging three separate bar visits yourself. You would still need to plan the route, find parking or a driver, research the bars, and connect their stories. The tour handles those pieces and gives you a guide who knows why the stops matter.

Still, this is not a cheap night out if you plan to buy several drinks at each bar. The advertised price is only the starting point for your evening budget. Add alcohol, possible food before or after the tour, and transport to the pickup point.

I see the price as reasonable for someone who values the history and transportation. It is less attractive if you mainly want a casual bar crawl and do not care about the stories. In that case, the same money may buy more drinks elsewhere, but you would lose the planned route and expert context.

The booking pattern also suggests that you should not wait until the last minute. This tour is booked an average of 31 days ahead. That figure does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it is a useful sign that advance planning is sensible.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this tour if you like local history, old businesses, and a social evening with a clear schedule. It is especially suitable for friends who want to share a night out without assigning one person to drive.

It also fits visitors who have already seen Detroit’s main attractions and want a different look at the city. The bars provide a way to reach parts of Detroit’s story that do not fit neatly into a standard sightseeing route.

The experience may not suit you if you do not drink, dislike crowded bars, or want a full dinner included. You can still appreciate the history without alcohol, but the tour is built around entering bars and spending time in them.

Families with young children may also find the setting less suitable, though the supplied information says most people can participate. The key question is not physical difficulty. It is comfort with a bar-centered evening.

Because the outing is only about three hours, it works well as one part of a larger Detroit visit. You can schedule it as an evening activity rather than giving up a full day of sightseeing.

Practical details that affect your evening

The tour uses a mobile ticket, so keep your booking accessible on your phone. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is near public transportation.

Drinks and dinner are separate expenses. You may want to eat before the tour, especially since none of the three scheduled stops is presented as a full restaurant visit.

Plan on staying with the group. The tour has a set route and timed stops, and the final bar may be crowded. Choosing your drink quickly at Nancy Whiskey Pub will help you get the most from the 45-minute visit.

Weather can affect the ride. A previous outing took place during snowy and icy road conditions, and the driver handled the roads well. That does not promise identical conditions or guarantee a particular driver, but it is useful reassurance if winter weather is in the forecast.

The cancellation rule is strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so I would book only after checking your schedule, pickup location, and plans for the evening.

My verdict: book it for the stories, not just the drinks

Book the Detroit Drunks of Antiquity Historic Bar Tour if you want old taverns, Detroit history, private transportation, and three very different bar settings in one evening. Two Way Inn offers age and character, Abick’s brings family and neighborhood ties, and Nancy Whiskey Pub finishes with music, dancing, and a lively crowd.

I would skip it if you want a low-cost night of drinking, a quiet meal, or complete freedom to linger. The $64.99 price does not cover alcohol, and the three-hour schedule keeps you moving.

For the right person, the value is in the combination: a guide who gives the bars context, a driver who handles the route, and access to places that feel like part of Detroit’s living past. Bring an appetite for stories, budget separately for drinks, and treat the evening as a guided history outing with a bar in every chapter.

FAQ

How long is the Detroit Drunks of Antiquity Historic Bar Tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

Which bars does the tour visit?

The route includes Two Way Inn, Abick’s Bar, and Nancy Whiskey Pub.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $64.99 per person.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included and must be paid for separately.

Is dinner included?

No. Dinner is not included in the tour price.

Where can I join the tour?

Pickup is available in both Detroit and Ferndale.

Is transportation provided between the bars?

Yes. Private transportation is included, along with all fees and taxes and the guided tour.