The Old Shillelagh - Detroit's #1 Irish Pub Since 1975

Dined here before an event at Ford Field (only an 8 min walk away). In Greektown area, this older pub offers patio seating (to accommodate for larger parties) that does have heaters in the winter and TVs to watch sporting events. Typical bar/pub atmosphere, service was ok (our waitress wasn’t the greatest, as she missed placing two of our 11 party members orders and then completely forgot about 1 entirely, claiming she “couldn’t read her own handwriting”)?? Overall food was good (vegan party members enjoyed the beyond burgers but did not care for the jackfruit Reuben.) Fries are very tasty, fish tacos were good, buffalo chicken wrap was flavorful & filling and the regular burgers & Reuben were good, too. Pepsi products a minus. Definitely an option if you are in the area and need a convenient bite to eat before heading to an event in downtown Detroit. (Near Greektown Casino)

The Ole Sheliegh is a classic downtown/Greektown staple destination go to must see spot. They have live music with different genres on three floors of fun! The staff is super fun and friendly and the atmosphere is lively!

Food was great, reasonably priced. Bartender/waitress was good. One star review because they hid a 15% tip on my bill for a party of two. You only see it if you take a detailed look at every item you ordered. So I tipped another 20%. A cheap scam that will cost them repeat business. We will never go back

Amazing bar staff, good food. The community is really what makes it. Will be back as many times as my liver allows. With that said, charging a cover on every expected big night seems to be stifling them. In my times here I see people regularly walking away rather than coming in because they'll charge a cover even on nights when there's 6 people at the bar because they thought it would be busier. I'm no business owner but from the layman it seems obvious they're passing up on a lot of money by trying to charge a little.

Impressively expansive clearly-labeled/dedicated vegan menu with a ton of variety and options! The bar was fun, we stopped by for a quick lunch. Staff was friendly, sit anywhere & order at the bar kind of experience. Definitely would go back!

The Old Shillelagh in Detroit stands as a beloved staple in the city’s vibrant nightlife scene, widely recognized as one of the top Irish pubs in the area. Known for its lively atmosphere and authentic Irish charm, this establishment has been drawing in both locals and visitors alike for decades with its combination of traditional Irish hospitality and dynamic entertainment. Stepping into The Old Shillelagh, you’re immediately welcomed by the warm, rustic decor that transports you straight to Ireland. The wooden interiors, adorned with memorabilia and traditional Irish elements, create a cozy and inviting ambiance. The pub is famous for its live music, particularly on weekends, when it becomes a hub of energy and excitement with bands playing both contemporary hits and Irish classics. The menu at The Old Shillelagh features a mix of Irish pub fare and American favorites. Dishes like their famous fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef sandwiches are perennial favorites, perfectly paired with a wide selection of beers on tap, including several Irish staples like Guinness, Smithwick’s, and Harp. The bartenders are also well-versed in crafting a variety of cocktails, from classic mixes to more innovative concoctions. Here’s a tip: Make sure to visit during one of their special events, such as St. Patrick’s Day or during Detroit’s sports games. The Old Shillelagh goes all out, offering a truly immersive and spirited experience that captures the essence of Irish celebration. In conclusion, The Old Shillelagh is more than just a bar; it’s a cornerstone of Detroit’s social scene, offering a genuine slice of Irish culture with its excellent hospitality, lively entertainment, and hearty food. Whether you’re looking for a night out with friends or a place to enjoy a pint and some good music, The Old Shillelagh delivers an experience that’s hard to match.

I like their vegan options. Jackfruit egg rolls are my go to. It’s a sauce they give you & it’s so good. Waiter/waitress are always nice. However it’s a bit dark with no chairs at the bar. So don’t expect the dine in experience. It is a night club/bar so I wouldn’t take that away from them.

This is one of the best place for vegan or vegetarian food, hands down. We were really very surprised! They have great selection, most delicious food. Service is awesome and so are drinks! Wish we went when there was a game. It sure has great atmosphere

Dined here before an event at Ford Field (only an 8 min walk away). In Greektown area, this older pub offers patio seating (to accommodate for larger parties) that does have heaters in the winter and TVs to watch sporting events. Typical bar/pub atmosphere, service was ok (our waitress wasn’t the greatest, as she missed placing two of our 11 party members orders and then completely forgot about 1 entirely, claiming she “couldn’t read her own handwriting”)?? Overall food was good (vegan party members enjoyed the beyond burgers but did not care for the jackfruit Reuben.) Fries are very tasty, fish tacos were good, buffalo chicken wrap was flavorful & filling and the regular burgers & Reuben were good, too. Pepsi products a minus. Definitely an option if you are in the area and need a convenient bite to eat before heading to an event in downtown Detroit. (Near Greektown Casino)

The Ole Sheliegh is a classic downtown/Greektown staple destination go to must see spot. They have live music with different genres on three floors of fun! The staff is super fun and friendly and the atmosphere is lively!

Food was great, reasonably priced. Bartender/waitress was good. One star review because they hid a 15% tip on my bill for a party of two. You only see it if you take a detailed look at every item you ordered. So I tipped another 20%. A cheap scam that will cost them repeat business. We will never go back

Amazing bar staff, good food. The community is really what makes it. Will be back as many times as my liver allows. With that said, charging a cover on every expected big night seems to be stifling them. In my times here I see people regularly walking away rather than coming in because they'll charge a cover even on nights when there's 6 people at the bar because they thought it would be busier. I'm no business owner but from the layman it seems obvious they're passing up on a lot of money by trying to charge a little.

Impressively expansive clearly-labeled/dedicated vegan menu with a ton of variety and options! The bar was fun, we stopped by for a quick lunch. Staff was friendly, sit anywhere & order at the bar kind of experience. Definitely would go back!

The Old Shillelagh in Detroit stands as a beloved staple in the city’s vibrant nightlife scene, widely recognized as one of the top Irish pubs in the area. Known for its lively atmosphere and authentic Irish charm, this establishment has been drawing in both locals and visitors alike for decades with its combination of traditional Irish hospitality and dynamic entertainment. Stepping into The Old Shillelagh, you’re immediately welcomed by the warm, rustic decor that transports you straight to Ireland. The wooden interiors, adorned with memorabilia and traditional Irish elements, create a cozy and inviting ambiance. The pub is famous for its live music, particularly on weekends, when it becomes a hub of energy and excitement with bands playing both contemporary hits and Irish classics. The menu at The Old Shillelagh features a mix of Irish pub fare and American favorites. Dishes like their famous fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef sandwiches are perennial favorites, perfectly paired with a wide selection of beers on tap, including several Irish staples like Guinness, Smithwick’s, and Harp. The bartenders are also well-versed in crafting a variety of cocktails, from classic mixes to more innovative concoctions. Here’s a tip: Make sure to visit during one of their special events, such as St. Patrick’s Day or during Detroit’s sports games. The Old Shillelagh goes all out, offering a truly immersive and spirited experience that captures the essence of Irish celebration. In conclusion, The Old Shillelagh is more than just a bar; it’s a cornerstone of Detroit’s social scene, offering a genuine slice of Irish culture with its excellent hospitality, lively entertainment, and hearty food. Whether you’re looking for a night out with friends or a place to enjoy a pint and some good music, The Old Shillelagh delivers an experience that’s hard to match.

I like their vegan options. Jackfruit egg rolls are my go to. It’s a sauce they give you & it’s so good. Waiter/waitress are always nice. However it’s a bit dark with no chairs at the bar. So don’t expect the dine in experience. It is a night club/bar so I wouldn’t take that away from them.

This is one of the best place for vegan or vegetarian food, hands down. We were really very surprised! They have great selection, most delicious food. Service is awesome and so are drinks! Wish we went when there was a game. It sure has great atmosphere

This has been a greektown staple for many years. Can't say more than any other Yelper. I will call out the really tasty fries here. They almost look like a Frito scoop. Well seasoned and from a texture basis, some are soft and fluffy and others are crunchy and have the thinness of a potato chip. Truly remarkable surprise.

Came here for lunch recently. It seems like a fun bar at night! There's a lot of seating inside and a nice patio. Service was friendly and quick. The food is standard bar food, but they have a huge vegan menu which is really cool. The fries were really good.

Had a great time at the Old Shillelagh. Was in town for the NFL draft and they showed us a great time. They had a couple events and opened up all the floors. Connected with the staff and learned a lot about the city. Played darts with regulars and learned a thing or two there as well. Stuck to Jameson and Gingers. (I'm a low maintenance drinker) Detroit seems like it's doing a full 180. Can't wait to be back.

We just came here for a quick pint and to check it out (we were visiting family and they brought us here).. What a fun spot!! The bartender (his name was Jason) was a fantastic bartender with a great personality and was very good with the patrons. I did see some people order food, and it looked good, but we were only here for one pint. We would definitely come back

A traditional style bar, with lots of wood and TV screens with ball games on. A good variety of beers, with a more limited menu, but the corned beef on rye did not disappoint. Service was friendly and attentive. Overall, a nice experience.

Obsessed with The Old Shillelagh! I'm fully plant based and their plant based menu is INCREDIBLE. I currently live in LA, and they truly have more plant based options than most restaurants in LA. Great food, great drinks, and great vibes :)

If you like the Shamrock Club in Chicago, you'll love it here. Old school Irish bar with delicious food and great service.

This was my first time to The Old Shillelagh. It was Halloween night and there were probably a dozen people there. I met the bartender Jason and he was a great guy who played awesome music. I had a mushroom Swiss burger and a Smithwick's followed by their red from Frankenmuth Brewery. All were excellent. I even sought out the cook to tell him so. I've read the other one star reviews and I just didn't have that experience. I did see the 15% automatic gratuity sign before ordering. I've been to bars all over the country and I had a good beer, a good meal and a good time. I'm going back this weekend.

If I would have written a review three years ago it would have been five stars, easy. I remember them having some of the best vegan nachos I've ever had. Excellent cheese and sour cream, hearty, and overall delicious. Sadly I returned for those same nachos and they were dry and lacking and either don't come with vegan sour cream anymore or they forgot it in my to go order. I also couldn't tell what the "meat" was but it was not very good (and I'm really not that picky). It had way too much cabbage, the cheese was off, and no salsa? Just meh. The salad on the other hand was pretty good! Pricey for what it was, but tasty! I'll Definitely go back to try more of their vegan options, as it was fast for takeout but will be skipping the nachos next time.

One female bartender there needs to keep her trap shut on politics. Not everyone agrees with what she has to say. People go to a bar for relief of everyday life and a nice relaxing break. Not hear your thoughts on how you don't like someone running for president. If you wanna run your mouth don't do it on the job. Thats how you lose customers. Other female bartender was good and enjoyed the jeopardy time.

Been so long since I'd been here but came here for some later night treats and remembered their vegan menu was amazing! I ordered the vegan buffalo chick'n wrap and it was delicious. The bar has dive bar written all over it but this place is a staple in Detroit and I love it! There's writing on the wall and nice high tables inside. The staff was super friendly and attentive!

You have to love this iconic Detroit establishment. This has become our "go-to" place to grab a sandwich or burger before the Lions game. There's additional room upstairs when the lower level is filled. You can bet both the Rueben and the corn beef sandwiches are on point. The hamburgers won't disappoint as well. Throw in a pint or two of Guinness and you're off to a solid start in the " D".

This was a ripoff! $90 to weather a screaming jerk in a nearly empty Tuesday evening bar. (Btw no one said anything to him.) 2 burgers, ($15 each) If we wanted lettuce or tomatoes, they charge more, 4 drinks, ($9 each in small plastic cups), charged for ice ($4) auto added tip.($11) 'Wish I could leave NO stars. Spend your money in a nicer place. P.S. Barmaid was good, but we won't return.

Finally made it to this fun Irish bar. Tons of lot parking nearby. It's located in Greektown. Three floors with the top being open air. The third had an Irish band playing, tables and two bars, the first floor was centered around the bar. In addition to being a great spot to go before or after a sporting event, they have tons of vegan options. Rare for a pub. They use Beyond products. We ordered the Shepards pie (which was delicious), reuben eggrolls, and chicken tenders. All vegan. Comfort food for sure. The beer list online changed a bit one we got there. They do a good job putting Michigan beers in the domestic mix. Service was great and staff was friendly. We will continue supporting this spot because they have plant based options. Bring your omni- and herbivore friends.

I'd heard good things about their vegan food menu for the last few years, so mom and I decided to stop in here on our way to a Tigers game over the summer. The vegan menu is good, but be prepared it is a lot of faux meats. I ordered the reuben because its kind of a unique find on vegan menus and it was jackfruit-based. They accidentally sent out the reuben spring rolls, but didn't charge me for them, and they had my sandwich made a few minutes later. It all sat kind of heavy with me, but the taste was good. We had beers and moved along. The server started out a little rough with some slight perceived attitude, but he loosened up after a bit. All in all, decent spot. I'd go for beers, but the food alone wouldn't bring me back.

Yes people come in here to knock back beers & dance but did you know the food is great? If you haven't had the quesadilla or the Buffalo chicken wrap , you're doing it wrong! Service is always friendly, the DJ always plays good music & you can always count on a good time here!

They have amazing vegetarian options. We got the Beyond Potato Skins and Beyond Chicken Tenders. They were both great. The service was quick and very attentive. We will definitely return and try more items.

From a person who knows there way around a kitchen, this food has zero taste. From the Reuben egg rolls to the fish and chips and even a BLT nothing but disappointment. 2 Long Island ice teas didn't even taste the same. You will not earn a clean plate award from here and you won't need a to go box. Into the trash

I've been several times. Just bad. Bad drink (threw it out), awful service. 15% added to garbage. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. Again, this review is based on giving them three tries. Don't. Go. There.

The food was amazing! The vegan menu was one of the best I have seen. I had the Faux Fish and Chips (not I have ever had real fish and chips) but it was fabulous; great crunch and balance of a bite from the heart of palm with the breading, chips were great, and tartar sauce-YUM!! Service was great; love Jason! Music outstanding!!

We were in town for a Tigers game with a mostly vegetarian crew and this place has an entire vegetarian/vegan side of their pub menu, so I loaded up on the delicious takeout and headed to the hotel, where it was a huge hit. I can't speak to the dining-in experience but I certainly had a pleasant time with the other bar patrons and the bartender while I waited for the food.

People are meh and the drinks are way overpriced. $8 for Michelob Ultra, $17 for a Long Island. Inside is very outdated. Hard pass in the future

As I read through the other reviews, I get it - really I do, this is a bar made for 100s of people to stand and drink and bump into one another. It's not a restaurant or family venue. Heck, I'd go to say that it might not be the best place to bring your significant other... However, my rating is based on what it is, a drinking bar. The food isn't going to win any awards and the service can get lost during the busy times, but that shouldn't detour you from visiting a Detroit staple. PS - they have a vegan menu!

I'm a Detroit native who has lived in New York for many years. I was doing some bar hopping in my during a visit to hometown and thought it would be good to get a nightcap at an Irish bar as I'm known to do in New York. I went to this place and first, they charge me a $5 cover, even though I tell them all I want is a nightcap. Next, I get a beer and a shot (both served in plastic cups) and lay down a $20 bill and they tell me it's not enough. I say that's shocking for even from a guy from New York. I give them a credit card and sign with a (20%) tip. As soon as I realize that the establishment automatically adds a 15% tip to all bills, the bartender whisks it away from me. $30 for a beer and shot in a dive bar! I wasn't going to argue about an additional $4 tip. But, I did vow that I would write this review to share my experience and vow never to return to this place in my future travels to Detroit. Not recommended!

The bar is dated although THE Beer was cold and they had Guinness as they should. Service and food delivery was timely and quick. Food was meeh.

Bouncer was very rude. We had a large group (20+ people) coming in planning to spend a decent amount of money, and the bouncer made it difficult cover wise, despite the bar being empty. You would think that when the bar is empty, you would skip the $20 cover and let people in to spend money at the bar. The bouncer was on a power trip and clearly was trying to make his own money. This bar lost thousands of dollars tonight because of bad door guys. Wish and hope this bar does better.

What a blast! Loved celebrating with my pals at this Detroit gem Sloppy steaks not on the menu (4 stars)

So far, I see no reason not to give 5 stars. It looks recently updated, floors looks really good, clean, decorated for the holiday, yummy vegan options and super fun service. My friend and I are vegan and I'm SO excited about the options here. More than just salads and quinoa bowls! I already can't wait to go back. We started with the vegan soft pretzels and cheese; pretzels were awesome, cheese was passable. I had the nachos and she had the taco salad - super delicious with lots of vegan toppings! I will probably dream of these nachos until I get them again! They came with perfect cheese sauce, a creamy cashew-based (I think) sour cream type sauce, fresh salsa, jalapeno and veggies, with a beyond meat/lentil mixture. Excellent flavor and texture and HUGE! I was able to take half home. Our server was great! Funny, attentive and fast. Can't wait to go back.

Bartender was very nice just wasn't quite the atmosphere I expected. Has that dive look from outside but there really is more nightlife going on with DJ, dancing, younger feel. All good if that's what you're looking for, personally was just looking for a more laid back/local dive bar.

For a dive bar I think this place is fine. The staff was super friendly and funny. I was happy that they had a beyond burger since I was starving but it needed a lot of sauce because it didn't taste the best. However, their fries are so good! They were like thin slice potatoes that curled up when friend and I wished I just ordered a whole plate of them. Decent drink selection. This place has the essentials, has history, but isn't a ton more than a sports bar.

Yo! Calling all of my vegan homies, this place is the actual shit. Reasonably priced, stupidly tasty fat boii vegan bites. They grill up a mean Beyond burger, they fry some lit ass fries, and their nachos are insane. They also have brunch on weekends. Absolute "who tha hell woulda thought it!?" sort of place, but the menu is truly one of the best around. If y'got doubts, click the pics.

The bouncer who worked the bar Sunday night at the Lions game is the worst! He let 3 girls in with drinks in front of us get in for free not bands shown and he said to me fuck u you need to pay $10 a person. I said u just let 3 people in without paying w drinks he said don't worry about it it's none of your business and u can go fuck yourself so he might be the worst business person I've ever met . If you are the owner I'll just say hire someone that care bc that guy is not one that cares

Came in for a quick drink after Delmar had a $20 cover per person. We didn't expect to get any food but we did. WOOOW. The Nachos are amazing. They are absolutely delicious and you should get them. We also got a few beers and the servers got them out very quick. It is probably one of the fastest bars I have been at. Five star service and drinks. Alexa and Ashley we're amazing.

This bar is a lot of fun and the food is great. I left my coat there and got in touch with Alexa and she responded quickly and was super nice and was able to have it shipped to me.

Stopped in for a beer and some pretzel bites because we where looking to figure out where we were headed next and we were greeted with a warm welcome. The outside patio is an awesome place to smoke since you are in Michigan. They also have a heated room outside that is awesome. The sour beers are amazing. What did it for me was that the bar tenders there talked to us and helped us get a feel for the pulse of the city. They knew where to go and what to do and I'm not talking about the touristy stuff.

First time here in a few years and noticed they include 15% gratuity on the bill. I don't think restaurants should burden the patrons with this cost because they do not want to pay their employees more money. I won't be back.

The parking situation was a bit complicated, found street parking a block or two away. The bar was pretty much empty because it was during the day. The price point is a bit higher than I'm use to but that's to be expected in downtown. I had the Vegan Smoked Gouda Mushroom Burger with these really perfectly cut and tasty fries. I can't remember if it was beyond or impossible, i think it was beyond though? I can't vouch for whether the cheese was similar to Gouda because I haven't had that. I was a bit bummed with how flat the burger was but that was probably because I got it sliced in half. I believe it was around $11? It was pretty cool I guess. Just really a trouble to get to, I can see myself coming back if they do another VegMichigan event. My visit was just a random weekday visit but I heard about them through VegMichigan. Their fries are top notch though, like probably the best fries I've ever had besides those Arby's curly ones.

Bad food, Bad service. Took 50 minutes to get our food after it already took 20 minutes to order. Bouncer was also unfairly aggressive at 3pm

The food is not what you come here for, at least I tried it one time and haven't eaten anything here since. At least it looks nicer since their renovations. I have been coming here for at least a decade or longer before a hockey games, but I think their shuttle takes you to any of the games in Detroit. It was always the old green school bus with loud, raucous game goers. The bus was always a rough and tumble ride in, waiting with bated breath for the tires and chassis to give way to all of the slightly tipsy, rhythmic shakers on the bus. The driver was always exacerbating the drunken and inebriated conditions by making the bus go side to side a bit on our drive to and fro. It's no wonder I didn't see more chunks flying during the rides. You come for the beer, energy and comradeship and some pre or post game cheering and celebrating after a Wings game. The jolly spirits of the people at the bar on game day is intense, just as it is on the bus. We all become closely bonded by whatever game is on for the night.

I think a $10 cover charge per person when you have a group of 25 is ridiculous. No band and the music was terrible. Just a heads up. The staff was friendly and the drinks were good. Not worth the $250 for us to go in. Sorry never again.

I definitely don't recommend coming to this place. The Bouncer had the nerve to say to my friend "I don't give a f..k about your dead mother". This isn't inappropriate for any employee to say to a customer. An employee is supposed to be kind and understanding. Clearly you won't find that here. I would stay far away from this place!

It was a quiet Thursday night with not a lot going on. Weather was crappy. We went to Detroit to get our packets for Cupid's Undie Run on Saturday. I haven't been here since 2007! It is a cute old bar that has been there forever. It's small. The bar is not very big. The bar was busy, mostly with people grabbing after work drinks. The rest of the bar was quiet. I don't know. It didn't feel especially welcoming. We didn't stay for food or drinks but decided to move on. I will update my review if I come back. Just didn't seem like anything special to me..

When you think of an Irish pub you think of a relaxing place you can have a beer at... not a club with loud music and a DJ that doesn't wear shoes. 0/10

This note refers to their online store for merchandise which completely sucks. Ordered a sweatshirt, some t-shirts and beverage holders 3.14.22 and here it is 4.1.22 and although they charged my credit card I have yet to receive a thing via UPS. Have left 3 messages on so-called Voicemail, have emailed twice and STILL NOT A WORD FROM ANYONE. The bar itself is usually good place to hang out but DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE ONLINE MERCHANDISE FROM THE OLD SHILLELAGH! Your welcome! Linda T.

I have not experienced something quite like this before. My friends and I came in at 1:30. I was visiting from out of state, part of me felt as if this were a local bar and I was not wanted (my friends are from Detroit). I had ordered a round for my friends. At 1:54am one of my four friends asked for a last drink. The bartender, very shortly explained she'd offered last call, despite not verbalizing last call to us. Some time had passed and then two of my friends noticed she was giving people at the end of the bar drinks. The bartender, when asked about this, rudely said (using profanity) that the people at the end of the bar was her family and that she could serve who she liked. All of this occurred prior to 2:00am. This was my first time visiting Detroit and it was not very friendly :/

I love this bar and always feel safe here. I've been coming here for years and have only had pleasant encounters with staff and security. I'm not sure where the other negative comments come from because I deffinaly have never seen anything like that. I will DEFINATLY continue coming here before and after games, holidays, and just to go out for a fun night.

The bouncers are very aggressive. I took my fiancé here for her 25th birthday and the bouncers insisted on aggressively taking her wristband back before she left. I asked them to not be so aggressive and they pinned me up against the wall and ripped my band off as well. I Would not recommend this place unless you are into the fighting scene.

Incredible vegan options and you can tell they actually CARE about bringing in vegan customers (or even people who might just want to try something new). I tell myself every time that I'll get something other than the nachos... But I never do. They're so good. They make everything in house and the "meat" is a combo of Beyond and lentils. They're my favorite vegan nachos by far (and I'll never turn down vegan nachos, so I've tried a lot). We've been here once after a Tigers day game and another time before a concert. Both times there was no wait and service was quick. I'll always suggest Old Shillelagh when deciding where to eat or when asked for recommendations in Detroit, especially if you're vegan or will be with someone who is.

Beverages only before a Detroit Tigers afternoon game. $5 for a large draft beer - vs. $11 ? At the game. Very unenthusiastic bartender- she seemed like it was an effort to serve anyone. The shuttle they offer to the game is great! Richard - our driver is always efficient and fun !