Last updated September 18, 2026 · ranked from 15,437 Google reviews · How we rank
The best bars in Lansing, MI cover distinct kinds of nights out: shuffleboard at Stober's Bar, live music at Moriarty's Pub, sports at Front 43 Neighborhood Pub, and wood-fired pizza with craft beer at Zoobie's Old Town Tavern. Stober's holds a 4.6 Google rating from 753 reviews and opens from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Moriarty's, at 802 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI, pairs its daily 3 p.m.–2 a.m. hours with darts tournaments, comedy, and basic bar food.
For game-day viewing, Front 43 has more than thirty 60-inch TVs, while Nuthouse Sports Grill combines a wall of plasma TVs with daily drink deals and trivia. Art's Pub adds shuffleboard, pizza, and a consistent 7 a.m.–11 p.m. schedule every day.
Food-focused choices bring some of the largest review totals. Meat BBQ leads this selection with 4.7 stars from 5,220 reviews, serving slow-smoked barbecue alongside beer and cocktails. Soup Spoon Café follows at 4.6 from 3,234 reviews, with homemade soups, regional beer, and reservations recommended for brunch and dinner. For a later evening, The Avenue Cafe stays open until 2 a.m. daily and offers craft brews, cocktails, arcade games, and live music. Zoobie's offers another clear combination: shared plates, outdoor seating, and a 4.5 rating from 1,012 reviews.
Top picks at a glance
1Meat BBQMeat BBQ serves beer, cocktails and happy-hour drinks alongside slow-smoked barbecue, with indoor and outdoor seating.
2Soup Spoon CaféSoup Spoon Café offers regional beer, cocktails, wine and happy-hour drinks alongside homemade soups and small plates.
3Stober's BarStober's Bar has shuffleboard tables, a jukebox and happy hour from opening until 6:00 p.m.
4.7(5,220)· Google4.7 out of 5 from 5220 reviews (Google rating)
Barbecue · $$ · Old Town
Open now · closes 9:00 PM
Notable beer and cocktails, happy-hour drinks and slow-smoked barbecue put Meat BBQ at No. 1 among bars in Lansing, MI. The casual spot at 1224 Turner Rd pairs its drinks with handmade sides and offers a setting suited to watching sports. Indoor and outdoor seating give groups options, and dogs are welcome outside. Its 4.7 Google rating across 5,220 reviews adds support to the ranking. Plan for a possible wait: reservations are not accepted.
Beer and cocktails
Happy-hour drinks
Slow-smoked barbecue
“This was the best BBQ we've ever had! The ribs and brisket were both delicious and the brisket was sooo tender! The waitress was super nice and attentive as well. Will defintely be back!!”
4.6(3,234)· Google4.6 out of 5 from 3234 reviews (Google rating)
Restaurant · $$ · Eastside / Michigan Avenue
Open now · closes 9:00 PM
Regional beer, cocktails and wine anchor Soup Spoon Café’s No. 2 placement among bars in Lansing, MI, backed by a 4.6 Google rating from 3,234 reviews. The on-site bar offers happy-hour drinks in a colorful, cozy setting, with homemade soups, small plates and homestyle meals alongside them. Reviewers praise the soups, including smoked tomato bisque, and describe satisfying dinner dishes. Outdoor seating and a menu with vegan and vegetarian options give groups several ways to settle in for food and drinks.
Regional beer
Happy-hour drinks
Homemade soups
“I had the 4 soups and ALL of them are amazing. I had leftovers. The smoked tomato bisque was great and I'm not a huge tomato soup fan. Our server was polite, the food good. Highly recommended”
4.6(753)· Google4.6 out of 5 from 753 reviews (Google rating)
Cocktail bar · $ · Stadium District
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Shuffleboard tables and a jukebox give Stober's Bar a clear identity among bars in Lansing, MI. Its No. 3 spot rests on that casual, cozy setting, a drinks selection spanning beer, cocktails, liquor, and wine, and a 4.6 Google rating from 753 reviews. Happy hour runs from opening until 6:00 p.m., and daily hours stretch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Live music and sports viewing add options beyond bar games, while outside food is allowed and dogs are welcome.
Shuffleboard and jukebox
Daily happy hour
Dogs welcome
“No food at this bar. Perfect little dive bar for Lansing locals.”
4.5(584)· Google4.5 out of 5 from 584 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $ · Stadium District
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Live music, darts tournaments, comedy and trivia give Moriarty's Pub several reasons to earn the No. 4 spot among bars in Lansing, MI. This Irish-American pub on E Michigan Ave pairs a casual, cozy setting with beer, cocktails, liquor and wine, plus basic bar food and happy-hour food and drinks. It holds a 4.5-star Google rating from 584 reviews, and one reviewer praised the service and enjoyed playing darts with other patrons. Daily hours run from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Live music
Darts tournaments
Happy-hour food and drinks
“I can't speak on the food there, but service was good and had a good time playing darts with people there.”
4.3(390)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 390 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $ · Downtown / Capitol
Open now · closes 9:00 PM
Sidewalk seating and a cozy, Irish-themed interior give Kelly's Downtown two distinct settings for a drink in Lansing, MI. Its No. 5 placement rests on notable beer and cocktail offerings, happy-hour food and drinks, and fast service, backed by a 4.3 Google rating from 390 reviews. Familiar bar fare is served at the bar or at tables, and the space suits sports viewing and group gatherings. One reviewer who has visited for 20 years praised the atmosphere and food.
Sidewalk seating
Happy-hour food
Beer and cocktails
“Wonderful atmosphere, incredible food. Been frequenting this place for 20 years.”
4.3(604)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 604 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $ · Westside / Saginaw Highway
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Daily happy hour from 2–6 p.m. anchors Westgate Tavern & Grill’s appeal at No. 6 among bars in Lansing, MI. This locally owned spot on N Rosemary St serves beer, cocktails, liquor and wine, with food available at the bar. Karaoke nights, bar games and sports viewing add options beyond a drink and dinner. Its 4.3 Google rating across 604 reviews supports the placement, while Friday and Saturday hours until 2 a.m. make it an option for a late night.
Daily happy hour
Karaoke nights
Weekend late hours
“Steaks were not as ordered and overcooked. Hamburgers were lacking flavor and just ok. The food quality and flavor are nothing like they use to be. If looking for food, save yourself the disappointment and head somewhere else. If look…”
4.3(577)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 577 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $ · Eastside / Michigan Avenue
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Live music gives Macs Bar its reason for taking the No. 7 spot: local acts and touring performers share a venue defined by rough-and-ready surroundings. At 2700 E Michigan Ave in Lansing, MI, it pairs that performance focus with a price level of 1 and a 4.3 Google rating from 575 reviews. Doors open at 3 p.m. daily, with closing time at 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Free street parking adds a practical benefit for a night of drinks and music.
Live music
Free street parking
Late closing hours
“Wonderful place! Wonderful experience! Very friendly.”
4.3(2,187)· Google4.3 out of 5 from 2187 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $$ · Stadium District
Open now · closes 11:00 PM
Shuffleboard, sports viewing and a mellow atmosphere earn Art's Pub the No. 8 spot among bars in Lansing, MI. At 809 E Kalamazoo St, it serves beer, cocktails, wine and liquor alongside pizza and a broad pub-food menu, with happy-hour food and drinks also available. One reviewer appreciated music quiet enough to enjoy the atmosphere. Outdoor seating adds another place to settle in, while its 4.3 Google rating across 2,187 reviews provides support for its place on the list.
Shuffleboard table
Happy-hour food and drinks
Outdoor seating
“Food was awesome. So good. Unfortunately our waitress was not very good. We would have stayed longer and of course paid for more, but she just could not be bothered. My friend noticed her just chatting at the bar. And 2 other tables were…”
4.1(388)· Google4.1 out of 5 from 388 reviews (Google rating)
Bar · $ · Stadium District
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
Bar games, beer and cocktails give Tin Can Bar its case for rank 9 among bars in Lansing, MI. At 408 E Michigan Ave, it pairs a casual setting with indoor and outdoor seating, happy-hour drinks and listed fast service. Its Google rating is 4.1 from 388 reviews, and Thursday through Saturday hours run from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. For timing, one reviewer offers a useful distinction: slower periods are enjoyable, while busy stretches can become chaotic.
Bar games
Outdoor seating
Happy-hour drinks
“Takari Johnson is on social media bragging about how this bat just let's bums sit in their establishment without having to buy anything. I don't want to go somewhere bums are allowed to just hang out. Next, people will be getting robbed …”
4.1(1,500)· Google4.1 out of 5 from 1500 reviews (Google rating)
Sports bar · $$ · Stadium District
Open now · closes 2:00 AM
A wall of plasma TVs and daily drink deals give Nuthouse Sports Grill a clear game-day focus in Lansing, MI. It earns the No. 10 spot with American food, beer and cocktails, plus trivia nights, bar games and live performances beyond the sports schedule. Happy-hour food and drinks and indoor or outdoor seating add options for a visit. Open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, it holds a 4.1 Google rating from 1,500 reviews.
Wall of TVs
Daily drink deals
Trivia nights
“Food was great...cook, Sage, personally came out and asked if our food was good. Manager also introduced herself and inquired on food and service.”
4.1(1,500)4.1 out of 5 from 1500 reviews (Google rating)
$$
Stadium District
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 Lansing 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.
Stober's Bar, Moriarty's Pub, and The Avenue Cafe close at 2 a.m. every day. Nuthouse Sports Grill and Westgate Tavern & Grill close at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Stober's opens at 11 a.m., Moriarty's at 3 p.m., and The Avenue at 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where can I watch sports at a bar in Lansing, MI?
Front 43 Neighborhood Pub at 3415 E Saginaw St, Lansing, MI has more than thirty 60-inch LED TVs. Nuthouse Sports Grill at 420 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI features a wall of plasma TVs. Art's Pub at 809 E Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI is another game-day option, with pizza, pub food, and shuffleboard.
Which bars in Lansing, MI have live music or games?
The Avenue Cafe offers live music, arcade games, karaoke, and trivia. Moriarty's Pub combines live music with darts tournaments, comedy, and trivia. Stober's Bar has shuffleboard tables, a jukebox, and live music, while Zoobie's Old Town Tavern offers karaoke and trivia.
Where can I find happy hour in Lansing, MI?
Westgate Tavern & Grill at 623 N Rosemary St, Lansing, MI runs happy hour daily from 2–6 p.m. Art's Pub, Nuthouse Sports Grill, Front 43 Neighborhood Pub, Zoobie's Old Town Tavern, and Moriarty's Pub also offer both happy-hour food and drinks.
Which places in Lansing, MI accept reservations for food and drinks?
Nuthouse Sports Grill and Soup Spoon Café accept reservations. Soup Spoon Café recommends them for brunch and dinner. Meat BBQ, Art's Pub, Zoobie's Old Town Tavern, Stober's Bar, and Moriarty's Pub do not accept reservations; Meat BBQ also usually has a wait.
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