The author enjoying a Ferrari cocktail at Father Forgive Me

By Alex DeCamp

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There are plenty of places in Detroit I could write about, and I plan to. But for one of my first recommendations, it makes sense to start with a recent favorite: Father Forgive Me.

Detroit has plenty of places with great cocktails, but very few places have a vibe this good.

Located on Detroit's east side, just a short walk from many of our Great Stays properties, Father Forgive Me has quietly become one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon or evening. In fact, I've found myself there nearly every weekend for the past month, and every visit has been fantastic.

Father Forgive Me is a cocktail and wine bar located within the Shepherd development, one of the most impressive adaptive reuse projects in Detroit. The Shepherd, a beautifully converted historic church, now serves as an arts and cultural hub, event space, gathering place, and community destination. The team behind the project has taken a thoughtful, community-first approach, and everyone I've spoken with who has worked with them has nothing but positive things to say.

The campus itself is worth exploring. There's a skate park partially designed by Tony Hawk, a second location of Warda Pâtisserie, beautiful public spaces, and even a boutique bed and breakfast on site. There are also rumors of additional food and beverage concepts coming in the future.

But what keeps bringing me back is Father Forgive Me.

Whether you're meeting a large group of friends, catching up one-on-one, going on a date, or simply looking for a place to spend a few hours on a beautiful day, Father Forgive Me just works. The crowd is eclectic and interesting. The staff is welcoming and knowledgeable. The cocktails are excellent. And everything feels effortlessly cool without being pretentious.

While they do serve food, I don't really think of Father Forgive Me as a dinner destination. I think of it as a place to gather. That said, the food is surprisingly good. Some of my favorites include the tinned fish selections, the stuffed dates, and their sandwiches. Everything I've tried feels thoughtfully prepared and perfectly suited to the atmosphere.

One of the things I appreciate most is how the space changes with the seasons.

During the summer, the indoor-outdoor setup is hard to beat. Large garage-style openings blur the line between inside and outside, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a gathering space than a traditional bar.

In the colder months, they have a heated all-seasons room enclosed in glass that somehow feels like a cozy ski lodge. Between the greenery, the lighting, and the thoughtful design, it's one of the places in Detroit where winter feels enjoyable.

Speaking of design, the entire Shepherd campus is exceptional. Every detail feels intentional. The landscaping, architecture, furnishings, and public spaces all come together to create something unique. It feels like a place that could exist in Brooklyn, Copenhagen, or Portland, yet it's right here on Detroit's east side.

What makes Father Forgive Me especially interesting is that it's slightly off the beaten path. If you're staying downtown, chances are you won't stumble across it by accident. It's located roughly halfway between downtown Detroit and the city's eastern border, tucked into a neighborhood that many visitors wouldn't otherwise explore.

In fact, a friend recently told me her Uber driver became nervous as they approached because they weren't familiar with the area. If you don't know the neighborhood, it can feel surprisingly secluded, surrounded by open land and the former Hantz Farms tree project. But once you arrive, you'll realize you've found one of Detroit's hidden gems.

Pro Tip

If there's a line for the restroom behind the bar, don't wait.

Walk toward the street-facing side of the building near the entrance to the Shepherd campus. There is a separate set of men's and women's restrooms accessible from the side entrance, and it can save you a surprisingly long wait. I've personally spent 15 to 20 minutes in the main restroom line before discovering the alternative.

That's the kind of insider information you come to Great Stays for.

Final Thoughts

If you're visiting Detroit and want to experience one of the city's best cocktail and gathering spaces, make time for Father Forgive Me.

Grab a drink, find a seat indoors or outdoors, explore the Shepherd campus, and enjoy one of the most thoughtfully designed destinations in the city.

You probably won't need a reservation, as the bar is largely walk-in friendly, but if there is a wait, it's one of the few places where waiting isn't really a problem. Grab a cocktail, sit outside with friends, and enjoy the atmosphere. They even have an outdoor beverage trailer serving drinks during busy periods.

Father Forgive Me isn't really about the cocktails, although they're excellent. It isn't really about the food, although it's quite good.

It's about the feeling you get when you're there.

And lately, it's become one of my favorite places in Detroit.