This place is great. Some would call it a hipster pub; I call it an old fashioned dive. They have a jukebox (an old school jukebox), great beers on tap (Two Hearted, Final Absolution, Fat Tire, etc.), a cool door who reads books during prime bar hours, interesting people, cool Sharpie written on the bathroom walls, etc.
The only downside is that they STILL don't accept credit cards. Get with the program dudes and you'll get that fifth star! But yeah, this place has some cajones.
My thoughts and feelings have changed for this bar recently. Before last week, I could tell you that I rarely go to Gusoline Alley and when I do, it was usually beyond my control or consciousness, but I stopped in here last week to grab the Detroit Bus that stops here and (smile starts and voice raises while saying next part of sentence) saw that FAT TIRE beer has made it  to Detroit and I saw it here first!!! Woo! I love Fat Tire beer*.
Cash bar... good jukebox... good drink selections... small bar.
* Fat Tire beer is a Colorado brewery that specializes in an Amber Ale that is super good. It only went as far East as Chicago until a few years ago when it popped up in the South, but finally has made its way to Michigan this Summer/Fall and I am so happy about it.
Since I moved to Royal Oak 2+ years ago I have been frequented this establishment. Not to the point of an AA meeting mind you but enough to give a review.
This place is a stellar bar. From the selection of killer jams on the jukebox ranging from early Dropkicks to Country to 50's era jams, a great selection. The bar is all you need and no frills. Good beer selection, good Whisky, and good service. The only thing that would make this place better is if they let my cat sit and have whisky shots with me. Well not for my cat, for me...you get my drift.
Two thumbs up.
This is one of the few bars that i enjoy in royal oak. Unfortunately it's a little on the small size and they don't take credit cards. But the grungy dive ambiance and pitchers of magic hat no 9 make up for all that. I will warn that is one of those places that the bathrooms are so gross that I feel cleaner if i don't wash my hands so i don't have to touch anything in there.
Review Source:This place is one of the better dives in Royal Oak.*
I don't know how, but Gusoline lost a little character after the smoking ban. Â It seems a little brighter in there now -- am I nuts or did they turn on a few more lights?
But it's still a great place to get a beer, with some ancient Czech proto-pilsners on offer and some colorful folken.
Also, I've seen these bartenders make some really long pours. My wife ordered a vodka and Red Bull and it came in a pint glass. Â We split it, and it ended up being our last drink of the night.
*Some places like Woody's or O'Tooles are modern snooki-dives, but they won't embrace it and try to make believe they're klassy with a k.
You know a place is wonderful when you start drinking at 6 (in the afternoon, mind you!) and through some kind of voodoo when you look at your watch again it's last call.
Going early will get you a great stool at the table right up to the no-bullsh*t bartender. I love me a stoic badass man in the evenin'.
Vomit? I didn't smell none. You want an unbearable sickly smell go to the 8 Ball in Ann Arbor. Then we'll talk human expulsion smells and dive bars! This place smelled fresh as a Daisy (maybe she has been drinking and smoking a little, though).
The shots are generous and the well whiskey is tasty and smooth. I like that I can go from Guinness to Oberon to Duvel to Okocim in one sitting.
You can also watch whatever sports game is doing whatever it does up on two television screens. For me this is kind of a bummer. But at least the TV's are modest in size, volume, and brightness.
The music on the jukebox changes along with the crowd. You'll hear everything from country to Irish diddies. Some bad rock. And later in the night some Cure or indie rock favorites. At about 11pm on a Saturday night the place gets filled up - standing room only. Fairly diverse crowd ranging from quasi-hipsters to a more standard sport's bar demographic.
By late-night rush there are at least two bartenders and a barback running the joint. They are friendly and down to earth - efficient - I like that in an enabler.
The bathroom is phenomenal. An entire multi-authored, palimpsestic book is scrawled on the walls. Unfortunately there is only one toilet which means when the more made-up crowd comes in, you'll be doing the must-pee-now dance for a while while lipstick is being applied a fourth time.
Since I have no patience, I just asked a guy to duck me into the men's room where there's a stall - I got in and out in no time. The guys didn't seem the least bit bothered.
You know what else is great? The door guy looks like Santa Claus and reads books when he works.
Gusoline Alley is good times. This is Yelper Sam and I approve of this message.
This comes with a caveat. Â I love this place, the jukebox is amazing (and regularly refreshed with different discs), the drinks are stiff, the vibe is nice and dive-y, and the bar has a great variety of liquor and beer.
Now, the catch. Â I'm never here on Friday or Saturday when it's bumpin'. Â It's wall to wall (and you've seen bigger closets) and you can pretty much rule out hitting up the jukebox if you get there after 10:30 or so unless you're planning on sleeping there 'til lunchtime the next day. Â I'll give 'em this, though.... Â even under these conditions, it's never tough to get a drink (provided you're slick or surly enough to force your way to the bar).
But on, say, a Wednesday just after dinnertime? Â This is it.
As far as I'm concerned, Gus' is the best dive bar in the midwest, and I've been known to drink A LOT. Now living Chicago, I try and stop by Gus' during my long weekend visits to the D (including every opening day for the past seven years).
There's a beer for everyone and the prices can't be beat. Awesome and entertaining staff (I've always had a secret soft spot for bartender Eric), and the jukebox leaves nothing to be desired. The bathrooms are also pretty amusing as I once found myself being beckoned via a scribble on the wall.
This is a great place for groups of friends to hang out and catch up, or if you just want to grab a beer at the bar alone. Most likely, you'll end up making a new friend.
Gusoline is hands down the best biker beer bar I know. It's wonderfully out of place in the confines of today's Royal Oak and I hope it stays that way. There is no pretentiousness here.
One of my favorite metro Detroit traditions has to be zooming up to Gusoline for beer and the great jukebox with friends and then heading over a few blocks to the Main Art Theatre for a midnight movie on a Friday or Saturday night in the summer or fall.
This used to be one of the smokiest bars in town. You can still feel the haze in the air. But it's still one of the best casual bar-bars around. Belly up and try it yourself.
You saved my Tuesday Gus'. Came here after Woody's and Gracie's. The bartender is always awesome, the beer is reasonably priced, the atmosphere is up my alley even though it feels like Gus' tries too hard to be a dive bar sometimes.
$2 Carling Black Label, specials most week days, etc make Gus' a great week day destination. Weekends it can be a bit crowded, so be aware of that. But week days? Perfect Crowd, just the right amount of diveyness, helpful staff, decent drink prices for the Royal Oak area... all these things combine to make Gus' a good place to go.
I will warn you, if you are expecting the Black Finn of dive bars, your review will read like Jon G.'s. This is a true to form dive bar. Its grimy, it can be gross, some of the guys look pretty sketchy. But its a breath of fresh air after going to Woody's or Gracie's or Black Finn or whatever other tool box you might go to in Roak.
Gusoline Alley is the diviest dive bar that ever dove.
Seriously, I like my dive bars, but not this place. Last time I was in there I thought I was going to get shanked by the members of Hells Angels. It takes dive bar to another level.
The first and final time I was at Gusoline was during a rowdy bar crawl. We walked in around 8 p.m. on a Saturday and were told to quiet down because there was a wake going on? I don't even want to know which places were unacceptable for a wake that ended up at Gusoline.
A bottle of Bud Light cost me $4 and the place does not take credit or debit cards. Royal inconvience (see what I did there).
I don't recomend going here unless you wear a body condom.
Definitely the best dive in Royal Oak. There are no fronts. It's really the only place that comes close to some of my favorite dives from when I lived in Detroit. When I don't feel like making the trek downtown, this place is it.
The crowd: characters, The drinks: really cheap, The Jukebox: pretty solid.
Consensus: It's pretty much the definition of a Dive. If it's a dive you seek, then it's a dive you get. That' s what I like about it. You're not going to find flatscreens and sports games and your typical bar scene crowd here. Nope, you'll find an interesting motley crew of characters and that's the beauty of the place- it's less predictable than most in Royal Oak.
The best way to be pretentious is to try not to be.
This place prides itself as a dive bar, which it certainly is. The staff is nice, but the crowd varies day by day. Sometimes, it's the Ferndale hipsters out for the night, other days it's the leather and bikes crew.
The music is good for sure, but you have to deal with the self-satisfied look of the person who put it on being proud of his musical tastes and hoping you don't know the song. On the plus side, if someone picks a crappy song, the staff will change it. Inyoface, hipster.
Enough has been said about the bathroom to add anything.
The biggest problem I have with Gusoline is that they don't accept credit cards. No excuse for that.
All in all, Gusoline is what it advertises. Cheap drinks at a hole in the wall. If you don't have a scuzzy bar you're regular at, this one can fill that void.
Great jukebox, great beer selection, great character. Gusoline's is a great dive bar in downtown Royal Oak that is worth visiting at least a handful of times.
It's a bar with character, though admittedly it caters to its character - that is to say, it puts some work into maintaining its dive bar-ness, but I don't think anybody is really bothered by that.
A caveat - it's cash only, so be sure to bring some money that folds.
this is the way i enjoy a bar, loud, smoky and with a good jukebox.
i always leave here with the beginnings of a hangover. Â and that means i was having a good night. Â
my friends and i usually end up here after a concert at the royal oak theater or dinner somewhere in royal oak. Â i also lived just on the other side of the railroad tracks for 2 yrs so it was easy to walk home with a little stumble.
it took a couple times to get used to the bartender, but just give him a little attitude back and he seems to get nicer. Â i always have a good time, but it may be because i'm so freaking hammered while i'm there. Â i actually spent an evening last year discussing gay butt sex with a "straight" guy there. Â he was so interested it was funny.
love, juston
I don't even live in Detroit anymore and I barely even drink anymore, but from time to time, as I wander the streets of Philadelphia, my mind wanders to Gusoline Alley, my favorite bar of all time.
I just love it.
The drinks are cheap, delicious, the jukebox is good and has some unexpected selections, the crowd is unpretentious and fun. The bartenders are exactly what I want in a bartender. And my cat's name is Gus.
I miss you, Gusoline Alley. I'll be back in Detroit for a week in October. See you then, my sweet.
I'm just wondering how not so many people who have reviewed this place here have noticed this one thing: Â This is like the Applebee's of dive-bars. Â It's like it was custom made to be a dive bar...
However, I'm cool with that after having been able to take my Dog in there... Â The people seem pretty friendly and the drinks are cheap. Â I have, for the past 2 weekends, picked 1 night to take Mr Poop to the bar with me and my friends.
He loves it, he gets moshed by people wanting to pet him and tell me how cute he is and all that. Â Regardless. Â I took him in here and though it got pretty busy and people were all around he just, for the most part, chilled. Â There was only one time he got excited and that's when there were like 4 people right above him doing a shot of Jack. Â He was TOTALLY into it. Â I told him, "Dude you don't like Jack..." Â But he was all about it...
Meanwhile they score s TON of points for the allowance of Mr Poop on their premises AND they have a NICE beer selection... Â Oh and it's pretty cheap. Â Plus how can I not like a bar that the Time before I took my dog was to meet a Sexy Lady who invited me up for a drink and eventual smootches... Â ;p
This is a really interesting little nook of a bar in Royal Oak. I've probably walked past it a million times and never noticed it until one fine day my friend pinpointed it to me. It's really a hole in the wall pub, that has a lot of regulars, but it's still open and welcoming to new comers, you never know who you'll end up chatting the night away with! Plus their drinks are cheap!
The crowd is very... harley davidson-punk-rock superstar-esque. But they're cool!
I did leave my mark there too... the bathrooms are filled with graffiti... YEAH, it's THAT kind of place! :)
I absolutely love this place. Small and not well lit? My kind of place! This cash only bar is the perfect spot for people looking for the dive experience but dont feel like driving out to hamtramck.
They have a great old school (NOT internet) jukebox thats free most of the time, plus their house drinks are CHEAP. I'm not a beer drinker but my friends are, and they love the selection available at GA. They've got beer from all over the world! I dont know anywhere else in Royal Oak where I can drink $3 whiskey sours all night, listen to the misfits AND kings of leon, and talk to cool people. (the place is so small, if you're not making friends you're doing something wrong). If I could give this place ten stars I would!
Gusoline Alley was the final stop on our mini Royal Oak bar crawl last night. Â I had been looking forward to visiting it for a long time, and generally prefer dive bars to others. Â
But man, the crowd was quite uncomely. Â Surprisingly so. Â And the bathrooms were bad. Â But the layout is nice, and conducive for socializing, I imagine. Â The music is good, and not overpowering, so you can talk. Â But they need some belles and beaux.
My princess butt fully admits to not doing dive bars well. I can't help it. I don't want to choke on smoke and I don't want to question "what is that stuff on the seat? Is it OK to sit on or am I going to get gum/puke/beer stuck to my butt?"
I hate the superficial stuck up snobs just as much as I hate the people who are posers of another kind. The greaser look? Dude, you are trying too hard. I bet you don't even know how to change the damn oil out of your Honda Civic hatchback.
As Aaron K noted, pretty conducive to talking. But only if you want your eyes to sting and throat to ache from the smoke. You know, it's totally cool to smoke! ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE DOING IT!
I'll take my chill Motor City Brewery in the heart of the D over this "tough" shit hole wanna be any day.
I stop by here sometimes to grab a beer. Â
Last time I was here. Â There was almost a fight here between two douchebags over a girl. Â The bartender stepped in and took care of business. Â The bartender was pretty classy about it. Â Usually bouncers are all about being alpha males and dragging people out.
The place is pretty small. Â Not a lot of room to move when it gets crowded. Â Also, it's CASH ONLY. Â So bring some green.
I like the mix of music here. Â They have a jukebox prominently in the middle of the the establishment where anyone can play anything they want. Â Usually rock of some sort.
It gets loud here when the music blares so be prepared to yell at the person next to you.
I was in town visiting a friend this past weekendand we came here for a few drinks.
I am not much of a drinker but I love a place with cheap drinks(on a sat my vodka tonic was $3!) and cool music. People with tattoos always make me feel at home and the low key factor was really high. Just a cool place to sit and talk with friends. I prefer a dive bar over a dance club these days and this fit the bill perfectly.
Next time I'm in town we'll have to come back when I'm up to do some serious damage!
So I walk into this bar and order three shots. Â A girl sitting at the bar asks me to buy her a shot, so I ask the bartender to make it four. Â She stops me and changes it to a whiskey and calls me a pussy. Â We do the shots and I turn around and there are two aussie guys sitting in a booth behind me. Â Tired, I decide to sit down and talk to them without asking. Â I sat down and we laugh for the next three hours. Â On the way out, some guy sold me a version of a magazine, printed on paper. Â I bought it for $1, Â it kept me entertained for weeks. Â
That night I fell in love... with the bar. Â It is a bar with tons of character and a very diverse mix of people. Â It is a fun place to mix it up, since it is the only place of its kind in Royal Oak. Â It is a hamtramck bar moved to Royal Oak with groups of people ranging across the board. Â
Do's-
Come here when you want to get really drunk.
Meet a group of random people that are very fun.
Come here if you want to buy the $1 pamphlet they sell outside the bar.
Come here if you are up for an adventure
Don'ts-
Come here if you are pretentious
Bring a date... unless she wants to call me a pussy for drinking a shot of vodka
This no frills dive bar is the perfect place to enjoy a casual beer or 4 in downtown Royal Oak. Located on Center Street, just off of Main Street, Gusoline Alley offers patrons 100 beers in a moderate sized bar.
Sunday through Wednesday Gusoline offers patrons great specials like on Sunday when Bell's brews are $2.50 and Tuesday where the "no crap tap" beers are 3 bucks and plays on the rad jukeboxare free.
GA is definelty a beer drinking bar, don't stop in looking to get a galss of Chardonnay, it ain't that kinda bar. No need to get all dolle dup either, throw on a t-shirt and jeans and check out Royal Oak's casually hip Gusoline Alley.
In a different area, this is a just another dive. But in Royal Oak, it's an oasis. It's release from the grip of backwards baseball hats, button up shirts, and too much make-up that is Royal Oak. This place is at it's best during the week. Great Jukebox, just enough people to stir things up, and cheap PBR. What more can you ask for?
If you come on the weekend, be prepared for the mix of people who like the bar, and drunk tools who stumbled across it while on their way back to Mr. B's or any of the other unoriginal bars that little Royal Oak.
The best place to find your indie scene queen. But... please don't let that turn you away from Gusoline (or maybe you should so it won't be so crowded!)
As noted, the juke is where it's at. The Cure, Tom Waits, you name it. Loooove the Juke.
The beers.. read Michael C's review. He nails it on the head with the Dragonmead and Delirium- amaze!
I wouldn't go in there draped in hoochie mama clothing because there may be a snicker snicker amongst the patrons and staff since you'll be a little out of place..
Gus... oh man.
Gusoline Alley is a sliver of a bar hiding behind Noir Leather. I say sliver because it's definitely small and LONG.
No matter what anyone tells you, size doesn't matter!
Gus's has the best selection of brew in Royal Oak, period. They have Dragonmead on tap and Delirium Tremens for crying out loud! So fratboy or beer snob... they'll be in each other's arms by the end of the night.
Speaking of: they also have the best jukebox in Royal Oak as well. (The only place that comes close is WAB) There's plenty in there to keep hipsters and club girls alike happy.
The prices are great, and there's not a bartender in the place that pours short shots. Can Fifth Avenue say the same?
The only thing I would say is, given the sliver-ish nature of Gus's, it may be a good idea to come early; seating is severely limited, so after midnight you may not be able to even get in the place.
Also, surprisingly for the look of the place, they have a bouncer checking the door. He's a nice man and has kids; smile at him!
Holy, crap! Â I'm the first!!! Â I've never been the first. Â What up D-Town?
So I haven't lived in Detroit in a really long time, but this place in Royal Oak was a second home to me. Â It doesn't get better than Gus' and I hope the place hasn't changed one bit. Â I used to bartend at Memphis Smoke around the corner and looked forward to retiring here after to get away from the suburban nightmare of clientel I used to have to deal with.
The jukebox alone makes it a 5 star joint. Â But it's dive bar local feel made it a favorite. Â Bluecollar, no bullshit. Â Gimmie a beer.
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