The Last Word

Quiet, intimate, and quirky (a library theme... get it?), I think this is a great place to have a good conversation over a delicious drink.

I have a weakness for smokey scotch and dark wood interiors, and this is a bullseye. Add half-off whiskey on Wednesday nights and a waiter who will personally select a tasting flight, and you've got yourself a loyal customer.

Haven't had a chance to try any of the food yet, but have heard that it's very good.

This place is fabulous! Sexy speakeasy vibe, inventive cocktails and plenty of seating. My favorite part was when we asked our waitress what the ingredients of a particularly delicious cocktail were and she came back with a handwritten note from the bartender with the ingredients, step by step prep instructions and his business card!

So I'm a bit biased. I've followed co-owner Robbie from bar to bar since I began asking my secret Lex Luthor crush to make me Cosmos with tequila at Babs',  circa 2007, because I needed something a little edgier. Since then, The Black Pearl gave my drink an unfortunate name, and I've learned that not only is Robbie not an arch-enemy, he has the kind of community spirit that says, "Hey, Ann Arbor, are you both hungry and thirsty after 10 pm? You want a real cocktail, and real food? No problem. We've got you covered."
The Last Word is a pretty space. It is a good place to duck into if you have just passed a mob of 12 year olds outside of The Blind Pig and need to contemplate your mortality. It is a great place in which to cozy up to a good friend you haven't seen in ages for that long overdue heart-to-heart - you'll be able to hear them, and during the infrequent silences you'll notice how the music is, somehow,  perfect. This is also one of those places which, every now and then, on the night you were not expecting it at all, you find yourself in a secret dance party, the kind that makes you pause and think, "Man, I love this town."
Inside this secluded space is an extensive cocktail menu, one you will have to study a bit, and a food menu of little pleasures that are available until 1 am on weekends, and midnight on weekdays. My current fascination is with spicy, peppery drinks, and I order an Osborn every time I go. But I love a place that can give me a Negroni, Oban, Booker's, & a craft beer, too - (the only thing they need is a Prosecco to be my aperitivo stop). The food is small, flavorful, and eclectic - perfect for enjoying languorously with your Port Flip.
I love this place. I love the blue-grey color on the walls, the long tables you can stuff lots of people into, the little surprises on the menus and the staff who always recognizes me. You will probably love it, too. Especially if it's after 10 and every other kitchen in town is closed. Don't worry - you don't have to stop drinking and head for Fleetwood. Robbie will take care of you, I promise.