Lansing’s best bars and drinks for every situation

Barbadian superstar Rihanna knows how to live it up. That's clear in her 2011 hit, "Cheers (Drink to That)."

"Life's too short to be sitting around miserable," she sings. "Got a drink on my mind, and my mind on my money, yeah."

Most of us probably cannot afford to party as lavishly as RiRi, but we all deserve a night when we can down a couple beers and lose our inhibitions even if it's just for an hour or three.

Whether you're hanging with the squad or riding solo, here's where to drink in Lansing.

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Where to drink a $10 cocktail (that doesn't taste like a $2 cocktail)

Zoobie's might be known for its wood-fired pizzas, but don't sleep on their cocktails.

East Lansing resident Betsy Banghart called Zoobie's Moscow mule the "best in town," adding that the drink is served in a copper mug.

"Whenever I see a copper mug at someone's table, it makes me want one," she said.

"I have never had a bad cocktail at Zoobie's," added Claire Moore, a regular at Zoobie's. "All creative and well balanced, but they nail the classics, too."

Dare to be different? How about a cucumber-basil infused vodka? Or "Louisville's Revenge" with bourbon, cold-brew coffee, chocolate bitters and a hint of orange?

If you stop by on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m, you can munch on free truffle oil, sea salt and black pepper popcorn.

And Zoobie's back patio is worth checking out before summer ends.

RELATED: 5 fun patios for the end of summer

How to go: Zoobie's Old Town Tavern, 611 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing. Noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where to drink at 7 o'clock in the morning

LeRoy's opens its doors and starts serving booze bright and early, which is perfect for night shift workers or anyone who wants to down a few beers at 7 o'clock in the morning for no specific reason.

After all, it must be five o'clock somewhere, right?

Heidi Johnson, who resides in Grand Ledge, described LeRoy's as a "cozy, friendly, hometown place."

The atmosphere is "quiet and relaxing," she said, so it's the "perfect place to go for a fantastic burger, good beer and great conversation with friends."

There's also live trivia every Friday night and karaoke on Thursdays and Saturdays. All the fun starts at 9 p.m.

Fun fact: Before LeRoy's was LeRoy's, it was a home and then a pharmacy, and, after prohibition ended, a bar and fruit market. When LeRoy and Jeane Ann purchased it 26 years ago, they traded in the fruit market for an outdoor covered patio. Not bad, eh?

How to go: LeRoy's Classic Bar & Grill, 1526 S. Cedar St., Lansing. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Where to drink if you want to ride a mechanical bull

The Whiskey Barrel Saloon is closed, and Dick the Bull was put up for auction. But if riding a mechanical bull is still on your bucket list, the folks at Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill are waiting for you.

"You don't have to be a country music fan to have a good time here," said manager Samantha Alvarado.

Big enough to accommodate an outdoor patio, a stage for live music and four bars, Tequila Cowboy started off in Nashville before expanding and planting its roots in Columbus, Ohio, Lansing and then Pittsburgh.

Bonus: Free line dancing lessons on Wednesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

How to go: Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill at the Lansing Mall, 5660 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Starting in October, Tequila Cowboy will open Mondays and Tuesdays.

Where to drink if you're looking for a place like 'Cheers' but without Woody Harrelson

Jacob Rowan Prusakiewicz comes to Harry's Place for the rib special, but he stays for the cold beer and the friendly service.

"It's the neighborhood bar everyone knows and loves," said Prusakiewicz, who lives in the Westside neighborhood, located down the street from Harry's.

"I equate it to 'Cheers,' " he added.

Lansing resident Jennifer Davis called Harry's the perfect neighborhood pub.

"The staff knows patrons by name and engages in conversations that are actually meaningful," she said, adding that the Friday fish fries are "out of this world."

So, check out Harry's if you want a place where it feels like everybody knows everybody.

Oh, and the place is usually packed on Thursday nights because of the trivia.

RELATED: The ultimate guide to trivia nights in Lansing

How to go: Harry's Place, 404 N. Verlinden Ave., Lansing. Closed Sundays, 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday.

Where to drink if you dig Tejano music

Tejano nights are held about twice a month at Binni's.

"Both of my parents are Mexican, so I grew up with Tejano Music," said Margarita Casanova, who drives all the way from Adrian to have a good time at Binni's.

She added that it's "very hard" to find places catering to Tejano music, which blends polka, pop, rock and R&B, as well as Latin influences, including mariachi and Mexican cumbia.

Bonus: On some nights, a bottle of Hennessy or whiskey or patron is raffled off to the first 20 or 25 people who pay the cover, which tends to be around $8.

How to go: Binni's Bar & Grill, 820 W. Miller Road, Lansing. 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Where to drink if you're a Michigan fan

Tovarisch Craft Bar, that's Товарищ крафт бар to the locals, is one of the finest establishments in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia's third largest city.

We're sure they'll turn on the game for you if you ask.

How to go: Tovarisch Craft Bar, Oborony St., 2A, Krasnoyarsk 660017, Russia.

What would you add to this list?

Contact Princess Gabbara at pgabbara@lsj.com or (517) 377-1006. Follow her on Twitter at @PrincessGabbara.