New York-based Ray’s Hometown Bar is now open in Detroit
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Ray’s Detroit is the fourth location after Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Miami.Photos by Ray’s Hometown Bar Detroit
Ray’s bar opened in 2019 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and has since expanded to Brooklyn, Miami, and now Detroit. The Detroit location debuted September 1, marking the first collaboration between Authentic Hospitality and NoHo Hospitality Group.
Authentic Hospitality founders Carlos Quirarte, Matt Kliegman, and Matthew Charles created the concept and count a couple of celebrities (Justin Theroux and Nicholas Braun) among their partners. The friendly neighborhood bar quickly earned a following in New York, but rather than recreating the same experience in every city, each Ray’s is tailored to its location and shaped by its surroundings.
New York-based NoHo Hospitality Group was founded by chef Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard, and Luke Ostrom and has been operating concepts in Detroit since 2018. So as Authentic Hospitality expands the Ray’s brand, and NoHo Hospitality Group continues its investment in Detroit, the opening was a natural next step for both companies.
Ray’s locations share common threads but are designed to complement their neighborhoods.
“We are old friends, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for how they operate,” Quirarte said. “I truly hope this is the beginning of us collaborating on a lot more.”
The new Ray’s was designed by Detroit native Taavo Somer, who drew on his own memories of the city and found inspiration in its culture, history, and sense of place. There are cozy booths and banquettes, intimate corners, a private dining room, and a photo booth, with Detroit-specific artwork and memorabilia.
Quirarte explained that, beyond the design, the operating philosophy is centered on the fundamentals of a great local bar. That means “warm service, familiar faces, an approachable food and beverage program, and a room where guests feel equally comfortable stopping in for a quick drink or spending the evening with friends. We want to earn regulars over time and become part of Detroit’s everyday rhythm,” he said.
The menu includes elevated bar food, beers, and original cocktails named after famous people named Ray.
Ray’s menu features elevated takes on classic bar food, including a burger, all-beef hot dog, fried chicken sandwich, mozzarella sticks, and fries. There’s also a salad topped with honey harissa chicken, and warm cake doughnuts for dessert.
The beverage program balances quality and approachability, so guests can sip on Martinis and other classics, as well as frozen drinks, simple beers, and whiskeys. There’s also a list of original cocktails named after famous people named Ray, like Liotta or Charles. And happy hour brings a few great specials to the menu, like a burger-and-beer combo for $12.
With four Ray’s locations now under their portfolio, the Authentic Hospitality team is considering additional markets for expansion, but they noted that it’s too early to share where.
“We would love to bring Ray’s to more cities, and we’re definitely in talks about it,” Quirarte said. “Every city deserves a Ray’s.”
