By Cashmere Morley
In Hamtramck, a unique neighborhood establishment is redefining what it means to gather for a drink. Founded in 2023 by owner and creative director Zoey Ashwood, The Black Salt bridges the gap between a traditional craft cocktail bar and a dedicated space for metaphysics and ritual. For Ashwood, a former New York City painter, professional psychic, and lifelong practitioner of witchcraft, the integration of cocktails and magic is entirely natural.
The concept for The Black Salt materialized after Ashwood returned to Michigan and discovered a historic neighborhood tavern with over a century of history. Drawing inspiration from a decade spent in New York City, where post-work cocktails became a personal form of manifestation, she recognized a profound philosophical connection between mixology and intentional ritual work.
“Both cocktails and rituals ask us to slow down, become present, and engage intentionally with the moment,” Ashwood said. “They invite us to gather, reflect, celebrate, and connect. The Black Salt grew from that shared philosophy.”
Despite the distinct witchy branding, Ashwood emphasizes that hospitality remains the absolute foundation of the establishment, ensuring the space feels accessible to practicing witches, deep skeptics, and cocktail enthusiasts alike. “Hospitality means making every guest feel welcome,” Ashwood said. “Participation in the ritual side of the experience is always completely voluntary. Like any belief system, witchcraft is deeply personal. It’s something you choose to engage with, not something that’s imposed upon you.”
The true magic of the bar unfolds through its highly collaborative drink and spell programs. Months before a menu debuts, Ashwood establishes a central seasonal theme, focusing heavily on overlooked botanicals, edible sidewalk weeds, and local traditions. The spells themselves are crafted around the evolving emotional and energetic needs of the community, offering themes of peace, self-love, and resilience.
“Every spell cocktail begins with intention. There’s a purpose behind pairing particular ingredients with particular metaphysical processes,” Ashwood said. For instance, the bar utilizes purslane, a sidewalk weed associated with protecting against nightmares, to build a custom green amaro scratch-made for a cachaça and rye whiskey cocktail. “If a guest is looking for something beyond that, whether it’s spiritual guidance, mental health support, or another specialized practice, we’re always happy to point them toward appropriate resources. I think it’s important to respect the expertise of other professionals just as much as I hope they would respect ours.”
To make the metaphysical elements approachable and seamless, the bar utilizes small, pre-prepared spell boxes containing carefully selected ingredients and written instructions. “When a guest orders a cocktail, the bartender simply asks if they’d like to add the spell that accompanies it,” Ashwood said. “The ritual isn’t dependent on the drink. It’s dependent on the intention behind it.”
Staff are trained strictly as hospitality professionals rather than spiritual advisors. The self-guided kits empower the individuals themselves, ensuring the process remains grounded, welcoming, and entirely free of pretense.
The physical atmosphere of the bar deeply reflects its local roots and Ashwood’s resourceful artistry. Rather than gutting the historic structure, she embraced its century-old character, building the upper lounge benches by hand using salvaged wood from the upper floors. She spent weeks custom-mixing a specific, calming blue wall pigment designed to shift beautifully across the changing Michigan seasons.
Hamtramck itself proved to be the ideal ecosystem for the concept. “Hamtramck has always been a place where artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and creative people have built something unique with limited resources. That independent spirit is woven into the city, and I think The Black Salt reflects that,” Ashwood said.
The inclusivity of the space extends to a robust nonalcoholic program that was integrated into the bar’s identity from day one. Recognizing that many practitioners and patrons abstain from alcohol for recovery, health, or spiritual reasons, Ashwood treats spirit-free drinks with equal complexity and care, ensuring nobody is excluded from the ritual experience.
Visit The Black Salt online at theblacksaltbar.com to view current menus and seasonal spell offerings. Follow their official updates on Facebook@theblacksaltbar and Instagram @theblacksalt_bar or stop by their historic brick-and-mortar location in Hamtramck, Michigan. To explore the city further, you can book a weekend stay by searching for The Black Salt apartment listing online. Above the tavern is their custom-designed, multi-floor Airbnb apartment, featuring a private top-floor lounge and panoramic rooftop views of the Detroit skyline.
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In Hamtramck, a unique neighborhood establishment is redefining what it means to gather for a drink. Founded in 2023 by owner and creative director Zoey Ashwood, The Black Salt bridges the gap between a traditional craft cocktail bar and a dedicated space for metaphysics and ritual. For Ashwood, a former New York City painter, professional psychic, and lifelong practitioner of witchcraft, the integration of cocktails and magic is entirely natural.