I can't say enough good things about this place. Starting in February of this year 2026 I had been talking with Calvin the manager about throwing my lovely wife a surprise 70th birthday dinner for her family. I told Calvin that I originally thought that there would be about 30 of us and I would like to arrive at 5 and leave by 7. Calvin was very patient with me, he kept saying, I've got you brother. Over several conversations, and months of planning it was decided that they would actually open up one hour earlier that day in order to get us in by 4, and out by 6. The jazz band starts playing at 7. Calvin suggested that we would want to be out of there before the music started. My wives mother once worked there in the 60's. Calvin said that we were like family. Believe me, during our whole time there, we felt like family. Calvin and his mother (Jeanetta) greeted us & our family as everyone arrived. They promptly seated us and began to take our order. Calvin kept saying, I told you that I had you brother, and they certainly did. The food was excellent as one would expect from a 5-star restaurant. The deserts were as delicious as the main course was. Several of our family who had never been there said that they would most definitely be back. Thank you, Calvin, Jeanetta, and the entire Cliff Bells staff, for making us feel like family. read more

Cliff bells was a very nice step back in time. Dimly lit cozy space, full bar, live band playing jazz standards. Food : what we had was good, price point was a bit high for the quality but it was good. Service. Because there are two show times it creates a bit of a gridlock for the wait staff. We are all arriving and sat with a very small window of time. This can be taxing. As I watched it happening it made me pack my patience a bit and ask my table mates to do the same. That process should be worked out just a little bit more as everyone doesn't come with grace. The show was beautiful. Excellent way to spend Father's Day. My Con : the $25 mandatory fee for live entertainment. When I'm already spending $400 on dinner for my party of 3, tipping my wait staff, paying $40 for parking. Why do I have another $25 fee? If I was just sitting at the bar and not placing a food order then I understand the fee. This fee is why people are opting to not patronize these types of establishments. It's excess for those of us already spending a nice amount. read more

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My wife and I enjoyed ourselves. This was my first time and the ambiance was great and the service. The food was good but the entree could be use an update or give more options. But overall I loved the experience and the band that performed. I give it a 5 out of 5 easy. read more

This place has been on my list for a while, and I finally had the chance to experience it. I loved the vintage interior, it truly feels like an old-school, upscale jazz club. The ambiance was great, the music was enjoyable, and we also had great seats. There is a $25 cover charge, which was added to the bill. The food was very good. I ordered red wine, which paired nicely with the tenderloin tips. We also had the Brussels sprouts and the shrimp & grits, everything was well-seasoned and delicious. One thing worth noting is the restroom location. The ladies room requires going up the stairs along the stage, while the men's room is located downstairs. When returning, you have to walk back across the side of thr stage and down a few steps. Unfortunately, as the musician was moving backward, I was trying to walk to the stairs and I ended up tripping and slightly twisting my ankle. Thankfully, I wasn't seriously injured, just a lil sore the next day; but it did feel a little hazardous. Not sure if the stairs had lighting on it or a rail. But, overall it was a great experience, and I would definitely return and I'll be more careful navigating the stairs from the stage area. read more

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Went to dinner and a live show at Cliff Bells. I had the braised ox tails they had a fancy name for it but it was basically off tail. They were tender and delicious. The mashed potatoes were good but the carrots were bland no taste of carrot at all. My husband had the lamb shank. It was tender but the this string beans were tasteless. To top it off we had the worst seat in the house, even though it was plenty of open seating when we got there. The camera guy stood right in front of us until I asked him to move as if he didn't know we were sitting there our waitress was good and accommodating. The place is dated but restored beautifully . read more

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For anyone going solo: GO!!!! I was craving a solo date and I decided to buy tickets to a show the same day. I got a reservation for the bar area. Note, they will charge a $20-30 cover fee for performances! I arrived definitely like 20 minutes late and there was no problem, luckily I was sat right at a quaint little table at the bar. There was a candle lit on my table, it was so cute and classy! The place was very dark, so you know, there was no awkward moment of me walking in in front of everyone. I just shimmied in, got a mocktail and enjoyed an amazing night of jazz. I didn't try the food yet but in terms of vibes, GO! I don't see any reason not to. Treat yourself to a solo date this year with some good music, kind service, and tasty drinks! read more

Live jazz is amazing in this venue. The place is intimate and when you enter, it feels like you have stepped into a time warp with art deco and live jazz playing. The food and drinks are excellent, but very pricey. If you don't try anything, give their Brussels sprouts a whirl! They are packed with flavor and smell amazing. For the record, I spent more than $200 for small bites and drinks with my college student. Granted the tip was already included but man the cost! This is more of a treat for a lovely night out. Not an every day experience. It was a nice treat with its dim lighting and eclectic jazz scene. Until we meet again, Cliff Bell's! read more

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First time! Expensive! Great experience! There was a $25 per-person table charge. Our total bill was over $400 for four people, and only one person had a drink. I have never reviewed a space with a price tag over $150 Is it worth it? If you have it to spare, YES!!! We were celebrating my best friend's birthday, and I wanted a memorable experience, and Cliff Bell's nailed it. Service was excellent, professional, attentive, and engaged. He answered all our questions. It was easy to leave a tip. The food was good. I wished I could write that the food was excellent, but unfortunately, I can only rate it as good. OH, how I wish I could give five stars. The food missed the mark! We had the Beef Short Ribs, Pork Chops, and the Chicken. Everyone enjoyed the food; however, it wasn't "fire"/"temperature" hot. The broccoli with the beef was cold. The cheese on the chicken was salty. The beef was tender, and the seasoning was great. If only it were hot, it would have been delicious. We ordered the bread, and it's clear that something went wrong with it. It was nasty, dry, and lacked flavor. The space is tight. You will be close to your neighbor, and you will have to give up talking during the show. You can't hear anything. I enjoyed the show. Others in the group weren't impressed. I loved the experience, and I'll be back read more

Cliff Bell's - Beef Short Ribs - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Cliff Bell's is a historic and beautiful Jazz Club with an amazing vibe! Perfect for any date night or just a quick drink. The staff, band and performers they had were amazing! The Pan Seared Steelhead Trout was amazing and the Shirley Temple hit the spot as well. read more

Cliff Bell's - Shirley Temple. - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Cliff Bell's has a cool atmosphere with live music, which is a nice touch. The show we saw was good, though it wasn't jazz--we were really hoping for smooth jazz, but it was still enjoyable. However, the food was disappointing, especially for the price. It's priced like fine dining, but the quality doesn't match. My mashed potatoes were cold, and I was even charged extra for them. Overall, the food was very bland. The drinks were also overpriced--nearly $20 for a small cocktail. Service was decent, and I appreciate the experience, but the automatic cover charge added to the bill for shows is something to keep in mind. If I go back, it'll be for the entertainment, not the food. read more

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Food was great, especially the scallops. Service was perfect. Ambiance was the best. Live jazz by Caleb Robinson and Reaching was the very best. I've been waiting to come here since we planned our trip to Detroit six months ago. The band was everything we expected and much more. We will come here on every visit to Detroit. read more

Amazing time! Great music, service and food. Hubby and I vibed all night and left feeling like we cant wait to go back. 10/10 recommend!

This is a great place to listen to live jazz. It has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere with good food and service. The drinks are made well. The seating is good, not a bad seat in the house if you are listening. The view may not be so great in the back. read more

Live music, beautiful atmosphere, and superb Mac and Cheese. It's too loud for the staff to hear you but they are attentive. read more

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Had a jazzy time bringing in the new year. So glad we got our reservations early and I'm glad they don't do first come first served with reservations. Our table was already set aside for us. But be aware, there's a huge pillar in the middle of the floor, which ultimately blocks your view of the entire stage depending on where you're sitting. And the tables are very small! So plates will be touching. The band was great. The margarita was perfectly balanced. Our appetizers came out fairly quick. We got salmon patties, truffle fries and oysters. For entree I ordered the short rib. In my opinion, my food was nothing to brag about. There really wasn't much flavor, it was just okay. I felt like i should've ordered something else. And then the saddest part was they ran out of the cheesecake bread pudding dessert. Food wise, the best part in my opinion was the margarita and truffle fries. My partner on the other hand really enjoyed his meal. read more

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This is a great unique spot where you can experience good food, have nice live music, and enjoy your dinner. One waitress was very sweet and recommended a few items like the crispy shrimp and deviled eggs. My favorite items on the menu were the Crispy Shrimp, the Scallops, the Cinnamon & Cheesecake bread pudding, and the chocolate torte. All the item we ordered were good but we really enjoyed the others and highly recommend ordering them. The Crispy shrimp is very delicious and the coleslaw was different than what I was used to. I don't normally like or eat coleslaw but they had a nice little spice to it. Their desserts were also very delicious and perfect to end the night! You can't go wrong with the bread pudding or the chocolate torte. Both were very delicious! We enjoyed our time and the live band was nice to listen to. A great place to grab a drink or get dinner. The cover charge is $25 for the band which starts around 7:30. read more

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Cliff Bell's is always a great choice. Whether you're looking to enjoy good music, the perfect ambiance for a date night, or just a great meal and drink...You'll always find it here. Servers are always very attentive and knowledgeable. Even the desserts are delicious. read more

Great service and great jazz! It was a perfect experience, a must try! Don't let the outside view fool you it is really a fantastic venue with great staff! read more

Cliff Bell's - Jazz show - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Visit 7/2023 Look- this is a great place to hear wonderful music. You should not miss this speakeasy-style nightclub in Detroit. This lounge transports you back! I felt I could be in another era with the feel and vibe. The service was great, the drinks were wonderful, the band was a 10-piece (I believe) that night, and they were truly amazing. We loved every minute, and my husband loves horns, so he had to go buy a drink and talk to a horn guy at the bar! This place is a must-see when visiting Detroit! read more

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The atmosphere of this restaurant is top tier. It's like being transported back in time and I loved that. I started with the Mushroom Bisque, which was good as far as soup goes, but I've had better at cheaper places. For my entree, I chose the 7 oz filet. The steak was cooked perfectly, seasoned well. It came with green beans and a potato gratin. The green beans were perfect, the potato gratin was almost crunchy--and not in a good way. My husband got the lobster mac and cheese and was not impressed. He also ordered an Old Fashioned, but the ratio of bitters to everything else was off and he didn't like it. That aside, our server was fantastic. When we made the reservation, we had not been told that there was a $25/person cover charge that would be added to the band. Our server spoke to her manager and got that cover charge taken off, which I was thankful for. If we had known there would be a cover charge we probably wouldn't have made the reservation there. read more

Cliff Bell's - 7 oz Filet with potato gratin, haricot verts, mushroom ragout - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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What a remarkable experience at Cliff Bell's today! Interested in visiting a warm and friendly bar with the art deco style William Powell and Myrna Loy would have taken for granted in the "The Thin Man"? Great food and a friendly staff? A truly fabulous bar? A really memorable location, especially today, on a Saturday afternoon? It's Cliff Bell's. What a unique place, with such a rich history. We had a truly great event, for fifty people. Don't miss Cliff Bell's. Run by a very nice family, not a corporation. Five stars. read more

Wow, you can just feel the history oozing from the walls here. This place is just beautiful so well kept. Stopped in during the day for a cocktail and bartenders were friendly and helpful in a choice of the right cocktail for my mood. Along with the drink came a great story about, back in the day, a bullet hole in the ceiling, some very interesting characters. Whether it was all true I don't know, but it really added to my experience. Thank you very much I suggest anyone should at least stop and hear at least once in their life. read more

I decided to stop in to Cliff Bell's on Saturday night to enjoy some cocktails and jazz music. It was my first time here and I was in awe with the music, environment, service, drinks, and food. I highly recommended the brussels sprouts and espresso martini. 10/10 read more

Cliff Bell's - Espresso Martini - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great atmosphere. Great shows. Great concept. Great service. Perfect for date night. But the food and drinks are just okay or just simply not good. Every time I come here it never fails. This place is awesome the least they could do is serve bomb a** food and drinks man. It'll take it to the next level. read more

Great place in downtown Detroit. Great food and awesome local music. Recommend the pork chop!

Not just a classic Detroit jazz club, one of the best in the world. A cool interior giving off 30s/40s jazz club vibes, a great food and drink menu and great sound. They also regularly spotlight Detroit's best jazz musicians. If you're a Detroiter or a tourist you owe yourself a visit. read more

A great Friday night at Cliff Bell's when we were exploring Detroit. We were visiting from out of town and go the recommendation to check them out - we had no after dinner plans so why not?! We went online and reserved us a table (note: you do reserve your spot but you don't pay the $25 cover (min 2 people on the resy) until you get your final bill at your table or bar). They set us up with a great table right by the stage in the action. As a girl from Chicago, I was looking forward to hearing the Jazz of the Detroit scene. The music, cocktails and dessert - amazing! Jeanetta was our server (she's a gem!) and made sure that we had a great time and enjoyed our 10 year wedding anniversary. We've already told our friends about this place and look forward to heading there again when we visit Detroit next - a must stop! read more

I have been going to Cliff Bells since 2007 and this jewel has only maintained its amazing energy and aesthetic. Cliff Bells is must for any Detroiter or one who visits. These acts are incredible and the staff is more caring than they need to be. I was surprised to feel so very warmly welcomed by my bartender Nathalie who while in a busy room of patrons took her time with me to decide which version of champagne my pallet preferred. Incredible job, Natalie and I appreciate you helping me decypher. Our hostess, Janae has the warmest best friend energy that makes you want to return and do whatever she recommends. Cliff Bells should be proud that both you and Nathalie are representing your incredible Venue. read more

Dinner and a show for a Friday night! Love the food here and the live music never disappoints. Old school speakeasy that rocks dinner, drinks and dessert! We don't get down here often enough but if you are in Detroit, it's a must for a fantastic experience. Make those reservations people!!! read more

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My first visit to Detroit and my buddy wanted to highlight the history of the city, JAZZ and he brought the group to Cliff Bells - a Detroit institution with great live jazz, food, drinks, and ambiance - a great combination. The ambiance is one straight from the heyday of jazz and one you see in movies. It's a popular place so reservations were made and we arrived in the middle of first set and were quickly seated. As live jazz played, we ordered our drinks and they quickly arrived. The menu was extensive and tasty. Food was great, but the main reason for visiting Cliff Bell's is the jazz and it was awesome! After a few drinks, you may need to visit the restroom - walk to the back, to the right of the stage and ladies walk up the stairs, and gentlemen walk a few steps down. I walked up the steps until I realized I it was the ladies room. If driving, parking is available close by, but be aware, it is a bit costly and in cash. Overall, a great place and visit to experience one of Detroit's historic musical past. read more

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Wasn't sure how it would be but sincerely amazing. The music, the food, the ambience and service was outstanding. The food was some of the most delicious food I've had and I've had the privilege to eat all over the world. Shoutout to Darius for waiting on us. 15/10 will come again. read more

it felt like every role of the restaurant was filled with imposters pretending to be running an establishment. I'm not sure where to begin but I flew in from Louisiana to experience the "jazz and ambiance" but left feeling like our table was treated poorly from the time we walked in there was confusion, the general manager essentially called us scammers for trying to use a gift card received through credit points. The food was subpar, bread undercooked, bartender ignored a person in our party for 20minutes, no acknowledgment nor desire to serve. read more

This was a spot on my friend's bucket list of Detroit must-dos before she moved away from the city and I'm so glad I was able to join her on this adventure because Cliff Bell's is so iconic! It's located just a block or two down from Comerica Park, so the parking situation is going to be similar to if you were downtown for a game. But once you enter Cliff Bell's, you instantly feel transported into another area entirely. Everything here is dimly lit, cozy, and has the perfect jazz feel, while also being a much bigger space than you would typically expect a jazz club to be. It's absolutely wonderful though that they can accommodate so many more people this way, while still feeling intimate. The stage is in the back of the space, but still surrounded by tables, so it feels somehow like it's still in the center as well! This place is magic, they have delicious food and drink options, and is just a perfect venue for live music, date nights, and gatherings with friends. It's truly a gem of Detroit and would highly recommend anyone and everyone come here for a taste of the music magic that Detroit has to offer as it often and regularly features local musicians and bands. Absolutely love it! read more

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This place was wonderful, the food was okay but everything else was a plus it's worth a try

Spicy coleslaw. I underestimated the level of hotness! I'm not a fan of spicy but if it's your thing go for it. The appetizer was ok but I loved the rose wine selection and heavy pour :) read more

Cliff Bell's - Crispy shrimp appetizer - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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I made a reservation for the The Vincent Chandler Experience and I'm so happy I was able to catch this show while I was visiting Detroit. We were running a bit late since there was two games going on in the area at the same time and traffic was insane. I called to let them know and they were so sweet and accommodating. Thank you for that. The first thing I can say about this place is that it's beautiful and very well maintained. The bar is almost sparkling and enticing you for a drink. I can imagine another era of patrons enjoying the space, as it truly held up its charm throughout the years. The updates were too well done.. their AC is fully blasting and it's SO cold. I had to put my coat back on even though I was wearing a long sleeve. Inside was much colder than outside on a true Fall day. We were originally seated towards the back so I thought it was because that. Nope, once we changed seats to the right side of the stage, it was as cold as it is in the back. Noted for next time! The music was wonderful and I'm so happy we were able to experience it up close as well as from the back. The service was top notch and very accommodating. I will say, the food deserves 2 stars. The seafood was not fresh and the sauce it was cooked in didn't help. The fries were the worst I've ever had. The only thing we enjoyed was mac and cheese..it was creamy buttery all the good stuff. So that filled me up. But the seafood soup and the mussels were hard to eat. Next time, I would come only for a drink and a show. Maybe a bite of that Mac and cheese again, but honestly I am afraid to try anything else on the menu. We did not come for the food, so I still really had a great time. read more

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We went with a group of 6. Our reservation was for 645pm. We requested to sit in the back so we could quietly chat during the show. All of the staff were very knowledgeable and nice. I got the mushroom soup and it was amazing 10/10-It was so creamy. I also got the shrimp appetizer which was also amazing 10/10, I love the flavor of the slaw. My friend got the short rib and rated it 9/10. My other friend got the stuffed mushroom app 7/10 a little too oily and not crispy. We also got the 4 basket bread rolls which were very good. I heard the waitress say that the food is made from scratch and takes about 45 mins to come out. The jazz show started at 730pm and was so nice! It is $25 pp. The bill includes the jazz show price and is on one check. The ambiance at Cliff Bells is beautiful. We definitely recommend and we will be back! read more

Cliff Bell's - Mushroom soup and crispy shrimp - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Our server Rebecca was wonderful! Fun night, great music and vibes. Will be coming back

SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 4 AESTHETICS: 5 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 3 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.57 My love for jazz put this restaurant at the top of my list while I was visiting Detroit. This happens to be one of many wonderful local live jazz restaurants in the area with amazing reviews. We made reservations weeks in advance because it's impossible to get a table last minute. We were taken to our table immediately, but sadly we got a really terrible table that was right on a pillar that was in front of the jazz stage. Was a bummer, but we got to listen to it still. This place was so packed, and you could tell the servers were working hard. Due to the volume the service was slightly delayed. Wasn't a big deal considering we were listening to live jazz. I ordered the mushrooms and coconut rice. It was absolutely amazing. The mushrooms were so thick and delicious. The coconut rice complimented them so well. My only complaint was the very limited menu. Some may love small menus, but I prefer a little bit more selection. Overall, this was everything we were hoping, and more. The food was good, great wine selection, and of course amazing jazz by local jazz enthusiasts. A must go if you love jazz. This place is very loud, but it's to be expected with live jazz. read more

Cliff Bell's - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Food was decent I had jambalaya and my wife had roasted chicken which was overcooked. Service was horrible took 45mins to bring seafood chowder and forgot bring the second seafood chowder. Had to wait another 20mins. What's the point of writing orders down if you don't read it! Waitress was horrible. Never came to check on our drinks. The waitress next at the table next to us gave her patrons a history of cliffs belle and very friendly. Only good thing is the ambiance. We were next to the stage and got to listen to some great music. I would not recommend this place the one star was for the ambiance everything else sucked. read more

Cliff Bell's - Shrimp jambalaya - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan