Let me start by saying this place came highly recommended from someone. However, I was not impressed with the entertainment, food or service. The Salmon Croquette was dry and the Merquez Meatballs were salty and disappointing. I could not even finish them. And this is the first place I have ever been where you had to pay for bread? $10 really? The bread was good and the salad was good but anything that had to be cooked, which was everything else, was definitely not worth the price. Now for the entertainment, you definitely had to be under the influence to enjoy it. It started off as a bunch of noise and gradualily got better. Or maybe we just got used to it! The guitarist commented before one song that he hopes this clears things up so he had to know people were confused! It seemed like each band member was playing a different song at the same time. It was eclectic all right, but I didn't hear much jazz! The drummer and the bassist were good which was some consolation but I expected much more jazz from the saxophone... read more

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

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10/10....Cliff Bells did not disappoint!!! Amazing service...delicious food... delectable drinks!!!!Will definitely return...Jazz performance impeccable!!!! Again 10/10 read more

I brought my parents and girlfriend here for dinner and to watch Gayelynn McKinney and McKinney Zone. It was a magical night! They greatly enjoyed both the entertainment and the food. Additionally, the venue has a really nice Art Deco wood interior. The owner volunteered himself to take a picture for our family. My girlfriend who's a professional violinist said that while Gayelynn McKinney was superb, they should not have charged a cover charge for each person since she felt other musicians were not as professional. I could not hear the difference. Total evening for 4 people was about $191 + tips. What to get: 1. Angus burger with Fries - great! 2. Kale Salad - great! 3. Chicken Pot Pie - great! 4. Loch Durat Salmon - great! 5. Roast Chicken, baby carrot & Mashed Potatoes - skip read more

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So you have to pay for parking which is around $20-30. Once you walk to the front door it has a fancy entrance and once you get inside it's even fancier. We got seated right next to the Jazz Band which was awesome but if you do not like loud noises don't sit this close. For my drink I ordered the Parisian Manhattan and it wasn't too bad, wasn't great but just okay,tasted a little watered down. Out came our salad & Soup. I ordered the Seafood Chowder & the wife got the house Salad. This is the 1st time I have EVER eaten Mussels because I have always been afraid of eating one & I have to say that they really don't have much flavor, they take on the flavor of whatever they are in, however, the soup was a little spicy and I love that kind of spice, it was just an all around great soup and I ate the rest of the wife's salad and it was delicious. I then had my entree which was a Pan seared Steelhead Trout, I have to say that this was cooked to perfection and the red sauce with it was divine & the rice that the trout sat on was Amazing! All in All it was worth the order. Afterwards we had two side dishes: Crispy Brussel Sprouts & Lobster Mac n Cheese, both were really good. The Brussel sprouts had Maple Syrup glazed over the top which was a delicious treat & the Mac n Cheese was very cheesy. These 2 sides together balanced each other out well. Afterwards I had a neat pour of Basil Hayden Bourbon to sit back & enjoy the live show, they had Jazz music with a live band which is a neat flow with the restaurant vibe. (The Cover Charge is added to your bill, it's $25/per person). While sitting back and enjoying the music I decided for us both to enjoy a Tiramisu which was very delicious & sweet and had great coffee flavors. So, in conclusion. This is a great place to come, enjoy some great food and have some good drinks & enjoy a live show all in one night but you need to have your pocketbook ready because it is expensive but well worth the experience. read more

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The live music was fabulous, however the service and hospitality component of the club was lacking, and not worth the price. My friends and I made reservations for 9pm, and at 9pm our table was not ready. Nor was it ready by 9:15pm after being sent to the bar next door to wait. Finally after standing in a crowded queue of folks waiting to be seating, we worked our way back up to the host when they finally sat us around 9:25pm. Whatever system they have for seating is not efficient! Servers were wearing all different types of clothing; streetwear, athleisure, tshirts-- nothing that identified them as servers and it did not look cohesive/fitted for the higher-end vibes that are advertised on the website. I ordered the mac and cheese and brussels sprouts to split with a friend and only the brussels came out. When I asked our server about the mac, he said they had sold out. This left me wondering why he hadn't told me that before, as I would have ordered something different. Thankfully they were tasty. For this being my first live jazz experience, my main takeaway is that I would love to see more jazz performances, just not at Cliff Bell's. read more

Delicious drinks and food- amazing music! We enjoyed our server and the historic atmosphere.

Fantastic vibe. I saw it described as a speakeasy vibe and that kind of nails it! We popped in for dinner before seeing a show at the Fox Theater. SO GLAD we tried it. The lobster stuffed mushrooms were great. They weren't ruined by a bunch of cheese like you often find. The side of Mac n cheese is meant to be shared. Huge portion of creamy deliciousness! The shrimp and grits were a wee bit rich, but oh so amazing and decadent feeling. We were bummed we didn't have time to stay for the live jazz, but we are planning to go back soon for another great meal and live music. Service was great. My husband tried the Cliff Belle cocktail. It was YUMMY!! read more

Cliff Bells is THE SPOT, in the city for live music & jazz. If you're seeking entertainment, this is the hang out. We've been here quite a few times over the years and most recently, made reservations to see Ben Sharkey. We just love his voice. They have a nice drink selection with crafted cocktails along with a full menu. We opted for a few appetizers which were quite tasty. The stuffed mushrooms were our favorite. Our waitress was super friendly and accommodating. We had a blast dancing in our seats and will most certainly be back! This was a great way to kick off the holiday celebrations. If you are planning a date night, Cliff Bells will most certainly impress your date. read more

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Our group of 4 had a great time! The food was great and so were the drinks. Our server, DC, was super cool and friendly. We were not expecting to see a professional tap dancer as the entertainment, but we all agreed that it was a fun and unique experience! Loved the retro decor. read more

This place transports you to a different era when restaurants used to be elegant and everyone dressed their finest. Old time jazz. Nice menu. Good food and great drinks. Friendly service. read more

Cliff Bell's - So old school they hand out matches - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This stunning, art deco Jazz Club transports you back to Detroit's glory days! They have 2 shows a night so you can make sure that it definitely fits your schedule. The stunning bar, round and manual stage curtains, and intense acoustics creates an atmosphere like no other. All the jazz shows that I've seen bring the beauty of music back to the stage, with new modern twists that kept me enthralled the entire performance. Try to get a seat facing the stage, but any spot is great. The steamed mussels are delicious and the mustard brings a nice spice to the dish and I just used some bread to soak up the deliciousness of the sauce. If you're in town or just looking for a cool date night spot or even just experiencing a piece of history, Cliff Bell's should be 1st on your list! read more

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

Food was incredible. The atmosphere was so perfect to get dressed up for a night out. We had a seat right by the stage and it was amazing. The performance couldn't have been better. read more

The whole vibe was amazing! Drinks, food and jazz! Will definitely return! More people need to know about this place!! read more

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The live music, drinks and service was AMAZING. Definitely will come back. Not a fan of any of the food. Lamb meatball were disgusting. Steak bites were not seasoned and tough. The artisan salad was tasty. read more

You can't come to Detroit and not swing by Cliff Bell's. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very polite and professional. We arrived early and only for a drink , but I wish we could have stayed for dinner. My Gold Rush was delicious and perfectly made. My wife's martini went down too well as she liked to put it ;) . Can't wait to come back !!! read more

Cliff Bell's - Great times !!!!! - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Really beautiful setting; the stage immediately draws your eye with its shiny curtain on a round track. Love the dark wood everywhere, and it's very well decorated. The performance was fun and very well done! I would recommend going here for drinks and appetizers. The Belle's Blossom cocktail was lovely and the truffle fries were some of the best I've had. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the meal. The stuffed peppers were underdone and in need of seasoning, and for $24 I would have expected something better. It's like when you try to make roasted peppers without pre-steaming or seasoning the peppers and they end up tasting raw. Honestly, the best part of it were the greens underneath the peppers because they were salty. TLDR: I would go again for drinks and apps, especially during happy hour. read more

Cliff Bell's - Stuffed peppers, truffle fries - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Nice experience overall. Manager greeted us immediately and warmly at door. Server and food runners were very good and friendly. MUSIC WAS THE TOPS. Food was B. Drinks were A. Lavatory was B+. Atmosphere A. Entertainment A+. read more

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We went for dinner and an evening of jazz on Saturday. Wonderful vibes in this club. Dinner was very good the scallop dinner was excellent along with the shrimp grits. Definitely worth the money read more

Cliff Bell's is the place to go for jazz and crafted cocktails in downtown Detroit. The history of Cliff's goes back to the 1930s and you can immediately feel the past when you enter. The dark speakeasy vibe has remained unchanged for almost 100 years. Tonight my husband and I came here to see Airey B and her Blues Boys. She was unbelievable! 21 years old and invokes the spirit of the first ladies of jazz: Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Lizzie Miles. There was a $10 cover. Reservations are strongly recommended if you're dining otherwise it's first come seating up at the bar. Since we had already eaten dinner elsewhere we found a good spot up at the bar with a direct view of the stage. The cocktail menu is impressive and we had a couple while sharing the mascarpone and berries cheesecake for dessert. If you're looking for the perfect low key, romantic date night spot you'll find it at Cliff Bell's! read more

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The overall experience was ok. I liked the live music vibes. The entertainers were good at trying to keep the crowd involved. In regards to food, it was a bit over priced for what you get and the service was not that great. For starters, we ordered the oysters which didn't come out until we were half way done with our entrees. We ended up sending it back. It did not look good at all and the oysters were so small! Did not look appetizing at all. I ordered the salmon with the lobster asparagus as a side; they were both pretty good. The others didn't care for their meals so much. 2 ordered medium well steaks but they both came out well done. There was so much blue cheese on one of them, you couldn't really taste anything else. The mac and cheese was pretty average, nothing special about it. read more

Cliff Bell's - Oysters "Rockefeller" - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I went on a Friday night to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful time! The food was absolutely delicious (I ordered the lobster mac and cheese while our table got a variety of starters). The lobster was juicy and the lemon on too provided some needed citrus to cut the rich flavor of the dish. Amazing service：Our server was extremely attentive & mindful while the performers were doing their set (allowing our table to both enjoy the music & get food orders in efficiently)! 10/10 would recommend & go again! read more

I Love the Music, but the food was just ok. I had chicken wings, potato salad which was delicious and beans and rice which was terrible. The wait staff were very nice and attentive. I did not like how crowed it was that night and how congested it was inside this establishment. I hope and pray you never have to get out of there in a hurry. One way in and one way out. I'll come back when it's less crowded. read more

Amazing old school jazz club that puts you in the mood before the music even starts. Service went above and beyond seating us at the stage. Well crafted cocktails, and Noah Jackson (with drummer Louis Jones III) was off the charts! read more

The food service and jazz experience was top notch we had a great time !!! We would consider coming again !!! read more

Hubby and I witnessed a good old fashioned street fight before we even got to the door which is not surprising in Downtown Detroit. I am from there so I can say that:) I do not know what it was about, but we just moved out of the way and made our way to the door. We had just come from an event with some family and friends and just wanted to visit Downtown Detroit since we had been gone for such a long time. There have been many changes and some great ones at that. I said that to say that we did not order much food other than some truffle fries and some drinks. We wanted to enjoy the live band and they were pretty good. The fries were yummo and I wanted more, but we did not do the being greedy thing that night. Definitely check it out for the live music. read more

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This place has great acoustics with it wood interior. Classy. Dine or sit by the bar with a cocktail and let the rhythm sweep you away. The bathrooms are situated off of center stage so try to sneak in between tunes. read more

OK, it's with much conflict that I'm giving Cliff Bells 5 stars. Against my self interest. If I gave CB a 3 or 4 star, I would be able to keep this spot to myself. But I am acting in the best interest of our Server, Kay, who deserves the success this kind of place can offer. The ambiance, food, experience was off the chart tonight. We had. Trout, scallops, pork chops, shrimp, and bread pudding. Everything blew our minds. My son was with my wife and I and he is harder to please than me and he was in total agreement. Very unique flavors and well prepared. And again, there is our server, Kay, can't say enough about how great her service, personality, and recommendations were. Now if you read this review, let me have this place to myself. Thanks CB chefs and servers! read more

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

The food was amazing and our waitress was so amazing she got us right together I went for my birthday our dinner was amazing the food was. Tasteful and Juicy food wasn't dry at all the ambiance was amazing as well came on a Saturday night an the jazz was playing and they was singing great tunes the dinner table was set to romantic read more

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

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This is not the place if you want a conversation with your friends unless yelling is your thing. Not much cocktail selection. I would like to see more tequila mixes. Love the live band. read more

I can't remember the last time I went to a jazz club! That being said, we were running late, missed our reservation at Joe Muer, (which I pitched and tried to convince my S/O that it was WELL worth its value in dining experience, service, exquisiteness, view, etc... just to end up somewhere else!!) To no avail, we drove around arguing (nothing new, lol), searching for something we'd both enjoy. I love to try new things, him not so much, unless it's saving him money lol!! That being said, our date nights can be chaotic... but as soon as I saw rave reviews, AND they're open later than almost every dining experience downtown, WITH LIVE JAZZ... I was ALL IN!! We were greeted by an extremely inviting and friendly staff, as well as management upon entry. Somewhat of a 'speakeasy/New Orleans' vibe. The waiter was fantastic and helpful throughout. (I'm so sorry I don't remember his name, but he had great hair, lol) We ordered an appetizer of mussels and filet mignon that came with mashed potatoes as our entree's. The mussels were fan-tas-tic!! We didn't expect to enjoy them as much as we did! What a wonderful surprise that was! Beautifully flavored and perfectly steamed and tossed is the most delicious sauce, that we were trying to sop it up with the bread. The entree's were perfectly cooked as ordered... medium and medium rare. I can be quite the meat-snob at times, but these were cooked perfectly. The band was the cherry on the cake. I've never enjoyed music like this since I was in band in high school, when you did it because you loved it, not because it paid for college. These guys really love what they do, and if their audience loves it, they love it more... really putting their heart into it. All on a 'blue-moon' Tuesday date night, we had one of the best dinners together. We will MOST definitely return in the near future. Don't pass this place up; gems are almost always hidden or disguised! **TIP... Be sure to chat up the owner if he's not too busy, and ask him about the history of the building, the name, the property, etc. Interesting and intriguing, with so much Detroit history!! You must see this place in person, pics do not do it justice. Big thanks to the owner for running a beautiful establishment. Wishes for nothing but continued success!! Thank you for an exceptional dining experience! read more

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What a place! Can't believe that this kind of place still exists, and not just existing. Thriving! We went on a Friday night, $10 cover which was hardly anything for a full Jazz orchestra. The drinks were great and the service was spot on. The Art Deco setup was truly something to see, and perfect for the time. Would highly recommend this place. read more

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

So if you've never eaten here you really should. The food, service and atmosphere at @cliffbells was perfecto. We had dinner here before our show at the Fox. I do believe we will be back. Our meal? We had the Bloody Mary Devil Eggs for an appetizer. For dinner we had the porks chops and the lamb chops. The lamb chops came with a farro salad that was amazing. And for dessert the chocolate cake. You should definitely try this place if you are in Detroit. read more

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First time there last night. Randy Napoleon's band did not disappoint. I'm not a huge jazz buff. I appreciate when I hear it, but I don't search it out to listen to very often. But Randy and his band mates had such an electric vibe, they obviously love playing. And make it look so effortless. It was a joy to watch. Five stars The ambiance and layout of the bar was perfect. Not a bad seat in the house, very dim, romantic lighting, and the acoustics were great. it feels like an old time dive bar, minus the smoky din. The service was very good, our waitress was attentive and helpful. Five stars. Cocktails were tasty, original, and generous. I had 3 diff kinds, all delicious in their own way. Five stars. The food. Oh the food was bad. Like barely edible. We had several appetizers and they were all mediocre at best, barely edible at worst. The peach bruschetta was completely burnt, the truffle fries were limp and soggy, the strawberry cheesecake was just ok. 2.5 stars Overall a really fun place to go as long as you aren't starving. We will be back for sure. read more

Let's start this off by saying I love this place. The ambience is incredible and it's truly old school Detroit. A special occasion destination for our party of four. Reservations were made and we arrived on time. The place was packed but we were seated promptly. Our table of four was set up perfectly. After we were seated, we soon asked to relocate as a party of 10 needed our table. Not a problem as we basically just sat down. Our waiter greeted us, never introduced himself and we were immediately handed our menus and pressed for a drink order...strike one. Ordered our drinks and an appetizer. Appetizer came before our drinks...strike two. After our waiter brought our drinks he took our entree order. So remember the party of ten we were asked to move for? Well, we really never saw our waiter again. Our food was delivered by other staff members. A courtesy ask "if everything was ok" by our waiter was the last we saw of him until we had to get his attention to ask for the bill. We wanted more drinks and dessert but never had the chance as we basically were abandoned for the bigger table. When I questioned our waiter (Jack...and I only knew his name because it was on our bill) why he never came back, he told me he was doing the best he could. I don't know about you, but when you go to a high priced venue, you expect good food and good service. The food was not worth 40-50 dollars per entree and the service was terrible. I did reach out to the manager and he promised to "take care of me next time". I'll come back for a drink, but never for dinner again. My two star rating is purely for the ambiance. read more

Ambiance is off the charts. we should've moved in. Great vibe, I enjoyed the energy of the band, and the community musicians. The group leader even rejected a musician in style when he showed up late (respectfully shook his head, to the beat). I had the chicken dish, delicious and filling. read more

Our lovely hostess was the best part of the visit. We had reservations for dinner and the evening show. Service (although kind) and food left much to be desired (heavy and overcooked - overpriced for quality and level of service). The show was difficult to see, but acceptable viewing if you can reach around other tables. We will not be back. read more

Cliff Bell's was a charming spot for cocktails and live jazz. It was my first visit here, and stopped in because I love jazz, love cocktails, and there was no cover charge. What a fun place! Super cool interior with old school decor that takes you back in time. The woodwork on the bar and coved ceiling is gorgeous, and the subtle lighting is perfect for this type of venue. The cocktails were mediocre, but fine for sipping while listening to great music. The blueberry mojito was quite sweet, and vodka cranberry pretty weak. My colleague let me have a few bites of her lemon cake with berries, which was good but nothing too special. read more

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This was my first and last time at this establishment. We had a 9:30 reservation and were seated by the door even though there were tables closer to the stage and away from the door (it was 30 degrees out). Once we were seated, directly by the door and entrance stand, we had to wait, about 5 minutes, for water and then another 3 or 4 minutes for lemons to go with the waters. Terrible. We eventually ordered one glass of wine and a cocktail which came after our food was delivered. My husband and I both had the chicken and it was extremely bland, lacking seasoning and dried out. In a word, disgusting. In addition, the Brussels sprouts were all overcooked and charred as well. Once we told our bartender/waitress, the manager offered to comp the bill 50% and that was the only option given. We ended up asking for BBQ sauce and the chicken became tolerable at best. We paid, full price, because we knew it was our last time visiting and as a courtesy to those working. The highlights of our visit were the Emmy award winning drummer playing while we were there, as well as the drinks. However, the lack of wait staff, plus longer wait times for drinks and terrible food while sitting by the cold door, makes coming back less than desirable. If you visit on a Saturday night, pack your patience and DON'T order the chicken. read more

Cliff Bell's is a layer of art deco and old-scool class that's getting too hard to find. Put on your best watch and shoes. Take a date. Linger. This is what feeling good feels like. read more

Great old school jazz club in downtown Detroit in a sketchy neighborhood. The music was great. The interior was swank albeit old. Acoustic panels would make a great difference. The Jewell jazz club in Omaha has acoustic panels and they enhance your sound experience. You're not coming for the food as it was average. Support local live music. read more