You know what - El Club was actually pretty cool. I was a bit skeptical since I was going for a Halloween emo nite show. But the AC was good, bathrooms were clean. It was an 18+ show and only 2 bartenders - woof. People were super polite though and the floor was NOT sticky. So all the good things of a dive bar without too much gross dive-y. It's a bit of hike from Ann Arbor so I'm not sure if I'll be back but if a show was hosted there again - I wouldn't think twice! FYI - street parking only and not a lot of spot hero options unfortunately. read more

El Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

We saw a great concert here. The only draw back is its standing room mostly. The bartender was fabulous and scored a couple of folding chairs for my friend and I as we were too exhausted to stay on our feet. But a fun night ou was had... read more

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El Club is one of my favorite music venues in Detroit. On my last visit, there was never a line for the restrooms, drinks were reasonably priced and came out quick, and it's just the perfect size for an elder millennial! I'm always eyeing shows here and can't wait for my next one! read more

Best sound system around. If a band do you like has the opportunity to come here go and see them. Super nice staff to boot.

A little perplexing at first. The showroom had no chairs and the demographic was AARP. Eventually, folding chairs were brought out. The show (The Hot Sardines) was fantastic!! Great venue. The bar service was great. They even give refills on soft drinks and have cold water available. read more

El Club - Yay! Excited. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Mixed feelings about the El Club. It is overpriced. New Pornographers tickets were over 50 dollars. While in Boston or San Diego they were 35 and 37 dollars respectively. MC5 was over a 100. On the coasts the tickets were under 40. This is a good venue for small shows but not sold out shows. The venue is two rooms. During a sold out show people get pushed near bar. Be prepared to watch the concert from a TV screen or thru a doorway. They seriously should hire an architect and knock down a portion of the wall to allow audiences to see. The outdoor sign says they have pizza. They do not. Staff is friendly and location is well maintained. Appreciate the outdoor area. read more

Great venue, fantastic sound system, and friendly staff. Cute patio area too to hang out after a show!

Such a great venue. Small and intimate with great acoustics. It was crowded but full of fans. The drinks were also wonderful. read more

El Club - Marquis - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Big fan of El Club! I've had the pleasure of seeing a few artists here including Lizzy McAlpine & The 502s. The tickets are easy to get and typically cheap, the parking situation isn't too bad although I'd recommend arriving a bit early to get good street parking, it makes for a great smaller venue and the staff I've encountered have been helpful. They put water out as well which is smart & greatly appreciated. I've never been here for a regular night out but I've certainly enjoyed the concerts they host! read more

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I will never buy tickets to an event here again! The club is divided into two rooms. The first room has the bar, the second has the stage. The bar room is so loud and the acoustics are so bad that you can hear the patrons in the bar over the live music. The stage room is long and narrow and was so packed I could not move my arms. This is clearly a disaster waiting to happen. Parking is an absolute joke. Come an hour early so you can actually find parking that is not a mile away. read more

Traveled from Cleveland for a concert that was not stopping in my area. The area this club is located in is super cute. Lots of culture. We were checked in efficiently with safety precautions taken that helped me feel at ease. Upon entry the bar greets you. I really appreciated this because it kept the business of cocktails separate from all the other goings on. Made for a smoother process in my opinion. My drinks were ice cold and tasty. I couldn't ask for more. The club area itself is spacious with a built in stage in one end and a few lounge seating areas on the other. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and venue. read more

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Great little venue. Had a good sized group attend this spot last week for muscadine bloodline concert! The venue has indoor and outdoor areas. Would definitely come back in the future if they have any wrists we like in the future. read more

brought a friend from the UK to see a show. he has been to the venue before and we had a great time! although this time at the door we had a very unwelcoming experience with the manager and said that he was "unable to verify his UK ID". my friend is 24 and now cant have a better experience. NEVER had a problem at any other bar until now. ever heard of black light flashlights?? something??? dude can even get in to dispensaries it doesn't make sense. read more

We were in town to see Morgan Wade and the place was sold out. It was frustrating that the club even allows that many bodies in the building because it was worse than being in a tuna can. Literal bodies against bodies to the point we were backed up to the front door. The building is basically 2 rooms that join in the middle and we had to stand by the front door at the right angle to see Morgan Wade on stage. We ended up watching most of the show on the TV screens that were not very clear. I do have to say the staff was phenomenal, bartenders were friendly and efficient and even started a bonfire outside for us after inquiring about it. Overall, would NOT return, ever. read more

El Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I was here to see Moonchild 4/23/22. The place itself is small and not really setup for more known artists. Its one way in/out, but they have a nice outdoor courtyard with a wood burning fireplace and a trailer that may or may not serve food (did not in my case). The bar covers one side of the wall, and they have it fully stocked.... with liquor. This was a large crowd and it was mayhem with the 3 bartenders working, but I didn't hear of any problems. Drink prices were manageable and the bathrooms were clean and no problems to note there. The crowd overflowed the main stage area into the bar area so much that people were watching the concert from the only TV working in the place. The sound pumps outside, but there's no screen setup, which would have been nice for those who can't be 2" within someone during COVID. I enjoyed it at the bar: hanging out with people and chopping it up (Houston, where u at?) But when I say past-capacity, I mean... about 1000 people in a 300 person facility. A wake up call for a few more venues in Detroit. I ride-shared in, but parking is either on residential streets or a grass lot next door - no security and at your own risk. read more

This is a such a fun spot. I had never heard of this place until my favorite band, The Lost Dog Street Band was playing there. Now it's one of my favorite places. It's much larger inside than you would expect. The first room is a bar area and then there is a second larger room where the bands play. It's a very unique and intimate place to see a show. It also has a very cute court yard/smoking area which is great in the summer time! It's a great place to see up and coming bands. read more

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Why did you sell me two tickets for tonight's performance then refuse us entrance? Why did you say we needed proof of covid shots at the door and not mention this when we bought our tickets. You owe me $65.00. When can I expect a refund? Why did the bouncer offer to let us in for another $40.00 in his pocket? Why do you post a fake phone number on Google? I'm sure the better Bussiness Beurea is dying for answers to all these questions? read more

This place was fun. I went with some friends today around 6pm, which ended up being good, because we left around 8:30pm and it was getting crowded (there was a concert that night). This review is only for the FOOD, not for the concert venue. Pizzas range from $10-15ish. I got the Brussels sprouts pizza (a white pizza - no sauce) and it was very good, but out of the three I tried (my friends got a pepperoni pizza + a margarita pizza), it was surprisingly the pepperoni pizza that won, hands down. They put a little bit of honey on top which made the pizza sweet and salty, and it was DELICIOUS. My pizza was very good as well, although a little pricey ($15). It had Brussels sprouts on top as well as fresh mozzarella, and ricotta cheese. Another in our group got the "Taco Truck" pizza and said he liked it, and another got a gluten-free liver and onions pizza - that was the reason we dropped by today, a rapper had come up with two 'specialty pizzas' and profits were going to the nonprofit that another friend works for. I'd come back here again for pizza, they have a very nice outdoor patio area where we sat too (yay for 70/80 degree weather in April!). I will say that the parking situation is not great, though - I parked on the street and I didn't see a lot or anything for the restaurant. Oh and they do accept credit cards, but it's a minimum $10 purchase. read more

El Club - Pizza menu, ranges from $10-15 and I think they have slice options too. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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This place is amazing! I had a great time at the venue. They had an impromtu concert with one of my favorite artist. Clean, artistic, gender neutral bathrooms, great vibes. Its loud, its cool for concerts, the beers are expensive but all in all. Its a great time. Will be back I would also like to include the staff wasnt welcoming at allllllll. That includes everyone from the ticket sales, to the bouncer, to the bar tenders. The only staff member that seems nice was the security guard that walked around outside. Still had a great time, but the staff needs an attitude adjustment from top to bottom excluding that one person. read more

El Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Why would you advertise having Heineken 0.0 and not have it available to the clients? Lame AF.

El Club is pretty awesome! I can't wait to return for another show! Really small venue in Southwest Detroit, great venue for intimate shows where the artist can really connect with and captivate the audience. I saw Sleigh Bells here and it was a phenomenal show, definitely one of my best shows thus far. The parking was plentiful enough. There is a lot across the street and lots of street parking. Doors open right at 7 pm, so you are unable to enter the area earlier. We grabbed food at Taqueria El Rey before. There are plenty of other places close by as well including Pizzaplex and Flowers of Vietnam. We stood in line right at 7 and there really was not much of a line and we got in the venue fairly quickly. When you first enter there's a coat check for $3. There is a large bar when you first enter where you can order drinks and pizza. They sold pizza by the slice and whole pizzas around $10-$16. I would definitely suggest eating beforehand and ordering drinks as soon as you get there, if it's for a show that you really have been anticipating and want to be close to the stage. The line at the bar wasn't too bad when we first got there but it grew into a large mass of people crowded around the bar as the night went on, especially right before the opener and during intermission. I waited 15 minutes easily to order a drink right before the opener came on, as opposed to almost immediately when we first arrived. So I was really glad we ate beforehand and didn't have to go through the hassle of waiting for a pizza to come out. I'd definitely give the pizza a try another time though. It sounded really good, but I'd try it during a different show like an 80s night where it doesn't matter as much how close to the stage you are. The drinks were pretty good and fairly cheap. I had scoped out the menu and reviews before and opted to order the little edie cocktail but they didn't have all the ingredients. I noticed only beer was listed on the menu but they still have a full bar and can make almost any cocktail. I ended up ordering the negroni and it was really good. Most beers were really cheap too, around $3-$5. Of course we came for the music. We got almost right to the front of the stage. I noticed most people didn't trail in to the venue until later on but it got pretty packed. The lighting and sound was awesome! There was very little border or boundary to the stage and Alexis Krauss was so close we literally reached out and touched her. She came out into the audience and danced with the crowd to Crown on the Ground and pulled people on the stage for Rill Rill. Incredible energy! Love small venues like El Club where bands can really engage and connect with the audience! I can't wait to return for another show soon. Definitely want to check out their 80s night or MJ/Prince experience or see another band. Great venue! read more

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I went to El club for a concert (H.E.R.). I can't give El Club too many complaints. They had enough space to do a decent concert here. The sound was good. What I will say is that this particular concert took place on a cold rainy day in November and I did not appreciate that the door did not open in a timely fashion. Nothing on the ticket or website stated that doors will open at 7; The ticket suggested that the concert startss at 7. Thus, it is my strong recommendation for El Club to definitely make sure that this information is visible on their websites as well as their tickets. I know a few of us actually got there at 5:30 to stand in line thinking doors open at 6 because the concert starts at 7 because the ticket stated that the start time was 7, not that the doors will open at 7. Otherwise I have no complaints about El Club. read more

El Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Listen, disco lines requested it like 8 times but you infact did not turn out the lights.

5 stars just because I've been here a handful of times and each time has been a blast! The space is really intimate and the sound really resonates throughout the room. I like shows here because it's more about the music. Because it's a smaller venue, I find people that people are a little more restrained from holding up the phone 90% of the show. So it's more for feeling and enjoying the moment! It can get real packed in there- especially for popular shows. Though if you're feeling a bit claustrophobic, you can always get a quick breather at the bar or the outside area (which is really nice). Overall, El Club has delivered constantly for me. The great choice of artists, the bar, and just the vibe of the place is the reason why this has become one of my favorites. I'm looking forward to the next show! read more

El Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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As a New Yorker, I just assumed that small music venues are tolerable at best, miserable at worst. Tickets sell out immediately and have a bunch of fees that invariably add $15 to the advertised price, the floor is sticky, the restrooms are unspeakable, you can't see the stage unless you're in the front half of the venue, and people shove past you even when there is clearly no room to move forward. But, you know, that's just how it is if you want to see a fun show. El Club turned that concept on its head, and I honestly don't know how I'm going to be able to go back to the hellishness of NYC shows. El Club is everything a small venue should be. The vibe is chill, the decor is hip, you can buy tickets in cash at the door (no fees!), food and drinks are tasty and reasonably priced, there's seating indoors and in the patio/garden to chill between acts, the bathrooms are covered in fun graffiti and super clean, and the performance space is big enough to fit a sizable crowd but small and narrow enough to feel intimate. My girlfriend and I came for a Lizzo show, which was possibly one of the best shows I've ever been to. She would've been amazing in any venue, but El Club felt special because no one was pissed about not being able to see or standing around all evening. I wish every club could be like El Club! read more

Really an incredible venue in all aspects... there's nothing super flashy about El Club, and I think that's what I like about it. The stage area is intimate to say the least, and so there's no chance of a bad spot to watch a show. The alcohol prices are fair -- cheap, really -- for a concert venue, too. The pizza is a bit pricey, and short of outstanding, but still solid. It's not as tasty as say, Motor City Brewing Works, but then again, MCBW doesn't have live music. I had wanted to visit El Club for awhile, and seeing The Darcy's come to town was a good excuse to go. While I was nervous about getting there and leaving at night (it's not exactly in a lively area of the city), I survived... plus, the parking situation is alright. Just park on the street -- chances are you'll find a spot nearby. Great music quality, decent drink selection, good enough pizza, fair pricing... El Club will most certainly be a Detroit classic music venue, if it hasn't already reached that in its few years of being open. Until next time! read more

El Club - The Darcys -- highly recommend you check out their album "Centerfold" if you dig 80's music. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Attended the Amber Mark concert on 4/2/2022. Venue was small and cozy. People were packed in the main concert area. and it was standing room only for the show making it difficult to move back and forth to the bar or bathroom. The outdoor patio was a revelation. There was plenty of room out there and they piped in the music outside so you didn't miss any of the show . A TV out there would have been a nice touch so one could see the performance as well while taking a smoke. Bar service was a bit on the slow side but the drinks were reasonably priced and the servers didn't have the "attitudes" I expected from the previous reviews I had read. I think this is a good place to see up and coming acts for a reasonable price. I couldn't imagine seeing one of the more popular mainstream bands in this cozy little club. The sound quality was awesome. Oh, and Uber/Lyft service was very efficient after the show which was a concern because I was told the neighborhood was not a place you wanted to linger after the show. I parked at the hotel and used ride sharing services because I came from out of town for this show and didn't want anything to happen to my car. I got in and out unscathed and enjoyed a really good show. read more

Saw an amazing show here. No seating, general standing admission. Felt claustrophobic and was pushed towards the stage. Difficult to get through the crowd for any reason. I was able to speak and get a signature from my favorite artist which was an amazing experience! Nice venue, small, but great if your comfortable with the style of the venue. read more

If I could give less than one star I would. I've been to the El Club multiple times and enjoyed myself every time until this occurrence. The two guys shown in the picture were extremely rude to not only me, but many other customers. They offered the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my entire life. The way they spoke to customers was unreal. They picked who they wanted to service and left other customers waiting. They ignored people. They just are the worst and need to choose a different career path because working with the public obviously isn't for them. read more

El Club - The absolute WORST bartenders/staff EVER! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Scetchy. Called the number to get info about a show im going to there and it tried to get my credit card info for a 100$ scam voucher at "major retailers" after a few seconds it said maximum attempts have been reached and it hung up in me. Scam sketchy shady watch out yo! read more

The Magic Stick screwed up big time by trying to turn into a dance club. They left an elephant sized opening for a mid-sized venue for edgy rock acts which El Club strolled through and seized with amazing speed. Now the Stick is going back to rock and roll and I'm thinking it's already too late. El Club is also really illustrating how gentrification has a domino effect. Midtown is being suburbanized - at least in a Ferndale kind of way - so the edgy, urban, (mostly) pasty-faced hipsters are fleeing to El Club in heavily Latino Mexicantown. Maybe the locals feel some resentment. I don't know. Nobody has treated me strange but it is kind of funny how things work out sometimes. I'd rather hang out at El Club than the Stick any day of the week; I'll tell you that. It has better sound, a better layout and the spacious patio off to the side has a much better feel to it than the deck at the Stick. They're booking some great shows, too. Already I've seen Psychic TV, Danny Kroha, Craig Brown band and the mighty Negative Approach. They also had old school punk band X playing on successive nights but the door was $40 for one night and that was a little rich for my blood that week. I also went to an event called Murals and Sliders that featured live painting and... wait for it, tiny burgers. The Burger guy really needed to get it together, but that wasn't the venue's fault. He was someone brought in from the outside just for the event. They're now serving pizza but I can't really vouch for it one way or the other. The last show I went to I swiped a couple of pieces some drunks had left behind and it tasted like pizza that had been sitting around for awhile so who knows what it's like fresh. (I'm gross; I know.) The bartenders are mostly old school Detroit mainstays like Virginia, always a welcome sight. There's a cool old Cadillac grill above the bar and a nice cursive pink neon El Club sign up on the wall. And there's a line of Christmas lights that look like little Cheech and Chong heads, a nice nod to a neighborhood that hosts a blessing of the lowriders every Cinco de Mayo. As for parking there's a grass field on the corner a couple of lots down. Beyond that, there's street parking. I often park by Clark Park after dark. (I had to throw that last rhyme in for some reason.) So, yeah, El Club is pretty cool. Get down here before the rents get jacked way up and the new happening spot is Highland Park or someplace else like that. read more

I bought a lifetime pass to El Club when they were crowdfunding for renovations. When I called to use the pass the club told me they said would no longer honor my pass. This is unacceptable. I feel cheated and lied too. For shame El Club. read more

We had our wedding at El Club (Labor Day weekend) and they were so helpful during planning + execution. We wanted a venue with a good sound system and huge patio. They've got both in spades. I came with a list of venue questions, and the owner (Graeme) addressed them all before I even asked, almost in the order I'd listed them, so I was impressed. They accommodated everything we wanted to do (decor installations, dog attendees, complicated/loosely planned stage schedule, etc.) Had a quick meeting with some of the staff a few days out, and the owner made sure everyone was on the same page. He showed up early the day-of (tuxedoed) and offered to help with set-up/linens/etc. (!) Lighting guy showed us different options for the stage room. Sound guy made our stage program seamless (no small task). Indoor + outdoor bar staff were on their game. We had a caterer make dinner on-site, and Pepe'z rotated in afterward for late-night pizzas - that worked well. All-in-all, best wedding ever. (Since it was my own, I guess I'm biased, but still..) For as much was involved, I expected some hiccups, but it went off without a hitch. (Or at least, if anything did happen, they took care of it behind the scenes, so we never even noticed.) We've been fielding compliments from guests for a couple weeks. If you're considering an event here, I'd say - go for it. Glad I did. read more

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It's a safe place for a show and I didn't see anybody inebriated. Street parking was free and within walking distance. The bathroom and all areas were clean and the sound was great. I'd like to come here at least monthly. A lot of great acts. read more

Went to go see my favorite rapper but that's beside the pint the place is very small has no space also the security guards were very disrespectful showing no care for others. Would not recommend buying tickets for this place it's a scam. read more

El club itself is awesome. However, a couple of the folks behind the bar were cool to call me the C word. Upon arriving, I was at the box office as my ticket wouldn't load in the stubhub app. In the middle of this, a woman was half shouting at me to move though I wasn't registering that I was in the way of the box office door. Upon passing me on her way out after just yelling at me, she called me a c*nt. Fast forward to once inside. Turns out she was one of the bartenders. Once she saw me at the bar, she starts whispering to all the other bartenders, "that's her". So I asked to speak to the manager as I was a paying patron and continually being targeted bc I was in her way for a brief moment was totally uncalled for. The manager ends up being quite rude as well and told me he didn't care. Call me crazy, but I don't think calling customers the C word, continually targeting them, speaking about them and then management going along with it is what an establishment or the service industry is about. read more

I just had my wedding at El Club and have very very mixed reviews. The good: the obviously cool atmosphere-the patio- the airstream. The staff with the EXCEPTION of the owner were nice and truly did their best. The pizza is great too. Sound system is killer. The awful: the owner Greame. He has no business doing anything other than being the owner. He should have absolutely no interaction with customers as he is completely incapable of being nice or professional. He promised us things that he simply did not follow through on. He asked for more money above and beyond what was agreed to. The cherry on top was that he showed up at our wedding in legitimate sweatpants. He also was eating the food we had for our wedding. Update: Greame was harassing us about tipping the staff after it was discussed and agreed that gratuity was included in our wedding package price. Calling us "disgusting" and other names. It is common practice that gratuity is included in wedding planning packages. Had we been treated better we would have given more..... This is my warning to anyone who possibly wants to have a wedding at this venue beware- that the owner is not a nice person, he will send you insulting emails calling you names, he will send you a rude text messages demanding payment in the most unprofessional tone and then show up at your event dressed up like he's going to a slumber party. read more

This place was fantastic! From the intimate show to the pizza to the bathroom art, it was all pretty damn cool! read more

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I haven't been to SW Detroit in quite awhile! Long overdue. We came to the Prince & Michael Jackson Experience, which I've seen several times in Chicago and Detroit. I was very excited that Dave finally came back to Detroit and a venue that was more fitting for his show. The layout is interesting. The bar gets pretty crowded, but I never had an issue with getting a drink. It's definitely smaller than I expected. I like that one side has plenty of seating for those who want to chill, enjoy the music and the people they're with if they don't want to stand or dance. I loved the "backyard". It's pretty big with plenty of room to hang out. It's also great that they have a bar outside. The music was blasting on the patio, so we didn't miss our favorite songs. Downside: My friends had some issues getting pizza. It was basically...you get what we have deal. No ordering what you actually want. Mixed drinks were weak and pricey. I stick with beer, so I didn't have any issues. I'm looking forward to going back in October for the next Prince & Michael Jackson Experience at El Club! read more

The club reached out to apologize. They offered some nice incentives to make up for it, but I just wanted a refund. They obliged. I'll still never go there, but they did the right thing in the end. read more

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