Cool spot! Nice massage parlor signs still up, recalling the history of the building. Wish Id experienced it, in its hay day. The bar was in the back. The tables up front. The place was pretty bare when my friend and I arrived but there's more than enough room for several large groups. Quiet Sunday night, drinks were typical pricing, my friend had one so I didnt get to gauge my regular drinks. The tables were free Sunday night so I have no complaints there. Im no pool pro but the tables seemed level, well kept and clean. Cues were nice, smooth and plenty available around the room. I'll be back. read more

The Loving Touch is my perfect version of a pool hall. It's beatiful inside and well maintained. The bar has a superb selection of spirits. They often have great music playing via local dj's and even the occassional local band. This is just one more reason why Ferndale has got it over Royal Oak. read more

A cool , dark, hang out spot a great place to take some friends and play pool. Other then people starring at me *acting like that never seen a gay black man in pool place*; the bar was A-ok.. read more

I'm a Food Critic. As I began my journey into The Touch I can honestly say I've never been felt up like that before. It was an experience I can only describe as monumentius. I was unearthed from my comfort zone and thrust into an experience unlike any other. Was it bad? Did it feel good? Yes, yes and YES! read more

Good drinks. Staff knows what they're doing. Great music venue, and some creative seating areas. Good pool tables. If you are looking for a regular drinking place, you can't go wrong here. I love that the location used to be a Massage Parlor, and when the new owner turned it into a bar, he kept the name and uses the original signs inside as decor. Very clever way to capitalize on what would usually be a negative and make it a hip positive. read more

You know you've done something right when you've built a pool hall that draws a crowd at the tables and the bar. I've never even touched a pool cue but I've been frequenting The Loving Touch all summer long, and happily so. The bar is friendly and it's the sort of place where you're bound to run into a friend or meet a new one any day of the week. The Atrium is impressive, and a great spot to gather. You can't beat the feeling of walking into TLT welcomed to the sounds of The Flaming Lips and ordering up a shot of Hard Luck's candy infused vodka. (Try the Red Fish or Root Beer, you won't be disappointed, and it's not a girly drink.) Maybe next time, I'll finally try out the tables. Oh, and here's a tip - Monday night is movie night at TLT. Grab a beer and take in a cult movie. It's a bit of a scene. read more

Some guy who had a name that rhymes with Mick Bones used to work here and because of that reason, I give you 5 stars. Got pretty hammered a few times and they had decent cheap greasy pizza. Five more stars. Love coming here after crappy bands are done playing to sit at the bar by myself, get blackout drunk and start crying. read more

Came here to see one of my favorite bands, Murder by Death. They did not disappoint. My first time at this venue. I thought it was a great place for a concert, very intimate and you aren't far from the band or music wherever you are. I was lucky enough to get a seat in booth which was perfect for viewing and I was happy not to have to stand all night. Drinks were good, bar got a bit crazy and crowded and a little patience was required to get a drink, but I managed. Only complaint would be they opened 45 minutes after the posted ticket time, people were lined up outside freezing while waiting to get in. Once in though, all was good. read more

Visited the Loving Touch after purchasing "tickets" to see one of my favorite bands, Geographer. Four friends and myself packed our cars and headed down at about 7 pm, only to find that the doors were not opening until 8. None of us had been to the place prior, so we sat around amd waited for doors to open outside. At around 8:45 pm, after watching people walk in and out, we noticed there was a band going on. We askwardly questioned why we hadn't been told the doors had opened, and tried to let ourselves in. Sure enough, the place had been open since about 8 but none of the hip folk walking in and out decided to let us know. We walked in and the man at the door checked our names off a list which was what we assumed to be a list of people who had purchased tickets. I visited the bar and saw some pretty awesome taps - one of which being the delicious strawberry blonde I drank all night from the WAB next door. The show was awesome - the pool tables were moved to the sides of the place so people could stand in front of the stage. There was no more than about 50 people there and the beer was flowing all night. The only thing i'd recommend for a place like this, or for smaller shows, is a waitor/waitress who comes around to check beers. Having to walk up to the bar (which is usually packed with people sitting and standing around) while trying to watch the show, was a drag. Overall, I really liked the ambiance and i'd come here again just to hang out and play pool. The the show was pretty chill and I prefer smaller shows, so i'd come here as often as possible to catch some more bands I enjoy if they ever decide to book at The Loving Touch. read more

Boy, this place sucks. First off its a hive of aging hipsters. Second, the drink selection sucks. If I wanted to drink lousy WAB beer I'd just go next door. Finally, the sound quality for live bands sucks. This is clearly not a good set up for live music and it shows (no pun intended). If you're going in here it better be to see your friends band who won't take no for an answer on the 'check out my band' invite. Redeeming qualities? It's clean. Nice looking bar. But that's it. read more

When it was just a bar and pool hall, I absolutely loved it, exactly what the area needed, great for groups, and good drinks on tap. Now it's band after band, show after show, cover after cover, and I stay faaaaaar away. As does everyone else I know. Because the original charm has exited the building. read more

I use to love this place so much. I had a group that met every Tuesday after burgers at the Emory for pool. Eventually we started getting ousted by shitty bands. Also a few great acts (future islands, trailer park boys) but mostly local stuff. I have no desire to see a show here, it's not a big enough venue. It was an incredible bar, and still is but it's difficult to pin point when you'll be able to drink in peace (Sans shitty music). The magic seems to be gone. read more

I dig this place, it's got something for everyone. The pool tables are a little small if you're there to really play some stick but more than adequate. The bar is tight but has some high top seating around it which is nice when all the booths are taken. The grand sitting area towards the back is a great gathering spot. The drinks are decent, prices are fair and you'll have fun if you spend a little time here. The jukebox is eclectic so you'll find something you'll like. read more

I'm impressed! I stopped in with a friend after reading reviews about this place. I'm not into pool by any means, so that part of it has no appeal. It was a slow night & we had no problem sitting at the bar. The music was a little too loud at first, but the bartender eventually turned it down. One of the reasons I wanted to stop in is because they carry the Hard Luck Candy vodka. I tried it at WAB & really liked the Red Fish, so I was up for trying a shot of something else. The bartender made a decent tasting shot, and it was a HUGE shot. I really liked the atmosphere & decor at Loving Touch. I also love that they have a foosball table. I definitely plan to revisit and play! read more

Ferndale's only real pool hall (the only other one in town doesn't have any kind of bar, so doesn't count), this is a very fun place to spend an evening with friends. Food is available from the nneighborisister business Woodward Avenue Brewery, and the full bar is really great. The pool tables are the smaller bar-sized ones and are coin/bill operated, so it is difficult to play anything other than 8-ball. Plus they don't open until 7 pm, wahich is especially a problem on the weekends and holidays when I wanna hang out with the guys and shoot a few games. But those few issues aside, they play great music, have a very personable staff who provide great service, and the tables themselevs are in great condition. Loving Touch really is a fantastic place to hang out and spend some time with friends. If your looking for a way to spend your evening, I highly recommend spending it here! read more

My favorite pool hall! They dont have a TON of tables but its a spacious bar with lots of places to sit. The bar is very nice and they have local beers on tap. Very relaxed atmosphere and dim lighting. read more

I love drinking and playing pool, and this place has great vibes. The Loving Touch is definitely for me. I can't give them five stars because the last few times I've been there, I haven't been able to play. There were some really small events going on, like selling thrift or what not, and it'd hinder my chance to play since the pool tables would be out of commission. I would just like a head's up when's a good time to get into town and play. Please? Anywhere else reeks of old men and terrible music blasted to make you feel like you're in a badly DJ'd club full of douchey dude bros even though you just want drinks, conversation, nice music, and pool! This place is chill, playing pool is just a dollar a game here, the music is just right, and the drink prices are fair. The dim lighting is a nice touch too. And the seating in the back is relaxing. It's definitely the place to go with friends if you're looking for a kick back kind of night but still want to go out and do something. read more

Great small bar and venue. Easy place to get a pool table. Cool wood furnishing. Good bookings. read more

The Loving Touch - Stickers out back - Pool Halls Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Keep in mind this review is based off a weekday night but I had an absolutely great time. For everyone whose complaining about the presence of hipsters, well... welcome to Ferndale. I unfortunately can't remember the bartender's name right now which upsets me because she had phenomenal service and was also very interesting conversation. If it helps to identify her it was this Wednesday night. The bar itself is super clean which is very surprising considering it spends half its time serving as a venue. On top of all that the place just gives off a very inviting and chill atmosphere. Certainly coming back. I recommended WAB's esb they have on tap. read more

The Loving Touch was as fun as recently fracturing a metatarsal bone in my foot: *Stressful - "how did this happen? How could Ferndale do this to me?" *Difficult to get around - "every where I turn there's a hipster standing in my way, and they're too cool to move." *Confusing - "are these people really cooler than me? that guy with the skinny jeans, vintage puffy vest and a winter headband from the 80's judged me so harshly, that I'm beginning to think I should go dig through my old winter-wear before I come here again?" *Expensive - "$5 for a Guinness? On a Wednesday? Really?" *Wear an Aircast - "good thing your haircut will detract from the hardware I have to wear on my foot" My husband and friend and I went to the LT last night for Autotune Karaoke, and left with an expensive bar tab, very little autotune and enough rage to send my Aircast on a non-stop flight to Hamtramck for a REAL bar. Such a disappointment beyond my expectations. We've been to the LT before, and have had similar feelings, but last night took the cake and I don't think we'll ever be back; which is sad because we're all about Ferndale (we've lived here for 5+ years, AND we like the Emory & WAB). First of all, it's like American Apparel and Value World had a baby and it spit up on a bunch of Wayne State students and they all congregated at this one location to willingly pay for overpriced alcohol and act like children. Okay, so I'm being really harsh, I'm sorry. Let me break this down, professionally. The LT is a cool space, full of cool, yellow-felted pool tables, sparse/modern decor, and it's decorated with the old signs for the original LT's former life as a massage parlor. The music is the courtesy of the bartender's iPod, so it's mostly new indie music, which I kinda like. You get a sense that this is a pool hall; comfortable, let your hair down, play some games...But the service is cold. Which bothers me because I have facebook friends who used to RAVE about how nice the bartenders were, and they could come and just chill with them all the time. Not the case the 4 times I've been to the LT. Brusque, cold, unfriendly and without personality, unless you count the plaid shirt. Which I don't understand because the service at the WAB and Emory are much nicer. The prices are expensive, as well, especially for mid-week. I could've gone to the Post and been offered beer specials and decent liquor prices. The Autotune karaoke was lame - the volume was too low, the autotuney-sound was too low, and it actually seemed to fluctuate depending on who was singing. The crowd was what killed it for us. Obnoxious, cooler than thou, stupidly dressed 21 year-olds acting like their parents are out of town and they finally get to party. Any time I went to walk anywhere in the bar I was looked at like I was an unwelcome, uncool chaparone butting in. This is NOT the Ferndale I'm used to! I'm just sad and disappointed. I guess if my adult self, adult husband and adult friends want to drink during the week without judgement, we'll hit the post, or many of the other fine establishments in Ferndale. read more

There are two unifying themes to the WAB, the Emory, and now the Loving Touch -- Beautiful wood and horrible acoustics. I would enjoy this place if I could hear the person I was next to when they were talking to me. If they could just turn down the music a bit, I'd probably shoot pool on one of their stunning golden-yellow felted tables. Right now it sounds like you're standing in the front row of an Iron Maiden concert. A pretty Iron Maiden concert. read more

It's a cool space, and it might be an awesome bar, however the evening we went it was slow and we were easily the largest group at the bar. Maybe we didn't look "hip" enough maybe the bartender's iPhone update was just that impressive but when I ask for your attention by name because our drinks have been empty for at least 5 minutes and we wanted a round of shots,( not a big deal if it's packed but there were 20 people in the bar and we accounted for 10 of them) and you respond with yeah one minute and go back to your phone for another 5 minutes, you'll get no more of my business. After the sass and the " yeah hold on" while she never looked up from her phone, we just cashed out and took our business up the street. read more

It's not so much that I don't like this place - really, it's a decently priced hipster bar in a hipster neighborhood (which, in itself, is a recipe for success). That said, their service is awful. Bartenders are somehow completely unaware of simple, standard mixed drinks/shots (seriously, I generally drink straight whiskey and even I know what comprises a slippery nipple ). And, though each time I've been there the establishment has been mostly empty, it took an unnecessarily long time to get my drink(s). Further, one of the bartenders spent more time and attention giving my friend a hard time for being tired than he did the entire time we were there attempting to purchase drinks. There are a bunch of other bars in Ferndale, and your money would be better spent in any of them. read more

I'm not one for trashing a business but it's Monday and I'm still scoffing about my experience here Saturday night so I'm compelled to share my nightmare... My friend was celebrating her birthday Saturday in Ferndale and we ended up at The Loving Touch around 11:30 p.m.. The entire group went up to the bar upon arrival and it was a long wait for all of us to get drinks. I was one of the last and on-a-whim opted to keep my tab open so that my boyfriend could keep getting drinks without us both having to visit the bar. At about 1 a.m. we decided we were ready to go home, I had had one drink and he had had two. We go up to the bar to cash out. I tell the bartender my last name - she turns around and sifts through the stack of cards a few times. Turns around and asks me what color the card is. Then proceeds to turn on a flashlight and begins searching the floor, countertops, ice buckets, etc. She asks me which bartender opened my tab, then consults her. They both go to the computer and discuss. They turn around to address me saying, "Well there was another person with a last name that started with Mcc so we gave them your card. We will pay for your tab".... I'm absolutely dumb founded and am staring back, jaw on the ground. They then say "It happens all the time. We could give you his name? I'm sure he will bring the card back, so you could just give us your info?" To which I respond, "Well I don't want the card now that you've fraudulently given my information away. I will call and cancel my card." They say, "OK" and move onto the next customer. Icing on the cake was: while walking out I stop and ask a man who is sweeping if there is a manager or owner present and he says, "You'll have to ask a bartender". So needless to say, I'm extremely frustrated. I'm now having to reset every bill on auto-pay and wait 10 days for a new card to come. All because of their laziness and incompetence. It would have been one thing if they accidentally lost my card and profusely apologized.. but the attitude and shoulder shrug after their wrongdoing... ridiculous! read more

This place is a fabulous addition to fabulous Ferndale. Definitely fun with a group of people, as their booths with pool tables let anyone hang out as they please. The bartenders are all very friendly and quick, and their beer selection is great, especially if you enjoy the WAB beers but don't necessarily feel like being at the WAB. Love it! read more

I'm enjoying the concerts that they now have here. Tonight I am going to see Dustin Kensrue, it's probably my fourth show here. The sound isn't that bad for a place that really isn't made for music. The atmosphere is close with the musicians and the beer is great (from the WAB and they have others on tap. read more

Went to see a show here last night....bands were great, bartenders were great, drink prices were great SOUND WAS HORRIBLE. Like, really really bad. This really bummed me out because I wanted to hear the bands...unfortunately all I heard was bass guitar, snare, and kick drum. I don't know if its the space, the system, or the sound guy, but if this place wants to really establish itself as a music venue they need to spend a little money and figure this out. read more

Lt is the magic stick for kids who are afraid of going south. Minus the good music.they actually play bad music SUPER loud. The beer selection is pretty pathetic .selling wab beers which are always terrible. although they do have a lambic on tap and a fooseball table.which is nice. The staff are all the same dudes with flannels and beards. If that's ur thing. Gotta love ferndale.it also seems to be the "hip" place of the moment. Until you step inside and realize your old and out of touch (thankfully) or simply that the place is lame and overrated I'll choose the latter . read more

Stopped in for a drink - no complaints! Bartenders seem to pour good drinks - Jack and diets that don't taste like watery soda/soap. We didn't take advantage of the pool tables, just drinks at the bar. I wasn't really there on a busy night, but I'd go back for drinks or a concert! read more

When the place first opened I liked going there as oposed to the wab's indie version of American Idol be seen on the town vibe. The WAB was crowded, LT was not. It also had pool and more beers in addition to the WAB beers and features. Now they have switched places. I'll be at the WAB. Hope your band is doing well. read more

We sought shelter here when it rained during the Pig & Whiskey and we were pleasantly surprised. The vodka selection is decent, and the bartender was very friendly. We will definitely be back. read more

Good beer selection, excellent booking, pretty cool staff. Many of my favorites have cycled through here (Tobacco! Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor! Temples!). Covers are cheap, and I love the vintage signs on the walls from the building's incarnation as a (an erotic?) massage parlor. read more

Update: I still majorly suck at pool. I took a few friends here this past weekend and got my ass whooped at the billiards table. There was a band playing that evening, for some event (record release maybe?). It was ridiculously loud and I couldn't hear a word. Other than that, The Loving Touch is still A-OK in my book thanks to the Raspberry Blond on tap and chill atmosphere. But I will definitely avoid it when a band is playing, especially if I plan on carry on a conversation here. read more

I cruised in here for a pub crawl and they handled the masses of hordes of people with no problems. I never had to box out at the bar for drinks or anything (March Madness be damned). We got their early in the night, so there was not much going on other than my friends to hold my attention. It was a good, chill place to kick off a pub crawl. read more

Well, I came back on a Saturday. For the first time ever in my experience here, the music wasn't loud at all. So, you could actually talk to your friends, and enjoy being at the bar, which is what it's all about, right? If this is how things will continue to be, I'll be returning! read more

great jukebox free pool sundays and the Bartender lady is a fox ; ) yay, i'm a fan! read more

I love pool. This is a very nice pool hall. Serves WAB beers which can be both good and bad. Great location. Not sure if they even serve food but if its WAB food then your best bet is take out from someplace else. Who cares. You dont come here to eat. You come for pool. I love pool. read more

This is overall my favorite place to have a drink in Ferndale. It is incredibly laid back and every time I go there I meet new people.And it is always different types of people so i can't peg the crowd for you. The rush comes around 10pm, but it's likely to be empty if you go in before then. I suggest randomly challenging the people next to you in a game of pool and you will have a great time. read more

Dropped in the other night for the first time and loved it. The vibe is great and I like the layout and design too. We came fairly early so it wasn't hopping, but I had a nice time sitting at the bar. Enjoyed the bartender's recommendation of a 'French Tickler" - Blanche and Framboise Lambic - tasty :) I lived in Ferndale for 7 years and miss it - so it's nice to try new places that have opened since I moved. I don't go to bars often so I'm still repeatedly struck at how awesome it is not to have cigarette smoke :) read more

I can't help but cringe when someone suggests coming here. The awkward and unfit seating with huge spaces between tables controls most of the space. The railing around the actual bar makes it claustrophobic and good luck getting a bartender to notice you in a timely manner (busy or not). If you want to play pool go to new way. They don't have a creepy jungle. read more