Cliff Bell's

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.

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.

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.

Super cool place! The music and the acoustics were really amazing. It was recommended and I'm really glad I went to Cliff Bell's.

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.

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.

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

Visit 7/2023Look- 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!

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

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.