Detroit City Guide - Nightlife

Although Detroit's blighted urban core may have a reputation for being dangerous after dark, its nightlife often surprises those new to the city. Musically, Detroit has long been an innovative presence, bringing both Motown and techno to popular audiences. Although it is true that Downtown is less populous at night than during the day, it is still home to a number of nightspots and more and more suburbanites are coming back to the area on Friday and Saturday nights. Rivertown is a good place to find jazz and blues bars, while the theatre district at the north end of Downtown has more upmarket eating and drinking establishments. The suburbs too are a good place to find clubs and bars. Younger crowds have plenty to choose from as far as dance clubs and bars in Ann Arbor and Pontiac. Royal Oak and Birmingham offer a more eclectic mix of entertainment. The free weekly Metro Times can help with listings.

Alcohol can legally be served in Detroit until 0200 to over-21-year-olds. Dress at most bars and clubs is casual. When a dress code is in effect, it usually has more to do with style and less to do with any explicit smart dress policy.

Bars: The Town Pump Tavern, 100 West Montcalm Street, offering 18 draft beers, tends to fill up after work and especially before and after baseball and hockey games. In the heart of Greektown, Athens Lounge, 517 Monroe Street, is known for its karaoke, but unlike most other bars of its kind, the talent is good, some say very good. For a full bar, billiards, great live international and national acts and a large dance floor, visit the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Avenue.

Clubs: As with all other forms of evening entertainment, nightclubs are spread throughout the Detroit area. Bleu Room Experience, 1540 Woodward Avenue (website: www.bleudetroit.com) offers a dance and techno experience that keeps attracting big crowds and good DJs. Elysium Lounge, 625 Shelby Avenue (website: www.elysiumlounge.com) is a nightclub with five bars and seven separate areas, which allows guests to choose between various ambiences, from the highly energetic to the more calm and intimate. Bert's on Broadway, 1315 Broadway (website: www.bertsentertainment.com) is an upscale downtown club with great jazz and occasionally blues, comedy and even poetry.

Live Music: The hottest spot in town for jazz, blues, rock and reggae is the Majestic Theatre, located in the heart of the city's cultural centre at 4120 Woodward Avenue. Ferndale's Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Avenue (website: www.themagicbag.com) is another popular music club, putting on regular blues and rock concerts featuring various internationally known acts. At Attic Bar, 11667 North Joseph Campau, authentic Detroit blues can be heard nightly.