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People who don’t know a lot about Detroit may not realize that it is a place with a thriving subculture of music and entertainment. Rappers, DJs and dancers all come together in the night clubs and bars throughout Detroit to bring a creative energy to the life of the city. As more and more of these people have begun to use the venues of Detroit as the playground for their art, more and more venues have opened up in support of this culture. As a result, Detroit is a hot place to go if you are seeking out an active and exciting night club scene.

Of course, not all of the night clubs and bars in Detroit are filled with live music or have DJs every night of the week. There are also plenty of Detroit bars for the kind of person who wants to grab a beer, play a game of pool and hang out with friends. There are also bars for those people who are more interested in the music played on the Top 40 than in innovative music being made in the city today. No matter which type of person you might be, there’s a bar in the city that should be perfectly right for you.

Here are some of Detroit’s hottest night clubs and bars:

Pulse Lounge - This place is a really interesting place in comparison to the other spots that you’ll find in Detroit. Sure, it’s got a strong foundation in the whole DJ scene and even has a DJ battle every Wednesday night. However, there’s more to this club than just what meets the eye. On Thursdays, you’ll find that it’s a place where you can sample fine wines and hear some jazz music. There are also really unique events held here such as “cigar and whiskey night”. This gives it the lounge aspect of its name despite the fact that it’s got a lot of great DJs spinning throughout the rest of the week. It’s an interesting place worth checking out if you’re in Detroit and looking for a little bit something different.
Bleu Room Experience. This is your basic DJ bar where there are various special events and DJ competitions as well as just regular nights where a DJ is spinning for people to dance along with. Those people who are looking to hear some of the hottest up-and-coming DJs in Detroit will probably find that they can be heard at the Blue Room but there’s a wide range of talent here so it’s somewhat hit and miss in terms of the quality of their work. The overall vibe is laidback and creative so this suits people who are into the electronic music scene.
Hayloft Liquor Stand - This bar is for those people who are in Detroit and are looking to get away from the rap and DJ scene and find some good old rock and roll. There is live music here on a regular basis. When there’s not (or even when there is) you can entertain yourself here with games of pool, air hockey and foosball. It’s not actually located in the city of Detroit but is a short drive away in the suburb of Mount Clemens. People who are seeking out live rock ‘n roll are generally willing to make the drive in order to find it and this is considered the best destination.
Foran’s Irish Pub - There are a surprising number of Irish pubs to be found in Detroit if you’re interested in seeking them out. Although any of them might be a good place to grab a pint and make a new friend, Foran’s tends to be one of the preferred pubs amongst people who frequent Irish bars. It’s located in downtown Detroit and has everything that you’d expect from a good Irish pub including the right beer (on tap, of course), the Old World ambience, the easy conversation, and a food menu that competes with the best of Ireland. The only thing that Foran’s lacks which might disappoint some pub-goers is a live music scene.

Bosco - This is one of the trendiest lounge-style bars in Detroit and is favored by the kind of people who want to be where the cool people are at. With Swedish décor, African music and a menu that serves “cocktails” instead of drinks, it’s considered to be one the swankier places in Detroit. This isn’t the kind of spot that’s right for everyone but those people who are looking for something precisely like this can find no better place throughout the city than this place right here. One of the best parts about this bar is the open air area out back which includes a waterfall and is a perfect place for enjoying a warm Detroit summer night.
Bookies - This trendy bar is located in downtown Detroit and is frequented by a younger crowd of people that considers themselves to be hip. They often run special events so you never really know what you’re going to find until you get in here. Whether it’s a costume affair or a special drink promotion, the main theme of Bookies is “fun”.
Elysium - This is something of a mix between a nightclub and a lounge. It has the laidback and intimate vibe of a lounge and you can expect to see people somewhat dressed up like you would in any other lounge environment. However it has some more of the open space and excitement in the air that you would be more likely to expect from a bigger club. There are seven different sections of the bar so that you can find a style within it that suits the mood you happen to be in.

Paycheck’s Lounge - Although it calls itself a lounge, Paycheck’s is more of a club due in no small part to the fact that it’s an alternative music venue where people go primarily to hear live concerts at a low price. It’s located outside of Detroit (as many of the live music clubs are) in nearby Hamtramck, Michigan. Those people who are seeking a place where music is cheap and loud are going to find that the drive to this destination is worth the gas money it costs to get there.

Cadiuex Café - If you’re trying to find something in Detroit that includes drinking but is completely different from what you’d find anywhere else, then you want to try checking out Cadiuex Café. It’s a café and bar that hosts live music but it’s real claim to fame is that you can play feather bowling here which is a unique European game that you just aren’t going to find played too often in the United States. It’s at least worth the experience of checking it once.

The main thing that you’re going to find in a Detroit bar or nightclub is creativity. Rappers, poets, DJs, dancers and singers all show their peers what they’re about at these venues located across the city. However, you’re also going to find a good time, a late night and a lot of drinking at any of the bars that are listed here. Whether you live in Detroit or you’re just visiting for a little while, you should be able to find a place that offers you the sort of entertainment that you’re interested in enjoying.

photo credits: tukanuk,

Tags: detroit | illinois | night clubs | United States