Steeped in history, Cliff Bell's is a downtown icon that straddles the line between classic and contemporary. The original Park Avenue jazz club was founded in 1935 and was initially hailed for its modernity — state-of-the art refrigeration and air conditioning made it a step about the rest. The cocktail bar sustained that way until 1985 before shuttering, but was resurrected in 2005 by a group looking to bring its art deco charm back into fashion.
Today Cliff Bell's plays a unique role in Detroit's cocktail scene, bringing in musical acts weekly and serving as a a gathering spot for events like The Moth spoken word series. Eater photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard visited the club on a recent Tuesday evening during a live jazz performance.
