Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Michigan Detroit The Raven Lounge
Gastro Obscura

The Raven Lounge

One of Detroit’s oldest blues clubs stands in defiance of the passage of time and the city’s shifting fortunes.

Detroit, Michigan

Added By
Becca Byrne
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Marian Krzyzowski
  Marian Krzyzowski
Bar   Rebecca Byrne / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance   Rebecca Byrne / Atlas Obscura User
  Marian Krzyzowski
  Marian Krzyzowski
  Marian Krzyzowski
  Marian Krzyzowski
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

It's easy to overlook the humble structure at the intersection of Chene and Farnsworth that houses the Raven Lounge. But to do so would be to miss one of Detroit's oldest blues clubs.

The lounge was originally the site for Mazur's Bar, a Polish bar known for its live polka bands. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the surrounding neighborhood consisted of mostly Polish immigrants, but gradually immigrants from Albania, Yugoslavia, and the Philippines also moved in, as did African-Americans. During the Great Migration, which began in 1916, large numbers of African-Americans left the South for industrial jobs in Northern cities. Detroit, with its burgeoning automobile industry, was one such city. Bringing with them musical and culinary traditions, they set up shop wherever they could. Due to race-based housing restrictions, many African-Americans were forced to live in Detroit's densely-populated neighborhoods, one of which was located in the near east side and known as Black Bottom. In an adjoining neighborhood called Paradise Valley, the main thoroughfare, Hastings Street, was soon lined with bars, cabarets, and restaurants. A blues scene flourished there, and prominent musicians such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday traveled to perform in Detroit. 

The Raven Lounge opened a few miles away from Paradise Valley in the 1960s. While the unassuming exterior of Raven Lounge might make it easy to overlook, the inside is an entirely different story. An old-fashioned wooden bar gleams in lamplight and sparkly streamers hang above the stage on which the musicians croon, drum, and strum. Patrons are usually regulars who come dressed in their Sunday best or hipsters looking for an authentic musical experience. A few minutes into any performance, many of the guests rise and start dancing to the music. Those who remain seated are usually chowing down on some of the lounge’s delicious soul food.

Attending a performance here is like stepping back in time, probably the most comparable experience can be had in the Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Indeed, a place like the Raven Lounge would not be nearly as obscure as it is if it were located in a city such as New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. However, the many challenges that Detroit has faced have kept the city, and, by extension, this music venue, off most people’s travel bucket lists until recently.

As the city recovers from its financial crisis, young people are increasingly moving to Motown and seeking out places and experiences that are quintessentially “Detroit.” Given this trend, it’s possible that the Raven Lounge will soon be a must-see for locals and visitors alike.

Related Tags

African American Music Unique Restaurants & Bars Bars

Know Before You Go

Performances are held Thursday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

Rebecca Byrne

Edited By

Rohini Chaki

  • Rohini Chaki

Published

April 5, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://theravenloungeandrestaurant.com
  • https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/club-respect/Content?oid=2150729
  • https://wdet.org/posts/2015/10/19/81771-curiosid-how-a-1900s-black-detroit-community-was-razed-for-a-freeway/
  • Marian Krzyzowski https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/detroitchenestreet/
  • http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/08/detroit-jazz-and-blues
The Raven Lounge
5145 Chene St.
Detroit, Michigan, 48211
United States
42.366922, -83.041945
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Fisher Body Plant 21

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

Beth Olem

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

The Fatberg at the Michigan Science Center

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Detroit

Detroit

Michigan

Places 47
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Fisher Body Plant 21

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

Beth Olem

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

The Fatberg at the Michigan Science Center

Detroit, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Detroit

Detroit

Michigan

Places 47
Stories 18

Related Stories and Lists

35 Places to Celebrate Black Musicians and How They Changed the World

List

By Jonathan Carey

12 Bars and Restaurants With Music on the Menu

List

By Anne Ewbank

Related Places

  • The Rainbow Bar & Grill exterior.

    West Hollywood, California

    Rainbow Bar & Grill

    An Italian restaurant became a rock-and-roll hangout and the lair of the "Hollywood vampires."

  • Tallinn, Estonia

    KuKu Club

    An underground nightclub helped spark a "Singing Revolution."

  • The self-playing musical marionettes.

    Cologne, Germany

    Papa Joe's Biersalon Klimperkasten

    If the tunes of antique organs and musical marionettes don't intoxicate you, the draft beer certainly will.

  • New York, New York

    Marie's Crisis

    Those belting out show tunes might not realize this piano bar marks the site where Thomas Paine died in 1809.

  • Antwerp, Belgium

    Cafe Beveren

    This small corner bar is home to a rare 1930s dance organ that still plays tunes for one Euro.

  • Little Rock’s legendary White Water Tavern.

    Little Rock, Arkansas

    White Water Tavern

    This Little Rock legend has survived decades of rowdy crowds, three fires, and a zombie wedding.

  • One of the more eccentric acts.

    Montreal, Québec

    La Sala Rossa

    From lefty Jewish gathering site to hip cultural site in just 80 years.

  • Naydja Cojoe takes the stage at the Dew Drop Inn.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Dew Drop Inn

    First opened in 1939, this legendary performance venue was a haven for Black musicians including Ray Charles and Little Richard.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.