Crescent Ballroom

A friend invited us last minute to “One Night Only” at Crescent Ballroom, and the concept was genuinely fun: musicians sign up, get paired with other artists at random, and perform three original songs plus one cover for a single night. The venue itself is intimate and it filled up fast—expect limited room to move, a small stadium-style seating area toward the back, and open standing room up front. They do have a bar inside and another outside, which helps, but it was still pretty crowded. Overall, an okay experience that was elevated by the creativity of the show. I’d be interested to come back for a different act to see if the crowding and flow feel the same or if it was just the nature of this event.

Super intimate venue to see your favorite up and coming artists. I’ve done meet and greets or come just for the show, and I still definitely recommend buying advanced entry. The line can get pretty long. It is downtown, so parking can be challenging. The venue is ice cold inside, so if you’re not directly in front of the artist dancing your heart out, you will get chilly. Bar is quick and makes a great amaretto sour. Merch desk is perfectly located, and I’ve never had to wait long. The bathroom is pretty tiny, and a line can develop, but it’s not too terrible. Sound is fantastic! Even at the back of the bleachers, you are ridiculously close to the artist.

Walking around downtown Phoenix we lucked into finding this fun spot. The bar service is pretty fast and the Reststop was our favorite of the craft cocktails. They do have a great cider on tap too. They do have a fun concert space that we didn't indulge in but the folks we saw heading in and out were clearly having a great time.

Awesome venue! Staff was friendly. Went to see DURRY and it was AMAZING! Definitely go see then if you have a chance!

First time there last week to watch The Waterboys. The place is really cool and very intimate, pretty good layout (it's kind of long and narrow) and the sound was perfect. There's a bar at the entrance and another one in the ballroom. Good drinks, good service, bathroom was clean and most of all - The Waterboys rocked!

Great venue, very intimate, great sound, food choices vary depending on the event, about 90 seating choices on benches, the lowest level on floor level. Often balance is standing room. Can only email the venue but they responded in 24 hours. Arrive well before doors open to insure you can claim a bench if needed. Will return for sure!

Crescent Ballroom is such a downtown Phoenix gem and a great venue to catch live shows and get an intimate music experience with great sound! Drinks are descent. And I love that they always have accessible water stations and a couple of bathroom options for easier access during congested times and live shows.

I’ve been a few time but nothing could have changed my mind until this last event. ADA IS A LIABILITY! My fellow disabled friends this is not a friendly venue. They do not recognize ANY disability. Please just skip this one… the manager and staff will gaslight, including belittling and laughing at you. Have some self love and skip this venue for all future events.

We saw Magic City Hippies at Crescent Ball Room. It was one of very favorite shows that I have ever been to!!! Small kool venue so you can get close easily! Few bleacher style seats in the back so you can sit if you want but you may want to get there early to grab a seat. Easy to get a drink during the concert as there is a full bar out front and inside as well. We got there very early and ate at the Mexican restaurant out front. It was great also. I will definitely head back there!

Maybe people have had some nice experiences here because they were likely seeing bands or artists they liked. Perhaps the food is even good if you have the time or there aren't so many people. That being said, I am joining what is clearly an ongoing list of complaints against security. The night I was there they were clearly on a series of power trips. This is common from looking at other reviews. We got told we couldn't go through an open exit that everyone was leaving out. When we asked why the guy immediately called for back up because he was so scared of one guy and one girl. He escalated the situation from the start and wanted to kick us out even though we were leaving the concert anyway. I've never seen someone in their 20's think they can push whoever they want around like this. I was able to contact Crescent about my concerns, but they were quick to defend themselves and ask me what I was going to do about it. Of course there isn't a whole lot to do other than never go here again. Moral of the story, don't be surprised if your night gets ruined because of some loser security guard with bad facial hair and no plans for the weekend. I'm glad to say this experience was a while ago and we have not gone back.

I've been to Crescent Ballroom a couple of times and I've always had a great experience. Their food is normally pretty good but today for some reason it wasn't as good as it normally is. I got their carne asada, chicken tinga, and chicken aspon tacos and they were decent but my girlfriend's quesadilla was burnt and pretty flavorless. I think in general this place is really only good for tacos but today wasn't that great. Also we ordered some drinks as well and there was barely any alcohol in them. If you're gonna charge 14 dollars a drink, I want my full shot in there. The staff are decent and the place is pretty cool because they have a concerts in the back so if you're ever feeling like dinner and a concert after, you can do it. Pretty decent date spot. I'll come back again because I've had good experiences in the past but unfortunately today was just not up to par.

Been here a handful of times for concerts but never the food. The orchestration of the ballroom in the back is not efficient. My partner and I walked right into the concert area without even getting our tickets scanned. And walked back out to look for someone to scan our tickets but no luck. So it is very easy to "sneak in" to concerts but also a reason it can be dangerous to have people who did not purchase tickets to go into the concert walk aimlessly right in/out. The venue is small & they deliver the food from the back of the venue and waiter it through the back of the crowd so there is a constant smell of mixed foods parading around. Drink menu was nice & affordable. The bartenders appeared to be annoyed and not thrilled that there was a rush of people coming in for drinks for the concert beforehand. Great area for an intimate concert but the structure & atmosphere was lacking immensely.

I love love these nachos. They're my absolutely favorite. My other fav is the numero uno burrito. I add jackfruit to both (cuz why not?!) and drown it with the green and red salsa I come at least once a week. The service could be a little better as I def have to remind my servers to bring things sometimes but I'm usually chilling alone or with a friend so it's not too bad.

First looks, you know you're going to have a good time the second you walk up to the doors. All smiles and attentive service when you get to the check-in area. There's live music on the patio, then you have the restaurant/bar area, and alas... The crescent ballroom. A quaint room big enough to host concerts and other musical events. The food is unexpectedly delicious. I say unexpectedly because I was really just here for a concert. I didn't expect to have tacos so delicious that I'd order more. I didn't feel up to drinking this night so I ordered a Mocktail. I was so glad they had a dedicated menu for a yummy drink without the alcohol that wasn't soda.

I've lost count of how many times I've witnessed the mesmerizing performance of The Ocean Blue, but this is undoubtedly their second mind-blowing show at this venue. Trust me, the vibes here are off the charts! The acoustics? Absolutely killer! Though I must admit, the staff can be a tad curt, and the drinks might leave you thirsting for more flavor. But hey, let's focus on the bright side--they constantly bring in phenomenal bands that rock this joint to its core!

Vegan nachos with jack fruit are so so good!! Definitely coming back for those again! First time I went, I went for a concert, only complaint I have is the lady who was checking tickets was very rude.

This was my first time at Crescent for a concert - I had attended the random trivia night years ago, but I was pleased with it as a show venue! Crescent runs like a well oiled machine - you get through the line quickly, get your wrist band, and you're inside. You can see the staff everywhere - cleaning up, delivering food, security for the show, etc. The venue itself is small and intimate, but doesn't feel too tight. Lines for drinks and bathrooms were never long. I will say that the bathroom could use some love pretty early on in the night (not enough toilet paper, wet floor, etc), but that's pretty common during concerts. I have another show I am attending there next month and I'm definitely looking forward to returning!

My visit was back on Oct of 2021. I'm from LA and I found myself here due to a mistake. I was on my way to see Arlo Parks perform in L.A. I was waiting until the last min to get the cheapest price on tickets. While driving I saw a price I liked and hit the buy button. I get to Echoplex and realized the ticket date was wrong. Time expired to buy tix for the LA show so what I clicked was for tix to see her in Phoenix!!! Just so happens a friend just had a baby who lived in Mesa so I hopped a plane next day to see Arlo perform and to see the baby. I thought this was an awesome venue to see a concert. Anywhere you stood was a good spot. Had no issue with long lines to grab a refreshing beverage. It's also a restaurant but I didn't get a chance to try the food because I was there to eat. Overall if I were an up and coming performer seeking 200-300 capacity place to play my gig, this would be the go-to venue in Phoenix

I've been to a show once here, YEARS AGO, but most recently a few times for Sunday trivia. Just so happens they have a whole menu of delicious vegan food. The vegan bean burrito with rice added might be one of the best bean burritos I've ever had. The beans are phenomenal. Nachos are good, but I always want more toppings to go with the chips. The veggie tostada deserves a shout out, but the jackfruit taco is probably the most flavorful thing I tried. I liked the margarita over the sangria, but hey decide for yourself!

I've had the opportunity to watch a handful of concerts here, the most recent being Caloncho and Kimbra (separate concerts, both this month). I love the intimacy of this venue and the fact that despite its smaller size, they still put an effort in providing solid audio and lighting for the shows. Some things to note for first time visitor: -most (if not all) concerts are 21+ -This is a standing room, so bring some comfy shoes and be prepared to stand for a couple hours ^^there are bleachers in the back which are usually sold for a higher price, and if you get this, you should aim to sit in the top two rows. Otherwise, you'll only have the perfect view of the back of hundreds of heads. So yeah, if you ever see that an artist you love is coming or see that they are hosting a cool event - I highly encourage you to go. But don't forget... comfy shoes

Went tonight for the Paper kites concert, nice cozy and hipster to the place. The food was top notch plenty to eat with the I-10 nachos and the dip they gave for the fried was so good with a nice hint of spice, the bartenders were very kind and informative. Although one complaint to be had was it seemed like they had only one server for a very busy night, the poor girl seemed very stressed and was running from table to table. It almost made me downgrade to 4 star but as this was my first time I want to give them the benefit of the doubt maybe someone called off, if your ok with a bit of a wait I recommend this place

Epic spot for live music. Honestly, one of my favorites. The stage is low and it's all GA so you have a really personal experience with the artists. La Cocina is the cherry on an already killer sundae. The food is worth a visit alone they have a ton of patio seating. Also worth noting: probably my favorite Trivia Night in town. The guys who host make it really fun and the questions are tough, but it's always a blast and they give away ridiculous prizes. Sunday evenings - get there early, it'll be packed.

What a nice surprise this place was..attached to the Cocina 10 restaurant, it was a sweet venue for a concert. We had gotten the Section C seats which were bleacher style seating but I liked it the best bc we had a great view (it's not a big room so anywhere you sat was good). We sat along the wall for our backs and if I wanted to get up and dance I didn't disturb anyone near me!! We watched a Soul concert through Candlelight and it was great!! Our tickets were only $25 and we got to enjoy some great talent for little over an hour!!! Only thing I'll do differently is bring a cushion for my bottom (my old back can't take the wood bleacher)!! LOL They have a bar right in the room so you don't have to go far to get some delish refreshments and the bathroom is close by too...always a must!!

What can I say? Crescent's food is really good. The staff is also super kind and not too clingy. Seating situation is great. There are outside tables, inside tables, and plenty of places with misters in the summer and heaters in the winter. The food is comforting, fairly priced and great portions. The drinks are always unique and the beer is always changing. A great place for a date night or just something to do - this is downtown Phoenix's best place for a hang out. Great events, live music and shows. You can't ask for more. 0 complaints.

First time here and the food was amazing. We sat outside on the upstairs patio. It wasn't hot and there was misters and fan. Our table was in the right spot so the light breeze from the fans and misters wasn't overwhelming. The bartenders were friendly and gave great suggestions when it came to food. The only thing I didn't care for is if you decide to sit on the upstairs patio, we would have to get up and go downstairs to wait in line at the bar to get another drink or order more food since there wasn't a server to come to your table. Other than that, enjoyed my experience there.

Bouncers here are on an absolute power trip. My group arrived with tickets for Durand Jones & The Indications for both mine and my friend's birthday celebration. We arrived in an Uber directly in front of the entrance. My friend collected our empty red solo cups and went to ask the bouncer if he could throw them away in the trash can directly behind the bouncer. Bouncer says yes. Friend throws them away. We then position ourselves behind the 4 other people getting checked in. The bouncer then says we can't come in because we showed up with alcohol. He had absolutely no clue what was in our empty red solo cups prior to our arrival. We thought were being respectful by preemptively throwing them away. We were entirely sober at this point, not at all rude, but absolutely dumbfounded at how this was being handled. This all happened with 1-2 minutes of exiting the Uber. We asked to see a manager (which the person who came out didn't at all seem like a manger) and she said she had to honor the decision made by the bouncer. That was that. Members of our group drove up from Tucson for this concert. Just absolutely ridiculous.

Been coming here for years. Love the fresh quality food. More on the healthy side, not a lot of oil and nothing is fried I don't think except the chips. Always order chips and salsa, and I highly recommend the avocado Caesar salad and the tacos aspon. They have a whole veggie and vegan menu as well. The drinks are top notch I love the honey badger and the Kate, get those 2 drinks and you'll have a good night.

Its so unassuming from the outside, who knew it would be such a great venue for a show?! The food was good- loved the quesadillas.. Service was good. Show was amazing.

We love Crescent Ballroom and now they have a full vegan menu in addition to the regular menu. Our favorite hand down is the Vegan I-10 nachos! #1 in our book. Can't get enough!! They also have great Vegan Potato tacos and wonderful Vegan burritos that are griddled so they are toasty and perfect!! They have Vegan Queso, we could go on and on. They have really made a great all inclusive menu. Great venue for concerts and you can get a wonderful dinner, you really can't go wrong.

I've had multiple bad experiences with the security here. I'm a 40 year old nurse, and have been picked on several times for no reason. There is 1 security guard that is on a power trip and it's nonsensical. The manager I spoke with was very unhelpful and tried to intimidate me. It's unfortunate because the venue itself is nice and I would go here more often but I avoid this place at all cost now. Keep in mind that security has given permission to deny entrance to anyone for any reason which is not legal. Really hope the owners take these reviews seriously. There are MULTIPLE reviews like this on this platform.

Small, but mighty! This venue comfortably fits around 500 people (with options to sit and/or stand). Ahead of seeing MAX this month, the last time I had visited this venue was in 2016. As expected, when I arrived for the show ~30 minutes ahead of doors opening, there were staff members checking IDs, handing out wristbands and separating parties with folks who were under 21. While the merch lines can get a bit congested, there is always staff members ensuring that there is ample space in case of an emergency. The restrooms are clean and easy to locate (one in the restaurant area and another in the back of the venue). Since the venue is quite intimate, traffic isn't too much of a headache. Definitely recommend checking out a show here!

What an amazing place to see a band. Saw my favorite band here a few weeks ago and WOW! No bad spot in here. I bought bleacher seats months before the show only to get an email the week before the show saying I am also going to get a meet and greet with the band! HOLY COW, being old and tired buying bleacher seats so my back isn't killing me the next day PAID OFF?!?!? I showed up as asked for the meet and greet to meet my favorite band! It was as expected, overwhelming! EPIC NIGHT and all because of The Crescent Ballroom! I can not wait to return!

There security is aggressive. They are running a dive bar with country club rules. Honestly not the vibe. We thought this was going to be the knew spot and they were so aggressive for no reason.

Asked friend to cover a drink while going to bathroom, security then started verbally HARASSING her without hearing her out on what she was doing. They could have offered to put a napkin over the drink or anything but instead chose to use aggressive foul language. Absolutely unacceptable to not be considerate of young women, especially in the world we live in.

This review is for the restaurant aspect, as I've always had a decent experience with this place as a concert venue. We had such a disappointing experience here last night. We stopped in to get food before seeing a show at the Van Buren expecting service to be quick, as we've done this several times in the past. After waiting around 40 minutes for our tacos, and watching all the people around us get their food, eat, and leave, I finally got the attention of one of the servers and asked what was going on. After that, our food came out immediately, but it had obviously been forgotten about and sitting somewhere because the tacos were totally cold. I found it really bizarre that no one even apologized or acknowledged the mistake. We missed the whole opening act of the show we were going to because of this situation, which was really frustrating. I definitely won't be back for food.

My boyfriend and I have tried to come here twice now for concerts, both times we dealt with the head of security/manager. Talk about an arrogant man on a power trip. Rude, highly defensive and full of himself. Continually insulted us, put us down, and aggressively reminded us he was "in charge" and "wasn't going to deal with us." All we were trying to do was discuss options on how to enter due to being denied with a state issued paper copy for an id while we waited for the physical id in the mail- literally just got the paper copy yesterday so it's still 15 days from receiving the physical copy. he continued to mock us for asking questions. His side comments when we were trying to understand were appalling and unnecessary. At one point we stated "we are sorry you're good" as in thank you for clarifying and he insisted on telling us "oh I know I'm good and right." I see many complaints about him directly on here and would really consider who you're letting deny customers entry by lying to them about state laws just to inflate his ego. Zero way to speak to anyone higher up as phone system is "not monitored."

A good little venue for a more personal concert experience. Parking is right across the street and entry is easy. Sound quality was good, bar was easy to order from.

Saw Nation of Language here! Intimate and cozy. Sat on the bleachers which are not comfortable for my olde a&&, but that's on me. Employees were friendly and responsive to needs. We ate dinner before the show at the attached Cocina 10....twas delicious ( barbacoa tacos, pacific chicken tacos, chips and salsa, titos and tonics ) and great value for money. Can't wait to come here again!

Had an amazing time having lunch here this past Sunday. Food was great and extremely well priced. I ordered the Numero Uno burrito was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend going to Crescent Ballroom and enjoying the Cocina10 food

Better than I expected. If you go for a show. Arrive early and enjoy a drink on the patio. Tacos and burritos were all better than excellent. Chips and salsa extraordinary. There is an update area patio. Maybe on a cool night it would be enjoyable as it has no cover from sun but a fantastic view. We saw Gangstagrass in concert. If you enter the concert portion there are limited bleachers in the back for those that don't like to stand too long (me). But if you like it intimate show and want to get right up front to the band, this is def the spot for you! Went one week again and till thinking about it!

This is a great venue! I wish places like this were around in the 90s. Food, cocktails and music all in one.. Great vibe inside! Intimate which makes big name venues awesome! They also have trivia nights, themed parties and more. Still spacious enough to enjoy. Nice outdoor patio. I thought it was so cool to see bleachers in the back. They have an awesome tex-mex menu! I was floored! It gets busy but everyone moves fast. Nachos and a Shirley Temple please!!!

We came on Thursday night for the Flamenco. I found the food to be quite tasty, with good size portions. We shared an appetizer and a meal. They have a good bar, lots of options. Very small bar area with about 10 tables. Loved our waitress, just the right amount of contact. I'll be back for another Thursday night show. One thing to note, the doors are open so being a coat!!

Great venue, never disappoints. I don't ever eat when I come, as I only go for shows.

Went to see Joy Oladokun ( she was ammaaazzzzing!) perform here last week. Great venue: intimate, good acoustics, decent clean bathrooms. Also accompanied by some really great food and drinks! Arrived early, had a few tacos on the front patio which were excellent. Also their craft cocktails are great. Had a wonderful margarita that they added their own special twist. The only issue as u can see in several other reviews is the service. It's a bit apathetic. We had to go find our server twice. Never came to table with everything that was requested, from condiments to napkins and so on. If you are going to a concert and want to eat there, add in some server chasing buffer time.

I wish I could give this place more stars as it is a cute little venue. But the staff put such a downer on the experience for my family and I. A couple of the servers and security staff were nice, but the majority of the bartenders and security staff were beyond rude. And there was no reason to be. The crowd was chill, the bar never got too busy, no one got out of hand at all. Even the servers walking back and forth from the kitchen to the restaurant looked miserable. I will probably give it another try if an artist I really want to see is playing there.

Love this venue for live music and dinner Lots of parking near by at good prices Will go see more shows for sure!

Came for New Year's Eve. Bouncers were extremely aggressive. Would not recommend if you want to have a good time.

My friend asked me to watch her drink so I put my hand on it. I was on the other side of the gate but made sure my 21+ wristband was showing. Security got mad and told me to come to the other side and immediately threatened to kick me out. To avoid being kicked out, I tried to explain I wasn't drinking just covering her drink to avoid someone slipping her something and this rude, misogynistic, security guard verbatim said "I don't need you to explain I need you to stop talking." and continuously told me I kept "running my mouth" and was "sneaking drinks". I'm 24. With a 21+ wristband. Had he spoke to me nicer I would've shut my mouth, but the way they handle situations as such is so off putting. Then I was kicked out due to being "disrespectful" ?????????????? Very hypocritical. There's multiple comments regarding security here and they are true, their security team sucks.

Went here on Tuesday expecting a happy hour to be there due to the pictures on Yelp, but they said no happy hour exists. Even though we were disappointed, we still paid full price and ate here. The nachos were too soggy and the beans were overpowering the whole appetizer. Wouldn't recommend. The three tacos i chose were all solid and good. My cocktail called the Sticky Badger was a unique pop up item and I enjoyed it a lot. The outdoor atmosphere is great and the main appeal here, along with the great art scene this place supports.

I'm writing this review 5 years after the fact. You know what's weird.. I've been trying to remember the restaurant where I had my first and only Sonoran hot dog for some time now. I would get that itch from time to time but I couldn't remember no matter how hard I looked. And voila! This is it. I love hot dogs. I used to live in Chicago and that will serve as a base for comparison. This dog blew me away because it wasn't just the top notch tasting frank but the whole package, the fluffy freshly made toasted bun, the peppered wrapped bacon and the toppings which included mayo, refried beans, onions, jalapeños, mustard and tomatoes. I'm definitely coming back to re-live that experience next time I'm in town!

What a great venue! Small enough to be intimate but not so small you feel squished. I did not get a chance to try there food but I look forward to trying it sometime as the plates we walked passed looked amazing! Definitely recommend for your next show in Phoenix.

Fun spot in Downtown Phoenix! Food is great, full bar, and they host a lot of music events. Highly recommend!

Good intimate showroom with good acoustics. Low Bleachers line the back well, but everything was first come, first serve for seating. Besides that, it seems like a good place to eat and the beers were reasonable at $4 apiece

Love this place. Great food!! Always a good experience!!!!! Definitely a must try if your in town

Great local spot to enjoy a show and close to downtown Phoenix to get a bite as well.

Mediocre at best food. Concert area shuts bar down less than halfway through shows and forces you to the outside, restaurante-bar. 1 bartender for the entire concert and restaurant area. Brilliant. Have to decide bw the show and waiting in line for a drink at an otherwise empty place. Terrible management. Love supporting bands but this venue is horribly managed.

THE NACHOS!!!!! Honey badger is the go to drink! I've never been disappointed with this venue! Love this place

At The Crescent Ballroom for the Tobi Lou concert on Oct. 29th. For starters, if you're under 21 they don't allow you to go through the front entrance and make you walk around the building, through the mechanics and into an ALLEY to enter through the service entrance. The floor when you get inside is split by a barricade to separate the under 21 attendants with the 21+. The difference in attendance is ridiculous. Everyone under 21 is squished like sardines into this insanely small space by the stage. (This is 35 minutes before the performance even begins) The 21+ section, I kid you not, is barren. The empty floor space not being utilized is insulting. I understand that the bar is on that side of the venue, but if we used our common sense for two seconds they'd switch the groups or remove the barricade entirely. It's not like they haven't sharpied x's onto both of our hands. On top of this, two of my friends paid an extra $50 for meet and greet and discovered once we arrived that the meet and greet took place at 5:30, 2 and a half hours before the concert. Nowhere was this posted. When we tried to go back out the service entrance so we could go around to the front to speak to them and try to sort things out, we were told by the employees in the alley that since we were under 21, if they let us out, we wouldn't be permitted re-entry. As I write this, it is 7:39, 21 minutes before the concert has even started. This is not a venue for anyone under drinking age, and after this experience, even after I do turn 21 next year, you'd be lucky to catch me dead in here.