Soho

While I usually enjoy the kind staff, I feel obligated to share this so other queer/AFAB customers can be aware. Time before last I went, my girlfriend was repeatedly harassed by the same straight cis man I watched harass many others, in front of the physical bar/staff and it affected our evening heavily, despite loving karaoke and seeing many friends. My last evening there, I was harassed by another straight cis man (he made sure to tell me that), who I asked to leave me alone several times. My girlfriend alerted security, nothing was done and the situation escalated. Unfortunately I don’t feel safe at this gay bar as me and those close to me have been harassed by straight men multiple times, and won’t be returning.

I would normally not give a bad review to a gay bar since I know we’re struggling, but this instance stood out. 5/26/24, we were having a good time at Soho and it starts heavily raining - heavily enough that the ceiling starts leaking. In of itself, not the end of the world, whatever. But, a second leak started that was falling literally on the barware; not just the exterior of the shakers, but also the strainers and other tools that directly touch the product going to the consumer. I attempted to bring this to the attention of a bartender and his response was (the gist), “yeah it leaks, we suggest you step away”. I specifically pointed out that the leak was falling on the barware and that was the response? It was pointed out to another bartender who did take action.

The drinks are good, the space is comfortable, and the staff are lovely. It is a small space so there aren't any big events like drag shows, but it's a good place to go and relax and have a drink.

Guaranteed fun, great drinks, and personable staff that know how to make you feel at home. I have never felt more safe and welcomed into a space than I have at this bar. Truly a hub for the community and I've made so many lifelong friends and amazing memories here.

Saw my Fav Geronimo the other night ✨🪩 such a highlight of the night, wish he could’ve been my bartender would definitely love to make this my new spot with my dear friends Wondering why he’s not a bartender Hospitality is amazing very accommodating !

This place needs BOUNCERS to keep out TRANSPHOBES. ONLY GO IF SOMEONE CAN PROTECT YOU. I was attacked here, but a biker protected me. It could use some work before I'm safe hanging out. Lots of liars yelling and attacking us. It should be our place, but it's not yet. I wanna give it another try later.

Very accommodating environment, I definitely enjoyed myself and the drinks. Wonderful staff, it was good to hear about the history and community aspect of Soho. Check out our YouTube channel Michigan Streets and Eats

It’s like the gay cheers!! I can’t give it a five star because it’s not a place to hang if you get claustrophobic. However, it’s a really fun place to day drink! Everybody is chill, friendly, and if they aren’t already your friend, they will be by the time you leave. The staff are great and help maintain the upbeat vibe. Plus, it has a nice little patio to people watch while you get your buzz on.

Unfortunately they do t serve food, BUT! Cheap drinks, special always running, the ambience is great, lots of friendly people! The service was in impeccable and they really make you feel at home, no judgment! They have a pool table and they do karaoke on specific nights! they had a rude doorman but I think it's only on super busy nights. It's a great spot to go if you wanna drink after work or just hang out!

SoHo on Super Bowl Sunday 23 ... the BEST vibes. Strong pour drinks. Danceable music. Excellent staff. Went out of their way for us. Had a special moment watching the half time show Rihana together. Thank you for the best time!

My all time favorite bar in the whole world. I would gladly spend my entire life there if I was legally allowed to. Best service. Best staff. Best drinks. And the most fun events catering to every one.

This is my favorite bar to go to every weekend. Great drinks, cool vibes, outdoor patios, and the best service! Management also goes above and beyond for the customers AND employees! Highly recommended

In town for a concert, and stopped in at Soho for some Tuesday evening drinks afterward. This place is cute, with a good mix of people. There's a pool table, a long bar, and a good number of bar tables. It wasn't too crowded at this time and I was able to grab a seat at the bar with a friend. Drinks were great and well priced! Service was super friendly as well. If I lived here, I could totally see myself becoming a regular here; very comfortable and nice vibe. Will definitely return if I come through the area again :) Thanks, Soho!

Sometimes, downtown Ferndale surprises me with a fun place to randomly hang out and socialize. This was one of those places. I was out and about last night with a date, and we wanted drinks after having dinner right down the street. Especially with a pandemic going on, it's touch and go with places that are open and allowing people to sit down. Walking in, the place isn't huge, but it's actually kind of fun to hang out at. To my knowledge, they do not serve food here, just drinks. Its a gay bar, which my date and I really enjoyed. The gays are pretty friendly, and we made a few friends in here by the time we were done. They are extremely dog friendly also, so just a heads up if you have allergies. They have a really cool patio where people were seated and its cutely decorated. I went out back a few times and made friends with more dogs then people. There was a table guys just hanging out, and I chatted them up while petting their dogs. The dogs are allowed in the bar, so I was in heaven while here. Drink prices are reasonable and staff was great. Again, there isn't tons of seating here, but that was fine by us. It's mostly a nice place to unwind, have drinks and enjoy a fun yet casual atmosphere. Will return in the future for making new friends and having a drink in the future. Thank you Soho!

I genuinely get so sick everytime I drink here and have the worst hangover and heart palpitations.... Just from 2 Tito's and soda. It's starting to become a trend idk why but now when I go I just get something in a can.

Really fun bar. We've only visited twice, but both times, the bartenders were just as friendly as could be. The vibe is lively and the music is great. We plan to visit whenever we are in the area.

Best gay bar in Detroit. Friendly staff and wide range selection of beer and spirits!

Great music, cool people, and cheap drinks. The only thing I hate is how hot it is inside/fans suck and there's no room to walk or sit.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm what you might call a "regular" here. Looking through some of the other reviews, I noticed how dated many of them are. So let me start by saying that Soho has become one of the best bars in town, period. They may have had a rough start, but I defy anyone to walk in today and say they've had a bad experience. Most weeknights are pretty chill. It's usually a little busy right after work for the happy hour crowd, then usually another wave around 8. On Friday and Saturday, if you're not there by 7, plan on standing. Sunday can also be pretty busy depending on the weather and what's going on around town. So depending on what your objective is (as far as atmosphere goes) plan accordingly. If you're looking for a gay Mecca meat market type place, this is not it. This is more a neighborhood "Cheers" type bar. There is no food. There are also no children. There are no servers for the tables. There are gay men, lesbians, cross dressers, transsexuals and yes, many straight people too. Occasionally there are even some cute neighborhood dogs in the place...they always have a water bowl for them. The atmosphere is accepting and welcoming regardless of who you are...unless you're an a-hole. That's on you. There are no bad bartenders here. Everyone of them is friendly and offers a generous pour. If they aren't too busy, they will come to the tables and wait on customers. As soon as there are people waiting at the bar, table service stops. If you have too much, they will get you a cab or ride share. They will run a tab for you if you give them your credit card. If you do not tell them otherwise, they will use that card when you ask for your tab. It's in the spirit of efficiency, not being rude. If you wanna pay cash or split the tab, tell them. They are people, not mind readers. Same goes for booze preference. If you ask for a vodka and tonic, expect a well (off brand) vodka. If you want Tito's, ask for it when you order. Become a regular and they will stock whatever liquor you want if they don't already have it. If you're looking for a good drink, great bartenders and friendly patrons, this is your place. We won't bite...unless you ask us to.

Super fun bar, good beer selection and fair prices. We went here during a recent visit to Ferndale during a Saturday afternoon at the suggestion of a friend. It was quiet at first but as the afternoon went on more and more people came in, and it seemed like a good mix of locals and regulars and people just passing by. They also have free pool, and a touch tunes machine where you can play music. Our bartender Tolli was friendly and engaging.

Soho was a great bar in the downtown area Ferndale. And not just because my son works there. He usually lets everyone know we are there, and many come over to introduce themselves and say hello. Anytime we have been in there, staff and patrons have been fun and welcoming. Their knowledgeable bartenders can make interesting and fun drinks. My wife likes to say "surprise me" there, and she has not been disappointed yet. There is a pool table that usually has a fun, friendly game going on. They have theme and karaoke nights which can be lots of fun. Go check them out.

We came in on a cold Saturday night. The place was 90% full and everyone seemed to be having a good time. The men are very friendly to other men, as you would expect, but it is a little odd to have someone start a conversation in the restroom. Limited draft beer choices, the mixed drinks people in our party got were made well. Drink prices were a bit low for the area. It was quiet enough people can talk to each other, well lit and clean looking, even the restrooms. A pool table is near the front, but it was too crowded to play while we were there.

Nice patio areas. Drinks are weak. But reasonable. $5.50 for Tito's n Lemonade.

Soho is a gay bar and lounge located in downtown Ferndale. The service is good and the drinks are decent. The drinks are priced comparable to those in the area. What bugs me the most about Soho is the atmosphere. The bar is kind of cold and industrial. There is not enough seating. There are several two tops along the wall where you could easily fit four tops. There's a pool table which takes up a lot of sitting room in a place that doesn't have much room. The bar is normally crowded and it's hard to find a spot to slide in to order a drink. Sometimes there is a server on hand to take drink orders, but not always. In the back is this lounge area with couches that I've never seen anyone use. The whole bar is long and can get crowded. I always feel like I'm in the way whenever I'm at Soho. The best night is Monday. The bar has $0.75 Miller Genuine Draft on tap. The bar is normally less busy and closes around Midnight on Mondays. Soho has other drink specials depending on the night. Also, the bar hosts karaoke on Wednesday and Sunday.

I absolutely was sold my 1st time going so I went again. I haven't been in a while but weather permitting I'll be back soon. Such a chill vibe. Laid back & great drinks.

I stopped into Soho Tuesday night to grab some celebratory drinks with a friend. My first thought upon entering was: "this place is kind of cute". That's really the strongest positive I have for it, though. Every other aspect of my time here was incredibly mediocre. The bartender didn't introduce himself when I sat down (nor when my friend arrived). I always find that off-putting, especially if I know I'm going to be somewhere for a while I like to establish a bit of a rapport with the bartender. The tap selection is small, maybe six varieties on offer, with perhaps two local selections. Any establishment serving beer in Michigan should know those are mistakes. After I ordered my cocktail the (unnamed) bartender proceeds to just make it without asking if I had a liquor preference, so I had to send it back. He became progressively less attentive after that. My greatest regret that evening was not looking up another place to go after our first round. I knew this place didn't serve food or have games before I arrived, so this bit is on me, but when you're sitting and drinking for 2-3 hours you get the urge to introduce new elements into your conversation aside from just ordering another cocktail. Maybe we simply had a subpar bartender, but as he was the only employee I saw he's kind of the face of the establishment. Mildly interesting decor can't excuse a lack of true ambience, poor service, or a wanting drink selection. This place might be alright on the weekends if it gets packed (I can't say) and you're trying to pick up a date, but it's no weeknight hangout spot. It's not cozy enough, and it didn't feel friendly enough. My advice: Skip Soho. Find a nice gastropub to chill at instead. There are some fine ones in the area, and Ferndale is pretty progressive/gay-friendly generally-speaking, so that's not an issue.

One of my favorite places around and definitely in my top 5 bar list. SoHo is one of those establishments that can be whatever you need it to be. Had a bad day and want to just come in for a quiet drink? Check. Feeling social and want to get to know the staff or play pool/do karaoke? Check. Generally I don't go at peak times as I'm not really fond of crowds or feeling like I'm in an ampatheatre but even at it's most busy (I stopped in on New Year's Eve) it's still fun. Only drawback is that there isn't a ton of seating space if it is crowded, but that can easily be remedied if you're willing to sit outside. This will be a main stay within my life for as long as I'm able to attend with special shout outs to Toley and Nikki who are fabulous bartenders. It's worth checking out if you're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere.

Awesome bar always great service. One of my favorite bars to hit up for a causal night.

Came to get a couple drinks here with a few friends on a Saturday night before hitting up the other bars in Ferndale. The place was packed, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the prices were reasonable; it was just not my favorite place. Although the service staff was very friendly, the drinks that they made were not very good and the service was quite slow.

Been coming here for years, and had the most rude service ever tonight! Will not be making my way back here for a while.

I like soho a lot. The crowd is diverse and friendly, it always makes for an interesting night. The bartenders are friendly and attentive, they also tend to remember customers which shows they are paying attention. It's the perfect place to have a drink and good conversation with a good atmosphere, would not recommend if you want to club and dance because that's not their thing. The back foot patio is also a great place to hang out.

Having not even been acknowledged at Pronto much less getting a drink at the bar (so I walked out), I'm happy to be here where the bartenders are terrific and at least acknowledge you if they're busy. Great service here and a much friendlier staff.

I have been here many times and really don't have a complaint. It's a little divey, but the drinks are cheap and they have pool! The bartenders are very friendly and it's a super laid back spot that always seems bumpin.

I've been here quite a lot and its a great little bar. It's not very big which is fine with me but looking for seats at a table/bar if you want to sit can be challenging sometimes. Its a great mix of men and woman here - they have a back patio seating and I think in the summer they have front outside seating as well. They have a glass garage door thats usually open in the summer as well which is a nice feature. They also have a pool table which personally is annoying when people are trying to play pool in this crazy crowded bar and they get an attitude when you don't want to be watching out for their pool sticks every other minute. I've been told drinks are cheap here compared to other places but every time I order a drink its on par with any other royal oak/ferndale bar. Bartenders are great, always helpful and nice. Clientele is usually very nice as well, I've met a lot of great friends at this place. I would recommend anybody to check it out, even if you're not LGBTQ, its a great place. I will also note they don't ever have food, so if you're hungry you're going to have to go somewhere else. I think they might sell small bags of chips but thats it. The bathrooms are also VERY clean which is a major selling point for me in restaurants/bars.

Soho is seriously one of my favorite bars. It's always the last stop on the bar crawl I've been organizing for a few years. The staff is wonderful. The patrons are seriously SO nice. One of the most friendly bars I've been to. It really makes the whole experience.

What is this place trying to be like? Came in on a Saturday night and there were at most, 6 people here. Where is everyone? Oh, no one's here most likely because: 1. The service was slow (those bartenders must have been SO busy with those 6 patrons). 2. The music was too techno clubby for a "lounge" and the DJ wasn't friendly in the least but. 3. The bartenders gave a lot of face... And not in a good way. Skip it! There are plenty of other fun And gay friendly places nearby.

Came in yesterday with my friend and the waiter was rude and sarcastic to me right off the bat, probably because I'm a female in a gay man's bar. If I really wasn't welcome, I would have preferred being directly told, "sorry you're not welcome", instead I had to put up with his sarcasm and condescending attitude. I probably would have respected the bartender more, had he been honest and direct. I almost left without sitting down, but my (male) friend wanted to give it a chance, plus we just really wanted a cocktail. We were going to continue drinking, because we started a tab, but come time for that second drink, we couldn't get his attention. Finally we just decided to get going. Of course he came back we he saw us starting to put on our coats. The place was totally dead, meanwhile we couldn't get even a standing spot at other bars. "Well, it IS a bar and we don't usually get going until late..." Is what I was snidely told. Hopefully your attitude improves with the course of the night. And hopefully you'll get better tips because you're not going to get a good one from us.

Last week was the 5th anniversary of my 24th birthday and I celebrated by gathering together a bunch of cute girlfriends and cute gay boyfriends and going to Soho. On Wednesdays they have karaoke, and they ALSO have $2 well drinks. And those well drinks aren't weak, let me just say. For those who come for the karaoke, they book is extensive but don't come expecting anything remotely recent (a scan for Lady Gaga or even Britney's "Womanizer" was a fail). This is more your ballad-and-Journey kind of karaoke. And for a gay bar I was kind of hoping it would be ... gayer. There are also the karaoke hustlers who travel in groups and dominate the stage all night; good luck getting a song in edgewise even when the bar appears empty. You get this anywhere there's a regular karaoke but come on ... bitch, it's my birthday! Ryan L. commented on the narrowness of the building and lack of seating: check and check. This is a place you come to stand; not a sit and chill kind of place. However the patio out front is pretty spacious and allows that sit, drink and relax vibe, so during the summer months the arrangement is a bit more conducive to conversation. The place does get VERY crowded on weekends but they've got a few fine points: there is ALWAYS some kind of ultra-cheap drink special (and I've never had a watered-down drink yet), and there's also usually a good mix of gay, lesbian, and straight people around -- kind of like Ferndale's answer to A2's Necto. We ended up with a handful of straight guys in our group and there was not issue with them being "weirded out" and a good time was had by all. Rare to see such a mixed crowd all equally enjoying themselves; there's usually a much more severe division (Gay Bar vs. Lesbian Bar vs. Dude Bro Bar). So maybe the slightly cold industrial inadvertently gives it a greater sense of accessibility for all, in contrast to disco balls and drag queens and video screens playing the latest Dannii Minogue. We had fun. We were politely asked to leave. This was a great way to spend my birthday and I would happily do it again!

My very first bar I went to in Michigan! This place is always dead, I don't know how it stays in business, The bartenders are somewhat rude and I spoke with one of them him about his rudeness he apologize and didn't mean to come across that way but he didn't seem very genuine about it Drinks are overpriced and not much liquor in the drinks. I'm still not sure what type of bar it is .. but I will say very diverse.

I haven't been here at peak hours but during the afternoon this place is really chill. People are always friendly, service and drink prices are solid and it has room to spare. They have a little patio for outdoor seating and a pool table if you want something to pass an afternoon.

I really hoped for a much better gay bar in Ferndale. This is one of the most vapid crowds in the area. Their beer selection is pathetic and their knowledge of classic drinks is wanting. (I thought they took away the gay card from people who couldn't make a proper Sidecar!) The decor is uninspired (which I don't mind at all), location is great. Except for a couple of cute twinks--often on their way to even more vapidity at 9--the crowd is self-important, parochial, and laughs at downright mean jokes. This could be so much more than it is. Watler, signing off.

Meh. First, I think on a Friday or Saturday night it's full of the spillover from The Oakland, so if it's supposed to be a Gay Bar (which we didn't realize until we looked it up on Yelp), I think it might be a little confused... The bartender was nice enough for the couple of drinks we had, but the drinks were just so-so and the atmosphere is very strange. Confused is the only word I can use to describe the decor as well. It was like modern, but not, with Buddha sculptures and strange light fixtures... I don't like a place that creates cognitive dissonance when I'm out for a chill night. Sigh. If you're in Ferndale there are definitely better options.

An A-OK gay bar. I've been here on a handful of different nights, one of them including St. Patricks day. Soho is located right on the main strip of 9 Mile in Ferndale, blending right in with the other storefronts. It has a small outside patio for the summer time, as well as a pool table inside to compliment a scattered array of seating. Drinks here are average priced. Think Rosie's prices without the douchebag. St Patricks Day they had a $2 beer special, as well as free pool. Wednesdays I know they have karaoke and a beer special. I forgot what it is though. I was there one other night, but it was so far in the past, I barely remember. The clientele is great. As the listing says, it is a gay bar. But don't think Menjo's. Think of something more mature, more together, overall more classy. Service here is pretty good, regardless of gender/orientation, which I bet someone will bitch about somewhere. The problem lies in the fact that Soho just doesn't do anything that makes it amazing for me. It does stuff that other places in Ferndale do, just that its a gay bar. Its really just as the rating states, A-OK. I will go from time to time, but its not a destination for me.

If you sit at the bar it's a great experience! Sitting at the tables or booth not a good idea. The bartenders are awesome(well some are and some I just avoid) but kind of forget to check on tables. Also I opened a tab and once we leaving I went to close it and the bartender never asked if I wanted to pay with that card or cash! Not sure if this place is worth going back too frequently.

I really don't know why more people don't come here. It's a really cool bar (although the pool table almost makes me call it a "dive bar") that has all of the elements required for a good gay bar: 1. Liquor. Lots of liquor and cool drinks (drink specials are good too). 2. Theme Nights. I'm not talking about "Leather Night" or anything like that, but they have karaoke night and $5 Martini Day. 3. Good Location. You can see it from the road and there are a few tables out front for drinks, smoking, and people watching. 4. Friendly Employees. I was visiting my friend Brian and he knew the bartender, so maybe he was only nice because of that... I kinda find that hard to believe because other people have said that they were treated well here (and according to Pookie W. they look great shirtless). 5. Videos. Music videos were playing on big plasma tv's everywhere. Who doesn't love a video bar? Besides that they were playing all the anthems, so there's no shortage of female vocals or beats. Not that it means anything to Detroit, but I liked it and I will be back. If I lived there I'd probably make it my own version of "Cheers" where everybody knows my name... and they're always glad I came (no pun intended).

Happened across this joint on a Friday night. 2 of us grabbed seats and waited for service. Sitting at the table we noticed a long queue at bar. Then we noticed a waiter who blew past us. We walked out and went to Dino's . Anyway if u want service skip this place.

Had an awesome time here, everyone is really nice. Came here with my girlfriend and probably the best time I've had at a bar in awhile. That bartender makes some damn good drinks too.

I love this place. The crowds are great. The staff is quick and friendly. This is fun place to visit prior to walking to The 9 or other great places in Ferndale!

Hands down the most chill bar in Ferndale. Love the bartender Sean! He was very personable and friendly. Solid martinis. A+!

Soho is a fabulous and modern style bar but has more of a pub feel. Service has been exceptional every time I've been there. Prices are very reasonable - especially if you go during the week. Additionally, the crowd itself has always been outgoing, talkative, and friendly. Although it is considered a gay bar, my straight and gay friends have all had good reviews every time we've gone.

Pretty space inside, nice crowd, and dangerous $5 martinis on Friday nights. Drink your fill and go next door to Vintage Fun to ride the $0.25 mechanical horse...or that's what I heard some people do. Not me. Never.

Friendly staff, great drinks, efficient service, reasonable prices and a great patio. We love Soho! The perfect spot for a laid back drink - we go there for drinks while we are waiting on a table at a nearby restaurant or for a nightcap on our way home. More recently, they are making all their syrups and squeezing fresh juices. If you appreciate good ingredients but like to skip the pretentiousness, this is the place to go.

Fairly chill bar with fairly reasonable drinks. It's a good 2nd stop if you've just come from sushi next door and want to have a few cocktails and wind down. There's a small outside seating bit in front if you want to enjoy the summer heat and people watch. It's not the most glamorous of spots to hang out, but you could do worse for a causal catch-up drink.

Soho is my go-to Ferndale bar. It's a great place to relax with old friends or meet some new ones. The unpretentious atmosphere is refreshing compared to other nearby gay bars. And while it's a "gay bar," everyone is welcome, and the crowd is fairly mixed. Soho is especially delightful in the summer, when they have both front and back patios open. Why not a perfect 5 stars? The drinks might be slightly overpriced, but not by much. I'm sure I'll keep coming back to Soho for some time to come!

Friendly staff, welcoming customers, good drinks. Would I go here again? Idk, am I young, cute, and energetic? Yes. But am I also calm , cool, and collected? Well that's debatable. But not i'd still go here :D

One of my favorite bars for a chill atmosphere with a ton of conversation, Drink / Drink prices are great!

I LOVE this place, good atmosphere, to hang out with good friends. awesome bartenders, and awesome Sunday karaoke night.

Accidentally galivanted into this dandy of a bar located in Ferndale. It's location next to a store called "Just For Us" sporting rainbow flags should have tipped me off - this place was not for me. Yep, definitely a gay bar. My two buddies and I walked in hoping to watch some NCAA games. It looked cool. It has sort of an industrial feel with some cool lighting and some nice flat screens. The people however, not friendly. We walked in, realized it was not for us and decided to walk out. We were not being critical of the alternative lifestyles around us. But they were critical of us. We were heckled on our way out and told to leave. So much for accepting people that are different. You are only welcome in Soho if you are gay.