The Loving Touch

Went here recently with my husband to see my favorite band and had an awesome time. The place was super cute and roomy, and the vibe was great. The bartender was fantastic, and everyone working there was really friendly. I'd definitely go back again if other bands I like end up performing here.

This is one of my favorite venues for music. I love the atmosphere, smaller crowds, but always great energy! I just wish they’d carry PBR! 😆

Love this place. Haven't been to a small venue show in decades and this was exactly what I needed. The Missio show was LIT! Best show I have ever seen in my life. Thecstaff there are all super cool. Hihi and thank you to the very nice girl who helped give my extra ticket away and to the awesome bartender who let me store my poster behind the bar. HER DRINKS WERE INCREDIBLE. Cheap tix, inexpensive drinks, cool vibe. I'll be back.

Great venue with a lot of space and is very clean. Capstan and Not Enough Space put on a great performance here. The one negative was that they didn't have anything on tap.

First time visiting the venue and it was a good experience over all. Really friendly staff and the atmosphere was great.. opening bands had a good vibe. Ezra Furman was absolutely amazing .. I'll definitely be back in the future.

Good venue and great selection of bands but implementing a $5 fee at the door for people under 21 is not a good look imo, especially when that extra fee is not advertised on the tickets. I get that live music is a hard industry sometimes, but introducing this fee is quite disrespectful to people who had bought tickets months before this rule was even implemented. Additionally, the venue already charges fees when you buy the ticket online! While I don’t even think this fee should exist in general, if they really want to charge the fee, they should advertise it better or charge the fee when you are actually buying the tickets, not surprise patrons by tacking on a surprise fee the day of the show. I’ve loved the shows I’ve been to at this venue, but I go to a lot of shows with my brother (who is 18) and this new rule really discourages me from going there at all.

How very convenient to only post doors but no start time, no re-entry, and have a phone number that doesn’t work. Clearly the intention is to get people in early since they don’t know when the show actually starts, and they will hit the bar while they stand around waiting.

This is probably one of my favorite concert venues for small shows now! I’ve always loved it, but the staff there is honestly amazing! Really sweet, and on their a game for emergencies! I really wish I caught her name, but some one of the women who works here helped me through a medical emergency with ease and as soon as I felt better they let me back in to enjoy the rest of the show! I have a vasovagal syncope episodes and it’s been a really long time since I had my last one, but I basically passed out on the floor, right up front and instead of kicking me out, or calling an ambulance they just handled the situation SO WELL! More places need to teach stuff like this staff had it because medical emergencies don’t need to cost an arm and a leg! Thank you to the woman with the whitish/cream gauges! A true hero for real!

I have been to a couple shows here by now and I honestly love this venue! I definitely prefer concerts at smaller venues and this place is about as small you can get while still having room to move. I usually park on the residential street behind the venue because by the time I arrive, the surrounding parking lots are all full. This works out in my favor though because I have not had to pay for parking. You enter through the back where they check your ID and scan your ticket. They have a nice little seating area with benches towards the back and a decent sized area for a "pit" where you would watch the show. All of their drinks seem fairly priced for a music venue. I paid $8 for a Bell's Oberon Eclipse. It does get SUPER hot in there, especially if you are in the mix closer to the stage. I feel like the music sounds pretty good here and I usually leave feeling super pleased with my experience.

Fun intimate bar venue to see a show at. Went in March, and definitely gets toasty in there. (Can only imagine how hot it gets in summer time...) If you show up early enough before a show, you can find free street parking within quick walking-distance. This place is definitely a gem.

I wanted to love this place, I really did. We came from 3 hours away to see a show (which was fantastic) and initially were happy to be at an intimate venue with non-corporate drink pricing. That changed as soon as the first opener started and the venue started to fill up. It got HOT. And humid. And proceeded to only get progressively more so throughout the night, to the point where the headliner commented that it was miserable. Sweat was literally pouring down peoples' faces, while fans in the ceiling sat unused. The walls were damp from condensation. I'm honestly surprised no one passed out. They would need to take significant measures to address their ventilation setup for me to consider returning here.

Fantastic venue that has held some great bands. I can't get enough of this nice little venue.

Recently they started enforcing a no re-entry policy after always being able to re enter. The staff couldn't be bothered to inform us as we stepped outside to get some air for not even 5 minutes and then once trying to re enter we were told there's no re entry and are signs posted everywhere. Who's paying attention to a wall full of different types signs and posters when you're worried about overheating? The entrance was not busy as we stepped outside so why wouldn't staff inform their patrons of their new rule? But could then tell us the reasoning of the rule is because people are getting to drunk next door? The staff literally watched us walk out stand outside the front door and walk back in.. After asking to speak to the manager, the manager Peach just rudely tried to push us out the door telling us the rule was placed two weeks ago and there are printed signs everywhere and threatened to call the police on us after spending money on four tickets and two rounds of drinks. Any other venue will tell you there's no reentry as you're walking out the door. I really hate to sound like a Karen but I definitely think this situation could have been handled better, extremely disappointed in this venue after coming here for years...

The food was amazing and filling! The staff was beyond amazing! They try to get you into a seat as fast as possible so you'd don't have to wait long! Their drinks were amazing as well! Gordon Ramsey would be proud! Vegan and non vegan dishes!

Amazing venue. Safe for everyone. Bartenders all rock super hard. Favorite spot to see big names on small stages... i do miss the pool tables tho

I adore The Loving Touch. I've been here several times for anything from a local band playing a small show, A gang of local bands putting on holiday shows or famous big name bands playing small venues. You are always guaranteed a good time. The bartenders are efficient even when it's super busy and you will always feel safe here. My favorite area is the green garden wall.

So, funny story: I thought I was taking my boyfriend to a comedy show in Hamtramck when we actually ended up at The Loving Touch. Call it the Tale of Two Facebook Events That Got Confused. Anyway, once we figured out that the room we were in was set up for a band rather than seating for a comedy show, we decided to get a couple drinks and enjoy. We paid $10 cover to get in which was reasonable. The venue itself is very small (about the size of the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, or maybe even a little smaller) and the stage is small as well. I like this size venue as it gives you a closer look at the performers. The place was pretty empty when we got there and only got to be about half full throughout the night which I enjoyed because I could stand at the rail by the bar the whole time which made it easy for me (a short person) to see the stage. One of my main complaints at most venues is that I can't usually see, so it was awesome to be at a higher vantage point the whole night. The bartender was really friendly and let us know that we could get a discount on drinks after the show at Woodward Avenue Brewers next door, which we didn't partake in but I thought that was really cool. They had Boulevard Jam Band on tap which is one of my newest favorite beers, so I was excited about that. Drink prices were reasonable and they have a water cooler out on the bar for hydration. Parking was super easy; there's a city lot right by the venue--just download the Park Ferndale app to easily pay for parking with a credit card. I definitely would go back to see another show at The Loving Touch in the future.

If you haven't taken in a show at The Loving Touch yet, you've got to change that. It's a great space with an amazing staff. All through the pandemic they've taken guest and staff safety very seriously. Support artists as well as a cool local business and get in there!

I've never been here - I came to support my friend who was DJ'n. The entrance is in the REAR which personally I would suggest it be in the front but I guess the front entrance is for theater. The staff at the bar was super helpful and even made some fresh coffee for me - omg try the PIZZA it's super good.

Watched the Beach Fossils band at this hip spot. Perfect place to watch bands perform or to listen to dj spun tunes. The acoustics are well placed for fantastic sound when bands perform. There are pool tables and seating throughout for customers to chill and hang out with friends. The full service bar is perfectly located near the back for quick access. Loving Touch (LT) is a great addition to Ferndale. It is easy to get to with a parking lot in back or tons of nearby parking on the street.

Sweet spot to grab a drink, hear some djs or play a bit of pool! Super spacious and comfortable. Have never felt claustrophobic in here which I love. Great bartenders and tasty drinks! Came to "In The Forest" for the first time tonight. Different local djs spinning great tunes every Tuesday night in a part of the bar made to look like, well, a forest! Love it! Vines and plants cling to the wall with record sleeves tucked in amongst the foliage. Lacquered wooden benches add to the tree theme. Even the turn tables have branches around them (a nice touch!). Love the sky light too, so nice on a rainy day like today. Also: foosball table!! One of my favorite places to chill on a weeknight, for sure.

Awesome management, great staff! Super chill venue. Rad place to see a show! 5's all around.

I LOVE The Loving Touch! Saw Lucero here last year and the sound was fantastic. My taste in music is eclectic to say the least so this venue delivers on that note. Great size floor to watch the band and dance, good bar with friendly bartenders. But, the stand out here is the sound. Unlike some venues where loud music is garbled and even when you know the songs you've got no idea what they're singing, The Loving Touch delivers in quality.

Clean, friendly staff, safe and great entertainment always! I go here often for shoes and am never disappointed. They're very organized.

The Loving Touch is seriously cool. The Loving Touch, once an infamous massage parlor, thus the name, was shut down and turned into a dive bar, and concert venue. They have a large bar when you first walk in, some pool tables, and a stage for bands and live music. They host lots of events...concerts, themed nights like a Wes Anderson night, Radiohead night, Grunge coverbands night, and $1 beer night. I came for one of the $1 beer nights before and they had some decent craft beers for $1. It was really crowded and the crowd was getting a little drunk and rowdy but it was still fun and a good time. Mostly hipster and rocker crowd. I'd definitely suggest coming here for live music. I was just here over the weekend for the Pig and Whiskey Festival. It started to downpour and was a complete wash out so they called the rest of the fest on Sunday but they moved the live music down to the Loving Touch. We were there specifically to see Electric Six, so we were so pumped that they still performed. The stage is near the back of the venue and we were right near the front. The stage isn't very elevated, so you can get really close and it's a smaller venue anyways so perfect for intimate shows. They put on an amazing show!! Lights were good, sound was really loud! Partially deaf in one ear when we left, but so worth it. I'll definitely be back to check out more live music. One of my friends said Grunge Night is a blast. Also great place to grab a beer at the end of the night. WAB and The Emory are right next door so great places to eat and pregame before a show. You can buy fee free tickets at WAB or The Loving Touch during business hours. There's a parking lot right behind the Loving Touch, and it's 50 cents an hour for parking through the week, free after 9 pm and on Sundays. Awesome bar. I'll definitely return.

Was here months ago but finally finishing reviewing this place. If they could just let people in when they're supposed to, that would be great. Here to see a band, told that VIP should be here by 5:45 Sharp. We're here by 5:35, hang out in line, and then are told that we need to go to in to get signed in. Halfway through the line to get in to sign in, another guy tells us to go back out and wait outside, where it's now pouring. VIP is pushed back til 7. It was 7:20 and VIP was STILL outside. Not very awesome. Being let in an hour and 36 minutes is just ridiculous. I get stuff happens but this is not the first nor probably the last time this stuff will happen. At least it's not cold. When people would try to ask the staff some question they did not really listen or respond to their questions well. 2 stars because I love the coziness of small venues and being so close to the bands is great. Hoping some day if I go back for a show it'll be easier to get in on time. After a reply from the establishment, I want to push that the closeness and niceness of this place did not go unseen. I enjoy the small venues a lot and it just sucked being stuck outside but now knowing they can't control that much, the place doesn't deserve as harsh a review so I bumped to 4 stars.

Such a great place for a show and a drink! Love coming here and can't wait for the next time I catch a show here! I also love that they put their customers' health first.

To be fair, the wonderful staff and manager made this a good review. I have hypermobility issues so I needed a chair, and they accommodated. The workers and the manager didn't make me feel awkward about it and that made my night. The show was great, acoustically the building sounded pretty good. Constructive criticism, redo your bathrooms because the stalls don't lock (2/3) and maybe elevate seating somehow? More high top booths would do you guys well. Btw this is not a slam on the loving touch, I had a good experience but these changes would of made it amazing.

Hey Loving Touch, ever heard of a toilet brush?! The bearded bartender was kind and efficient. The beer was decent. Pool tables were all occupied which is great for them. But upon entering the bathroom I was hit with a wave of stench. And immediately saw the problem. Take care of it.

You know the kind of bar that you walk into for the first time and declare that you're going to become a regular? (You declare it in your head, of course). This is how I felt about The Loving Touch. Sadly, I do not live in Detroit, so this can never be, but I was able to pretend for a couple hours last night. Before I get to anything else, I must point out that the DJ was playing the B-side of "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners! I couldn't believe my ears, but yes, it was true and I was pretty overjoyed. The drinks are crazy cheap, as in 5 bucks for call (I started with swedish fish flavored vodka, a local brand, but then quickly shifted to my usual Ketel One and soda when I had immediate premonitions of an inevitable hangover). The bartenders are top quality, and the crowd last night was not at all annoying (this is a LOT coming from the likes of me. I mean, I don't like "scenes"). And then there's The Forest. Hello, awesome. This is a portion of the room that due to a glass ceiling allowing in sunlight, allows for vines and plants to grow in that area making you feel like you're in... a forest! So, this place used to be a massage parlour. Although they've totally made the vibe decidedly bar-like, I have a good imagination and can picture it as a tacky 90s massage parlour as well (I figure the walls to have been beige with pink accents). Just putting that out there. It's a rare bar that makes me feel bummed about not being able to make it my regular watering hole due to living in another city, but The Loving Touch is that bar for me in lovely Detroit.

I have to admit that I was always confused by people who said they were going to "the Loving Touch" because I thought for the longest time it was a place like "Lovers Lane". I know now that they are very different places. I was delighted to learn that it was formerly a massage parlor and there are large yellow signs demonstrating that fact. It's weird that "Loving Touch" describes pool quite accurately but is a little creepy when applied to a massage parlor. Well, I was in here for the Craft Revival and I've never been in the evening. I'm not really a fan of pool, so it hasn't appealed to me. However, I thought this was an amazing space and I think it's cool to have such a place in Fabulous Ferndale.

Question: What can make pool sharks swoon? Answer: The Loving Touch Now, I'm certainly no pool shark. But I can imagine that if I were, this place would be right up there with one of my favorites. The atmosphere is perfect. The layout of the place is big and open, there are wood booths sprinkled throughout for non participating pool players and for drinks to sit while you cue up. The lighting is nice and dark, but with just enough light over each table to create a nice ambiance. Good n moody. As a bonus, the jukebox is loaded with great tunes & the bar has WAB beers along with a few select others. Plus, you have to love a place that uses it's former business in that building as inspiration. What is now Loving Touch, used to be a massage parlor. They still have the old signs up. Plus they have a clever saying on their cocktail napkins..."Get felt at the Loving Touch" ...gotta love that. Check out the back near the bar, there's a really unique set of tables and chairs made from wood stumps. It's got a cool woodsy feeling even though you're indoors. A nice departure from the pool tables when you're ready to celebrate victory ;) ...Oh! And they have a Foosball table. Those are rare around these parts. Not the best quality but does the trick! Verdict: The Loving Touch hits all the right spots. Giggity.

Some guy who had a name that rhymes with Mick Bones used to work here and because of that reason, I give you 5 stars. Got pretty hammered a few times and they had decent cheap greasy pizza. Five more stars. Love coming here after crappy bands are done playing to sit at the bar by myself, get blackout drunk and start crying.

This is a decent place to see a show. The entrance is in the rear, so I passed right by it on Woodward when I was looking for it the first time. The faux outdoor atrium area to the right when you first enter is pretty cool, as are the vintage signs from when the place was a greasy massage parlor. The band merch area is to the left just past the restrooms. There's pool tables to sit on (or play on, if there's no bands that night) and rails to lean on. The sound is so-so. The floor was sticky as hell the second show I went to there, not just in one spot but all over the place. Red Bull is $5. Ferndale dive bars are pricey, I guess, just like the Majestic complex. I missed the hot dog cart that was parked outside for Kurt Vile after the Fucked Up show. That's probably nothing to do with The Loving Touch, but I was looking forward to a dog.

Came here to see one of my favorite bands, Murder by Death. They did not disappoint. My first time at this venue. I thought it was a great place for a concert, very intimate and you aren't far from the band or music wherever you are. I was lucky enough to get a seat in booth which was perfect for viewing and I was happy not to have to stand all night. Drinks were good, bar got a bit crazy and crowded and a little patience was required to get a drink, but I managed. Only complaint would be they opened 45 minutes after the posted ticket time, people were lined up outside freezing while waiting to get in. Once in though, all was good.

A great little dive with a decent selection of beer and a variety of musical acts / bands to check out. Not a bad place to hang out, though if you're looking for someplace to hold a conversation...this probably isn't the place to go, especially when there's a live act on.

I'm a Food Critic. As I began my journey into The Touch I can honestly say I've never been felt up like that before. It was an experience I can only describe as monumentius. I was unearthed from my comfort zone and thrust into an experience unlike any other. Was it bad? Did it feel good? Yes, yes and YES!

I use to love this place so much. I had a group that met every Tuesday after burgers at the Emory for pool. Eventually we started getting ousted by shitty bands. Also a few great acts (future islands, trailer park boys) but mostly local stuff. I have no desire to see a show here, it's not a big enough venue. It was an incredible bar, and still is but it's difficult to pin point when you'll be able to drink in peace (Sans shitty music). The magic seems to be gone.

Cool spot! Nice massage parlor signs still up, recalling the history of the building. Wish Id experienced it, in its hay day. The bar was in the back. The tables up front. The place was pretty bare when my friend and I arrived but there's more than enough room for several large groups. Quiet Sunday night, drinks were typical pricing, my friend had one so I didnt get to gauge my regular drinks. The tables were free Sunday night so I have no complaints there. Im no pool pro but the tables seemed level, well kept and clean. Cues were nice, smooth and plenty available around the room. I'll be back.

Great small bar and venue. Easy place to get a pool table. Cool wood furnishing. Good bookings.

When it was just a bar and pool hall, I absolutely loved it, exactly what the area needed, great for groups, and good drinks on tap. Now it's band after band, show after show, cover after cover, and I stay faaaaaar away. As does everyone else I know. Because the original charm has exited the building.

Sorry, I don't know the phone number, yet. But this place is super cool. It's the third bar for the owners of Woodward Avenue Brewers and the Emory. And it's literally third in a row going south on Woodward, starting with the Emory. It's only open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. now, but that's seven days a week. They don't have bottled beer, but they have Miller Lite, Sierra Nevada and some other beers on draft (WAB beers will be on tap, soon), plus wine and a full bar. What makes this place so unique is that it's not just a big room with pool tables all lined up in a grid. Each pool table has its own adjacent booth, and they are all off-kilter on weird angles. The booths, the bar and the seating in the atrium (more on that below) are all handmade from Ferndale trees by one of the owners, Brian Reedy. Brian also painted the cool motorcycle painting, that is in this cool frame/seat that he made. The atrium is the coolest part about the Loving Touch. It is an area in the back of the bar with a skylight above and live plants growing up the walls. The seating consists of a star-shaped tree-trunk table with smaller tree-trunk seats set into the recessed areas of the star. Then there are benches around the star, and one really insane reclining chair -- again, all handmade from Ferndale trees. It's pretty empty right now -- it doesn't even have a sign (more on that below) -- but it's still a very cool atmosphere. And, if the successes of the WAB and the Emory are any indication, it will become a staple of the area nightlife scene soon enough. Only difference, it doesn't serve food. So, the sign -- and the name. The name comes from the name of a sketchy massage parlor that used to be in the WAB building. The owners just thought it would be a funny name -- plus, you do sort of need a "loving touch" to play pool well. And the sign they want to make is hilarious, too, but that won't be up until they get an extra 10 or 15 thousand dollars together to make the sign they want. Basically, it would be a neon woman who kicks a pool cue (or ball?) which in turn, lights up the words in the name. What's funny is that I just talked to a real, legit massage therapist, and she thinks even the name The Loving Touch is offensive. It's just a joke! Oh well....

Downsides: Smokey, internal organ shattering loud, crappy WAB beer on tap, no really good beers like at the Emory (Oberon is OK, and on tap here... probably the best beer of the lot) Upsides: super clean bathrooms (no N-word covering the walls here!), clean place in general, NICE pool tables, open area, great general vibe Bring that awesome Emory beer list to The Loving Touch and it'd be easily a 5 star joint. But with the WAB beers infesting the tap line like rats, there's no room for any true goodies. If I wanted WAB beer, I'd go to the WAB!

I think everyone who would go to this place already goes to this place. Everyone kind of knows everyone here. But if you haven't been touched, here's the run down. "Coolest" place to play some geometry. Not your typical pool hall. For one, it's not a sports bar. Secondly, there are booths near each table, which makes it a little cozier and nice for larger groups. There's an unstated but widely observed dress code for men. You must have a beard. If you don't have a beard, don't you dare shave the day you come. Flannel shirts encouraged. Not because it's trendy, but because there's a woodsy area in the back, and what makes more sense than woods and flannel? Monday's are movie night.

What a cool venue?! It makes me wish I wanted to play pool. . . Recently I stepped foot into the Loving Touch for the first time, which just seemed crazy since it's not really out of the way. . . again, maybe if I wanted to play pool i would have graced them with my presence sooner. The bar is set up in the back and the décor is rather industrial contemporary but nice. I think it's a little dark inside, but it works. I really like the old marquee sign they have proudly have displayed. I also think it's great that they are quick to volunteer their space for various craft shows/charity events/etc. The beer selection was ample and I don't think that pricing was anything out of the ordinary. I really like the back woodsy lounge spot and wish they extended that feel further into the space. The crowd was varied but there was definitely a hipster flannel contingent, granted I think that's going to be anywhere in the Ferndale area. . . I give them a bonus point for having tables with mustard colored felt--fabulous! If pools your thing, get thee to the Loving Touch and let the love touch you, but not in the inappropriate spots, that's just wrong.

After slowly roaming the bar scene in Ferndale, I have decided that this is my kind of bar. As Liz H said, it is the third bar for the owners, who also own the Emory and the WAB. I would like the Emory the best if the service was any good, and I would like Loving Touch the best if I didn't have to stand up at the bar waiting for drinks (no wait service). Although it's really a toss up, Loving Touch wins because of the pool tables. They have roughly 6 beautiful pool tables, and as someone else said, it's $1.25/game. Not bad. The space is really dark, and I like all of the woodwork. The atrium area with the tree trunk stump and live plants on the walls is a nice sitting area for a group. Like I said before, they don't have wait staff, so you need to go up to the bar for your drinks. On a slow night it's no big deal, but when they're busy it's a huge hassle and wait. But they will keep a tab open for you. They have probably 8 or so beers on tap, including Sierra Nevada (only one I can remember!). Unlike the WAB and Emory, there is no food here people.... just booze! And I don't know if they have any drink or happy hour specials-- didn't see any table tents or signs about it, so I'm assuming not. Overall, chill, fun environment. It's true, the acoustics suck, just like the rest of their bars. But the jukebox has some pretty good music, and although they blast it way too loud (don't expect to be able to hear anyone!) at least it's decent music.

WAB without the overt douchebaggery. Unlike the WAB, which I find uncomfortable, the LT is more of a comfortable atmosphere and seems like it really invites the crowds instead of shuns it. The staff is nice and attentive and the space is nice for big gatherings. Lots of pool tables if you can score one. The clientele is still the super-hipster one expects when roaming the streets of Ferndale. If you want to write the encyclopedia on beards, here's the place. Drinks are cheaper than they would be at the Emory, which is nice.

Went here with friends. For a cheap Sunday night out we stopped at the WAB for 2 dollar pints and then walked next door to The Loving Touch to play pool. Games are $1.25 for 1 game or $5 for 5 games. The place does not have any drink specials yet because the owners aren't sure what they want to do with the place as it's pretty new. There was a nice amount of amount of people there considering it was a Sunday night. I really like this place a lot, the interior is very chic and the atrium area is very nice. The pool tables with adjacent booths make it a great place for groups. They have two flat screen tv's near the edges of the bar but they are not in your face if you are sitting in the middle of the bar. It's a full bar and the beers on-tap are the standard WAB beers, Miller Lite, Sierra Nevada & Guiness. They also have a Foosball table and a small vending machine with candy & snacks right across from the bar. The music selection on the jukebox here is different from the WAB; it's not indie rock picks like the WAB so they're obviously trying for a different vibe but it did have a CD by Ann Arbor band Saturday Looks Good to Me which I thought was a nice touch. I will definitely be returning.

This place is chill, has great music, and there are pool tables and a foosball table. There are several beers on tap - not just WAB beers but also others like Guinness, Short's, PBR, I think there was Miller Lite too. They don't serve any food, which makes me sad at first, but it's probably better for me and my friends, given my tendency to ignore people and eat when there is food in front of me. The last time I was here, the boyfriend and I were with three other couples. While we gals were catching up with each other, the guys played a few rounds of pool. I think everyone was happy, haha. Movie nights, shows, and other events are listed on the Loving Touch's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Loving-Touch/83860158443

This is a pool hall in Ferndale, just above the high tide mark of the burnout that is Detroit. The name comes from a seedy, seedy massage joint that used to be in this location in the 90's. They still have the neon signs from that business (showing interlocked male and female symbols) gently lighting the room. The place is great. The pool tables are self-serve and coin operated. The bar had a large selection of decent beers and liquors. The lounge area in the back was low and funky with various kinds of chairs and tables. The music is jukebox driven - so it goes with whatever the crowd wanted. As the evening progressed, many hipsters were in evidence. I had a good time.

3.5 stars. Its hard saying 3, but there are reasons why. Its really hard to review the Loving Touch too, since it has lots of different faces that don't always work together. The Loving Touch is an old massage parlor turned pool hall by the wonderful folks over at the WAB/Emory. The major difference is that the Loving Touch doesn't serve food. Besides that, its very much styled the same as the WAB/Emory. Darker lighting, same bar set up, juke box in line with that of the other two. As mentioned, Loving Touch is a pool hall, and has probably 10+ pool machines that are dollar/coin operated. Thats a negative to me, as I really like hourly rates rather than dollar games. The beer selection is good. Its nothing out of this world, but its good. You can get a wide variety of beers, from your typical PBR to some of the microbrews from the WAB, to some bottled nicer beers. Their liquor selection is good, again nothing special. Prices sometimes feel a bit more than I'd like to pay, but its nothing over the top. Since opening, the Loving Touch has started having events, such as Auto-tune Karaoke, DJ nights, live bands, etc. Sometimes they even have drink specials, which I never thought would happen! These are welcome additions, but will keep me away on certain nights, mainly because our tastes don't always jive. Overall, The Loving Touch is somewhere I go from time to time, a couple times a month, but I rarely actively make it my goal to be there. Its not the clientele, or the space itself, or any specific night. Its more just that all of those factors don't always jive, leaving me feeling weird being there. Maybe I am not hipster enough, who knows.

Holy Hipster, batman! That pretty much sums up the Loving Touch. No, just kidding. They have pool tables. They have bands play there. Sometimes the bands are good. They hosted a Handmade Detroit event there- the Craft Revival back in April- which was AWESOME. They have great music on the jukebox. This bar seems kind of clique-y to me, a place where groups of friends go to meet and hang out, rather than a place you could go to meet new people. Does anyone do that at bars anymore? The atrium at the back is very unique for a bar, since usually the light of day (or night) is completely blocked off. I like "The Touch" as my cool friends call it, but it's not my favorite bar in the world.

Boy, this place sucks. First off its a hive of aging hipsters. Second, the drink selection sucks. If I wanted to drink lousy WAB beer I'd just go next door. Finally, the sound quality for live bands sucks. This is clearly not a good set up for live music and it shows (no pun intended). If you're going in here it better be to see your friends band who won't take no for an answer on the 'check out my band' invite. Redeeming qualities? It's clean. Nice looking bar. But that's it.

The Loving Touch is my perfect version of a pool hall. It's beatiful inside and well maintained. The bar has a superb selection of spirits. They often have great music playing via local dj's and even the occassional local band. This is just one more reason why Ferndale has got it over Royal Oak.

A cool , dark, hang out spot a great place to take some friends and play pool. Other then people starring at me *acting like that never seen a gay black man in pool place*; the bar was A-ok..

Good drinks. Staff knows what they're doing. Great music venue, and some creative seating areas. Good pool tables. If you are looking for a regular drinking place, you can't go wrong here. I love that the location used to be a Massage Parlor, and when the new owner turned it into a bar, he kept the name and uses the original signs inside as decor. Very clever way to capitalize on what would usually be a negative and make it a hip positive.

You know you've done something right when you've built a pool hall that draws a crowd at the tables and the bar. I've never even touched a pool cue but I've been frequenting The Loving Touch all summer long, and happily so. The bar is friendly and it's the sort of place where you're bound to run into a friend or meet a new one any day of the week. The Atrium is impressive, and a great spot to gather. You can't beat the feeling of walking into TLT welcomed to the sounds of The Flaming Lips and ordering up a shot of Hard Luck's candy infused vodka. (Try the Red Fish or Root Beer, you won't be disappointed, and it's not a girly drink.) Maybe next time, I'll finally try out the tables. Oh, and here's a tip - Monday night is movie night at TLT. Grab a beer and take in a cult movie. It's a bit of a scene.

I'm not one for trashing a business but it's Monday and I'm still scoffing about my experience here Saturday night so I'm compelled to share my nightmare... My friend was celebrating her birthday Saturday in Ferndale and we ended up at The Loving Touch around 11:30 p.m.. The entire group went up to the bar upon arrival and it was a long wait for all of us to get drinks. I was one of the last and on-a-whim opted to keep my tab open so that my boyfriend could keep getting drinks without us both having to visit the bar. At about 1 a.m. we decided we were ready to go home, I had had one drink and he had had two. We go up to the bar to cash out. I tell the bartender my last name - she turns around and sifts through the stack of cards a few times. Turns around and asks me what color the card is. Then proceeds to turn on a flashlight and begins searching the floor, countertops, ice buckets, etc. She asks me which bartender opened my tab, then consults her. They both go to the computer and discuss. They turn around to address me saying, "Well there was another person with a last name that started with Mcc so we gave them your card. We will pay for your tab".... I'm absolutely dumb founded and am staring back, jaw on the ground. They then say "It happens all the time. We could give you his name? I'm sure he will bring the card back, so you could just give us your info?" To which I respond, "Well I don't want the card now that you've fraudulently given my information away. I will call and cancel my card." They say, "OK" and move onto the next customer. Icing on the cake was: while walking out I stop and ask a man who is sweeping if there is a manager or owner present and he says, "You'll have to ask a bartender". So needless to say, I'm extremely frustrated. I'm now having to reset every bill on auto-pay and wait 10 days for a new card to come. All because of their laziness and incompetence. It would have been one thing if they accidentally lost my card and profusely apologized.. but the attitude and shoulder shrug after their wrongdoing... ridiculous!