Have actually only gone for a private party, which was really nice. The music was great, at a nice volume. We could easily converse, and just chill. The appetizers were very good. THEN, 10:00 hit, and it opened to the public. Yikes. Horrible DJ started and it turned a completely opposite direction. It lost its cozy and warm atmosphere to the typical 21 year old college crowd. It truly was awful. The entire party left. Keeping it a more low-key bar is SUCH a better choice. There are already enough dance clubs, but NOWHERE to sit and talk, have good drinks, and just BE with your friends. This place has far better potential. FAR. read more

It's a place to have some fun and if you feel like dancing, you can do it! Bar has many choices if you feel like drinking. The ambiance is relaxing and soothing that you can dance on your own or with someone else and have fun! Nice play to relax and have some dance! read more

The Gatsby - Bars Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

The Gatsby combines the atmospheres of a bar, nightclub, and restaurant. I love the idea of KZoo tapping into its very own modern day speakeasy, but I don't feel like the Gatsby fulfills all of its potential for me to buy into the speak easy part of it. Here's what I felt missed the bar... First, a speakeasy's initial location of "secrecy"... I don't think the top floor of Monaco Bay is that difficult to find. In fact, there is a giant "Gatsby" sign lit up outside. Even if it is modern, perhaps an unmarked door at the entrance could enhance the overall feel. Second, the expectation of innovative cocktails that take you back to an era. The specials were the same as Monaco and the bartender didn't know what the night's special actually was... There's a lot of potential here to boast old custom cocktails from scratch- with a modern twist. Third, the atmosphere. The exposed brick, dark woods, and lavish style add to the tone. Would be really great if there were candles on tables instead of incredibly bright lights drilled into the floor. I did enjoy the unique lights hanging above the bar though. The decor played into vintage modern, but it's lacking some authenticity. Also, the DJ seemed to just play popular culture. Would have loved to hear some swing or jazz remixes instead. read more

What happened to this place? It used to be nice to be able to sit somewhere in the Entertainment District and actually be able to have a conversation, and now it's just like everything else. There's a DJ, the music is crazy loud, and the beautiful bathrooms are now cluttered and dirty just like any other club bathroom. At least the Robert Redford picture is gone, and you can now bring up drinks from downstairs. read more

The sad truth here is that I have experienced better at the Gatsby... When i t first opened it has a dress code it had a intended clientele. The indented clientele was nicely dressed men and women to enjoy an evening of dance and drink without the sweaty unfashionable bar crowd cluttering the place. I fit that clientele and frequented the place in the early days. The setting is just incredible a lovely look down to the street through the round window, the wood and exposed brick are fantastic, the bar area is nicely laid out so you can get a drink without standing on one another. The bar staff was always great with cocktails that are not on the xeroxed drink menu from Monaco Bay. As of late there is no dress code, the music switched from the sounds of Postmodern Jukebox styles to only playing run of the mill house and pop music. So if you are looking for a place that has Monaco Bay drinks, Wild Bull backroom music, and an almost speakeasy feel, this is your place... if not then well stay clear until the place does a reboot. read more

Gatsby is one if my favorite bars in town. They have great shows during the week. Thats probobly the best part about this place. The drinks are quite alright too. I always was able to just walk into this place without any problem. I am taking off a star is because of bad seating. Other than that i would recommend this place. read more

Rude staff. I had a tab that was $9.50 so I gave the bartender 2 $10 cause I didn't want to just tip 50 cents and I asked for 2 $5 so she could have a nice tip. I usually feel bad for people who work holidays and like to tip well. But she never gave me my change. She said I gave her a 10 and a 1. Totally pocketed the rest and gave her self a $10.50 tip on a $9.50 tab. Then I was asked to leave when I asked for a receipt. And it was not even busy at the actual bar. She talked to her friend, wiped the bar top and just glared at me. read more

My friends and I always end up at The Gatsby! It's the best spot in downtown Kalamazoo to DJ-dance. The swanky, intimate atmosphere makes you feel like you've walked into a hoppin' prohibition-era speakeasy. Also, there are some great bartenders here, but the guy who goes by the name "Squirrel," is particularly awesome! read more

Oh man. I was so excited to hit up the Gatsby and left after one drink. It's such a gorgeous atmosphere, I thought it would be fun to have some drinks in a cozy, upscale venue, dance a little (or a lot)...no. Just no. We danced a bit, but they ONLY play house music. Wrong venue for terrible club remixes, guys! The dance floor was literally empty for a large period of time, but the DJ refused to change the music. If no one's dancing, you're doing it wrong. We went up and asked him to change it to ANYTHING else--nope, that's all he has?? Fix that. It's a bad night when I leave the dance floor because the music is consistently terrible. read more

The setting is modern. The dance floor is smallish... Some people mentioned a view from the tall glass windows by the dance floor. But when we were there, it was so hot, the glass was all foggy. I had no idea that there was a view! Definitely wear light clothing, no blazers etc. On a Saturday night around 12, the bar area was still accessible to order a drink. But the bartender seemed to be super slow. I had a ton of fun so I gave it 5 stars but again, it does get very hot in this place. So be warned! read more

We went here on a recent date night, and really enjoyed the decor and the food. I had the Kobe burger-you get to select toppings and cheese (and they have Boursin cheese!). Hubby had a salad w/ chicken, avocado, corn-it was really tasty. All in all, we really liked it! read more

Really nice club and rivals some clubs I've been to in bigger cities. The drinks prices aren't the lowest but it isn't a dive bar with specials kind of place. The music is trendy, a lot of dub step and mainstream, and the location is right above Monaco Bay. It's an intimate space but it still has a dance floor. Seating is limited but it's still a super cool space. read more

I went to The Gatsby last night for a few drinks and to kick back. The music was non-stop and the beer was cold. Great place for people watching, a lot of different folks having fun. If you like to dance, The Gatsby has a great dance floor over looking Michigan Avenue. Best time to come is after10:00 pm., the place rocks! DMS read more

When this place first opened -- WOW! The potential! If the Entertainment District invested in a couple all-star chefs and mixologists they really could have a gem with their adjoining properties downtown but they always seem to drop the ball. The decor is gorgeous and the feel is different from the other E.D. properties. The food menu was divine when they first opened but a la every property in the District has taken a meteoric dive. I'd love to see the Gatsby and be the swanky spot for chic cocktails and tapas, Skydeck be the go-to happy-hour and sunset spot, Monaco Bay offer standard bar fare but truly talented pianists, and Wild Bull to offer incredible steaks (like it did when it first opened). It feels like they put a ton of thought into a place before it opens then once they get a bit of clientele they pull the switcheroo and the menu and food quality does a freaking Greg Louganis. Especially with the beautiful outdoor space that connects the other venues, this should be the hottest spot in downtown and a desirable place to dine and as-is it tends to be requisite stop for bachelor-bachelorette parties and otherwise a place many dread going to. read more

This place caters to kids. They need to up the drink prices and change the music to get rid of them. If they had a more unique drink menu, and a better chef ,that would help too. Its a shame. They apparently need a new manager. Lots of potential but catering to the wrong crowd. read more

i love the atmosphere, lighting, coolness of the gatsby, and when i attended for dinner when you opened last october, i couldn't say enough good things about the place. this experience... not as good.... way too loud. maybe i'm just an old codger,(56), but my daughter is 26, and she thought it was way too loud also. we were sitting on couch next to dance floor, but even when i went to the bathroom, which is in the back, i still felt it was too loud. i thought it was very odd that for a dance club, during the entire time we were there, 9:45 pm - 11:30pm, .... not one person was on the dance floor.... quite odd i thought..... i would like to return during the winter months and check out the experience, maybe we just hit a bad night.. train staff so that they are more aware...... wait person did not know how to pronounce "leinenkugel".... it was not busy, and so the sound was not absorbed like it would be with more people.... i personally feel that the volume keeps people from going to gatsby, i know that i would not return or recommend to anyone, due to that reason. it is such a cool place..... i just love the feel of the place,..... thought $5.00 for bottle of micro brew and $4.00 for a lemonade were way overpriced, on top of a $5.00 cover charge for a dj. ?????? was not happy about that..... they did tell us however that we could visit any of the other entr. distr. venues and we would be covered. we did not go anywhere else. i had to ask for the check.... i handed wait person a $10.00 bill and she returned with the change, but no receipt. i had to track her down for the receipt and she had to confer with bartender and it took a couple of minutes. they were not busy either. gel read more