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Categories: Hotels, Dance Clubs, Music Venues [Edit]
311 E Congress Sta Tucson tradition!
vintage Hotel? check.
dive bar Tap Room? check.
club for great shows? check.
fancy breakfast? check.
swanky Hotel lobby bar for martinis? check.
rentable Copper Hall for parties? check.
a little something for every taste, Club Congress is a great spot to meet your friends downtown before a show or to go bar hopping. the new beer garden looks to be a home run, especially once it cools down just a tad. fine bloody marys, schlitz in a can for $1.50, some good micros on tap. nice intimate room for shows, too. you really cant go wrong.
Club Congress is a really cool spot with an old school feel. The venue has this low-key, dingy, hole-in-the-wall feel (granted, I'm from LA and NY)... and that's exactly what makes it AWESOME.
It's located inside the historic Hotel Congress (where John Dillinger was caught) and the crowd was definitely eclectic (all ages; different ethnic groups; very "interesting" and entertaining dance styles). I came here on 80s/90s night and the the music was bumpin'! All the great hits were playing and the whole crowd was dancing!
The air conditioning was weak, so there were a lot of shiny, sweaty people, but the inexpensive drinks ($1 well drinks!) and good DJ made for a great time with new friends. Highly recommended!
This historic landmark of Downtown culture really makes you appreciate the little things in Tucson, like the fact we have historically been a place for badasses to come and drink the night away.
Today we try to live up to these exacting standards but entering the summer months we have lost a bit of something in terms of quantity of attendants. The drinks are priced okay, i stick with Pale Ale $4 on tap. It could be better with the drink specials but hey.
This place is cross dressing a dive bar with a patio chic palace. The bouncers for the most part are cool, but you know the douch bag(s) im talking about that have worked there far too long. I wont point fingers.
This place is good, but not great. It is the only option for the late night crowed, and we come to it not because it offers us something new, but because its the only thing there is.
I hope that we can have some kind of friendly competition of bars once the underpass is fixed. Retarded Contractors.
In any case you'll find me there Thursdays for the Optimists club, maybe one day they will have a dj that doesn't suffer from tourettes. (bad transitions, crazy followups, dysjunked audio)
Good for bands. Space is limited in what it can host, but hey where there's a will. But WIll left town long ago.
The cut out, back lit steel look also works really well. Appreciable at night and when drunk, so really anytime your there.
I recently saw a friend perform at Club Congress, and I must say it is a great venue for live music. Being from Phoenix, where there aren't too many places like this, I envy Tucson for having a cool downtown bar that promotes local and indie artists.
The stage is what sold it for me. It's like an old vaudeville stage with luscious red curtains and deliciously ornate iron lattices framing the entire stage. It is very cool! And, it is just the right size -- small enough for your lone singer/songwriter strumming his guitar, but just big enough for a full band to feel intimate with their audience. The sound system was good, there were a nice amount of tables scattered around the floor and the under 21's where conveniently corralled behind a black net.
All in all, a terrific place to hear live music. I just wish one day Phoenix would take a cue from our little sister city to the South and become the big, hip city it knows it can be!
The only bar downtown worth going to. Everything about Club Congress is great. They have ridiculously cheap drink specials pretty much all the time, just ask a bartender and they'll be happy to tell you what the current one is. Things like 1 dollar well vodka and whiskey. Where else can you get drunk for 7 dollars?
Another little secret is they get phenomenal bands from all over the country that would normally be playing way bigger venues. I saw Bob Schneider there a few months ago and there were maybe 100 people in the crowd altogether. He plays to thousands in other parts of the country. Very cool, easy going, place to grab a drink without any pretentiousness.
Places like this are what downtown Tucson is all about. There's a historic, "old west" vibe that you can smell in the red velvet curtains and worn floorboards.
I was here on a Saturday night for a DJ event, and was pleased to discover that there was no cover. Inside, I could sense that the dance floor was a little restrained because said DJ wasn't all that amazing, but we worked it out. Like we always do. There's even a stage you can go up on above the rest of dance floor if you're feeling a little rowdy and exhibitionist. So... I went on up and danced with a few friends and a very cute Mary Kate O. look-alike.
This place is kind of a maze. There's all these adjacent connecting rooms, each with a different bar and character. I think one was the hotel lobby, with mosaic-tile floor and lots of old scary pictures of people (and was there a fountain in there?) Outside, the patio stretches the entire length of the building and is pressed up against the street. There's lots of strung lights amongst the trees and the neon glow of the big vertical letter "Congress" sign looms above.
At the bar I was ordering at, one of the bartenders was very coherent and pleasant, the other one was slightly rude. "Sigh. It's just EASIER if you go to her, since she has your card." Oh. Well excuse me. Thanks for grabbing my beer out of the cooler "this one time" though. You're a doll.
Next time in Tucson I'd love to hit this place up, as the event calendar looks really extensive and if you use the bathroom, the guy in the next urinal over will inform you on which shows can't possibly be missed.
Dirge-y, drab and dirty with dimwitted security who manhandle you as if you were a criminal biker, they seem to neglect the fact that unlike the DMV and unemployment office, people don't need to be there, and people have free will when it comes to deciding where to spend their money.
Sadly, bands I like occasionally show up there even though I keep promising myself I will never come back.
They have the most ridiculous system to regulate the movements of minors at their pathetic "all ages" shows. Gill nets? C'mon, this is a university town, it's not like nobody has ever figured out how to do it right.
Also, they water down their drinks. A lot.
Nice atmosphere. I just don't like the half witted staff. I went to visit friends there the… Read more »
While I was waiting for a few of my friends in the lobby, I spotted an older dude in a crimson velvety suit, and on his arm, a woman decked out in white furs and hair garb. Did I mention he also had a glamorous cane and a fedora? Where was this pimps and hos party?
I find out later that it was actually a fundraiser in the hotel, and after glancing at more people, the theme seemed to be more of the Roaring Twenties, rather than slapping asses, but it definitely set the tone for a pretty lovely evening.
And then I get to the actual venue, and how kickass is it? Very. Really, it kicks a lot of ass. Besides the fact that it's totally historical and, you know, gorgeous (not to mention home to pimps and err...flapper girls), the venue works on so many levels for live music.
It's super intimate, and is a good place to see a small show. Bar in the back, tables to the side for those who just want to enjoy good music, and even a few plasma-screens up high for people who get stuck in the back for full shows.
Good air circulation! Yippee!
Oh, and it was very easy and comfortable to get right up to the stage. So much so that I would say I was victimized. Let's just say there was a lot of spit and sweat involved....
I hope I get to see many more shows here.
I saw Los Campesinos! here, and it seems to be a great venue. Located inside the historic Hotel Congress, this is a great place to see a band. The lights and drapes in and around the stage contribute to the atmosphere. It is a little small, but it is larger than Plush. I suspect that if the place is packed, it would be hard to see the performers, especially for short people like me, but what can you do. The beer selection is good, but they only have bottles and cans. They also have free water in coolers, which is a plus.
At the date of this post Club Congress is by far Arizona's best music venue. It just is, bar none. It's small and they book GREAT national touring acts on a fairly regular basis (esp considering it's in Tucson).
Rooms upstairs, a side bar, and cafe all connected by the hotel lobby ... I mean seriously ... super cool. Hell, if this place were in a larger city it would be one of the best places to see a show in the country (IMHO).
Viva La Club Congress!
Although there's not a ton of seating, the lobby bar has a great happy hour. A great mixture of unique and classic appetizers make it a great pre-dinner stop.
How could one review Hotel Congress without reviewing Club Congress as well (well, I guess if you stayed on a weekend during the Tucson Music Festival..) Well ya can't, so this is my two in one review...
I flew over to Tucson to watch a friends Indie film at the Rialto Theatre, not even aware of the fact that the annual Tucson Music Festival was the same night(s). My only regret is that I didn't take my wife this weekend as she would have loved it.
To begin with, I spent about 9 hours drinking and watching live concerts on the outside stage, then going inside to watch concerts in the club. While the bar was extremely busy and way, way too small, making it nearly impossible to walk through it, I was able to get a beer refill normally in less than 10 minutes.
All I can say is that if you want to have the time of your life, most certainly do go to the Tucson Music Festival. Apparently it is extremely famous and I just happened onto it by chance.
The main complaints I heard from others staying at the Hotel was that there was no air conditioning or phones and the rooms and it was hot. While the weather was a mixture of heat, rain and the occasional sand storm where everyone would run inside, from what I witnessed in relation to alcohol consumption, who would really care if the rooms had AC? This is the place to stay for the Festival so you can walk upstairs and pass out.
The Club itself has a very nice range of import and micro brewed beers, and I guess having thousands of people in from out of town and out of the country (I hung out for a bit with a group that came from France just for this event), there's no way they would get by with serving the average rancid American liquids like Bud and Miller that are called "beer". Mixed drinks were strong and shots quite full and healthy.
And outside in the courtyard I fell in love with some authentic Southwest food. There was a lady and her daughters whom were the only authorized food vendors serving home made taco like plates that were based on an old authentic Native American Indian recipe. I had never heard of those in my life, but all the locals knew what they were.
The Tucson Music Festival was one of the funnest events I have ever been to in my life. I strongly recommend it, as well as Club Congress and Hotel Congress. Well, this is where it's at!
Club Congress remains one of the best locales in Tucson to grab a drink, listen to music, hang with friends. Very low key and also historical site. Dillinger was captured here!
Wow.... my first 5 star review.
I'm sure some of that has to do with the fact that I pretty much grew up at Congress. It is quite possibly the ONLY thing I miss about Tucson. (okay, other than some of my fam. that hasn't wised up enough to get the hell out of there yet)
I started coming here when I was 19 (fake ID in hand... ahem) with my then 21 yr. old brother (bastard) and it was my Saturday night staple from that point forward. Back when Spyder Rhodes used to spin actual records *gasp* Some of the best techno, trance and progressive house of the time and I am happy that I was a part of it. (I'm also happy I survived it) ;)
After the end of that era I continued my love affair with Congress in many other ways. Some great local talent has played there as well as some bigger names. I've stayed in the hotel on multiple occasions and it's always been a blast. Even after I moved to Phoenix I had an annual "day of the dead" party (of my own personal creation) in room 241 right over the club, during and after the parade of the same name. After writing this I think I need to bring that little tradition back. It is coming up you know.
I miss this little piece of my history more than most things in the dust bowl known as Tucson. I think the genuine love oozing from my words says it all. Oh hell, I'm going to call and make reservations tomorrow.
I absolutely love Club Congress.
Showing up late to Club Congress is your best bet.. early in the night the place is dead. It also pays to check their website for whats going on that night. Last I checked Sundays were Karaoke, and Mondays 80's night.
The best night to go is Saturday nights Bang Bang!. Great music, awesome crowd, good drink specials (last time I went it was half price shots of patron.. yum). They often have guest djs and the house dj will take requests. The best dance floor in tucson says me. My friends and I will slip away to the tap room bar for a rest throughout the night. There is also an outside patio. Its def my favorite place to go on congress.
They got nice bike racks
one time this crazy old lady tried to lick my buddies face....
she was drunk ... he wasn't,, she licked his face then got on the greyhound and left. no one got hurt or kicked out....
good place if you get really drunk and want to hook up with someone who works at a pizza place!
its my fav hotel/coffee shop/bar in tostoned
I've been coming to Congress fairly regularly since moving here 6 years ago. During that time, the place has changed only a bit, mainly in the way the stage area is laid out. I usually come for shows, but sometimes come while out on the town or to hang out at the lobby bar.
There are technically four bars at Congress: the main, club bar, a side bar in the club area that I've never seen open, the "Tap Room" bar, which is the only one at which you can get draft beer, and the "Lobby Bar," which, in my opinion, is the most comfortable, and actually outside of the club. There's also a fifth bar inside of The Cup, which is the hotel's restaurant, but it's more used to prepare drinks for the restaurant than an actual bar, as there aren't any stools.
There are some annoying things about the way Congress has things set up. First off, if you want to go to the Tap Room, you cannot enter from the hotel side when there's a show going on without paying the cover for the show. You can sometimes enter from outside, but they often also block that off, leaving you with just the lobby bar. If you want to pay the cover just to hang out, you sometimes cannot, because the show will sell out.
Then, at shows, there's the "net" situation. Clubs in Arizona have started putting up these net sort of things at all-ages shows, separating the 21+ area from the all-ages area. Originally they put the net toward the back so that, if you wanted to drink, you could not stand by the stage, and it was actually more comfortable being in the all-ages area. Recently, the all-ages area has been reduced to a sliver on the left side of the club. Performers from out of town almost always make fun of this net, and I think it's stupid. Congress' shows are normally 21+ though.
Then there are the speakers. If you stand right at the front of the stage, then you're actually in front of the speakers, which means that you're listening to what the bands are: monitors and amps. If a band chooses to not use the monitors in lieu of, say, wireless earpieces (happens sometimes), then you cannot hear anything. It sucks, and I've always thought it was stupid to have set the place up that way.
There's also this funny issue with the club itself and its emergency exits, which are lined up on the wall facing outside. When it's crowded, and people are pushed up against the walls, someone almost always accidentally bumps into the door and causes the alarm to go off, which usually lasts a good 10 minutes. And, in that same crowded environment, you'll usually get people just going out these doors when the show's over, which still sets off the alarm.
My other gripe is that, here, the bouncers are just jerks. The past few times I've come here, one of them, somewhere, always has to have an attitude. If you're over 21, a paying customer, and not doing anything wrong, then why is there a need to get hassled? I've never understood that.
And, mainly because of that, I don't come here just to drink very often. I'll usually choose Plush, the Surly Wench or even The District over Congress.
Sitting in the lobby bar is nice though. If you're meeting a friend or two, and just want a nice, quiet drink to sit down with, then this is the place where you should be. I usually recommend the lobby bar to out-of-towners, because it's the only bar where you can soak up the real ambiance of the hotel and you're fairly safe from being hassled by the bouncers. If it wasn't there, then Congress wouldn't have much to go on.
They do serve a happy hour M-F in the lobby bar. The food is cooked at the adjacent restaurant, but you can't sit in there to eat it (awesome, right?). It's cheap and pretty good. There are also drink specials during this happy hour, but nothing spectacular.
I used to live in Tucson and Club Congress was one of my favorite haunts. I am familiar with the bartenders, DJs, and I like knowing that I can see great "underground" bands play here for moderate prices.
I visited again and decided to hit up the club for 80s night on Monday. The bartenders at Congress are personable and rarely give a weak drink. I've never been stiffed on booze and I often get discounted drinks, but I tip really well, so that could be a factor in my service. The DJs (when they are permitted to spin) are fantastic with requests, lovely to chat with, and are great at mixing. I very rarely complain about weird stops and starts where they are concerned.
My one complaint about this place is specifically related to 80s night...that cover band, The Mockingbirds, has GOT TO GO.
Fact number one: dressing like Adam Ant does not make it a-o-fucking-k to speak in a really awful British accent. You're from Tucson, kid. I'm familiar with your reputation and your friends, don't try to be a UK rock star, just play the fucking songs.
Fact number two: You all are completely awful at banter. You have nothing witty to say so, again, just play the fucking songs. Brit-wannabe, just because you can say "alright" in a fairly decent British accent doesn't mean you need to throw it into every sentence.
Fact number three: Maybe if you treated the DJs with respect and didn't run over their sets, they wouldn't duplicate the songs on your set list. You know, if you're nice to the natives, people won't already be sick of the songs you're playing because they won't have already danced to them.
Fact number four: Chick, you're cute and all, but if you insist on banter, try to talk about more than boys and drinking. It doesn't reflect well on any woman in the club if the most vocal one is playing the part of vapid tart.
The band really bothered me.
Club Congress was a great place for shows in Tucson. What I enjoyed even more was the best 80s night in the country. Monday nights were my favorite. Classic 80s flicks on the big screen, best mix of 80s club favorites, oh and 80 cent well vodka drinks. Tuesday mornings were never pleasant. If you ever get the chance, check out hotel congress. It's a cool hangout with bars stashed in the lobby, on stage, and in the tap room. Be sure to check it out!
This place just about sums up my college experience. Cool, a little dirty, mostly drunken, lots of good music and a bit of casual sex thrown in. I frequented this place twice a week for 5 years, at least 3 of them with a terrible fake id that they confiscated 6 months before my real 21st birthday that really sucked as I watched my friends party without me. Saw great shows there, made new friends and boyfriends, and even stayed at Hotel Congress once for fun. LOVE Club Congress, as Tucson as it gets!
The atmosphere at Club Congress is awesome, very nice historic architecture. I try to make a monthly trip down to Tucson just to enjoy it and a few other places. They also make a wonderful Bloody Mary. But, the employees there are total assholes.
A few months ago I went down to Tucson with 4 friends. We first went to District Tavern which has a very nice, chill environment. After a COUPLE drinks we decided to go to Club Congress and get our evening started. But we were turned away by the rude door man. Saying one of my friends in the group was " too intoxicated to enter". We explained we had all only consumed a couple drinks. And tried to compromise saying we would sit in the lounge and our friend who was " too intoxicated" would only drink water. They basically booted us out the door.
FINE! Congress has jerk-y door men. The atmosphere still makes up for it. So, I went back a few weeks. With a few friends again. We had all just eaten at Cup Cafe ( the restaurant at Hotel Congress) and had a drink or two. We go to head into Club Congress. My Boyfriend and I enter first. He is told he cant bring his small messenger bag but I CAN bring my purse. We argue and say that is sexist and that they can check his bag and take a look inside it. They said it was policy and that he could check it at the front desk for a small fee. I said that bull shit! grabbed the bag right infront the door men and stuffed it in my purse. A couple minutes later my other friends proceed to enter, and the door man claims my friends ID IS FAKE. And we tried to fight it, asked to talk to manager. Basically all got booted out again.
The door men at Club Congress are on a Power Trip. And I have a feeling many are also homophobic ( my friend who got told he was too intoxicated is gay).
Congress- atmosphere is great, food is yummy ( Cup Cafe), makes good drinks, Hotel can be a fun experience. BUT DOORMEN are awful. FYI. I give it an A-OK. But it would be 5 stars if they improved there employees.
Don't know what to say about this place. I'd heard good things from a friend, and thought it would be worth checking out. Alas, I didn't make it past the bouncer. You see, my driver's license, issued by the State of Oregon and perfectly valid for all sorts of purposes like driving, boarding planes, and drinking in several western states, has a renewal sticker on it. Said bouncer proceeded to inform me that my driver's license was expired (because the expiration date underneath the sticker has come and gone), and therefore he couldn't let me in. So we left.
The kicker? Even though it was St. Patrick's Day, the band had cancelled and the place was practically empty. Geez.
No matter where my night starts out, I generally end up here. Is it that good? Well, take it from a professional alcoholic---a resounding yes. Any time of the day, and in any part of the hotel, be it the Tap Room, the lobby, the Cup Cafe, you are guaranteed to be served a great drink. If you tip well,and treat your bartenders with respect(just like any bar! what a shocker!), they will not only remember your name, but what you like to drink. There is a reason I'll be there tomorrow afternoon, and the next day, and the next day....
Club Congress -- how I love thee. Stage is great. Drinks are cheap. People are usually ok. The lobby is beautiful. Nice artwork. Cool stage.
That being said,
BEWARE THE SMOKING PEN! I was burnt w/ a cigarette by a mean-looking butch chick last week and I still have a big scab on my elbow. Yuck!
While I appreciate Congress, they really discriminate against people with out-of-state IDs. The bouncers are very rude compared to clubs I've been to in places such as Los Angeles or Tokyo. The first time I was in a group kicked out of a bar was at Congress, when a bouncer assumed one of us was too intoxicated. That person wasn't being rowdy or overly vocal--just looked slightly tired. Also, I've had bartenders there that thought that Heineken and Stella Artois were, uh, German beers . . .
This is like a "little artists' army base," as my boyfriend says. Musicians, painters, dancers, bookbinders, poets, writers, music enthusiasts....you'd think it'd be a pretentious hellhole but it's quite the opposite. This is THE place to be if you're a creative person, music lover and/or alcohol connoisseur in Tucson.
Forget what your preconceived ideas are about this place. It is NOT a punk rock dive, a goth club, a dangerous place, a hipster pit, or anything people who haven't been here seem to think. It really does have something for everyone or every mood. Tap Room if you're feeling divey, dance and/or see a show in the club if you want loud music, badass cocktail or glass of wine in the lobby bar if you're more boutique hotel posh, smoke on the patio, grab some appetizers and share when you get the drunkmunchies. Pass out in a hotel room if you don't want to drive. OMG, and a Bloody Mary bar on Sunday where you can pick from all these fresh veggies and nurse a hangover while mellow live jazzy musicians rock out.
A damn good restaurant, 4 bars inside (5 if you count the one inside the restaurant) with hip bartenders (Barbicide!), a cool historic hotel without TVs, tales of mysterious hauntings (Google room 242), rad celebrity sightings (Scarlett Johannson, musicians), rotating art, a fascinating hall of history (Dillinger's gang stayed there!), and just good vibes, man.
I've been coming here since before I was legal, thank you Congress for getting kids like me into live music early. I know the older set might not like the all ages shows but I think they're important and a opportunity for the youngsters. Going to shows when I was a kid meant the world to me, and look at me now, now I'm a drinking, rule-obeying, money-spending customer.
Also, anyone who bitches about the fishing net must not know about local laws when it comes to all ages concerts. That barrier HAS to be up for the show to go on, and chances are, that show had to be all ages because of the band or their manager or agent. In other words, THAT SHOW WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL IF IT WASN'T ALL AGES. You got to see the band you wanted to see, so stfu about the net.
The staff has always been friendly in my experience and duh, has a right to kick you out if you're visibly intoxicated. I've been asked to leave when I was sloppy drunk and even then the bouncer was very nice about it. "It looks like you're done for the night, can I call you a cab?" Its when you get combative or stupid that they get mad. They are protecting their jobs and their liquor license and they have every right to not serve you or let you in if they feel you might be a problem. No darling, your too intoxicated friend may not stay on the property and drink water. Ask any bartender with half a brain or anyone who's gotten certified at a liquor training class. AZ liquor laws mandate that a drunky needs to gtfo ASAP (within 30 minutes to be exact, here's a handy FAQ for the dumbasses: http://www.azliquor.go...). Capice?
Same goes for refusing IDs. Drinking in a college town is different and a bigger worry for the bars. Everywhere in this town is used to getting fakes and would rather be on the cautious side then get busted for serving minors or someone with a potentially bad license. Also, if you've ever gotten hassled for not having yourself marked as a person of drinking age with a wristband or what have you, or were walking in the kiddie areas with a drink, YOU ARE A THREAT TO THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE. I just can't believe how many people don't get that observing the law is essential for a bar/club to stay open. People are just doing their jobs when they make sure you've been carded or they tell you not to bring drinks past the NO DRINKS BEYOND THIS POINT point, they're not fucking with you for their own amusement. I worked at a crazy hip hop club, The Rock, and another bar in Phoenix, and what goes on at Congress is so seriously nothing that I can't help but get pissed at the lame reviews here. LAME!
And, whoever accused homophobia must not know much about this place. Most of my friends are gay (I'm bi), there are gay employees there, they do gay friendly events, Congress is a gay safe haven. I mean, come on, find a better reason.
-end rant-
I love this place, my friends love this place, and we're gonna keep coming back.
.
Hans F put it best! It may just be the best bar in the world.
Best Bar in the world? Maybe! This place has it all. Talk to a stranger, tip your bartender, try the cup cafe, or even stay the night. I LOVE this place, too bad more places haven't taken note and kept it real the way that the Hotel Congress has always managed to do. Many huge bands or up and comers will stop by and play on their way to the top and back. I've seen more than a life times worth of amazing shows here. The local bands that play here also tend to be awesome.
I'm glad I didn't pay for you because your DJ sucked. And some guy was playing tetris on the wall. I felt like I was in a little kids rave den. Should have had some glowsticks. I'm pretty psyched the beer was only $4 and that I didn't have to pay cover. You know what was better though, the party in the ball room that we crashed. Milly's birthday party. Yeah, Milly's DJ friends were better than you. I really would have liked to hear some progressive house or something but I settled for Michael Jackson's Billy Jean and free cake. Milly was 26. It was nice of her to let us into her party.
best bar ever. i live in phoenix now and miss club congress and plush so bad. all the people who can't wait to get out of tucson, should know that the grass is so not greener on the other side.
i would kill for a bar that had a mixture of ultra-cheap strong drinks, great theme nights with dance parties, the best music, the best people, and general awesomeness. you can have more fun there in one monday or thursday night then in months in other cities and not feel guilty at all because of the low prices.
monday 80s nights there are the best with 80 cent drinks until 11 pm or midnight. then its the optimist club on thursdays with dollar vodka drinks and 2 dollar gin drinks until midnight and a indie dance party. there is a main dance/performance area, a tap room, a lobby with a bar, and a patio so you can be as wild or as chill whenever you want. but any day you go there will be a ton of friendly people and places to chill. there is a really great fellowship amongst the people that go there, plush, and che's that make it a lot of fun.
they also host a lot of good indie bands there but it isn't my favorite place to see a concert in tucson, especially when they allow people under 21 in. when that happens, they put up a net by the back of the bar where drinkers have to stay reminiscent of the clubhouse in phoenix, aka the worst music venue ever.
but i still have seen some amazing shows there by bands like tv on the radio and of montreal. the best show ever was by trail of the dead, just before worlds apart came out. it was the most impressive display of drunken musicianship i have ever seen. they played for 2 hours, completely wasted, until the club shut the power to the stage and they played an a capella cover of simon and garfunkel's cecilia. incredible.
Drove 6+ hours to see SFA in this tiny venue. Cider on tap. Don't know if I'd make the hellacious drive again (definitely would NOT stay at Hotel Congress though!), but I was not disappointed.
I have only been their a few times but absolutely loved it. Good bands, good stage and affordable good drinks.
It's got great ambiance and you can always find a diverse crowd there. The theme nights are fun during the week. This is one of the best places to be Monday nights in Tucson. The line at the bar can get pretty deep, but don't worry - the drink prices will make up for it. It's also a great spot to check out a local band.
Certainly a happening place compared to other clubs and bars I visited. Great 80's band. I went on 80's night. I had a good time. There were a variety of ages. Not a lot of diversity though. Drinks were high priced as one might guess. It wasn't too loud, which was another plus.
This is definitely a destination spot if you are going out for the night! Great ambiance-- there's the main club - then meander in the lobby to lounge around and mingle or when its all said and done- stay in a room and have breakfast in their award winning restaurant! Great times :-)
Great place and DIVERSE crowd... Probabaly the most cosmopolitan night spot in Tucson. And great drink specials
club congress is one of tucson's premiere music venues by default.
it's like saying mike bibby is the blackest guy in iowa. yes, he is. but only because there are no black people in iowa.
i feel like whenever i go in here that i'm going to get in the middle of some awful conversation between 2 people over who "really started independent electro rock in the uk?" and im going to find myself looking for a book of matches and a can of gas to light myself on fire and end my misery.
mondays have cheap drinks though ! heyo !
This is a great place to see local and traveling bands coming thru Tucson. The crowd is always very eclectic and drunk. Bad service is almost expected but the drink prices are usually pretty cheap. The building is worth walking around just for the decor and history if your not into the partying scene. Great photo opt. above the building to remember Tucson and the bar.
Oh yeah - it's been since the early 90's since I've been to CLUB CONGRESS - during my college years - great place to see bands too. it's located inside a hotel and not very big - unless it's been remodeled ofcourse. Seen greats shows here: GAYE BYKERS ON ACID, JON SPENCER BLUES XPLOSION, GOO GOO DOLLS ( when they played way faster ) SIDEWINDERS and a good number of kick ass bands. i'm sure it's still the "cool" place to be.
I almost never go there but it's one of my favorite places in Tucson.
The memories of this place really make me miss my early 20s. Jack behind the bar. Miguel pissing people off. Everyone stealing every ones girl friends. The club can really go off some nights for a small town club, and the tap room will transport you back to a white trash 70s we all knew and loved. It has been upgraded in later years. Still seemed to get packed.
Tucson, AZ
Category: Bars
Tucson, AZ
Category: Lounges
Tucson, AZ
Category: Cinema
Tucson, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Tucson, AZ
Category: Hotels
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