ManRay

Went to see Oscar Mulero play here on a Thursday a week back. Awesome set. Great to see him again. Saw him back in Chicago few years back. He’s dope. Good techno.

Getting older doesn’t mean to stop dancing and since Boston’s night scene is very young targeting the college students, what happens to us?, I don’t want to feel like the old guy dancing alone… Well, so thrilled this Hot spot has reopened its doors after 20+ years, it suddenly aroused like a Phoenix, my friend Rene told me about its reopening and here I am, dancing to myself and the ones that like creating a world which is wholesome, it does not discriminate gender or social status but reinforces safety, a great ambiance and the owner Cheryl is always making sure this place is for all. Thank you my lady and staff for keeping this tradition alive. When I dance I am timeless and in the now. Namaste

One of the few consistently LGBTQ clubs in the area. Also has regular Goth/Industrial and Alt nights. Definitely pay attention to the website/IG to figure out which night youre going to. Dress code and etiquette will vary depending on the event.Venue is beautiful, fun stage, great sound system, nice lighting and a cool lower bar for a quieter space. Cover is somewhere between $12-$15 on a weekend. Drinks are reasonable, a high noon or truly is $8, etc.. Staff is very friendly. Gender neutral bathrooms.

Fabulous childrens dance event! Excellent music, great decor & lights, fun inviting & friendly community spirit.

Super fun, friendly crowd and helpful staff. Nice dance floors and bars, drink menu is super yummy (type O is delightful!). Heroes night is full of energy and great tunes. Happy to have a club like this in the neighborhood.

This place started off really well. Then, as the night progressed, there was one person on stage dancing with just a tie and very SHORT shorts , and then someone on stage put on theatrics to the music. Just weird!

Security guard manhandled me and used his power as a bigger man to speak to me inappropriately. The staff (except the bouncer at the front) was Incredibly rude to me and my friends, even the manager who we tried to talk to about the situation. Not a safe space! Also heard gross comments directed towards my body and appearance by other older attendees. (note responding to manray, snipping my wristband is not what i was referring to, the security guard grabbed me by the arm and was physically aggressive so thank you 🫶)

Hi! I’m late on posting this because I was taking my time to write a review! But I had the worst experience at Manray. I came there to see the most awaited artist that was visiting Boston, Oscar Mulero. I was so excited to see him that I took leave from work and I was all set for the night. I came in, saw so many friends. I took 2 tequila shots for myself because that’s what I drink. I ended up buying a couple of beers for my friends. The bar tender (I don’t know her name but she was at the bar near the DJ booth of the left side) -she “claimed” that I was way too drunk so she can’t serve me drinks anymore. I understand why she felt that because I was taking way too many drinks for my friends because I met them after long. So I was paying for the drinks and buying everyone beers. But then she went on disagreeing to serve me anymore even when my physical state and cognition were completely normal. After that I just stood there, trying to explain that I’m pretty normal (my friends and even the other staff agreed to that). While I was doing that SHE GRABBED MY HAND AND TOOK MY BAND OFF. For what??????? I’m a 28 year old adult, fully capable of taking responsibility of my actions! Who is she to take my band away? And touch me or grab my hand without my permission? When confronted by other staff, she said I WAS BEING HOSTILE. That’s such a lie! I dare Manray to see all the cctv footage , and I HOPE they have one near the bar and show me the proof of hostile behaviour! I want to them to even check all the footage and show me if anywhere I looked drunk or out of control. Even once! The other staff on the gate heard me out, and gave me my band back. The staff at the door were nice. At least they heard me out and understood the situation. My problem is not that she said no to serve me. I agree that there are rules and I understand her restrictions on serving people beyond the N number of drinks. I get it. My problem is her grabbing my band, taking my band away, and blaming me for hostility when I was just being so nice!!!! So Manray, please provide me the proof of my hostile behaviour and let’s get in touch regarding this because I’m not letting this go. You spoiled my night, I missed Oscar’s set in dealing with this unnecessary drama. So yeah…I want to know what you’re doing with all the manhandling. Thank you.

Amazing atmosphere. Even people applying to work here are fierce, I saw a lady do a 3 minute set on the box and she killed it so fiercely my mind broke. One of the best goth bars in the nation

The first time we came the place was empty. The second time was worse: poor Mizery performed to a crowd of 10 people. The third time was last night. Looked busy, but we were put off by the entry fee: $30! Their website says less than half of that. The rude guy at the door denied it, but here’s the proof, see for yourself (second Friday May 10).There won’t be a fourth time. We’re done with this place.

I wanted to like this place, but after trying it several times, each visit has been disappointing. Either completely empty, or worse, a bait and switch. Recently, we checked the online calendar for this place, and decided to go to that nights event. We arrived only to find a different event with double the cover price ($30). The guy at the door was also pretty rude about it when we asked what happened. I get it; not his job, but he had the worst take-it-or-leave-it-and-dont-come-back attitude. I hope someone comes along and saves this business because its in a great location, but the service and communication are both terrible.

WARNING- NOT SAFE FOR WOMEN, in my opinion- male staff repeatedly attempted to enter a bathroom stall in the womens restroom after observing an individual in the process of using the restroom. Disgusting behavior from staff.

Amazingly back then, phenomenal alt crowd secure w/ themselves, refreshing and incredibly welcoming regulars with staff that feels like family. A nice break from the typical Cambridge suffocating and rude preppiness. Also youre going to see some incredible moves from some legends. should have 5/5 from thousands of people tbh. Chris Ewan is the best, Brian is cool but wish he wouldnt remix songs so harshly and frequently :3

I’ve been frequenting ManRay with some friends almost every weekend for the last few months and we always have a great time! It’s amazing to have a local, public transit accessible, space that encourages creative attire, we all love to dress up! :) Fantasy Factory (the kink night) is our favorite and always a blast. They even have a dominatrix that night! ;)The weeknight events can be a little quieter, but hey, can’t expect every night to be a rager! The weekends always have a great turn out.Staff does their best to get people in the club as fast as they can but they can only go so fast with the space they have. The wait will be much more bearable in the summer.Music is good, drinks are pretty fair and it seems like they have taken into account some of the poor reviews here. Water has been available at all of the bars in big jugs that you can help yourself to but we’ve been able to get water from the bartenders as well. Staff have been very friendly in our experience and seems like maybe they’ve let go the overly aggressive staff members that people mentioned.I can’t speak on what POC have experienced here but there are POC and LGBTQ+ people in the group I go with and they haven’t experienced any racism or bigotry thus far that I’m aware of.It’s awesome to see this place come back to life. I was a kid when it closed back in the day so I’m very thankful to be able to experience it now as a young adult.It feels like one of the last creative spaces left in Cambridge.Looking forward to the summer months, will update with further experiences! :)

DJ Chris is literally the best DJ of all time. Extremely historic place for Boston alt culture (Nick Cave used to hang here). Incredible music from Chris and wonderful friendly crowd, (with some great dance moves lol). Just add some more furniture in main room and it will be perfect. Original reviews complaints have been adressed.

I went here for the fetish night they do periodically and it was so awesome! Totally a goth club vibe everyone was so dressed up and people actually danced it was such a cool experience! The staff was nice especially the coat check guy and they had free water.

Finally made it over here and Im kicking myself for waiting so long. Now that I discovered it Ive gone 6 times in the last 3 weeks. People here are so kind and the vibes are so good! Wonderful humans all around. Central square is the locus of the goth/alternative community here in MA and I have found it to be the most loving and accepting crowd Ive found anywhere in the Massachusetts. Really helped me get over my crippling social anxiety. Support this venue folks!

If i could rate it zero i would. were incredibly zenophobic and basically made me feel like garbage for being foreign. told me to get used to this country tf you mean???

Great club from yore is back again in a more intimate space! Great vibe, service and tunes, dance floor is the best!

The staff was nice and restrooms were clean. Went on a Friday around midnight and the space was about half empty. The on-stage entertainment was a bit dry. Overall a chill vibe, but I wouldn’t pay a cover fee to go again

My boyfriend and I were kicked out with no exceptions within 10 minutes of being at Manray new wave night. We went to the restroom, washed our hands, and because our X’s weren’t as vibrant as before they kicked us out. We had no interest in buying the overpriced drinks they were selling here. We were just trying to have a good Saturday night. I explained to the bouncers that we’d gladly refresh the X, but they did not hear us out. We were greeted with hostility and aggression. I will be sure that none of my peers attend this establishment. I do not recommend giving your money to a place that doesn’t respect the people they thrive off of

Fun vibes, each nice had a different theme.Cover cost ranges from $10 to $15

I love this place! What a rarity that the queer community can celebrate a *new* space after decades of saying goodbye to the old familiar spaces. Man Ray is doubly important then, I think since it was both a long lost friend, yet a brand new acquaintance I look forward to knowing better!

Rónán put on our own personal opera of hospitality. It was amazing to experience. It was among the most genuine service I’ve received from any hospitality professional, let alone a security person!Rónán beautifully balanced the security of the club, with making us feel welcome, using their humor and keen sensitivity - setting the stage for a magical evening.They really put the “theater” in “security theater.” Class act.

23 years ago, this was my first club when I was 18, so I was very excited to see it finally reopen. I have been there twice now. I was with a group, and we paid to get in and for several drinks. I asked for a glass of water at the bar and they told me NO YOU CANT HAVE ANY WATER. Ok, I told them I would buy another drink if they would just give me a glass of water but they said NO ABSOLUTELY NOT YOU CANT HAVE ANY WATER GO TO HELL. I dont think I have ever been to a bar that would not give you water. Im not even sure that is (or should be) legal? Is there a severe water shortage in Cambridge Im not aware of? In any case this is unacceptable. Please fix this as I would like to be able to recommend this storied club. As a point of reference, the middle east downstairs has free pitchers of water.EDIT: Someone who went there recently told me they now offer tap water at the bar. Thank you ManRay for fixing this 🎉❤️

Seriously one of the best times Ive had in a nightclub! Good vibes and tons of dancing, not to mention the whole night was an amazing tribute to David Bowie

One of the best places to be comfortable in your own skin. Great music great DJs and awesome drinks and prices in the area. Im excited that Manray has reopened so the old and new generation gets to experience the art of nightlife in a place a lot of people consider home.

Hurts my heart to say, this place just screws you. Had low hopes that for a minute rose to high hopes... But the random price changes, the refusals to offer tap water without explanation ( always was off-putting),the poorly trained/aggressive and constantly rotating staff... bah just Off vibes.

I came here to write a review about how incredibly rude the staff at this place are - and it looks like mine will be the 10th one to say it. The people working the door are cruel individuals who seem to enjoy creating opportunities to belittle and humiliate patrons. Ive been here a few times, and the people serving drinks are hardly better behaved. If I were the manager, Id be taking these comments seriously and doing something to rectify it. In the meantime, I recommend you spend your money and time elsewhere.

I wasnt around to see the original space, but Im glad this legendary hub of Cambridge nightlife has returned. It gives a much-needed home to alternative and queer communities and for all to enjoy great music in an elegant and accessible environment. The quiet lounge to the side is brilliant.

I couldn’t be more disappointed in a place that claims to be a safe space for Queer people and every single interaction we had was racially charged! It’s sad to see that “safe spaces” are only safe these days if you are white…On top of that the music was very basic quality and definitely not worth the cover charge! I’ve been to restaurants that have better DJs!

This place is awesome. Excellent sound system, Strong Drinks, and Eclectic crowd. My favorite nights are Saturdays, but I go to all the nights. If you have ever felt like you dont want to fit in, or are bored with cliché and stereotypical clubs, pubs, and bars; this is the place for you. Manray is for Misfits who like to dance. Check their Insta to see what nights are coming up and whether or not there is a dress code.

I wanted to love this club as a queer alternative person but was very disappointed with my experience. It is clear that the management does not welcome POC with the way the three security guards out front treated my group (of majority POC women). We were belittled and thrown out of the club— without refunds— for questioning why our friend wasn’t allowed in. This is not the first time, since I witnessed something like this happen outside of Manray to a person of color the previous time I went. While the concept of this club is great, the awful management soured the experience both times I’ve gone. I strongly recommend you spend your time and money elsewhere.

This club is terrible. my friend had an EMPTY shooter in her bag from a while ago that she forgot was there and they denied her after already taking her money. we all went outside she check on her bc she was alone and we told them the situation was unfair and they decided to deny us all entry without giving any of us refunds. we were still on the entrance ramp and we deserved refunds because they said no entry. the bouncer with the mohawk specifically has an insane temper and it’s no coincidence that we (with the exception of two ppl) were people of color. this is not the first time this club and these bouncers have been accused of racism and they took a collective 120 dollars from us and we didn’t even get to enjoy the club. this is stealing and it is not tolerated. do not go to this club if you want to be treated with respect, specifically POC.

Friends dislike it. Terrible noise control. Blast all the houses north of them until 2am. Fix bass leakage and I might go. Support more responsible members of the community.

Great place. Unfortunately the woman at the entrance checking cards physically bent my card until it cracked and tried to peel off the lamination. She asked her colleague next to her and he verified it was real based on a few parts of my ID. She continued to attempt to peel my card and come up with reasons it was fake. My girlfriend who was with me, who is younger and only had a learners permit did not face the same scrutiny with her ID. I was still let in but now will need to get a new drivers license.Also on another note I was patted down and my girlfriend was not. It could’ve just been a situational thing, but it strikes me as a bit sexist.

What a fantastic and inviting club! Staff is reasonably responsible about attendee’s safety, inviting and welcoming atmosphere with entertainment and drinks aplenty, this is one of the only good gay clubs in the area!

Im so glad that this epicenter of alternative nightlife is back up and running again. A spacious dancefloor, a crystal clear sound system, a welcoming atmosphere, killer sets by resident DJs, what more could you ask for?...And after reading two reviews making baseless accusations of racism, let me add this: As a POC myself, let me make it clear that Manray IS a safe and welcoming environment for us. The Cambridge Board of Licensing does not mess around, and Manray is no different from any other venue in Cambridge (particularly in Central Square) that will eject you along with members of your party if youre caught with outside alcohol. So as long as you remember that Manray is not a BYOB venue, youll have a fantastic time!

Amazing Club and experience going every time the music and videos playing make it feel like the old days DJ Chris does an amazing job. The owners have done very well.

Yeah, no. The club is always empty. Second, a totally random dude assaulted me, pushed me, and threatened to fight me outside. I told security and they took like 20 minutes to kick him out. I wish I had called 911 instead.

Love it here! A home away from home. Beautiful nightclub, friendly staff, a must go for lovers of nightlife.

Had a great time. Attended Superstition, servers and staff were awesome as well as the DJ’s and promoters

Its clear the bartenders are told not to give water. My friend asked for water after buying an alcoholic beverage, and she said no. I then bought a bottle of water for my friend. No excuse for denying your patrons water. I will not be back.

The staff is amazing. The boss, Cheryl, however was unbelievably rude and condescending. I can see why everyone quit.

Maybe the worst experience Ive ever had on a night out

After so many years that have passed the determination of seeing ManRay open again came from thee owner Mr Don Holland. Thank you to Don for making the dream come true for so many.

Staff was incredibly rude and mean to my friend. We had already paid our covers and they would not give us a refund

Clean, modern with a Retro theme, friendly staff and guests. Wow- a venue that needs to be on the ‘Must See’ list for everyone!

Just as I remember from back in the day but w better decor and much cleaner!!

Staff is too busy being full of themselves.

Jebby + Paul were so nice at the bar!! Thank you both for everything

Great music, vibes, people. Felt safe here and had a great time. Everyone can be themselves. Manray is the spot.

We went on a Saturday night, it was so fun, music was great. Danced all night. We’ll be back!

Finally Manray has reopened lovely new spot great music & Drinks also friendly staff.

I havent been there in about 30 years but I will be this Saturday and I will let you know how wonderful it is

Great staff leave your attitude at the door Very inclusive

Genuinely such awful service, will deny you for the smallest things and racially profiled my friend

Great alternative vibes where everyone is welcome to dance and feel comfortable.

ManRay is a judgement free, safe space to practice The Art of Nightlife! 🖤🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Staff was super rude. Like actively mean.

Went for a welcoming environment - left due to rude, unkind staff

I mean, its the best really

Great music, great staff, great drinks.

Bostons only goth nightclub!

Dance club for the ages. 🤘🏼🔥

Good place

Thanks for welcoming us home.

Great to have Manrays back

Music is good!

Love it

Great vibes

Enjoy with anything

Come dance