Shrine Nightclub - Mashantucket, Connecticut

Julie B.

It was crowded and hot as expected, what I didn't expect was the waters to cost $5.50 for an 8oz bottle. $5.50. And they said they "didn't have" cups of tap water. A vodka soda was about $15 for 1 shot worth of well vodka.

We ended up at the very back because we couldn't push our way up so we couldn't even see Steve Aoki. To their credit, there were TVs near the back so we could still enjoy the backdrop visuals.

It was loud of course but we didn't have to yell. But again, we were at the very back.

The bouncers and entrance was fine, there was almost no security. I saw people with backpacks and they didn't even try to check them. We did see security walking around which was good.

Overall, I wouldn't go back. The price of the wager and lack of free water is a deal breaker for me. I expect crowds and heat, but that was just insane. Not worth it, in my opinion.

joe A. B.

Amazing show....place was cozy and Aoki was the Show...we were impressed....but...we didn't get cake.....

Larry M.

Dj daryus costa rock the place I would recommend anyone to go there especially when he’s playing. He knows how to work the crowd playing new stuff in old stuff.

Charles

Steve Aoki is amazing, and I absolutely love his DJ skills. He never disappoints. Unfortunately, the venue did. Like many reviews mentioned, it was overpriced and packed beyond capacity. This place clearly prioritizes profit over the experience and safety of its patrons. It was extremely hot inside, the dress code wasn’t enforced, security didn’t check anyone, and people were smoking in the bathrooms, which was disgusting.

My friends and I went to see Steve Aoki and ended up getting a table with bottles, spending over $1,500, including an 18% tip for our waiter. While the waiter was pleasant and kind, she didn’t actually assist us. We poured our own drinks and were given a very limited number of cups. Other patrons were complaining about the price of water, and it’s shocking they didn’t provide water, especially given how hot and overcrowded it was.

The most concerning issue occurred when we decided to share our leftover liquor with others in the club. My buddy went to pour drinks for some guests, and a bartender/staff member aggressively came around the bar, trying to snatch the bottle out of his hands. He yelled disrespectfully, demanded the bottles back, and even pushed my friend away from the bar. His approach was unprofessional and hostile. Thankfully, other staff members stepped in to de-escalate the situation, but the original staff member remained aggressive. My friend stayed calm and explained to the other staff that this behavior was unacceptable, especially considering how much money we had spent.

It’s clear that this venue likely takes unfinished bottles from paying customers and reuses them for future events. That’s not okay. While I expect potential backlash or a generic message from the venue asking me to “reach out,” I doubt they’ll actually address these concerns. This place is all about profit, not the people. Be cautious, set a spending limit, and manage your expectations if you decide to attend. And yes, like other reviews mention, many DJs play the same songs, and the main event often doesn’t even last an hour.

Josh P.

Never go to a "show" here. They pack the place well over capacity which is a major fire hazard.
It's also a bait and switch at this club. They tell you the show starts at 9 but the artist doesn't come out until 1am and leaves 15 minutes later. 50 cent did maybe 4 half songs and just walked off stage without saying anything. Left the crowd angry and confused.
Look at past reviews for this club. They all say the same thing. Avoid wasting money on this place. Nothing but a scam.

Chris B.

Steve Aoki’s performance at The Shrine was everything I expected – high-energy, heavy drops, and non-stop crowd engagement. When he finally hit the stage at 12 AM, the place exploded. His set was electric, and Aoki’s signature energy had the crowd going wild.

But honestly, the overall experience at The Shrine left a lot to be desired. The venue felt dangerously overpacked – it was tight, unbearably hot, and moving through the crowd felt impossible at times. It was clear The Shrine prioritized profit over safety by cramming in as many people as possible. I’ve been to packed shows before, but this felt excessive to the point where it started to affect the vibe.

To make things worse, the staff didn’t handle the crowd well. At one point, my friend got aggressively confronted by security just for sharing drinks with a couple of people nearby. There was no warning – they immediately escalated the situation, which felt unnecessary given how chaotic the environment already was.

Aoki absolutely delivered, but The Shrine’s mismanagement and focus on maximizing ticket sales at the expense of comfort and safety made the night harder to enjoy. If the venue can balance crowd control with the experience they’re selling, events like this could be incredible for all the right reasons.

Gisella M.

I should have trusted the other reviews, but being that it was Steve Aoki, I figured he wouldn't perform at crappy places like this one. Like the other reviews, this place was overly packed. It was very hot and there was no control as to who they let in. I got hit in the chest buy an older guy just by walking next to them (him and what appeared to be his wife). The same thing happened to a couple behind us. We all just kept walking as we didn't want to start a fight there, especially with everyone being shoulder to shoulder. We left the place at 12 because Steve Aoki had not come out. The security outside the nightclub said that we could come back later, and so we did, at 1:15am. We asked the nightclub security if the performance had started, but we were told that no. So we ended up leaving. I do think that this is their way to make people pay $50-60 to get in their club and they don't stand to what they offer. Avoid if you can!

Lady R.

Shrine was pop’n.. took a while to get started but I love a good urban/local vibe. Music on point 10/10. Drinks were decent. Kinda watered down thoe. Love the space. Gave me the vibe of basement parties back in the day. I did not eat from here. And staff were sweet.. at least to me. lol 10/10 if your visiting Miami this the place to go on a Saturday night.