The 10 best jazz clubs in London that music enthusiasts, tourists, and locals should visit
Every time I hear the word “jazz,” La La Land comes to mind. Passionate pianist Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling, is jazz personified—misunderstood, struggling to find his audience, yet never giving up until even his great love, Mia (Emma Stone), learned to appreciate it too.
And if you remember the end of the film, you’ll recall “Seb’s,” Sebastian’s jazz club, named by Mia. That scene, beyond revealing what could have been, captures the essence of a true jazz club—cozy, soulful, and made for slow sips and long listens.
You can certainly experience that in the best jazz clubs in London. Designed for real live jazz, these venues draw music enthusiasts, tourists, and locals alike for a perfect night out, surrounded by iconic settings, improvised melodies, and syncopated rhythms.
1. Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
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Website: https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/
Address: 47 Frith St
Contact details: +44 20 7439 0747
Operating hours:
- Monday – 5:30 PM – 2 AM
- Tuesday – 5:30 PM – 12 AM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 5:30 PM – 3 AM
- Sunday – 12 PM – 4 PM; 6:30 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: £££
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, named after saxophonist Ronnie Scott, opened with his partner Pete King in 1959. From its Gerrard Street basement beginnings to its 1965 move to Frith Street, its deep reds, velvet booths, and dim lighting all evoke a classic jazz-club feel.
The club’s small, cozy space puts you so close to the performers that no matter which ticket on the seating plan (priority, standard, restricted) you buy, the music and atmosphere will make their way to you. And you’d better have a Signature Ronnie’s Martini in hand when they do.
As Ronnie Scott’s is right in central Soho, serious jazz lovers and casual fans find it easy to reach via Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly Circus, and Leicester Square Tube stations. Given the area’s lively nightlife, even tourists are drawn in for a proper London evening.
Monday nights open doors for “Jazz Jam” sessions at 11:15 PM, where top city players gather, and you never know who might drop in. Don’t miss the main shows running Wednesdays through Saturdays, featuring acts like Kandace Springs, Ruby Rushton, and Caixa Cubo.
| Pro tips: Check and book ahead – The line-up of performers changes often, so it’s best to look through the schedules and book tickets for the artists you like in advance. This is especially true for well-known acts in the main shows, which sell out fast. Late finishes and Sunday Lunch – If you’re one to stay up all night, the “Late Late Show” slots run until 3 AM. For a daytime vibe, lunch sessions are available—just filter the upcoming shows by “Sunday Lunch” under show type and pick a name you like. Budget and transport after – Ticket prices start at around £10 for jam sessions to over £100 for main shows. Since most shows end late, plan your ride home with cabs or Uber in case the Tube or Night Tube times don’t match your itinerary. |
2. 606 Club
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Website: https://www.606club.co.uk/
Address: 90 Lots Rd
Contact details: +44 20 7352 5953
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 7 PM – 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 12:30 PM – 4 PM; 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Pricing: ££
You’ll have to go underground (literally) for 606 Club’s basement venue to enjoy live jazz, soul, Latin, R&B, and more every night. That’s seven nights a week, plus Sunday lunches, so no wonder it’s been described as one of the busiest jazz clubs in Europe since 1976.
The same speakeasy setting was experienced by now high-profile musicians such as Jamie Cullum, Liane Carroll, and Polly Gibbons when they performed here early in their careers. To keep London’s jazz spirit close to home, 606 shines the stage lights on UK-based artists only.
Feel free to dine during performances, when head chef Jean Pierre’s imaginative fish and vegetarian dishes taste even more special. The Welsh rack of lamb or steak also never disappoints, alongside a glass from the club’s extensive wine and beer menu or full bar.
It’s not really a big place, which actually works to your advantage because you get to see the musicians up close at your table. And as luck would have it, its convenient Chelsea location (90 Lots Road) is just a short walk from Imperial Wharf Overground station.
| Pro tips: Booking – Fridays and Saturdays tend to be busier, so reserve ahead for a full night out (especially for dinner + show). Monday to Thursday is generally quieter, ideal for smaller crowds or last-minute tables. Music charge – In addition to food and drink, a music charge (essentially your live-music fee) is added to the bill: e.g., £16 (Sun-Thu) or £20+ (Fri/Sat) at the time of writing. This brings the average spend per head to around £45. Membership – Consider joining when you foresee multiple visits to receive priority booking, 10% off drinks, and a gig guide detailing “What’s On” for the month. Members can also drop by for drinks only, unlike non-members who must order a meal, too. |
3. The Jazz Cafe
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Website: https://thejazzcafe.com/
Address: 5 Parkway
Contact details: +44 20 7485 6834
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday; Sunday – 7 PM – 11 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 7 PM – 3 AM
Pricing: ££
The Jazz Cafe isn’t your typical cafe in London, where people find quiet to study, work, or unwind. Rather, it’s one where Friday and Saturday evenings transition into club nights with DJ or disco sets—the mood shifting from live performances to a full-on party scene.
Its bronze logo at the entrance draws you directly into a downstairs space (standing area plus bar). Upstairs, the mezzanine restaurant overlooks the stage—perfect for feasting on a rib-eye steak or savoring a Tequila Colada cocktail while watching the performance.
The mezzanine may be a little farther back, but Jazz Cafe’s upgraded sound system and lighting keep you in the action. It’s a stage with history, too, having hosted jazz greats Pharoah Sanders and Don Cherry, as well as soul and reggae figures Amy Winehouse and Bobby Womack.
So, although called “Jazz Cafe,” some visitors hop off the nearby Camden Town station (Northern Line) for other genres, including electronic, funk, and R&B. Restaurant seats cost more (from £40) than standing floor tickets (from £15), depending on the artist’s popularity.
| Pro tips: Reserve and arrive early – Because it’s a popular venue, especially on weekends and for big names, reserve early (including dinner-and-show tables). Also, allow extra time for London transport, and aim to arrive before 7 PM, when doors usually open. Setting and timing – Book a standing ticket if you prefer a livelier club vibe, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. A midweek mezzanine reservation, on the other hand, offers a more relaxed dinner + show experience without the full-on clubbing. |
4. Vortex Jazz Club
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Website: https://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/
Address: 11 Gillett Square
Contact details: +44 20 3337 0993
Operating hours:
- Monday – closed
- Tuesday to Saturday – 7:45 PM – 11 PM
- Sunday – 3 PM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
The glass-fronted Dalston Culture House, home to the Vortex Jazz Club, is hard to miss in Gillett Square. Its lit panels at night and the faint jazz notes drifting across the square will lead you to the venue’s first floor—a close, friendly setting where the music comes alive.
We’re talking local jams, touring headline acts, and contemporary jazz blending traditional elements with new influences. So beyond the familiar tunes, expect sets where musicians weave in electronic sounds, hip-hop rhythms, or their own improvisations.
Knowing that, you can tell how adventurous yet serious Vortex’s programming is—and its history says just as much. Once an art gallery and bookshop, it only became a proper jazz club in the late 1980s, hosting icons like Derek Bailey, Kenny Wheeler, and Evan Parker.
Today, Vortex—run by volunteers—keeps its strong community spirit. They even give aspiring artists a chance to request a gig and perform their own music, as the club has long been a launchpad for emerging talent, including the now Mercury Prize-nominated band Polar Bear.
| Pro tips: Tickets and Sunday jams – You can actually purchase tickets (from £12.50) at the door, but weekend headliners call for advanced online booking. Sunday jams are great value, too—just £6 for entry, with a chance to hear local players or sit in if you play. Food downstairs – Make use of the cafe and bar downstairs. Have a glass of wine, cocktail, or beer on tap and fill up on pasta, burgers, salads, or sharing plates—occasionally from pop-up kitchens and themed food nights—before the show. Seating – Tickets are sold as seated/standing options. Since you can’t pick a specific seat or row ahead of time, arrive early to get a good spot—preferably near the middle of the room for the best sound balance. Transport – Driving your own car isn’t ideal, as parking is limited. It’s easier to take the London Overground to Dalston Kingsland Station (a two-minute walk) or hop on bus routes 38, 56, 76, 149, or 242, which run late and are reliable after evening gigs. |
5. PizzaExpress Jazz Club
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Website: https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/pizzaexpress-jazz-club-soho
Address: 10 Dean St
Contact details: +44 20 7437 9595
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 11:30 AM – 11 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM – 10 PM
Pricing: ££
Pizza and jazz obviously make a great pair at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club. So great that your show ticket already comes with a table in the club downstairs—no need to dine in the separate restaurant upstairs and then head down afterward for the live performance.
Unlike other bar snacks, PizzaExpress serves a proper sit-down menu you can dig into before or during the performance. Go for crowd favorites like the Padana pizza (£18.20) and Dough Balls Doppio (£10.95), paired with an Aperol spritz (£9.45), and finishing with tiramisu (£8.25).
Tables are set cafe-style under low ceilings, just a few feet from the performers—designed for that “up-close” jazz experience. And it only takes a short walk from Tottenham Court Road Tube station—or a bus ride along Oxford Street—to take it in at the time of your booking.
As you watch the stage, know that legendary artists Amy Winehouse, Sting, Norah Jones, and Gregory Porter have stood there, too. And since 1976, the club’s upgraded PA and monitoring systems have made acoustic sets feel full and amplified bands come through flawlessly.
| Pro tip: Check PizzaExpress Live’s What’s On page for festivals and themed events, often featuring unusual line-ups or guest stars. For instance, the 2025 Soho Jazz Festival saw PizzaExpress host the “Jazz Horizons Supporters Lunch,” with emerging artists and a lively Latin set. |
6. Cafe OTO
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Website: https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/
Address: 18-22 Ashwin St
Contact details: +44 20 7923 1231
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 9 AM – 5 PM (cafe/shop); 7:30 PM – 12 AM (evening shows)
- Sunday – 10 AM – 5 PM; 7:30 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: £
A calm cafe by day, a performance space by night—that’s Cafe OTO for you. Its name, “oto,” actually means “sound” or “noise” in Japanese, fitting for a hub of experimental, free-improvisation, avant-jazz, and left-field music that draws attentive, engaged crowds.
This is a spot for those ‘in the know’ about non-mainstream tunes or who truly appreciate them. In fact, fans speak of it as a “listening room” rather than just a “gig,” with its unpretentious concrete floors, wooden tables, and sofas keeping the focus firmly on the music.
Cafe OTO’s own label, OTOROKU, even records live performances at the venue. Located in an artsy Dalston backstreet, some icons who’ve graced the stage were Sun Ra Arkestra and Peter Brötzmann, plus Japanese underground artists like Otomo Yoshihide and Keiji Haino.
Grabbing a craft beer pre-show helps you soak in the small, intimate place. Also, regular multi-night residencies let you catch groups such as the David Murray Quartet and the Dwarfs of East Agouza more than once in the same room.
| Pro tips: If you’re new to the place and want a more “accessible” night (less extreme noise improvisation), check the listing early and pick shows labeled “world/folk”. For an experimental evening, go with an open mind, as some sounds may be challenging. Moreover, allow extra time for the walk from the closest Overground stations (Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland), especially at night. The venue’s entrance is subtle, so keep an eye out for a plain doorway with Cafe OTO signage and maybe a line of people outside. |
7. The Bull’s Head
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Website: https://www.thebullsheadbarnes.com/
Address: 373 Lonsdale Rd
Contact details: +44 20 8876 5241
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM – 11 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sunday – 12 PM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
Jazz takes center stage at The Bull’s Head in its dedicated “Jazz Room,” hosting seated gigs nearly every night. Founded in 1959, it remains one of Britain’s oldest and most beloved jazz clubs, having welcomed the likes of Humphrey Lyttelton, Jeff Beck, and Gary Moore.
The Bull’s Head has a relaxed yet lively pub side, too—one where you can go for drinks and dinner then stay for some mainstream and modern jazz. Overlooking the Thames, it’s also the perfect chance to combine good food, live music, and a riverside stroll.
You can always tuck into the Bull’s Head Beef Burger (£18) or Wild Garlic & Rosemary Baked Camembert (£20.50) as the musicians play. Or, dine beforehand and simply sip your wine, gin, or craft beer during the show for a more focused listen—whichever you prefer.
Since it’s slightly outside central London—roughly 25–40 minutes by car or 20–30 minutes by train (from London Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Barnes Station)—you might want to check out the pub’s stays nearby. These rooms make for a restful night or a longer weekend getaway.
| Pro tip: If you want food then music, arrive early (around 6 PM – 7 PM) so you have time to settle in before the live set, which usually starts at 8:30 PM. Once in the “Jazz Room,” don’t hesitate to ask the staff for drink recommendations—past visitors say they know their drinks well. Also, don’t forget to check the list of shows and pick what you’d like to see—you can buy tickets (from £8) at the door or in advance. To dine pre-show, reserve a table separately by clicking the “Book Now” button on the pub’s homepage. |
8. Nightjar
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Website: https://www.barnightjar.com/
Address: 129 City Rd
Contact details: +44 20 3345 5152
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday – 6 PM – 1 AM
- Thursday to Saturday – 6 PM – 3 AM
Pricing: £££
Accessed through an unmarked door and a flight of stairs off the Old Street roundabout, nothing says speakeasy quite like Nightjar’s basement setting. Inside, candle-lit tables, dark leather booths, art-deco accents, and vintage spirit bottles on display relive the Prohibition Era.
Even the drinks menu is divided into Old School, Mid-Century, and Modern Classics. Not to mention the unique presentation—just try the Nightjar Signature Name of the Samurai, served cold in a wooden Japanese-style cup with an artful garnish on top, and see for yourself.
To complement your beverage are bar snacks such as smoked Marcona almonds and charcuterie boards. All of that’s part of the Nightjar live music experience, which brings together jazz, blues, swing, and even New Orleans rhythm—beginning at 9 PM most nights.
Thursday is when set times shift to 11:30 PM–12:30 AM for late shows, while Fridays and Saturdays keep things going until 3 AM (with a £10 cover charge). Across these nights, crowds have vibed to acts like the Jazzberries trio, The Untouchables, and Ruby Robinson.
| Pro tip: Due to limited seating, table-only service, and the fact that walk-ins are rarely accepted, we strongly recommend booking a table ahead of time. While you’re at it, check Nightjar’s What’s On page for their monthly lineup. |
9. The Piano Bar Soho
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Website: https://info.soho.live/pianobarsoho
Address: 16 Carlisle St
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Pricing: ££
Talked about as one of London’s best kept secrets, The Piano Bar hides off the busy streets of Soho at 16 Carlisle—and you should ring the bell to enter. With that entrance and seating for fewer than 80 guests, it’s just like visiting a friend’s roomy flat for a night of live music.
The bar’s small space actually makes every performance more powerful because you get to hear everything clearly. Why not go a step further, like other passionate viewers, and request a front-table or stage-adjacent seat to feel close to the musicians?
Let’s not forget the vintage-lounge ambiance and low lighting that have set the stage for jazz artists Nathan Britton, Ego Ella May, Liam Stevens, and Kitty LaRoar, among others. From gypsy jazz to Latin jazz and swing piano, there’s a style for whatever mood you’re in.
Have a light bite beforehand, by the way, as The Piano Bar usually serves snacks—like the famous chilli cheese dogs—rather than a full three-course meal. Then feel the music’s beat even more with sips of a Soho Negroni, Cuban Crown, or House Margarita.
| Pro tip: Get in with advance tickets or a £35 membership for 50% off tickets and walk-in privileges. Plus, arriving when doors open—around 6 PM for a 7:30 PM show—lets you grab better seats and settle in before the show begins. Plan your journey home smartly, too—late-night Soho often means relying on Ubers, taxis, or the Tube. Book your ride ahead or check schedules to avoid long waits and last-minute stress. |
10. Oliver’s Jazz Bar
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Website: https://oliversjazzbar.com/
Address: 9 Nevada St
Contact details: +44 20 8858 3693
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 2 PM – 12 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 2 PM – 2 AM
Pricing: ££
If you’re rounding up all the basement venues we’ve covered, make sure Oliver’s Jazz Bar is on your list. The twist is it’s smaller and more intimate, where performers—many just starting out—are almost within arm’s reach, and it has been that way since 2003.
In a quiet Greenwich side street, the small tables, close seating, low lighting, and rabbit’s head with antlers all give off a time-warp jazz club vibe. Add in the fully stocked bar of wines, beers, spirits, and cocktails, which go well with any outside food you’re welcome to bring.
There’s often a £10 entry fee on top of your drink spend. And the easiest ways to reach the venue are by train to Greenwich Station, followed by a short walk, or by bus routes serving the area, including 122, 188, and 132.
You must also know that during the winter months, the roaring open fire makes the three weekly jam sessions warmer and more heartfelt. Live music happens every night of the week in principle, though Fridays and Saturdays are the best choices if you’re up for jazz until 2 AM.
| Pro tip: Because the venue is small and intimate, it’s wise to book or at least call ahead to confirm availability. Respect the musicians by keeping conversations low during sets, and to see who’s playing and the style (e.g. trio, jam session, solo), simply visit the What’s On page. |