Jazz Bars and Clubs: 30 Best European Venues According to Locals

Any season, any time, any mindset… Jazz is always a delightful soothing sound to listen to. Combine this with a trip to some cool European city, and you have the recipe for the perfect weekend!

Thanks to our wonderful Spotters, we managed to put together a list of 30 bars or cafés with live jazz nights, which our locals love to visit frequently. So if you plan to travel to any of our cities, here’s where you can end your night with these lovely sounds.

Bimhuis, Amsterdam

Bimhuis, Amsterdam (by Felix Hildenbrand)

The Bimhuis, is a legendary venue according to our local Felix who is also a jazz musician. It hosts 300 concerts a year. The concerts have an amazing selection of artists as well as crossovers and experimental music options. Artists like John Scofield also pick this venue as their top-ten world’s favorite to play at!

De Muze, Antwerp

De Muze, Antwerp (by De Muze)

De Muze opened back in 1964 and has been a hub for jazz lovers and artists, due to their controversial and alternative style. “Almost every night after 22:00 different bands come to perform live just for the pleasure of your (alternative) ears. You can expect to meet very diverse people, not only from Belgium but also ex-pats studying or working in Antwerp“.

Jazzman, Barcelona

Jazzman, Barcelona (by Jazzman Jazzclub)

Jazzman is a great place to get your daily dose of jazz when you’re a bit low on cash, every Monday and Thursday night you can listen to gigs for free! The atmosphere is also very nice according to our local Bill “this cozy, petite bar is a shrine to the jazz greats, its walls covered with portraits of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Billie Holliday, Chet Baker amid of host of others“.

Salon Beyrouth, Beirut

Salon Beyrouth, Beirut (by Salon Beyrouth)

Salon Beyrouth is a one-of-a-kind venue, it’s a cafe, whiskey lounge, and jazz bar! According to our local Lidija, this is the perfect spot to do some work in the morning as well as relaxing during the weekend for brunch or late-night drinks in a jazz-era inspired decor. The Salon has live music nights through the week as well as Jam sessions and classes. Head to their facebook page to see what’s on and book yourself a spot!

Jazz Club Zemun, Belgrade

Jazz Club Zemun, Belgrade (by E-Zemun.rs)

Jazz Club Zemun in Belgrade has live sessions every Tuesday. The people playing could be well-known jazz virtuosos, but also up and coming locals. The great thing about this spot is that you can find all types of people here from all walks of life, this club brings all of them together. Their Tuesday night sessions are pretty popular according to our local Dušan, so it might be smart to book a table when visiting!

ZUNKUFT am Ostkreuze, Berlin

ZUKUNFT am Ostkreuz (by Christina Focken)

ZUKUNFT am Ostkreuz is one of Berlin’s alternative spaces which encompass many different forms of cultural expression. One of them are organized jazz nights. You might wanna check out their program for more: exhibitions, parties, theatre plays… But whatever the event, our local Christina agrees the night always ends at the bar.

Mahogany Hall, Bern

Mahogany Hall, Bern (by Isabelle Thürlema)

Mahogany Hall is the oldest jazz club in Bern. Situated by the river and near the rose garden, this makes the perfect spot to combine a walk with great views and music in total comfort since the concerts are seated. Our local Isabelle loves the intimate and cheerful atmosphere and of course their great concerts! Here the focus on jazz and blues but you can find other styles too.

Jazz Station, Brussels

Jazz Station, Brussels (by Sarah Filion)

According to our Brussels local Sarah, the Jazz Station has multiple nice events, not only concerts but also jam sessions, conferences, and events for different audiences. Next to the great performances and events, the venue is also amazing. It’s located in an old neo-Renaissance Flemish station dating back to 1885, which gives the place a charming and historical vibe.

The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh

The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh (by The Jazz Bar)

An underground cavern jazz bar? Why not! This place hosts multiple different live acts and has a great, intimate atmosphere. The perfect place to dance the night away. Our Edinburgh local Gwilym, a musician himself, says that in his favorite live venue, The Jazz Bar, “laid-back acoustic and jazz start around 18:00, but things heat up later on as funkier/rockier acts take the stage”.

Jazz Club, Florence

Jazz Club Florence (by Matilde Ceseri)

If you manage to find your way in the Florentine streets and find Jazz Bar‘s hidden entrance you’re in for a great night. Wednesday night is jazz night, and on the other nights, they play other genres. According to our Florence local Matilde, the club’s biggest advantage is its opening times: “It opens at 23:00 and closes at 04:00!“.

Jazzkeller, Frankfurt

Jazzkeller, Frankfurt (by Aroon Nagersheth)

Join the Jazzkeller with its unique atmosphere and amazing performers such as Juliana da Silva, a Brazilian singer. Our local Aroon loves attending her performances because her concerts are like a small journey to Brazil. It’s the perfect occasion to widen your horizons by listening to the songs of Brazilian composers. This is a tiny spot, originally a wine cellar, so make sure to reserve a spot on their website!

Damberd, Ghent

Damberd, Ghent (by opcafegaan.be)

When describing Damberd our Ghent local Nick says that “this might be the best example of what they call a Belgisch bruin café (Belgian brown bar)”. The atmosphere is very down-to-earth and open-minded, and of course, the jazz here is great! It’s a great place to meet locals and have a lovely chat.

Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul

Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul (by Nardis Jazz)

Nardis Jazz Club is run and owned by a musician family, its style reminds of New Orleans with a small stage and brick walls. Here you can listen to various interpretations of jazz. Our local Selman recommends this spot “If you are looking for a modest but classy jazz bar in Istanbul. Make sure to book a spot and keep your voice down during the performances”. Their schedule offers plenty of gigs every night of the week except Sundays.

Harris Piano Jazz Bar, Krakow

Harris Piano Jazz Bar, Krakow (by Harris Piano Jazz Bar)

Throughout the years, the Harris Piano Jazz Bar has always been a bar with a true passion for jazz. They play a lot of jazz but soul, blues and anything funky is also welcome. If you have the nerve and the talent, you can get a chance to hop on stage and play along! Our Krakow local Ewelina’s advice is to “visit this place, lose yourself in music, clap your hands and if you want to – you can even dance“.

Loggerhead, Kyiv

Loggerhead, Kyiv (by LOGGERHEAD)

Started by a new generation of barmen, Loggerhead is one of the newer great bars in town. They have nice signature cocktails, and of course live jazz sessions every Friday night. Getting in however is a bit tricky according to our Kyiv local Olena “it is just a door with no sign but a lever at the left. You pull it down, and a man from the inside opens a little window to let you in or not”.

Sax Pub, Ljubljana

Sax Pub, Ljubljana (by Sax Pub)

Spotter Jošt Derlink mostly recommends the Sax Pub for its atmosphere. “It’s well known for its great atmosphere, especially during the summer.  They have concerts on a stage near Gradascica River, which was made by Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik.” If you’re trying to find it, you really can’t miss it (hint: it’s covered in graffiti).

Cafe Oto, London

Cafe Oto, London (by Cafe Oto)

Cafe Oto is a cafe serving cakes, coffee, teas and beers during the day and it turns into the home of experimental music during the night. Past performers include Yoko Ono, Joe McPhee and London Improvisors Orchestra. This spot forms one of the points of the Dalson Jazz Triangle. According to our local Andrew Cafe Oto “provides creative new music that exists outside of the mainstream”. Most gigs are around £10, but check their website to avoid disappointment as the venue is small!

Matt & Phred’s, Manchester

Matt & Phred’s, Manchester (by Denise Tench)

Matt & Phred’s “Is the place to abandon your assumptions and step inside some true musical innovation” says our local Denise. Here there’s plenty to choose from and loads of budget-friendly options too! It’s a unique venue where the boundaries of jazz are stretched over the limits. Monday night is free entry and open mic so make sure to book it as it’s always full, even on Mondays!

Bare Jazz, Oslo

Bare Jazz, Oslo (by Elin Reitehaug)

This cute little cafe/music shop/live music venue/bar has a lovely atmosphere. Bare Jazz has a cozy outdoor terrace and great drinks. Our Oslo local Elin likes this place because “the music is usually played at a comfortable level, and the atmosphere is relaxed“.

Ethno Jazz Club Sejdefa, Podgorica 

Ethno Jazz Club Sejdefa, Podgorica (by Ethno Jazz Club Sejdefa)

In for a night of great live music and blooming local talent? This is the place. Ethno Jazz Club Sejdefa gives the stage to young, not yet established artists to showcases their talent and express themselves. During the weekend the place can be quite crowded, however, during the week the atmosphere is pretty chill. Our Podgorica local Marija thinks “it is very refreshing to have something like this in town: while most other places are adapting to the trends of “turbo-folk” music, here quality comes first”

Chourmo, Rome

Chourmo, Rome (by Chourmo)

Chourmo “is the kind of place where you don’t feel awkward drinking on your own because you’re bound to end up chatting with someone,” our local Alexandra says. “Chourmo” translates to “crew” and it’s the perfect way to describe the communal spirit that makes this special spot! It’s a cozy compact size bar, and they also host regular jazz nights on Saturday starting around 21:00. Are you ready to experience the “Chourmo spirit”?

Jazz Philharmonic Hall, Saint Petersburg

Jazz Philharmonic Hall, Saint Petersburg (by Arseny Veber)

St. Petersburg Jazz Philharmonic Hall was open in 1994 and it has become one of the most respectable jazz places in the city. Expect the best Russian and international musicians including David Goloshchekin, the founder of the Hall. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic evening or a special occasion according to our local Arseny, but make sure to book your tickets 2-4 weeks in advance!

The Hat Jazz Bar, Saint Petersburg

The Hat Jazz Bar, Saint Petersburg (by Arseny Veber)

The Hat was founded by Billy Novik (frontman of the St. Petersburg jazz band “Billy’s Band”), with the aim to recreate the atmosphere of America in the ’50s. Our local Arseny recommends this spot to anyone who loves informal performances with a non-pre-scheduled repertoire. This is a great alternative if you think our previous jazz spot in Saint Petersburg was a bit too formal. Every performance is free and it starts at 23:00, you can expect to see both Russians and International bands. Start your night a bit earlier and join The Hat around 22:30 to grab a drink and take a seat before it gets busy!

Jazzbina, Sarajevo

Jazzbina, Sarajevo (by Lea Petrovic Numic)

Jazzbina offers a great selection of intimate concerts, drinks, and locals! It’s the perfect spot for a night out or the final destination of the night according to our local Lea, perfect to escape the cold nights in Sarajevo. With live nights 7 days a week, Jazzbina offers high-quality musicians as well as jam sessions for their guests.

Bruklinski JAZZ Bistro,Skopje

Brukilinski, Skopje (by Bruklinski JAZZ Bistro)

Bruklinski JAZZ Bistro “Is the perfect spot to go by yourself or with friends and feel like you came out of a Woody Allen movie” says our local Jana. Here you can find regular jazz events in a location that reminds you of a Brooklyn bar. Make sure to visit this spot and make your Skopje experience a bit jazzier!

Jazz Cafe Singer, Tbilisi

Jazz Cafe Singer, Tbilisi ( Amirhossein Shahzeidi)

Jazz Cafe Singer keeps fighting to keep jazz alive and makes it accessible for everyone. This spot hosts many great Georgian musicians with gigs almost every night. Expect to meet people like Reso Kiknadze (a prominent Georgian musician) improvising on the stage with his band! Our local Amir recommends Cafe Singer for its cozy atmosphere and its welcoming staff.

Venice Jazz Club, Venice

Venice Jazz Club, Venice (by Stacy Gibboni)

Venice Jazz Club used to be a disco before it got transformed into the cozy club it is today and our local Stacy’s favorite spot for a night on the town. On Tuesdays and Fridays, you can find nice live Latin Jazz. The staff is also very nice, according to our Venice local Stacy “owner Federico Nalesso will greet you at the door, take your drink order and then entertain you from his throne at the piano“.

Porgy & Bess, Vienna

Porgy & Bess, Vienna (by Porgy & Bess)

Porgy & Bess “Is the perfect spot if your heart beats jazzy” says our local Linda. Hosted in an old and traditional house, this was home of a cabaret venue in the ’20s and ’30s and recently turned into a jazz club. With its galleries and balconies, you’ll feel like you are in the States in a club from the ’50s listening to great Viennese musicians.

Jazz Cellar 11, Vilnius

Jazz Cellar 11, Vilnius (by Jazz Cellar 11)

Jazz Cellar 11 is distinguished by a specific interior with musical instruments hanging everywhere on the walls! Is located in the Old Town of Vilnius and it hosts various events from concerts to jam sessions. It offers a great quality sound system and our local Paula recommends to book a table in advance since this is a popular venue among live music lovers.

Bacchus Jazz Bar, Zagreb

Bacchus Jazz Bar, Zagreb (By Bacchus Jazz Bar)

Bacchus Jazz Bar had a little break recently as it was closed, however, it’s now open again and according to our local Tamara “the break did the place good as its courtyard has now garden furniture and it seems even greener than before!“. The bar is located in the cellar of an old-town building covered by plants and flowers, the perfect spot for some live Friday nights in a green set!