Best jazz clubs and bars in London

Don’t be thrown off by the name: the Soho branch of Pizza Express dishes up much more than pizza and dough balls. Head down to the basement to find tables clustered around a small stage, where thousands of jazz musicians have performed in the club’s nearly five decades.

Soak up the sounds of jazz, soul and world music at Camden’s Jazz Cafe, which puts on live gigs and DJ-powered club nights. A dancefloor spreads out in front of the stage, or you can enjoy the music from the restaurant on the mezzanine level, which looks over the stage.

Let the music move you at 606 Club, which is run by a musician and features only British-based bands that perform jazz, soul, funk and blues every night of the week. With room for 120 seats, this basement space between Chelsea and Fulham has an undeniably cosy atmosphere.

Head to Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, which plays host to some 400 concerts a year. As evidenced in the name, the venue has a clear focus on jazz, but it also puts on improvised and experimental shows that blur the lines between genres.

Step back in time at Le QuecumBar & Brasserie, which is one of the only venues in the world to showcase the genre of Gypsy jazz born in 1930s Paris. The music blends into swing, and bands use guitars and bass instead of drums. The result is a nostalgic throwback to an elegant era.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Greenwich, Oliver’s Jazz Bar sees live jazz acts on stage every night of the week. Candlelit tables huddle in the intimate basement space, and you’re sure to hear acclaimed musicians from London’s jazz scene and beyond.

Duck below the butchery shops of Smithfield Market to find Oriole, a glamorous bar that has jazz performances twice a night, with an additional late set on Fridays and Saturdays. Mixed with quirky ingredients, the cocktails at Oriole are some of the best in the city, which you can sip bottomless at the Sunday Jazz Brunch. Its sister bar, Nightjar, near Old Street, also puts on top-notch live jazz shows.

Feel the beat at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston. The bar invites in plenty of jazz performers, but there’s also indie, soul and country music on the schedule. Because the capacity is capped at 100, you’re guaranteed a more personal performance.

Located in Soho, Jazz After Dark entertains with an array of jazz, funk, soul and R&B musicians night after night. By day, the space is open as a gallery, displaying works by resident artist Sam Shaker who paints portraits of celebrities that take the stage.

Bop the night away at Ruby’s, where you can sip on signature cocktails while listening to the musicians perform at the popular weekly jazz nights. When you’re ready to take it up a notch, head next door to the lounge bar, which has live DJs and crowds on the dancefloor until the early hours.

Find your groove at Ronnie Scott’s, arguably London’s most iconic club for jazz music. Going strong since 1959, Ronnie Scott’s has seen some of the biggest names in jazz, from Miles Davis to Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald, but it’s also an intimate space where you can catch the next big jazz star early in their career.

Descending the stairs into Quaglino’s feels like you’ve stepped back into the 1920s. Glam black and gold Art Deco-inspired decor sets the scene, and live bands that perform jazz and other genres take to the arch-topped stage most nights of the week.

Channelling the energy of Paris, Toulouse Lautrec is an intimate wine bar and jazz club with performance spaces over two floors. Enjoy classic French dishes while listening to the smooth sounds of jazz solos and duos in the Piano Bar, or head to the Jazz Club at the weekend for bigger bands.

Enjoy dinner and a show at Boisdale, where musician Jools Holland curates an impressive list of regular jazz, blues and soul performances. Boisdale has four locations across London, in Belgravia, Mayfair, Canary Wharf and Bishopsgate, all of which have live music sets.

Relax into the evening at Green Note, an award-winning music venue in Camden with an ever-changing roster of jazz, blues, folk and country musicians on stage. The friendly atmosphere means you’re bound to linger longer, plus there's a range of drinks and vegetarian bar snacks and tapas.