There’s nothing like chilling to some slow jazz with your rum and coke at home. Especially when you’re not in the mood to bump and grind, live jazz sessions are the absolute perfect accompaniment to your drinks and mellow mood. Here are some of the best jazz bars around the world, because what’s a drink without some good music to follow?
Village Vanguard, New York
It’s no secret that making your name in New York is a pretty hard job, considering that there’s no lack of anything in the city. Nevertheless, Village Vanguard stands out amongst the many jazz clubs in New York. Many great musicians such as Bill Evans and Sonny Rollins have performed here, and the club has remained the exact same since it started out in 1935!
Blue Note, Tokyo
Tokyo has always been a beloved Asian tourist hotspot, and with it has come true globalisation. Blue Note, a New York jazz club franchise that knows how to make an impression, also resides in Tokyo. The absolute best in American jazz along with the superlative local talent – is there anything else you could ask for in a perfect evening?
Beit HaAmudim, Tel Aviv
A lot of people don’t know this but Israel has a booming jazz music scene, and the biggest contributor has to be Beit HaAmudim. A cozy host to acoustic jazz that’s played to an awestruck audience. It’s also a meeting point for jazz fans and musicians alike making it an important cultural hub in the city.
Tramjazz, Rome
When I first found out about this, I wanted to immediately book a one-way flight to Rome just to be able to experience this first-hand. Twice every week, an old cable car stationed at the Piazza di Porta Maggiore turns into a delightful club and restaurant. The tram goes around Rome (including a stop at the Colosseum) while musicians serenade you and you eat traditional dishes. I can’t think of anything more romantic.
Bird’s Basement, Melbourne
Bird’s Basement is a giant in the jazz community in Melbourne, and a sister club of the famed New York jazz bar Birdland. The blue lighting and Italian dishes cooked to perfection add to the mood of the two dinner shows every night. Here’s a tip- get in early so you can have a cocktail or two at the bar before heading to the tables near the stage.
Ronnie Scott’s, London
Everything good has to happen in London, including the king of jazz bars – Ronnie Scott’s. Famed musicians play here on the regular and the club is known for it’s no-airs attitude, that reflects in the old-school jazz played here. If you haven’t been here, I suggest you change you that very soon. The ambience, the drinks and the Late Late Show are enough to have you speaking about it for weeks to come.
