Best of New York: Jazz Clubs

Jazz clubs have been a New York staple for nearly a century, from the early days when you'd have to go underground to hear some toe-tapping grooves and drink some bathwater gin. Now there are so many popular jazz clubs in New York, it's hard to choose just one. Let this be your guide to the best jazz clubs in the city:

Smalls

One of the best deals on the NYC jazz scene, Smalls brings in both famous names and rising stars – and no matter who’s playing, it’s always $20 at the door. The best part? On weeknights, that cover charge includes your first drink too. Kick it back while enjoying the tunes.

183 W 10th St, Manhattan
212-675-7369

Smoke

Move from the Village to this uptown hangout, where velvet seats and crystal chandeliers take you a world away from the grungy underground scene. The themed jazz nights at Smoke of weekdays explore subgenres from Latin jazz to funk. On the weekends, bypass the cover charge for their famous (and delicious!).

2751 Broadway, Manhattan
212-864-6662

Puppet’s Jazz Bar

Although Brooklyn isn’t known for its storied jazz history, Puppet’s is bucking the trend by bringing live jazz to Park Slope every night, with some comedy acts and open jam sessions mixed in. Of course, being Brooklyn, it caters to the organic food crowd by offering an all-organic menu of cocktails and vegetarian snacks.

481 5th Avenue, Brooklyn
718-499-2622

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

Some call it stuffy or cliché, but Dizzy’s hosts some of the most legendary names in jazz today, and boasts some of New York’s most amazing views of Central Park from its location high up in the Time Warner Building. Students get in for half the price, which can cut down substantially on the higher-than-average cover, so don’t forget to show your ID at the door.

33 W 60th St, Time Warner Building, 5th Floor, Manhattan
212-258-9595

The Stone

Those looking for something a little more experimental than the standards at the Vanguard or the tourists flooding the Blue Note should head out of the Village and over to Avenue C, where the jazz scene gets avant-garde. The hike over to the hidden location (they don’t have a phone or a numbered address) will gain you access to one of the most cutting-edge jazz clubs in town.

Ave C at 2nd St, Lower East Side