Where to Enjoy Live Jazz in Los Angeles
The Baked Potato
Neighborhood: Studio City
Hours: Shows nightly at 8pm and 10pm
Summary: A treat for the soul and the stomach, The Baked Potato features live music nightly and, you guessed it, serves two dozen varieties of baked potatoes. Come prepared to pay for the cover (ranges from $20-45), a two-drink minimum, and as many baked potatoes as you can handle.
The Lighthouse Café
Neighborhood: Hermosa Beach
Hours: Shows every evening
Summary: Featured in La La Land as the jazz bar where Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) spends his time, this venue has been a staple of West Coast jazz since 1949. Today you’ll find a wider range of music from jazz to reggae to rock. Stop in for happy hour Monday-Friday 4-7pm or for Jazz Brunch on Sundays until 2pm. Entrance is 21+ except for brunch. Check their website for show lineup and times.
The World Stage
Neighborhood: Leimert Park Village
Hours: Performances are usually Friday and Saturday evenings
Summary: Founded by renowned jazz drummer Billy Higgins and poet Kama Daáood, The World Stage is a mainstay of music and culture for LA. Here you’ll find not only a range of ticketed performances in music and art (usually $20), but also weekly workshops in music and literature for as little as $5.
Rhythm Room
Neighborhood: DTLA
Hours: Thursday-Sunday evenings, usually starting at 9pm
Summary: Once a magnet for jazz performers in the 40s and 50s, then re-opened in 2017, the Rhythm Room’s underground speakeasy is a step back in time to a cozy WWII-style bar. Entertainment is plentiful between live jazz and the space’s many games - darts, billiards, ping pong, and shuffleboard. Check your fit before you leave home - there’s a dress code (smart & stylish) to keep it classy!
Bar Stella
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Hours: Jazz on Sundays at 7pm
Summary: Calling all budget babes! Every week there is free live jazz at Bar Stella, a cafe and bar with class French cuisine. This hidden gem holds a collection of exotic art and dark paneled wood moldings. Sip on a craft cocktail, tune into the live music, and be your artsy self.
Catalina Jazz Club
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Hours: Shows are Tuesday-Sunday at 8:30pm
Summary: Walk in the literal footsteps of Dizzy Gillespie and jazz’s greatest performers while enjoying live music at this historic restaurant and performance space. Shows now span from jazz to broadway to stand-up comedy! Check their website for a lineup. Tickets range from $25-$75 and there is a two-drink minimum.
Vibrato Grill Jazz
Neighborhood: Bel-Air
Hours: Show times vary Tuesdays-Sundays
Summary: LA’s strip malls can be home to diamonds in the rough, and Vibrato sparkles! This venue attracts world-class jazz performers to an interior as acoustically functional as it is elegant. Cover and show times vary, so check their calendar for the next performance. Dinner reservations + show is usually $25 with a dining minimum of $45/person.
Sam First
Neighborhood: Westchester
Hours: Shows are Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and 9:30pm
Summary: Next time you do the dreaded run to LAX to pick up a friend, stop in to treat yourself at this modern jazz bar. The cocktails are almost as stunning as the modern functionally acoustic architecture. Or tell your friend to get an Uber and catch a live streamed show for $15 on their web site. Shows are ticketed at ~$35, 21 and over.
The Barkley Restaurant
Neighborhood: South Pasadena
Hours: Shows are Sundays 7-11pm, Fridays and Saturdays 9pm-1am
Summary: A jazz location so jazzy that they have their own resident band, The Barkley Restaurant hosts The Richard Glaser Quartet every Sunday night. Fridays and Saturdays feature live music from their resident bands and special guests. Take a quick detour to an ATM before you arrive, since this restaurant and bar is cash only!
Jazz at LACMA
Neighborhood: Mid-Wilshire
Hours: Fridays at 6pm April to November
Summary: Bring a picnic blanket and join a classic LA experience at LACMA during the summer season to hear live jazz by top local artists. Admission is free and there are no reservations required. Stop into LACMA (tickets: $25) beforehand to treat your eyes before your ears.
Pip's On La Brea
Neighborhood: Mid-Wilshire
Hours: Regular performances throughout the week
PIPS on La Brea is a go-to spot for live jazz, serving up classic Italian dishes alongside top-tier performances in a relaxed setting. Since opening in 2010, it has become a casual hangout where you can enjoy blues, R&B, and jazz every night of the week, either indoors or on the renovated patio. Unlike other jazz clubs, PIPS follows a strict weekly lineup, featuring legends like Barbara Morrison, Michelle Coltrane, and Bob DeSena, with a standout Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch led by saxophonist Cal Bennett.
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