Travelling with Jazz Across Europe

Barcelona

Jamboree · Plaça Reial 17 jamboreejazz.com — Spain’s oldest jazz club (1960). Underground vaulted room, two sets a day year-round. Chet Baker, Art Farmer and Ornette Coleman. For musicians: the venue that puts Barcelona on the circuit map.

Harlem Jazz Club · C/ de la Comtessa de Sobradiel 8 harlemjazzclub.es — Legendary, in the Gothic Quarter. Jazz, funk and soul almost every night. Capacity 300, dance floor. Affordable entry.

JazzSí Club · C/ de Requesens 2 jazzsi.com — Linked to the Taller de Músics. Jazz, blues, flamenco, Cuban jazz. Jam sessions at weekends. A key reference for musicians settling in the city.

JazzMan · C/ de Roger de Flor 238 jazzmanbcn.com — Since 1979, a small club in the Eixample. Jazz, soul and blues. Vinyl sessions on Thursdays.

Pipa Club · Plaça Reial 3 (2nd floor) — Members and guests only. Intimate 1920s atmosphere. Gypsy jazz and swing on Thursdays.

Madrid

Café Central · Plaza del Ángel 10 cafecentralmadrid.com — Madrid’s most iconic jazz club, over 40 years. Concerts every night. Pedro Iturralde, George Adams, Chano Domínguez.

Sala Clamores · C/ de Alburquerque 14 clamores.es — Pioneer since the 1980s. Excellent acoustics, carefully curated programming. Terence Blanchard, Joe Henderson.

Café Berlín · C/ Costanilla de los Ángeles 20 cafeberlin.es — ~500 concerts/year. Jazz, flamenco, funk, soul, folk. Jorge Pardo, Avishai Cohen.

El Intruso · C/ Augusto Figueroa 3 elintruso.com — At the heart of Chueca. Two benchmark weekly jam sessions: Latin Jam and Ocelot Jam. For musicians: essential.

MOE · C/ Alberto Alcocer 32 — Since 1999. Jam session every Wednesday. Jerry Gonzalez and Jorge Pardo.

Populart · C/ del Huertas 22 populart.es — Classic jazz every night. Free entry.

Tempo Audiophile Club · C/ Duque de Osuna 8 — Audiophile bar (inspired by Japanese bars of the 1950s), immersive jazz concerts in the basement.

Big Mama Ballroom · C/ de Bernardino Obregón 3 bigmamaballroom.com — Swing in Madrid. Live traditional jazz and dancing. Unique in Europe for what it offers.

Seville

Gallo Rojo · C/ Madre María de la Purísima 9 gallorojo.es — Jazz 6 days a week: bebop, manouche, New Orleans. Craft beers and co-working space.

Naima Cafe Jazz · C/ Conde de Barajas 2 — Small, traditional, in the historic centre. Authentic blues every night. Second-hand record shop.

Assejazz assejazz.com — Association: 80+ concerts/year, jam sessions, annual festival. For musicians: the gateway into the Seville scene.

Allegro Non ma Tropo — Macarena neighbourhood. Mediterranean jam session every Sunday. Jazz, Balkan and fado.

Donostia / San Sebastián

Altxerri Bar & Jazz · C/ de la Reina Regente 2 altxerri.com — Two decades of improvised jazz. One of the most influential venues in the Basque scene.

Etxekalte Jazz Club — Legendary, 20+ years. Two floors, basement dance floor.

Be Bop — Near the old town. Jazz and blues until 4am. During Jazzaldia, a main late-night stage.

Bilbao

Bilbaina Jazz Club bilbainajazzclub.org — Founded by enthusiasts in 1991. Auditory series on Thursdays. Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Cotton Club Bilbao · Alameda Gregorio de la Revilla 25 — 25+ years. Local bands, singer-songwriters, DJs.

Granada

Eshavira Club · C/ Postigo de la Cuna eshaviraclub.wordpress.com — Since 1989. Jazz on Wednesdays and Thursdays, flamenco on Sundays, from 23:00. Entry includes 1 drink.

Festival Internacional de Jazz de Granada — Since 1980. Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. 80+ concerts and activities in November.

Valencia

Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar · C/ Baja 28 jimmyglassjazz.net — 3–4 concerts/week. Collection of thousands of modern jazz vinyl records. The favourite of touring musicians.

Festivals in Catalonia and Spain

Jazz I Am jazziam.barcelona — March. At El Molino (since 2026). A festival that changes format every year: new venues, new ideas. Emerging artists alongside established names, without hierarchy. Jazz from the Taller de Músics in the room it deserves.

VijazZ — Jazz Vilafranca del Penedès vijazz.cat — July. Intimate festival in Vilafranca del Penedès (Alt Penedès). European and American musicians face to face with the audience, no distances. Joe Lovano, Makaya McCraven and Avishai Cohen have performed here.

Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona voll-dammfestivaldejazz.com — November. Founded in 1966, one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world. Palau de la Música Catalana, Barts, Apolo, Luz de Gas and over 100 concerts in two weeks. For touring musicians: the moment when Barcelona concentrates the highest density of industry professionals.

Sax-o-Rama — La Paloma, Barcelona. International saxophone festival created by Dani Nel·lo. Musicians from Japan, the Caribbean and Spain with the Barcelona Big Blues Band as the common thread. “Demanding, generous and uncompromising.”

Festival de Jazz de Terrassa jazzterrassa.org — March. Since 1980, one of the benchmark festivals on the Catalan scene. 30+ concerts over ten days. Nova Jazz Cava as the epicentre, with programming in the streets and singular spaces across the city.

Festival de Blues de Barcelona festivalbluesbarcelona.com — July. 22+ editions, organised from Nou Barris. National and international blues, closing jam sessions. Free entry.

Pícnic de Blues — May. Parc Central de Nou Barris. Free, neighbourhood, no pretensions. Blues on the grass as a season warm-up. Organised by Capibola Blues since 2013.

Clot amb Blues — February and November. El Clot, Barcelona. Blues in neighbourhood spaces: squares, local venues, community facilities. “Small in size, big in content.”

Calella Harmònica Festival — September. Calella (Maresme). Concerts, masterclasses for all levels and photography exhibitions. Blues, jazz, bluegrass and folk with the harmonica as the star.

Festival de Jazz de Girona jazzgirona.cat — Summer. Jazz in the Old Quarter, concerts in Romanesque courtyards and churches. Free entry to most concerts.

Terrassa

Nova Jazz Cava · Passatge Tete Montoliu 24 — 30+ years. Bebop and hard bop from Tuesday to Sunday. Epicentre of the Festival de Jazz de Terrassa every March.

Gijón

Meidinerz Jazz Club · C/ San Agustín 12-14 — The only jazz club in Asturias. Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00.

Lisbon

Hot Clube de Portugal · Praça da Alegria 48 hotclubeportugal.com — Founded in 1948, Portugal’s oldest jazz club. DownBeat: top 100 clubs in the world. Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie. Concerts Tuesday–Saturday at 23:00 and 00:30.

Porto

Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club · R. de Guerra Junqueiro 495 hotfive.pt — Since 2006. 14,000+ concerts. International and local artists. Weekly jam sessions. For musicians: contact directly for programming.

Mirajazz · Escadas do Caminho Novo 11 mirajazz.pt — Terrace with views over the Douro. Jazz in a relaxed setting.

Paris

Le Duc des Lombards · 42 rue des Lombards ducdeslombards.com — Since 1984. 300+ concerts/year, 2 daily sets. Exceptional grand piano. Free jam sessions Friday and Saturday at 23:30.

Sunset / Sunside · 60 rue des Lombards sunset-sunside.com — Double space: Sunside (acoustic jazz) + Sunset (electric jazz, electro). Brad Mehldau, Avishai Cohen. Since 1983.

New Morning · 7-9 rue des Petites Écuries newmorning.com — Since 1981. Jazz, world music, monthly jam sessions. 450 capacity. Miles Davis, Prince, Chet Baker.

Le Caveau de la Huchette · 5 rue de la Huchette caveaudelahuchette.fr — Medieval crypt from the 12th century, club since 1946. Swing and traditional jazz every night. The setting of La La Land. Sidney Bechet performed here.

38Riv · 38 rue de Rivoli 38riv.com — 13th-century crypt in the Marais. Concerts at 19:30 and 21:30. Jam sessions Monday to Saturday at 23:00.

Le Son de la Terre · 2 Port de Montebello — A boat on the Seine with views of Notre-Dame. Jazz brunch on Sundays.

Lyon

La Clef de Voûte · Place de la Croix-Rousse laclefdevoute.fr — 18th-century vault, 150+ events/year. Free entry. Saint-Germain-des-Prés atmosphere.

Hot Club de Lyon hotclublyon.com — All styles: New Orleans, bebop, gypsy, swing, electro.

Marseille

La Caravelle · Quai du Port 34 — Jazz bar in the Old Port. Open 7:00 to 2:00. Live jazz and exceptional views.

Club 27 · 27 Boulevard Longchamp club27.fr — 145m², 20m² stage. Jazz, blues, jams and stand-up.

Toulouse

Le Taquin · 23 Rue des Amidonniers letaquin.fr — Heir to the Mandala Jazz Club (1985). 150 concerts/year, Wednesday–Saturday. Jazz, soul, electro, funk, world.

London

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club · 47 Frith Street, Soho ronniescotts.co.uk — Since 1959. The UK’s most iconic jazz club. Every great name has passed through. Recently expanded with “Upstairs at Ronnie’s” for intimate concerts.

The Jazz Cafe · 5 Parkway, Camden Town thejazzcafelondon.com — Since 1990. 450 capacity. Jamiroquai, Sun Ra Arkestra, Amy Winehouse. Jazz, soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop.

606 Club · 90 Lots Road, Chelsea 606club.co.uk — Since the 1950s. Jazz, latin, soul, R&B, blues and gospel. Seven nights a week. One of the most active clubs in Europe.

Vortex Jazz Club · 11 Gillett Square, Dalston vortexjazz.co.uk — Since 1988. A reference point for avant-garde and experimental jazz. Portico Quartet recorded their first album here (Mercury Prize nominee).

Edinburgh

The Jazz Bar · 1A Chambers Street thejazzbar.co.uk — Edinburgh’s most famous jazz club. Jazz, blues, funk, soul every night. Multiple concerts each evening. Five major awards.

Whighams Jazz Club · 13 Hope Street whighamsjazzclub.co.uk — Since 2009. Varied weekly programme, international and Scottish artists.

Glasgow

The Hot Club of Glasgow · Ivory Hotel thehotclubofglasgow.co.uk — Jam sessions every Tuesday. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Dublin

Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club · 28 Thomas Street arthursbluesclub.com — Dublin’s largest blues and jazz club. Daily programming, jam sessions.

The Blind Pig Speakeasy theblindpig.ie — Soul, blues, swing and jazz every night from 20:30.

Brussels

Jazz Station · Chaussée de Louvain 193a-195 jazzstation.be — Former Neo-Renaissance railway station (1885). Classes, jam sessions, swing parties, exhibitions. The heart of Belgian jazz.

L’Archiduc · Rue Antoine Dansaert 6 archiduc.com — Art deco bar since 1937. 1929 Steinway piano. Nat King Cole and Jacques Brel. Open every day 16:00 to 05:00.

The Music Village · Rue des Pierres 50 themusicvillage.com — Near the Grand Place. 300+ concerts/year. Inspired by New York clubs.

Amsterdam

Bimhuis · Piet Heinkade 3 bimhuis.nl — Since 1973. The Netherlands’ main jazz stage. 150 concerts/year. Views of the IJ river. Art Blakey, Mingus, Pharoah Sanders. Free jam session every Tuesday.

Berlin

Zig Zag Jazz Club · Hauptstraße 89, Friedenau zigzag-jazzclub.berlin — Jazz, funk, soul and blues every night. Jam sessions on Tuesdays. John Scofield and Billy Cobham. Very musician-friendly atmosphere.

Donau115 · Donaustraße 115, Neukölln donau115.de — 50 seats. Experimental jazz and improvisation. Two-Song Tuesday. The Guardian: one of the best clubs in Europe.

Vienna

Porgy & Bess · Riemergasse 11 porgy.at — Since 1993, a former modernist cinema. One of Europe’s most beautiful jazz clubs. 70,000 visitors/year. Pure jazz through to electronica and world music.

Zurich

Moods · Schiffbaustrasse 6 moods.ch — Former boiler room. Jazz, world, funk, soul, electro almost daily. One of Europe’s leading clubs.

JazzBaragge · Schiffbaustrasse 6 jazzbaragge.ch — Next to Moods. Jam sessions on Wednesdays.

Geneva

Sud Des Alpes · 10 rue des Alpes — All styles of jazz. September to June. Concerts at 21:30.

Kraków

Harris Piano Jazz Bar · Rynek Główny 28 harris.krakow.pl — The only club in Poland (2nd in Europe) with author jazz every day. Since 1997, crypt below the Main Square. Three rooms.

Warsaw

Ygmont Jazz Club · Mazowiecka 6/8 — Intimate wooden basement. A Warsaw jazz reference. Weekly swing night and annual festival.

Prague

Reduta Jazz Club · Národní 20 redutajazzclub.cz — Prague’s oldest jazz club (1957). Bill Clinton played saxophone here (1994). Concerts every night at 21:30.

AghaRTA Jazz Centre · Železná 16 agharta.cz — Gothic crypt at the heart of the Old Town. Since 1991. Named after the Miles Davis album. Concerts at 21:00.

Jazz Dock · Janáčkovo nábřeží 2 jazzdock.cz — Summer terrace on the Vltava river. Jazz, funk, soul, world music.

Budapest

Budapest Jazz Club · Hollán Ernő u. 7 bjc.hu — The city’s main reference. Concerts every night, intimate space in the centre.

Zagreb

VIP Jazz Club · Trg bana Josipa Jelačića 9 vipclub.hr — Comparable in size to Ronnie Scott’s. International artists. John Pizzarelli, Dafnis Prieto.

Milan

Blue Note Milano · Via Pietro Borsieri 37 bluenotemilano.com — The European outpost of the legendary American brand. Top-tier jazz club, restaurant and event space.

Rome

Alexanderplatz Jazz Club · Via Ostia 9 alexanderplatzjazz.com — Rome’s oldest jazz club (1984). Daily concerts at 21:30 with dinner. Wynton Marsalis, Brad Mehldau.

Gregory’s Jazz Club · Via Gregoriana 54/a gregorysjazz.com — Since 1996. Two sets every night: swing, bebop, hardbop. Jam sessions and tributes. Near the Spanish Steps.

Casa del Jazz · Viale di Porta Ardeatina 55 casadeljazz.com — 1920s Italian villa, 150-seat auditorium, lush gardens. Summer festival from 1 June to 10 September.

Copenhagen

Jazzhus Montmartre · Store Regnegade 19A jazzhusmontmartre.dk — Since 1959. Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster and Stan Getz were regulars. 200+ concerts/year in an intimate setting.

Stockholm

Fasching · Kungsgatan 63 fasching.se — Since 1977. Scandinavia’s most important jazz club. 300 concerts and 80,000 visitors/year. Owned by Swedish jazz musicians. Home of the Stockholm Jazz Festival.

Oslo

Victoria, Nasjonal Jazzscene · Karl Johans gate 35 nasjonaljazzscene.no — Norway’s national jazz venue. 250 seats + 50 standing places. First come, first served.

Helsinki

Storyville · Museokatu 8 storyville.fi — Since 1993. One of Europe’s best clubs (nominated). Classic jazz, blues, Cajun and Creole cuisine. Summer terrace.

Koko Jazz Club kokojazz.fi — Since 2010. The heart of professional jazz in Helsinki.

Manala Afterwork Jazz — Every Thursday, 17:00 to 19:00. Free. Bar Manala transformed into a New York-style jazz club.

Reykjavik

Múlinn Jazz Club · Austurbakki 2 (Harpa) harpa.is — Inside the Harpa concert hall, with views of the harbour. Weekly concerts almost all year round. Since 1997. Reasonable prices.

Philly Joe’s Jazz Club · Vabaduse väljak 10 phillyjoes.ee — The incubator of Estonian jazz. Concerts, masterclasses, workshops, music cinema. Only vinyl is played; musicians have full creative freedom.