Jazz Clubs in Washington, DC

Bohemian Caverns

Bar / Jazz Club / Lounge

Party Earth Review It’s easy to see where this intimate music venue gets its name – the performance area quite literally looks like a cave – and while the three-story complex is also home to a separate restaurant and dance club, it’s the basement jazz that has made Bohemian Caverns an historical institution. Music lovers tunnel down into ... more

2003 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

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Blues Alley

Jazz Club / Live Music Venue

Party Earth Review Despite its name, Blues Alley is a cozy little joint that’s all about the jazz. Widely popular with a diverse mix of jazz lovers, this Georgetown institution has been hosting live music daily since the 60s, and continues to feature a range of big name and well-respected acts. The single room venue, located in an 18th-century ... more

1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007

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Black Fox Lounge

Jazz Bar / Live Music Venue

Party Earth Review A great alternative to the fast-paced vibe of many nearby bars and clubs, Black Fox Lounge is a dimly-lit den perfect for rounds of cocktails, live music, and relaxed conversation. The jazz-loving regulars seem to fit right in with the venue’s vintage hotel feel, accentuated by deep chocolate leather sofas and a massive ... more

1723 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

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The Hamilton

Jazz Club / Music Venue

Info Two blocks from the White House, restaurant and live music venue The Hamilton combines sophisticated food and low-key music with a clubby atmosphere. Though built recently in 2011, it evokes an old-school boys club feel. The music section of the building, called Live, is open for shows most nights. Live music at The Hamilton ... more

600 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Columbia Station

Jazz Club / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Crammed inside a bright purple building that looks more like a Harry Potter hangout than a jazz club, Columbia Station attracts a sophisticated but unpretentious crowd with its roster of live music – and no cover charge. Softly lit by a wall display of brass instruments intertwined with twinkling lights, the cozy space ... more

2325 18th Street NW
Washington DC, 20009

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Bohemian Caverns - Bar | Jazz Club | Live Music Venue | Lounge | Restaurant in DC

The nation’s capital is home to a great variety of jazz venues, from small and funky independent jazz clubs and jazz bars to swanky restaurants where a fabulous five-course meal comes with a whole lot of blues.

Some of the more popular jazz clubs in Washington, DC obviously require advanced ticket purchase, but most jazz haunts trend on the casual side, making them perfect for just dropping into on a lazy afternoon or mellow evening.

The District gave the world several jazz pioneers, including Duke Ellington, one of the most famous of them all. DC’s U Street Corridor was nicknamed the “Black Broadway” because of its powerful collection of African American-owned and frequented music venues, and remains to this day a stellar place to not only catch jazz but all types of music and vibes.

Bohemian Caverns on U Street is one such stellar DC jazz club, and it’s easy to see where this intimate music venue gets its name – the performance area quite literally looks like a cave. Music lovers tunnel down into a subterranean space completely covered in faux rock, with a small center stage that has been graced by not only Ellington, but Cab Calloway, Miles Davis, and many other jazz giants.

Columbia Station in Adams Morgan is also one of the great Washington, DC jazz clubs worth checking out, attracting a sophisticated but unpretentious crowd with its roster of live music and no cover charge. Even Georgetown gets in on the DC jazz fix thanks to Blues Alley, a cozy little joint that – despite its name – is all about the jazz.