Jazz Cafe

A friend recommended this place for New Years. The Cuban Brothers were scheduled to play. Showed up early, and had drinks while we waited. There’s a nice seating area up front near the bar. Once the music started, this place heated up. Unfortunately, someone vomited all over the dance floor pretty early on, and the smell never went away. The Cuban Brothers put on a good show though, so all was forgiven. I think I would come back to this venue again for the right band.

Went here for 80’s night and was a total waste of time. There was a queue at the door which I thought was a good sign. But it was way too crowded and with the drunk frat boys and hen parties, no thank you.
One point for the Fresh Prince playing in the background.

Legendary venue that helped me enjoy one of the finest, most intimate concerts of my life. David Gray did a concert on behalf of War Child in February and while the food was passable, the venue was so great I forgave them for that. I wasn’t there for the food. I was there for the music, and they delivered.

All around good venue for seeing a live band.
I can’t vouch for their club nights.
There are 2 or 3 bars throughout the venue – all of very understaffed so prepare to wait.
I had no issue with the doormen.
The sound system was good and there was plenty of room to dance.
I would be back. — Next time I’ll try the food.

Has a reputation of being one of London’s best Jazz /​independent music venues.
I went there to see Freshly Ground (who were amazing!) and had a fantastic time, but I must say it wasn’t what I expected, in comparison to other ‘jazz cafes’ I’ve been too. It was more of an intimate gigging area — a stage — black décor — most people standing, a few tables for diners along the top. Not the sort of place you’d sit and chill listening to some jazz music.
It’s a great venue to see a gig because you’re so close to the musicians and that creates a really fantastic atmosphere.
Down side: the drinks are extortionate and not that fantastic (it’s a plastic cup kinda place).

totally agree with Katie B.
went to the jazz café on a saturday night. as we were waiting in the queue, me and my friend had already a bad feeling as the crowd was only teenagers, no variety of ages whatsoever. I didn’t really want to go in but as my friend said we had waited in the queue for so long we could as well try. We’ve read so many positive reviews about the café and wanted to dance the night away. So let be it. I thought we would pay £5 with a flyer but they called for £7 as it was past 11:30, it doesn’t matter we spent 45 min in the queue. all right then. As we entered, such was my disappointment, the club was quite small, no room to move around, in the pictures it looked so big. I thought it would be something similar to KOKO, but no. It was nothing like it; at least half the size. What’s more, we were hit by a wave of stuffiness and smell of sweat and more. As we were walking around to check the place out, the smell did not get any better, upstairs sitting area is nothing special with a few drunk teenage girls screaming on top of their lungs. And that was it, that’s the whole Jazz Café. buuu. I didn’t feel any vibe either, people constantly pushing around with their drinks, the songs could be better too. We moved to a few songs and left the place totally disappointed.
I am definitely not coming back.

This is a nice music venue. BUT.
It’s neither «JAZZ» nor «CAFE».
They don’t play jazz. And it’s not a café. They don’t serve cheesecakes, do they? Do they?
If we only allowed to use accurate descriptions, I guess this place should be called something like «R&B Club» or «Pop Music Bar»
Hmmm, doesn’t really work…
I guess «Jazz Café» sounds a lot sexier after all.

Fun place for a night out. Saturdays are definitely the best with the 80s/​90s music!
However, I have a HUGE problem with how the place is managed. Last night there was a girl outside the venue lying in a pool of her own vomit. She was completely unconscious. We told the head bouncer that we thought she needed an ambulance. His response was, «Yeah, I don’t care. She’s probably fine.» (direct quote)
This girl was not fine. 3 different bystanders ended up calling an ambulance for her– something the bouncers would not do for reasons I cannot understand. I cannot support an establishment like this.

This is one of my favorite live music venues in London!
Jazz Café is conveniently located near Camden Station. It’s surrounded by restaurants and market stalls to grab a quick bite before a show. There is also a restaurant in the venue (hence why it’s a «café»), and you can usually buy tickets that combine dinner + a show. The restaurant, located on the second floor, overlooks the stage so you can watch the show from your table. But who goes to a live music show to sit?! I go to dance! So you can find me standing in the crowd in front of the stage. The standing area isn’t particularly large and it’s enclosed by two bars. I don’t mind the smallness of the space because it creates intimate shows. I saw Shuggie Otis and Chrisette Michele there and I absolutely loved both of their shows, mostly because I got be so close to both performers.
My main issue with Jazz Café is the flow of traffic down to the coat check and toilets and the basement. After a show, the main stairwell is jammed the Beltway. The crazy thing is, there are two stairways that lead to this area. I wish that the venue managers would make better use of the two entrances/​exits and create a more cohesive flow of traffic. I shouldn’t have road rage on my way to the bathroom!

I went here to see DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, which is one of my favorite groups growing up, and he was AMAZING! The venue was cool, with a dance floor and tables for those who ate there. I will say the coat check is on the pricier side, but other than that I was happy with the spot. I would be down to come here for a good performer anytime

I saw mica paris here and decided to eat in the restaurant upstairs.
I chose the chicken and rice and peas and it was a rather large amount and very tasty. you need to choose the seats closer to the rail to get a good view but it is well worth choosing the meal option as i woulnd not want to stand downstairs as it gets packed. It does work out an expensive night with drinks etc but if there is an act you like i would recommend it

I described this place as intimate and got laughed at.

One of my fave places to see music, so intimate. I can’t wait to see AM & Shawn Lee there on Wed. April 18 as that will be a pure honor to see them that close and personal. Check it

Cover at a small club is well worth it to be supporting artists… or maybe you think we should download free mp3s and get to see free live music and musicians should just survive on air?

Upon scouring line-​ups for Guy Fawkes night at pubs and clubs around London, I came across General Elektriks at the Jazz Café. I saw that the venue was in Camden so I already gave the band some credit. Looked them up and liked their sound.
Got their too late to see Souleance open, but what can you do when you’re being wined (but not dined) but an attractive man with grey hair. You can’t just leave!!!
But, I did. And boy am I glad. Made it on time for GE and after a friendly greeting from a fellow ex-​pat bouncer, I got myself a Carlsberg.
I paid £13.50 for my ticket (way more than I’m usually willing, btw) and was pleasantly surprised by the £2.20 beckoned from me by the cute bartender.
Bar was short and right in front of the entrance, but did it’s job. There is another bar behind the crowd, facing the stage. And above that bar is upstairs seating.
The show was excellent — do look them up!
Didn’t learn they were French until I met the guitarists mate.
Anyway, good crowd, almost everyone was dancing. The only exception were these young ladies who were sort of standing there waiting for someone to talk to them… or they just didn’t like the song as much as I did. Either way, I earned dirty looks with my sick dance moves and everyone else was jumping around with me! :)
Downside
A little crowded but not un enjoyable
Drink spilled on my bag
— Put your things in the coat check for £1.50
I opted out to save money for the next pint…
only to have the next 2 bought for me
Upside
Fun band
Met some French guys, spoke with them for a minute or two
Great layout on the inside — diverse viewing/​seating.
Free beer ;)
Easy to meet people, fun crowd
Friendly/​helpful staff
Also 80s Night afterward was a bit weird for me, I couldn’t decide whether to dance or watch Back to the Future… guess which one I chose.
xx

Jazz Café? Sometimes? This past Sat night, it was just a normal club.
I realise this is mostly personal taste… but this place was a bit too sloppy for me. I went on a Saturday night, £7 cover, which I normally wouldn’t pay, but all my friends wanted to go, so I went with the flow. 80’s night… and who doesn’t like a lil’ MJ whilst watching Police Academy with subtitles?
I just wasn’t feeling it though. The crowd was a bit too smooshed, it constantly smelled of farts (and it wasn’t just one person I was standing near… or me, I promise), I had at least 3 drinks spilled on my throughout the night (on a great night, I am 100% fine with this, but not here). It wasn’t miserably hot, but a little more stuffy and humid than I prefer (as mentioned in other reviews, I love well ventilated clubs… haha).
A few hen party types (girls screaming at the tops of their lungs…*shudder*…What they’ve classified in How I Met Your Mother as a «woo-​girl.»), that one drunk guy so wasted that he is just staring off into space with drinks all down the front of his shirt and falling all over people who push him off with a look of disgust, the one guy with the pea-​cocking hat obviously halfheartedly settling for the semi-​attractive way too drunk girl molesting him from behind (it was towards last call, after all…), the really cute, bubbly «look at me, and look how comfortable I am with myself!» brunette who my friend was hitting on earlier… now making out with the tall guy with a cute smile… the narration could go on forever. It would be ever better if David Attenborough were narrating.
I’d maybe give it another shot if my friends were going, but I wouldn’t choose to come back.

Walking pass the line, picking up your tickets at the door feelin special (for a brief moment) walking in (reality check) going upstairs. the best.!! great intimate place to heard real good music. Money well spent.

I’ll admit it, I haven’t seen any jazz here. Don’t hate though!
For some reason I thought this place was going to be bigger? I don’t know where I’d got that preconception but upon entering I was little disappointed! Then I got over myself. And then I noticed there was an upstairsy bit. And then I put away my 10^th cider of the day.
Was here as part of the Camden Crawl — ended up seeing 3 cracking bands and having a good old time. We danced, we jiggled, we played drinking games? Anything goes I guess. I’d like to come back here again and check it out when it’s back in jazz/​funk mode. Maybe it’s a little more refined? Maybe I will be too. Hmmm…
First impressions — very good.

I went to this venue for the first time for Hairbrush Heroes — a karaōke/​dance night — so I can’t comment on how this place is for jazz, although the line-​up at this place does look quite impressive. The Jazz Café has been around for a while, so it must be doing something right.
The Jazz Café is really conveniently located; it’s less than three minutes’ walk from Camden Town tube station, and with plenty of night buses serving the area.
The bouncers and staff were generally decent. None of the surly behaviour you see at some other clubs and bars. There were two bars servicing the room I was in, and I didn’t not to wait too long to get served. Drinks were priced about the same as any other non-​upmarket club (my Corono was £3.90, while shots were £3.20), and the rooms seemed to be of decent-​sized.

Conviene reservar antes de acercarse a este moderno café-​espectaculo

I will always have fond memories of this iconic venue and have seen some incredible artists here including legendary Hip Hop group The Pharcyde, the late great Lynden David Hall and former sex god soul star (now morbidly obese) D’Angelo. However, that was then and this is now: over inflated prices, unimaginative programming and cancellations and postponements of several gigs have resulted in a complete lack of interest for this venue on my part.
They are currently charging £45 a ticket for Angie ‘feeder’ Stone (the sole cause of D’angelo’s demise). Hello? She hasn’t been popular since the boot cut jean and Jamiroquai era and even then it was touch and go. I am a fan of all genres of music and am actually quite pleased that the Jazz Café are clearly focussing on an older crowd so that I no longer have to pay exorbitant prices to see international artists that used to come to London and play there. The sad thing is, this venue used to cater to several tastes and all ages and now seems to have slipped into a homogenous and rather dull programming pattern in order to push up the prices even more, sacrificing interesting new music and a dedicated fan base.

I’m surprised to learn that I’m the first person to review ‘London’s famous jazz venue’. It’s been pretty persisent over the years despite its small size. World famous acts as well as lesser known up-​and-​comers entertain the crowd here seven nights a week, encompassing Jazz, Soul, Funk, World, Dance and Hip Hop. I love how small and intimate of a venue it is.
I’ve been here to watch legends Lou Donaldson, Horace Andy, Angie Stone and of course the inimitable Roy Ayers. It seems Roy Ayers just can’t keep away as he’ll be returning to the stage from the 27^th of December to the 4^th Jan, so book your NYE tickets now if you’re stuck for something to do.
I haven’t tried the food but I can attest the Manhattan goes down very well indeed.