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The Best Jazz Clubs in Melbourne for Soulful, Late-Night Listening
Melbourne’s jazz rooms deliver nights shaped by intimacy, craft and atmosphere.
Jazz has always belonged to the night. Born in basement bars and back-room clubs, it rose from improvisation, rebellion and the pure pleasure of slipping out of the day’s demands. A century later, its pull hasn’t loosened.
In a world wired for urgency, jazz offers something wonderfully human: rhythm that shapes itself, melodies that roam, and rooms lit just enough to let you forget your screen-heavy reality for a while.
Melbourne’s jazz scene keeps that legacy alive, serving smoky mood, serious musicianship and the kind of after-dark escapism that will always feel timeless.
Paris Cat Jazz Club
Slip down Goldie Place and uncover Paris Cat, the kind of jazz club that reminds you Melbourne has serious after-dark flair. Set inside a restored 1895 warehouse, it’s all low ceilings, brick walls and a warm glow that makes every table feel like the best one in the room. Two performance spaces keep the energy rotating, with tight sets and sharp players, while wine, tapas and cocktails set the pace. Think vintage speakeasy atmosphere filtered through Melbourne’s character.
Sitchu Tip: Book early for the basement room if you want a close-up jazz immersion; head upstairs for drinks, snacks and looser conversation.
6 Goldie Place, Melbourne
Friday Night Jazz at The Royce Hotel
On Friday nights, The Royce becomes a little shard of Manhattan, all art-deco sheen, low light and the soft crush of conversation beneath live jazz. In the Showroom Bar, cocktails catch the glow as musicians unfurl sets that feel warm, intimate and a touch decadent. Soulful vocals, modern twists and a room that seems to gather richness as the night unfolds.
Sitchu Tip: Dress up, arrive early and aim for a banquette near the stage. Order a Negroni — sharp, elegant and perfectly tuned to the room’s late-night mood.
379 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
The Jazzlab
Brunswick’s Jazzlab is the place musicians play when they want to stretch out and try something real. The room is bare-bones in a considered way, letting the focus rest entirely on the players: sharp rhythms, clever improvisation, unexpected turns. The crowd skews creative, curious and happily unbothered by anything polished or posed. It’s live music at its most direct: close, bold and full of personality.
Sitchu Tip: Aim for a seat near the stage; it’s where the magic lands first.
27 Leslie Street, Brunswick
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Bird’s Basement
Bird’s Basement is Melbourne’s answer to the classic New York supper club — low lights, linen-draped tables and a stage so close you can feel the brass vibrate through your drink. It’s a dinner-and-show affair done properly: crisp sound, attentive service and musicians who play with the confidence of a room built to listen. The crowd skews dressed-up, the cocktails glide out steadily, and the whole night has a quiet glamour that turns an ordinary evening into something cinematic.
Sitchu Tip: Choose the early sitting for a focused, dinner-and-jazz experience. Go late if you want the cocktails flowing and the room a little wilder.
11 Singers Lane, Melbourne
Wax Music Lounge
Wax Music Lounge leans into its underground charm with late-night sets that occasionally tip into jazz territory. The room is intimate, the energy unpredictable in a good way, and the musicians skew eclectic and experimental. It’s a brilliant music venue for those who like their nights a little looser and their tunes full of surprises.
Sitchu Tip: Check their What’s On guide or socials — the lineup shifts often.
250 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Thursday Night Jazz at Young Hearts
Thursday nights at Young Hearts are built for pleasure: $25 burgers stacked high, a choice of beef, chicken, fish or vegan, and a rotating cast of Melbourne’s sharpest jazz and soul players setting the tempo. It’s loud in the right ways, indulgent in all the others, and the perfect antidote to midweek monotony.
Sitchu Tip: Order the fish burger — it hits beautifully between sets.
216 High Street, Windsor
Sunday Jazz Sessions at Angus & Bon
Sundays hit differently at Angus & Bon, where the bar thrums with live jazz and the dining room fills with the scent of a proper roast. Settle in for beef sirloin carved to share, Yorkshire puds puffed just right and a glass of something good in hand. The band plays all afternoon, the vibe stays easy, and the whole thing feels like the weekend done right.
Sitchu Tip: Book the earliest seating — it’s when the roasts arrive at their crispest.
168 Greville Street, Prahran
Uptown Jazz Cafe
Set above Brunswick Street, Uptown Jazz Cafe trades polish for atmosphere in the best possible way. The room is narrow, dim and quietly electric, a space where musicians play inches from the crowd and every note lands with intent. It’s intimate without fuss, a little unruly around the edges, and unmistakably Fitzroy after dark.
Sitchu Tip: Stake out a seat along the wall — it gives you the sweetest view of the room.
1/177 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Lido Jazz Room
Hidden beneath Lido Cinemas, this compact jazz room delivers evenings that feel almost secret. Candlelit tables, close-set chairs and a small stage create an atmosphere that’s more living-room concert than club, giving each performance a raw, immediate edge. The crowd leans local and laid-back, the musicians rotate weekly, and the whole thing has the charm of discovering something before everyone else does.
Sitchu Tip: Pair a film upstairs with a late set for the perfect east-side night.
675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
NOW.HERE.THIS. at The Toff
Tuesday nights hit different at The Toff, where NOW.HERE.THIS. turns the building into a two-level jazz fever dream. Cocktails flow from 5pm, DJ Colette lights the fuse at 9, and by 11.30 the NHT All Star Band erupts into a mix of improvisation, soul, funk and whatever magic the night sparks. Musicians, vocalists, dancers — everyone’s part of the storm. Free entry, big energy, and very Melbourne.
Sitchu Tip: Start on the Carriage side for Happy Hour, end wherever the music pulls you.
Curtin House, 2f/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Melbourne’s jazz scene thrives on intimacy, craft and the pleasure of being fully present. From basement clubs to candlelit rooms, each venue carries its own pulse. Step inside, settle in and let the music shape a night that feels entirely your own. For more after-dark inspiration across the city, explore our guide to romantic bars and vibey nightspots.
