The best jazz bars in Covent Garden

Since opening in 1959, Ronnie Scott's has been London's most famous jazz club and one of the best in the world. The main room is for wining and dining, including a menu of steaks and cocktails, which you can enjoy while you soak up the melody of live music. Upstairs, a smaller bar goes for a casual speakeasy vibe, hosting late-night jam sessions and younger talent until the late hours. The walls are decorated with jazz history, from Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald to photos of more recent stars. 

Beneath Covent Garden Market, Stereo is part restaurant, cocktail bar and live music venue in one late-night basement spot. The kitchen is headed up by Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult, who brings an American-inspired menu with plenty of grilled meats and sharing plates. London breweries and distilleries supply craft drinks, while a resident band and DJs keep the vibes high throughout the night. 

Oriole is a split-level bar with two moods, located between Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Upstairs is calm and all about cocktails, ideal for a bit of pre-theatre drinking. Downstairs, the basement stage is reserved for live jazz, other live music from around the world, and the occasional cabaret act. The food is varied here, including options like steak, devilled eggs, and sandwiches, while the cocktail list is more adventurous, with lots of mezcal.

Upstairs at Covent Garden Social Club, the Piano Bar is intimate and old-school, with sing-alongs and live sets, including jazz. Head down a flight of stairs and it's a different story: the Basement Bar takes things up a notch with DJs, circus performers and a dancefloor that goes until late. Cocktails are theatrical and there's even the chance to book in for a mixology masterclass.

Louie is an elegant townhouse restaurant on West Street, where Paris meets New Orleans. Here, the menu is chock-full of refined plates of French-inspired dishes with a New Orleans twist, such as roasted skate wing and truffle pasta. The dining room is buzzy, and there's regular live jazz in the Alligator Bar. There's also a terrace for summer evenings, and the crowd often includes a celebrity or two.

This historic pub on Moor Street has been part of Soho since the 19th century. The ground floor feels like a classic London boozer, while the basement is saved for live gigs nearly every night, spanning jazz, folk, acoustic and more. The kitchen serves up modern pub grub made for sharing, like baked camembert with chilli honey, cauliflower wings, and tempura padrón peppers.  There's even new boutique hotel rooms upstairs.

You'll find Alfie's located on Greek Street with a cult following, thanks to its nightly programme of jazz. It was once a costume design studio in the 1960s, and the bar keeps some of that boho spirit alive with rotating art exhibitions. It's a members' club, but the fee is small and pays for itself quickly with free or discounted entry to shows. Inside, the vibe is relaxed but just the right amount of lively, and the music programme covers both rising locals and more established acts.

Trisha's is a Soho institution hidden behind a blue door on Greek Street. The tiny basement was once a gambling hot spot and still carries that slightly scruffy energy with its low ceilings and mismatched furniture. Drinks are casual and fairly priced, and the jazz is live and loud. Famous faces from Anthony Bourdain to Jarvis Cocker have drunk here, but it's still unpretentious and a little off the beaten path.

Jazz After Dark is equal parts gallery and music venue. Resident artist Sam Shaker decorates the walls with his celebrity portraits, while the stage hosts sets of jazz, funk, soul and R&B every night. Amy Winehouse was once a regular performer here, and the spirit of her era still lingers. The cocktails are fabulous and the food is tapas-style sharing plates.

The Dean Street Pizza Express hides one of London's hottest jazz clubs in its basement. For almost 50 years it's hosted big names, from Norah Jones and Gregory Porter to Sting and Amy Winehouse, as well as early career debuts that have since become legendary. The programme runs seven nights a week, covering everything from classic jazz to funk and experimental sounds. Upstairs, the restaurant stays true to pizza.