The best jazz bars in Shoreditch

The PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho is a renowned music venue that's hosted thousands of musicians over nearly 50 years. It's widely known as one of Europe's top jazz spots, with an intimate basement that has seen debut performances by stars like Gregory Porter and Norah Jones, alongside legendary acts such as Sting, Amy Winehouse, Sam Smith, and Charlie Watts. Expect live music every day of the week and delicious pizzas served in the ground-floor pizzeria.

This multi-award-winning vintage bar brings a touch of old-school glamour to Shoreditch with its excellent cocktails and equally excellent late-night jazz. This swish bar is a little tricky to get a reservation at, but once you do, it's worth the wait. Enjoy sipping on cocktails, including a range from Nightjar's vintage spirits, which includes bourbon and rye from the 1930s, while listening to swoon-worthy live jazz. They also have a bar on Carnaby Street.

For delicious Caribbean food at a great price, head to Troy Bar near Old Street. Alongside its tasty lunchtime food, this spot hosts open mic nights and live performances featuring jazz, blues, and reggae. This little Caribbean bar is centred around one room where the stage is and provides an intimate setting to watch excellent live music.

Ninety One Living Room is a jazz-focused, hip Shoreditch bar and restaurant that's part of the iconic Truman Brewery in Brick Lane. They play host to up-and-coming musical acts and more established names, including regular live jazz nights. There's a huge outside seating area and a more cosy inside where you can purchase craft beer and, at times, food.

The Old Blue Last is a London hotspot comprising three floors of revelry. Icons like Arctic Monkeys, Charli XCX, and Florence + The Machine have performed here, so it's a prime spot to catch rising stars. They host club nights as well as dedicated jazz nights, and other live music nights, including Dj sets and more. They also show live sports for those interested.

Although the name alludes more to this being a blues bar, they do also have jazz and jazz-funk nights from time to time.  The Blues Kitchen is an ode to the eateries in the southeastern US, with a menu of Cajun BBQ cuisine and meats cured and cooked in-house over American hickory. They have live blues, soul, and funk nights every night until late, best enjoyed alongside their cocktails, which are made with the largest collection of bourbons, whiskeys, and rye in the city.