Philadelphia's Best Live Music Venue

Hidden, smoky club makes everyone feel like a jazz insider.

Reviews:

• “Very Slow Service”
• “Go for live jazz and food, but NOT the service”
• “Great Place for Live Jazz”
• “great music”
• “great jazz, fabulous customer service”

Tips: Don’t leave without getting a rack of the ribs, Chris’ most accomplished dish.

Chris’ Jazz Cafe

Real fans of rock and roll and drinking have spent more than a few nights in this Old City institution.

Reviews:

• “Best place to be on a Sunday night!”
• “I wish they didnt get bands i liked cause I hate this place”
• “Cool venue, rude bartenders”
• “What an experience!”
• “Rock Perfection.”

Tips: The bar is always stocked with a rotating selection of excellent international, national and local brews (more than 100).

Khyber

An ’80s biker bar turned college rock scene with live music and dancing near Main Street.

Reviews:

• “Avoid this bar”
• “AWESOME BANDS!-THE DEFOG”
• “lame place”
• “Best place for local original music!”
• “One of the Extremes”

Tips: The live music preference is classic: You won’t necessarily discover the next Dave Matthews, but you’ll recognize the abundant Van Morrison and Pearl Jam covers.

Grape Street Philadelphia

Classy supper club turns out smooth jazz and haute cuisine.

Reviews:

• “Upsetting, but I will try again”
• “Jazz Brunch, NOT!!! Bad Service, Awful Food, 2.5 Hours Wasted”
• “Awful service, mediocre food”
• “Crappy Cuisine and Belligerent Bouncer”
• “Excellent experience!”

Tips: Go on a Wednesday night for Latin jazz and the killer haute Latin prix-fixe menu.

Zanzibar Blue

Hot jazz and spicy dishes six nights a week.

Reviews:

• “Superb Joint!!!”
• “ORTLIEB’S CHANGES and NEW ADDITIONS!!!”
• “Loved this place.”
• “very good place”
• “I love this place!!!”

Tips: While music is the main draw here, the Southern-Cajun style menu is surprisingly good. Do not leave without ordering the yam fries, which are perfectly sweet and spicy and served with jalapeno-honey sauce. Also satisfying are the potent baby back ribs (served with an excellent fresh coleslaw) and the Jammin’ Jambalaya, a heady mixture of seafood, sausage, vegetables and Cajun spices.

Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus or email Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus

Come for the show, stay for a burger and beer, and maybe even bring home a souvenir tee shirt or poster.

Reviews:

• “Great venue, bad staff”
• “Great Music!”
• “Best Venue in town…Worst Food”
• “The Friday Happy Hour is pretty good”
• “must avoid!! "

Tips: Bring your laptop and log on free.

World Cafe Live

Enjoy classical music or national touring acts under the stars at this 14,000 seater nestled in Fairmount Park.

Tips: Smoking is prohibited under the pavilion, but is permitted outside in the open areas.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Intimate, quiet and smoke free, the self-proclaimed “acoustic cafe” books the best in singer-songwriters.

Reviews:

• “Great service – Great food”
• “Amazing Intimate Venue”
• “Best live music in Philadelphia!”
• “Never again!”
• “GoodTimes”

Tips: The Tin Angel is above Serrano; dinner at 7pm, folk at 8pm.

Tin Angel at Serrano

The open-air venue on the waterfront that hosts everything from massive national rock bands to small community festivals.

Tips: No chairs are allowed; only blankets. And plan on bringing one bottle of water per person; no coolers are allowed.

Penn’s Landing

Pool, beer, and bands at this Fairmount hangout.

Reviews:

• “I adore you North Star!”
• “AVOID”
• “Employees = douchebags”
• “..ooooooh I love this baaar!”
• “Ernie’s Bar”

Tips: One dollar off “anything drinkable” plus food specials Monday through Friday.

North Star Bar