The 9 best jazz bars and clubs in Sydney

Foundry 616 is an intimate room in Ultimo near Central Station that's been presenting Australian and international jazz and jazz-oriented artists (think names like Mike Nock and Steve Clisby) since 2013. It's a traditional-style jazz venue with a restaurant serving Southern cuisine – plus a bar area if you just want to watch the band and have a drink. They also run tribute nights, honouring the best artists in jazz, soul, rock and more. The venue is run by passionate jazz aficionado Peter Rechniewski, who also runs the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival and has dedicated his life to keeping Australia's jazz scene buzzing.

Featuring live music seven (sometimes six) nights a week and across two floors, this Marrickville venue hosts all genres of music – while it’s not all jazz, there are jazz and jazz-style musicians and bands that make regular appearances. The rooms have a plush, quirky feel to them, the vibe is welcoming and cosy and there’s an eclectic grown-up vibe. They're open late – from 7pm until midnight Monday through Wednesday, and until 3am Thursday through Saturday (they close a bit earlier on Sunday nights, though). 

Jazz isn’t the only musical style on the menu here, but it's worth keeping an eye on what's on at this venue, with its funky décor and friendly vibe. There are events (from life drawing to funk-themed dance parties) most nights of the week, with jazz shows popping up frequently on the delightfully diverse program. Settle in with a bottle of Australian wine and enjoy. 

Wednesday jazz night at the Crix is something of a rite of passage for the people of Sydney’s Inner East, and for good reason. The classic Aussie pub in a quiet corner of Surry Hills is delightfully lowkey and surprisingly sexy – exactly like a good jazz club should be. Entry is free, the wine list is strong, and upstairs there’s a bistro serving expertly executed French fare. Live jazz from 7pm every Wednesday.

The New Orleans-inspired, lamp-lit den that on King Street in the city is not exactly easy to find, but it's worth searching for. The hidden gem serves up intimate vibes in spades, plus a very impressive happy hour (featuring $14 Negronis) from 4-6, Wednesday through Saturday, and live music Thursday to Saturday from 7pm until late.

On Thursday nights, the warmly lit, warehouse-style brewery behind Yulli's Brews craft beer serves up live jazz along with their own drinks and an inclusive (vegetarian-, vegan- and gluten-free-friendly menu), from 6.30pm. Big industrial-cool vibes, free entry.

Johnston Street Jazz is a labour of love at Annandale Creative Arts Centre (ACAC). It’s a weekly, artist-run, not-for-profit jazz and improv club that presents great live performances in the ACAC Chapel. It's BYO (food and drinks), and you’ll see well known, interstate, international and emerging musos play – but it very much depends on when you drop by. A place for serious listeners, Johnston Street Jazz is where you want to be on a Thursday night at 8pm.

Swing by this perfectly old-school Newtown pub on a Sunday night and you’ll be met with a dreamy show from seven-person jazz band Geoff Bull and the Finer Cuts. The weekly performance runs from 4pm until 7pm on Sundays through winter, and from 5pm until 8pm during the summer months.

As the only remaining theatre pub in Australia, The Old Fitz has earned its place as one of the city’s leading one-stop-shops for a beer-fuelled culture fix. If you visit on a Sunday afternoon, you can forgo the downstairs matinee for a jazz show – with live jazz every SUnday from 2pm. They call it ‘Puttin’ on the Fitz’ – best enjoyed with steak frites and a glass of Australian red.