The city of London has a thriving jazz scene and you never know where you’re going to find a great jazz bar or club. There’s a new crop of players, dominating London’s circuit and widely loved institutions tucked away on side-streets that will win you over. This of course, if you are a jazz lover. Find below our top picks:

Ronnie Scott’s

47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club first opened its doors on a Friday back in 1959 and may very well be London’s longest-standing jazz venue. Since then, the club has hosted many a jazz icon, several of whom prefer its intimate setting and impeccable sound to larger concert venues.

Vortex

11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ

The Vortex offers perhaps the most diverse lineup of any London jazz club, ranging from traditional, contemporary and commercial jazz acts to rock crossovers and the outer reaches of the avant-garde.

Kansas Smitty’s

65 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ

A subterranean jazz bar inspired by the swinging, hedonistic atmosphere of Kansas (a city which not only ignored Prohibition, but was also – much more importantly – home to Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz), this is where you’ll be heading the next time you fancy a potent cocktail of bourbon and live jazz.

Buster Mantis

3-4 Resolution Way, SE8 4NT

What started out as a small weekly jam session, Wednesdays at Buster Mantis have grown into some of London’s most compelling jazz nights, featuring some of the brightest new talents from British jazz.

Dalston Jazz Bar

4 Bradbury Street, N16 8JN

This tiny spot is easily missed, tucked away off the main road through Dalston and with an unassuming exterior. Inside, however, is one of the finest jazz bars in east London. The venue itself certainly believes in its own quality, with dinners offered on a pay-what-you-like basis, and the musicians playing for donations. Stick around after the live music for DJ sets which run until the early hours.