Jazz Clubs in Melbourne
Melbourne is a city for jazz aficionados with a range of intimate ‘back lane’ venues offering jazz four, five and sometimes seven nights a week. The best way to find out who’s on and where, is to check the local papers and the free street press or contact the venues direct. Listed below are some of Melbourne’s better-known jazz clubs.
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Set in a back alleyway, the tiny but eminent Bennetts Lane oozes mystique and has been a jazz aficionado's dream venue for eight years. Get there early to enjoy the best Australian and international guests.
25 Bennetts Lane, (off Little Lonsdale Street), Melbourne
Ph 03 9663 2856
Manchester Lane Jazz Club
Enjoy the gourmet cuisine, the laid back atmosphere and the sounds of jazz in the club's retro interior. Cool jazz is the style, ranging from a solo pianist to a six-piece ensemble. Gather at the bar or sit back on couches.
234 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph 03 9663 0630
The Night Cat
Filled with a vibrant atmosphere, homely couches and deep red wallpaper, the Night Cat features a mixture of live acid jazz and soft vocals with a pianist. Mix with elegant silhouettes sipping martinis and the young and trendy set.
141 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Ph 03 9417 0090
Tony Starr's Kitten Club
Kitten Club patrons can enjoy drinking and dining in a tucked away, dimly lit atmosphere. The club is great for socialising and sipping martinis with a jazz beat to tickle your senses. Live bands regularly feature.
267 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Ph 03 9650 2448
Deco Bar
Deco Bar is a homage to the jazz-age style. Indulge in one of the single malts on offer or light up a cigar from of your choice. Tucked away behind the grand piano in the foyer, it's hard to imagine you're in a five-star hotel.
Level 6, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne
Ph 03 9657 1234
Vialetto Ristorante
Vialetto sits in leafy Hardware Lane, combining fine Italian food and modern jazz. Inside is a cosy affair and outside is where the jazz happens – under the stars, four nights a week.
75 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Ph 03 9670 7797
The Next Blue
A roomy contemporary jazz and blues bar, the Next Blue features conversation pits, custom pool tables and lounges to relax on. Listen to the swinging sounds of Latin and jazz, admire the modern art and take in the atmosphere.
Crown Entertainment Complex, Southbank
Ph 03 9867 6100
Paris Cat
Hidden in a basement down a laneway off Little Bourke Street, Paris Cat gives off an intimate, laid back vibe in the style of the 1930s French jazz scene.
Goldie Place, Melbourne
Ph 03 9642 4711
Melbourne Zoo
During January and February the Melbourne Zoo has an extremely popular Zoo Twilights season of open-air jazz sessions. Enjoy big-band tunes, jazz, Latin and a variety of other toe-tapping styles.
Elliott Avenue, Parkville
Ph 03 9285 9333
