Soul, swing, beats, rhythms… Jazz is a melting pot of cultures. It originated in the late 19th century in New Orleans, USA, and gained popularity around the world by the mid-20th century. Today, it is an iconic genre of music enjoyed by young and old alike. It’s a harmonious and sophisticated style of music that often uses piano, guitar, drums, cello, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet.
Christmas and jazz go hand in hand. While you can listen to jazz while snuggled up under the covers with thick socks and hot chocolate with marshmallows, you can also go to a live jazz concert to get in the mood for the day.
We’ve compiled a list of jazz bars that are perfect for those who have already fallen in love with the genre, as well as for those who feel intimidated by it. If you want to hear live jazz music, take a look at the list of jazz bars in Seoul below.
1. Dido Jazz Lounge
Dido Jazz Lounge offers live music that is both sophisticated and popular. You can see a month’s lineup on Instagram in advance, so it’s easy to plan your visit, and table seats are reserved, so you can be sure to get a seat.
📍 56, Jayang-ro 18-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
🎧 Read our interview with Dido Jazz Lounge x Secret Seoul
2. Flat Nine
With 9 signature cocktails, Flat Nine is a great place for a date night or a cocktail bar. It is located very close to Gangnam Station, so it is easily accessible, and although it is a cocktail bar, there are many delicious food menus, such as sous vide sirloin steak, so you can enjoy both the first and second date here.
Shows start at 15,000 won per person. You can check out the menu and lineup on Instagram.
📍 10, Gangnam-daero 65-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
3. Yeonnam 5701
Feeling like a small concert venue , Yeonnam 5701 is Hongdae’s leading jazz bar, making it easy for beginners to experience live music.
They have a set menu of food that pairs well with bottled wine to help you choose, and their extensive wine list covers a wide range of prices and tastes.
You can preview a month’s worth of lineup on Instagram, and performances are held every business day from Tuesday through Sunday.
📍 64, Donggyo-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
4. Entry55
Even if you don’t know jazz music, Entry 55 is a popular jazz live venue where you can enjoy the music in the comfort of a movie theater. The unique thing is that you can bring in food from outside or takeout. But not drinks or alcohol. Instead, there’s a lineup of over 100 liquors hand-picked by Entry 55’s lounge. There are different performances every day, from standard jazz to blues, pop music to Latin.
There are two sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening, each lasting 55 minutes. For more information, visit the official Instagram or fever.
📍18, Dongjak-daero 1-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
The entry to Jazz: 라이브 재즈 공연 @ 성수
5. In the Millennium
Since 1996, when the concept of a jazz bar was not very popular in Korea, Thousand Years has been loved by live music lovers for a long time. This is the place where MC Yoo Jae-seok transformed into a bouquet and played the drums in ‘Nolgyeomunhani’. It’s a small space that can only fit 40-50 people inside, but the unique atmosphere that time has created is mesmerizing.
There are live performances every day. You can check the schedule here.
📍 Paradise: 2F, 134 Check-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
6. Get Alive
Located in Cheongdam , Get Alive is a luxurious live sea. It starts a little later than the others, so it’s usually a good place to grab a second drink and enjoy the music. Performances start at 10pm every night.
Reservations can be made here, and you can see the schedule and menu on their official Instagram.
📍 18 Dosan-daero 57-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul