Many people may not know that Puerto Rico has produced a couple of great jazz and Latin jazz musicians like Ray Barretto, Eddie Gómez, and Juan Tizol. While jazz music may not be the genre that comes to mind when thinking of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the capital does have a little of something for everyone. Here are a couple of clubs where both aficionados or the casual listener can enjoy live jazz music while eating delicious food.
Marimba’s has great jazz music and great food such as pana taquitos and other select tapas. Another bonus is that the club is a relatively short drive away from the Condado area, so it’d be easy for visitors to continue the fun at other nightlife venues.
Marimba House of Jazz and Blues, 2424 Calle Loíza, San Juan, Puerto Rico, +1 787 988 3497
While the jazz festival isn’t a club, it is the biggest annual jazz gathering in San Juan and the Caribbean, an event that visitors must know about when traveling to the island. Artists performing at this year’s festival (March 23–26) include Vivanativa Funk and Blues, iLe, Ellis Marsalis, Bobby Valentín and the LJ’s, and Danilo Pérez, to whom the festival is dedicated this year. Taking place outdoors at Bahía Urbana near Old San Juan, the festival is sure to offer a good.
