The Coolest Jazz Bars In Washington D.C.

The best way to listen to jazz is live. But where do you go? Washington, D.C. was a jazz hot spot during the genre’s heyday, but many famed jazz bars have closed within the last decade. Here are the best ones that remain; give them your patronage to keep the music alive and the saxophones still singing.

1. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

Building, Theater

This lavish blues and jazz bar seats 500. Given its upscale location in downtown Bethesda, it’s no surprise that owners spared little expense with the elegant décor and state of the art sound system. Once an old movie theatre, which was a staple of the Bethesda arts community, the building was recently converted into an elegant jazz club that gives homage to its past cultural legacy. Club owner Rick Brown recalls going to see movies at the theater as a child, and he wanted to breathe new life into the building. And jazz brings vitality.

Pour One Out: Bohemian Caverns

Established in 1926, Bohemian Caverns lived through jazz’s hey-day, and it was the oldest jazz club in the District – until unexpectedly closing this past march. The joint was a staple on U Street’s ‘Black Broadway,’ and was frequented by Duke Ellington. The former owners faulted the neighborhood’s changing demographics to ‘majority whites’ who expressed little interest in jazz.