47 Frith Street,
Soho,
London,
W1D 4HT
0872 148 1993
The ViewLondon Review
Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club doesn’t really need an intro: it’s one of the best and most deservedly famous jazz bars in London.The VenueAs smoky and dimly-lit as a jazz bar should be, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club is packed night after night with serious jazz heads having a ball. The entry price, which is fairly steep, keeps the riff raff (and opportunists) out, but it’s not bad when you consider the quality of the music you’ll be hearing up on stage.
The AtmosphereAn interesting mix between reverence – some of the most famous jazz names ever have played in Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club – and excitement makes the air seem to tingle with anticipation. One night, the Youth Jazz orchestra could be on; one night a mainstream soul singer; another night an underground jazz artist will jam away. The mix is what makes the venue so special.
The FoodThe food at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club is kitsch but accomplished: a varied menu of hearty American-influenced dishes. Dining here is less about the actual taste of the food than the fun of eating in one of the most famous jazz clubs in the world and feeling like you’re in a whole different era. The food is fine, but it is finishing your meal and pushing back your chair to better see what’s about to happen on stage that is the real thrill of the evening.
The DrinkAn acceptable selection of fairly expensive drinks to moisten your vocal chords after enthusiastic hollers at the acts on stage.
The Last WordIf you like jazz – and even if you don’t, to an extent – Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club still provides you with a great night. Let the notes wash over you and imagine you’re a swinging hip-cat back in the heyday of jazz. It’s iconic, and it’s not to be missed.