The toe-tapping tunes and irresistible vibes have garnered much more attention over the last year or so, which caused a micro-movement of jazz nights popping up around the city. They've joined the veteran (and new) best clubs in Dallas to create a rich and diverse map of live jazz lounges in the city.
Here's where to find them:
Nuri Steakhouse
Thursday – Saturday2401 Cedar Springs Road
To celebrate the NOLA influence on this fusion steakhouse, Nuri is debuting its Jazz Nights in the Jade Terrace series, where each week is concluded with smooth melodies on the restaurant's enclosed and climate-controlled patio (crucial detail this time of year). Music sets start at 5:30 p.m. and run until 11:30 p.m., and Nuri's full fusion menu is available to grub on. However, the patio has limited seating, so reservations are encouraged.
Babou’s
Thursday2598 N. Harwood St.
Jazz night? Sure. Jazz night with half-price cocktails? Uh? Duh. Babou's is the place for some toe-tapping jazz on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. It overlaps with its Artist Hour, which offers half-off the bar's signature cocktails between 5 and 7 p.m. If you plan it right, you can squeeze in a Melting Clock Elixir, Surrealist 75 or Dali's Delight, all for $10 each.
Little Daisy
Friday – Saturday1401 Elm St.
Little Daisy is the newest on the roster for live jazz in Dallas. Close out the week on the ninth floor of the National with swanky and vibrant tunes in a French-inspired atmosphere. Jazz runs 7–-9 p.m., but if you're looking to park yourself for the night, Iceberg hour, 5–6 p.m., offers $0.50 martinis when you purchase a dozen oysters. Come for drinks. Linger for the music.
Longtime Jazz Clubs in Dallas
Dallas may be getting a new wave of jazz nights, but some lounges across North Texas have been offering them all week long for decades.The Balcony Club
Nightly1825 Abrams Road
Seven nights a week, The Balcony Club hosts some of the finest local and national jazz artists (with a bit of R&B, soul, funk and country). This landmark club in East Dallas has thrived next to the Lakewood Theater, now Bowlski's, since 1988. A few things to note: There is no kitchen so grab a bite before you go or bring food in from nearby; there are two happy hours: 5–7 p.m., Sunday – Thursday, and noon – midnight, Monday – Thursday. There's a cover charge Thursday – Saturday.
SANDAGA 813
Thursday – Saturdays813 Exposition Ave.
Moody and lively SANDAGA 813 is a prime destination for jazz in Dallas with a slogan "always good music and good people." East Dallas' own Erykah Badu's band appears regularly onstage, and Badu herself hits the stage from time to time. Always impromptu. You should dress to impress as it has a dress code for each night of the week.
The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge
Daily2626 – 2630 Commerce St.
Legit cajun food. Four bands across two stages nightly. It's all happening at The Free Man. Owner John Jay Myers grew up eating Cajun food and playing drums for local Dallas bands, and the Free Man is the happy result. There's no cover on the "small" bar. Live music usually starts at 7 p.m., and all the food is made from scratch, including the bread pudding.
(Commerce Street is under construction, so metered parking is limited. There are paid spots in the garage next door, in the lot across the street and in LOT C behind the back alleyway.)
Bacari Tabu
Thursday – Saturday4115 Lomo Alto Drive
Bacari Tabu is an original but nostalgic Venetian tapas and jazz bar in Oak Lawn. It pays homage to Strictly TaBu, a jazz bar that operated in Highland Park for over 25 years before closing in the late '90s. The place doesn't want to be known solely for its jazz music as it operates primarily as an Italian restaurant, but the great music and even better food are a package deal here. Sets run 7–10 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., depending on the day. Reservations are encouraged. Otherwise, the bar is open for walk-ins.
Revelers Hall
Daily412 N. Bishop Ave.
Revelers Hall is a renowned jazz venue in Bishop Arts with a focus on vibrant and engaging performances. It leans heavily into New Orleans-style jazz with improvisation and rhythm, but in the past, there's been a Mac Miller tribute among a variety of other music styles. From 4 p.m., the bar serves sharables, light bites and four pages of cocktails and wine. Most shows are not ticketed, but there is a $6 music fee added to each tab to compensate the musicians.
Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey Bar
Wednesday – Saturday141 Manufacturing St.
Coffee shop by day and lounge by night, Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey Bar offers an approachable setting for jazz in the Design District. The jazz nights don't have a cover charge but there is a one-item order minimum per person. You'll likely order more than just the minimum, though. The bar's craft cocktails, curated seasonal whiskey offerings and robust cigar menu will make you eager for the next round.
Revelers Hall is an old-timey haven for vagabonds and jazz cats. Every weekend, the house band plays an electrifying acoustic set.
Jason Roberts
Scat Jazz Lounge
Thursday – Sunday111 W. Fourth St., Fort Worth
Native New Yorkers will find a sense of nostalgia at the Scatt Jazz Lounge in Fort Worth. The venue packs local and national talent into its subterranean space with a nightly menu and extensive drink offerings to accompany them. You enter from an alleyway so it feels a little Hollywood with a speakeasy vibe. There's no cover charge, but the acts are ticketed and range $15–30 per person. On Sundays, for the Black Dog Jazz Jam, there is a two-drink minimum. Otherwise, there is a $10 entertainment fee.
The Mitchell
Various days1404 Main St.
The Mitchell is an elegant but unpretentious Downtown Dallas bar with French influence. It doesn't have a website nor active socials, so it's hard to say when the nightly jazz is happening. We bet you'd have good odds by popping in on a Friday or Saturday. The menu is full of French classics like escargot, steak & pomme frites and baked brie. Behind the bar, veteran Dallas bartender Drew Garison makes solid classic and seasonal creations.
Chocolate Secrets
Thursday – Saturday3926 Oak Lawn Ave.
Family-owned and operated Chocolate Secrets is home to an appealing combo of chocolate and live jazz music. Since 2003, the chocolatier has brought in local talent such as K Cooks and Linny Nance to cook up some tunes over housemade chocolate and wine. No reservation or cover charge is required. All seats are first-come-first-served, so get there early for a good spot.
