6 November 2021, updated 8 December 2023
Best Jazz Clubs of Moscow
My Guide to Best Jazz Clubs of Moscow
Jazz and Moscow are among some of my greatest loves. So, I simply cannot miss the chance to write about best jazz clubs of Moscow for our blog readers!
As I have already mentioned in the post about jazz clubs of St. Petersburg, Russia is home to talented jazz musicians and it is particularly true when we speak about our capital. Why not listen to them playing live in a relaxing atmosphere when you visit Moscow?
Esse
Piatnickaya 27/str 3A
Esse has been my favourite jazz place in Moscow for many years. No trip to the capital is complete without visiting Esse for me! Jazz lives here – Esse's slogan says and it is certainly true.
The club is located on always busy Piatnickaya Street in Zamoskvorechye, a step away from Novokuzneckaya/Tretyakovskaya Metro Stations. Zamoskvorechye is one of the most charming neighbourhoods of central Moscow, where predominantly merchants lived before the revolution and you can still feel the patriarchal spirit of that epoch walking down Zamoskvorechye streets.
You can come to Esse for dinner with live music or even brunch after your visit to the main building of the Tretyakov Gallery, located nearby, or walk there from Red Square/Bolotny Island/Kremlin area, such walk will probably take you not more than 15 minutes!
Esse's main hall with red brick walls is located on the second floor (or the first floor, depending on how you count floors in your country!) and right behind the arch around the bar area you will find another hall, where you can listen to all the concerts in the main hall at a slightly lower price (if the events are ticketed). On that stage, a lot of wonderful musicians perform. Most evening performances are ticketed, you can book tickets through Esse's website or by phone.
Jazz and Moscow are among some of my greatest loves. So, I simply cannot miss the chance to write about best jazz clubs of Moscow for our blog readers!
As I have already mentioned in the post about jazz clubs of St. Petersburg, Russia is home to talented jazz musicians and it is particularly true when we speak about our capital. Why not listen to them playing live in a relaxing atmosphere when you visit Moscow?
Esse
Piatnickaya 27/str 3A
Esse has been my favourite jazz place in Moscow for many years. No trip to the capital is complete without visiting Esse for me! Jazz lives here – Esse's slogan says and it is certainly true.
The club is located on always busy Piatnickaya Street in Zamoskvorechye, a step away from Novokuzneckaya/Tretyakovskaya Metro Stations. Zamoskvorechye is one of the most charming neighbourhoods of central Moscow, where predominantly merchants lived before the revolution and you can still feel the patriarchal spirit of that epoch walking down Zamoskvorechye streets.
You can come to Esse for dinner with live music or even brunch after your visit to the main building of the Tretyakov Gallery, located nearby, or walk there from Red Square/Bolotny Island/Kremlin area, such walk will probably take you not more than 15 minutes!
Esse's main hall with red brick walls is located on the second floor (or the first floor, depending on how you count floors in your country!) and right behind the arch around the bar area you will find another hall, where you can listen to all the concerts in the main hall at a slightly lower price (if the events are ticketed). On that stage, a lot of wonderful musicians perform. Most evening performances are ticketed, you can book tickets through Esse's website or by phone.
Esse holds Sunday brunches in their main hall where you can enjoy live jazz from best Moscow musicians! Esse also has free jams on some nights and silent cinema screenings accompanied by live music.
A couple of years ago Esse expanded onto the ground floor where now another stage is located with experimental jazz and even poetry from established and emerging artists – a jazz lab.
Food/drinks: full menu with food and drinks
Doors open: Opens every day from 11am as a restaurant, with live performances at around 7pm/8pm/10pm or 2pm/3pm for Sunday brunches
Entrance Policy: Some events are free of charge (with minimum spend on food and drinks per person around 1000 RUB), for ticketed performances prices vary, tickets can be bought on Esse website or booked in advance by phone/online and paid in cash before the performance
Food/drinks: full menu with food and drinks
Doors open: Opens every day from 11am as a restaurant, with live performances at around 7pm/8pm/10pm or 2pm/3pm for Sunday brunches
Entrance Policy: Some events are free of charge (with minimum spend on food and drinks per person around 1000 RUB), for ticketed performances prices vary, tickets can be bought on Esse website or booked in advance by phone/online and paid in cash before the performance
Igor Butman Jazz Club on Taganka
Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya, 21
Igor Butman is one of the most prominent Russian jazz saxophonists, he and his Moscow Jazz Orchestra are well-known abroad. Butman started his jazz career in St. Petersburg (at that time Leningrad), later he moved to Moscow. Between 1987 and 2000-s Butman spent a lot of time in the USA, studying composing and piano in the Berklee College of Music, and later promoting Russian jazz musicians.
Igor Butman organizes several Russian jazz festivals and he stands behind Butman Jazz Club on Taganka, which is often listed among best jazz clubs of the world.
The club is located in the building of Theatre on Taganka (use side entrance from Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya Street), it is also a restaurant, opened from midday on weekdays and from 4pm on weekends. It is only a minute from Taganka Metro station.
Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya, 21
Igor Butman is one of the most prominent Russian jazz saxophonists, he and his Moscow Jazz Orchestra are well-known abroad. Butman started his jazz career in St. Petersburg (at that time Leningrad), later he moved to Moscow. Between 1987 and 2000-s Butman spent a lot of time in the USA, studying composing and piano in the Berklee College of Music, and later promoting Russian jazz musicians.
Igor Butman organizes several Russian jazz festivals and he stands behind Butman Jazz Club on Taganka, which is often listed among best jazz clubs of the world.
The club is located in the building of Theatre on Taganka (use side entrance from Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya Street), it is also a restaurant, opened from midday on weekdays and from 4pm on weekends. It is only a minute from Taganka Metro station.
Taganka is one of the districts of old Moscow, that retained much of its original charm and – churches. I recommend you to enjoy a walk there! And Vladimir Vysotsky used to play in the Theatre on Taganka.
Some really talented musicians perform at Butman Jazz Club every night, normally all the events are ticketed, the rates range from 1000 RUB up to 5000 RUB, depending on the band. Igor Butman and his Moscow Jazz Orchestra are also regulars in the club.
In my opinion, the sound in the club, at least at the performances that I have visited, is really good.
In my opinion, the sound in the club, at least at the performances that I have visited, is really good.
On some Saturdays Butman Jazz Club has brunches at 2pm.
Food/drinks: full menu with food and drinks
Doors open: Open every day from 12am as a restaurant, with live evening performances from 8pm, 10pm, midnight jazz and day performances on weekends
Entrance Policy: Most performances are ticketed, but there are night jams that are free of charge and free performances on other days. Tickets can be bought on Kozlov Club Website website or before the performance.
Doors open: Open every day from 12am as a restaurant, with live evening performances from 8pm, 10pm, midnight jazz and day performances on weekends
Entrance Policy: Most performances are ticketed, but there are night jams that are free of charge and free performances on other days. Tickets can be bought on Kozlov Club Website website or before the performance.
Alexey Kozlov Club
Maroseyka 9/2
The club bears the name of the legendary Soviet and Russian Jazz saxophonist, Alexey Kozlov, who performs there with his band Arsenal, formed in 1973. Kozlov is one of the jazz pioneers of the Soviet Union and one of the first Soviet musicians who started playing saxophone in the 1950-s, a very unwelcomed musical instrument during the outbreak of the Cold War, when jazz was labelled too American and dangerous. Kozlov learned playing trophy German saxophone (with a swastika that was hard to erase), found at his university's orchestra storage room, by himself!
Alexey Kozlov is known for his innovative approach to jazz. Alexey Kozlov is also a composer and a writer – don't be surprise hear him citing his own verses at jazz performances, and play his own compositions from various periods of his life. Kozlov is the author of music for many films and theatre productions.
Alexey Kozlov Club is located in the very heart of the city, near Kitay Gorod metro station and just a stone throw from Moscow Kremlin.
Maroseyka 9/2
The club bears the name of the legendary Soviet and Russian Jazz saxophonist, Alexey Kozlov, who performs there with his band Arsenal, formed in 1973. Kozlov is one of the jazz pioneers of the Soviet Union and one of the first Soviet musicians who started playing saxophone in the 1950-s, a very unwelcomed musical instrument during the outbreak of the Cold War, when jazz was labelled too American and dangerous. Kozlov learned playing trophy German saxophone (with a swastika that was hard to erase), found at his university's orchestra storage room, by himself!
Alexey Kozlov is known for his innovative approach to jazz. Alexey Kozlov is also a composer and a writer – don't be surprise hear him citing his own verses at jazz performances, and play his own compositions from various periods of his life. Kozlov is the author of music for many films and theatre productions.
Alexey Kozlov Club is located in the very heart of the city, near Kitay Gorod metro station and just a stone throw from Moscow Kremlin.
Maroseyka Street has a lot of typical yellow two storey buildings from the first part of the 19th century, and it gradually blends into Pokrovka Street. Quiet lanes around it are really charming, they keep a lot of nice surprises for city explorers – like street exhibition of famous Moscow photographer. Taking a walk there would be a good idea!
Kozlov Club has four stages located on three floors and in two separate buildings! In this club you will find the music of different styles – from jazz and fusion, to rock, soul, ethnic music and even gospel.
All 4 stages are designed in the same line and may remind you of legendary jazz venues, and they are all quite spacious – with the smallest one having 80 seats!
Late evening gigs in Kozlov Club are free of charge and overall, the ticket prices are a bit lower, than in other jazz clubs of Moscow. And with 3 stages you can often come there without a preliminary reservation and find a spot!
In 2019 Kozlov Jazz Club headed AllAboutJazz ranking of top jazz venues in the world.
All 4 stages are designed in the same line and may remind you of legendary jazz venues, and they are all quite spacious – with the smallest one having 80 seats!
Late evening gigs in Kozlov Club are free of charge and overall, the ticket prices are a bit lower, than in other jazz clubs of Moscow. And with 3 stages you can often come there without a preliminary reservation and find a spot!
In 2019 Kozlov Jazz Club headed AllAboutJazz ranking of top jazz venues in the world.
Kozlov Jazz Club holds free Saturday brunches.
Food/drinks: full menu with food and drinks
Doors open: Open every day from 12am as a restaurant, with live evening performances from 8pm, 10pm, midnight jazz and day performances on weekends
Entrance Policy: Most performances are ticketed, but there are night jams that are free of charge and free performances on other days. Tickets are usually from 1000 RUB, they can be bought on Kozlov Club Website website or before the performance
Doors open: Open every day from 12am as a restaurant, with live evening performances from 8pm, 10pm, midnight jazz and day performances on weekends
Entrance Policy: Most performances are ticketed, but there are night jams that are free of charge and free performances on other days. Tickets are usually from 1000 RUB, they can be bought on Kozlov Club Website website or before the performance
Other Jazz Clubs in Moscow:
JAM Club
Sretenka, 11
Jazz, Rock, Blues… All performances are ticketed
Academ Jazz Club
Arbat 38/1 Str. 1 Metro Smolenskaya, Entrance from Restaurant Venezia
Jazz, Rock, Blues… All performances are ticketed
Union of Composers (Soyuz Compozitorov in Russian)
Bryusov Pereulok 8/10 str. 2. Metro Pushkinskaya/Tverskaya/Chekhovskaya
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Flamenco… All performances are ticketed
Text Alexandra Carusel Tours
JAM Club
Sretenka, 11
Jazz, Rock, Blues… All performances are ticketed
Academ Jazz Club
Arbat 38/1 Str. 1 Metro Smolenskaya, Entrance from Restaurant Venezia
Jazz, Rock, Blues… All performances are ticketed
Union of Composers (Soyuz Compozitorov in Russian)
Bryusov Pereulok 8/10 str. 2. Metro Pushkinskaya/Tverskaya/Chekhovskaya
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Flamenco… All performances are ticketed
Text Alexandra Carusel Tours