The best 8 jazz clubs in Prague for 2024 as recommended by a local. Including practical insider tips, ticket prices and the type of jazz in each club.
If you’re searching for an unforgettable musical experience, then my guide to the best jazz clubs in Prague is for you. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz enthusiast or a curious traveller wanting to have a good night out, navigating the number of jazz clubs in Prague can be quite overwhelming, so I’ve included everything you need to know to make the right decision.
Over the years, I’ve had the chance to visit most of the jazz clubs in Prague, starting with Reduta back in 1990s when I studied at Charles University in Prague.
I always love the feeling of walking in Prague when you hear the distant sound of saxophones and double basses intertwined with laughter and the clinking of glasses, you know you’ve arrived at the right place! You are instantly transported into a world where time seems to slow down, and the music becomes the heartbeat of the city.
In this guide, I’ll take you on a journey through the best jazz clubs that Prague has to offer and the ones I’ve visited over the years. From the timeless allure of the Reduta Jazz Club to the intimate charm of Agharta Jazz Centrum, I’ll share with you my favourite places, practical insider tips, ticket prices and of course the type of jazz you can hear in each club.
Where to enjoy jazz music outside the music clubs
If you don’t fancy visiting any clubs in the evening but want to listen to some jazz during the day, just walk across the Charles Bridge. There are at least 2-3 different street musicians, including jazz bands, who frequently perform along the bridge. These are also proper bands with published CDs, which you can buy. The jazz sound carries really well across the water and it always cheers me up when I’m walking across home from the Klementinum library.
How to choose which jazz club to visit – the quick summary
All clubs – apart from Jazz Republic and sometimes U Maleho Glena, which offer free entrance, have around 300 CZK ticket entrances. The Jazz Boat is another exception as it’s a more upmarket venue and charges about 3 times more than other clubs.
I personally prefer the Jazz Dock for the variety of music (and the cocktails!), Malostranska Beseda (because they put on ‘proper’ bands and also other types of music or U Maleho Glena, because that’s one of the first places I went when I was at university.
Since you are unlikely to know any of the artists, as most will be Czech, check out the description of the type of jazz they will be playing to make sure it’s what you like (traditional, experimental, modern etc.) A lot of musicians will be playing cover songs, which will be (mainly) sung in English, so you don’t need to worry about not understanding the words.
- Jazz Dock – light & airy venue by the river, great for actual jazz & other style bands, less traditional
- Reduta – the oldest jazz club in the world, original decor, traditional jazz with lots of tribute acts
- U Maleho Glena – some nights have free entry, good food, a historic cellar venue, a favourite with the locals too
- Jazz Boat – upmarket, leisurely way to enjoy jazz with a meal and Prague at night – the most expensive of all the venues
- Jazz Republic – the only free entrance jazz bar in Prague- historic cellar venue
- AghaRTA Jazz Cente – a more modern style of jazz, a smaller venue in the historic cellar
- Malostranska Beseda – proper local venue with other types of music and theatre performances
- Jazz club Ungelt – good food, entrance discounts for students, cellar of a historic building
1. Jazz Dock
Jazz Dock is the youngest among Prague’s jazz clubs, but it has already become the place to be! The club offers a versatile program featuring young progressive jazz bands, world-famous stars, and established Czech jazz artists. I also like the location, tucked away next to the river Vltava bank on the Smichov side.
Insider Tip: Come in for the cocktails in the afternoon and the secluded atmosphere by the river! The cocktail menu is impressive – I’m working my way through it & so far the cider-based Jardin de la Vie is my favourite.
- Location: Janáčkovo nábřeží 2, 150 00 Prague 5 – Smíchov (by the river Vltava at the entrance to the Children’s Island
- Tickets & Prices: tickets start from 120- 200- 800 CZK for standing tickets and from 200 – 350 CZK – 1750 for seated tickets.
- Opening Times: Monday – Wednesday: 5 pm – 2 am Thursday 5 pm – 3 am, Friday 4 pm – 3 am, Saturday: 3 pm – 3 am, Sunday 3 pm – 2 pm.
- Contact: www.jazzdock.cz
2. Jazz Republic
The Jazz Republic club was founded in 1997 and works with over 30 top Czech jazz musicians, who as residential artists compose ad-hoc music formations and play regularly at the club. Because of that each concert is completely different and includes jazz tribute acts, but also a lot of jazz improvisations, funk, blues, dance, Latin, acid jazz and fusion music.
Insider Tip: Jazz Republic is the only jazz club in Prague that offers free entry, but if you want to have a seat in the concert room, you need to book online in advance – there is no charge for this. Make sure that you arrive before 20:45 if you’ve booked your seats, otherwise, they may be given away to other people.
Whilst the entrance is free, the drinks, light refreshments and snacks prices are slightly higher than in other jazz clubs on my list. Beers are 100 CZK (for 0.4 ltr), cocktails 200 CZK, soft drinks 50-75 CZK, snacks are 50 CZK and nachos and tortillas 200 CZK.
- Location: Jilská 1a, Prague 1, Old Town
- Opening Times: the club is open to the public every day from 8 pm (apart from Tuesdays, which is reserved for private events). If you miss the first half of the show you can also join the concert at 10.30 pm when the second half starts.
- Contact: www.jazzrepublic.cz
3. Reduta Jazz Club
The Reduta Jazz Club is the oldest jazz club in Europe and apparently the oldest – still-being-run-as-a-jazz club in the world originally founded in 1958.
The club is popular with locals as well as tourists and if you are a true jazz fan, you cannot miss a visit to Reduta. The club puts on a lot of tribute acts, but also has original Czech jazz bands and invites international jazz musicians and bands.
The decor has the right atmosphere of a jazz club with retro upholstered seats, cosy table arrangements and more importantly great acoustics.
You know that you are in the right place when you realise that this was the place that famously saw former US President Bill Clinton spontaneously performing a saxophone solo as he was visiting the club in 1994. The club has also witnessed performances from jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea.
- Location: Narodni 20, Prague 1, Old Town
- Ticket Prices: from 440 CZK for regular admission ticket – 990 CZK for super VIP ticket, which includes front row comfortable seating, a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and a song dedicated just for you!
- Opening Times: Bar from 7 pm, daily concerts from 9.30 pm
- Contact: www.redutajazzclub.cz
4. Jazz and Blues Club Ungelt
This jazz club, which was founded in 2000 has a daily programme of traditional jazz and blues music. The club and the restaurant are in the historic vaulted ceiling rooms of the 15th century and it has the feel of a 19 century-old cafe or bar with old wooden cabinets, pictures of jazz players and other jazz-related memorabilia.
Beer starts from 65 CZK for 0.4 ltr, wine 80 CZ for 0.2 ltr (slightly larger than a small glass), cocktails from 130 CZK, tea or coffee from 55 CZK and soft drinks from 55 CZK. Light refreshments start from 90 CZK and main means from 190 CZK- 430 CZK.
- Location: Tynska 10, Prague 1, Old Town – few minutes walk from the Old Town Square
- Opening Times: open (nearly) daily with concerts starting from 9.15 pm – 11.15 pm, club opens at 8 pm
- Tickets & Prices: 300 CZK on the door or 250 CZK if you pre-book (students pay 200 CZK)
- Contact: www.jazzungelt.cz
5. U Malého Glena
U Malého Glena offers a beautifully intimate yet lively atmosphere in the historical cellar of a baroque house on Karmelitská Street in the heart of the Lesser Town. The club showcases both foreign and local jazz and blues musicians and also hosts open jam sessions every Sunday, so if you like you can join in and share your musical talents in front of an audience.
The club was originally opened in 1995 and has been popular ever since, partly because it doesn’t focus on just the tourist visitors, but offers great music choices for the locals too.
U Malého Glena club has two floors, the ground floor has a restaurant, which is open from 11 am for all-day breakfasts, as well as lunch and dinner menus until midnight. The bar in the historic cellar opens before the concerts and it’s one of the best venues to listen to the jazz in Prague.
Beer starts from 40 CZK – 99 CZK for 0.3 ltr, tea, and coffee from 55 CZK, soft drinks from 40 CZK and you can also choose from more than 20 different cocktails priced from 160 CZ – 190CZK. Food starts from 185 CZK – 380 CZK for Czech specialities, from 300 CZK for burgers, salads 260 CZK, soups 85CZK, desserts 95 CZK
Insider Tip: On some nights (when the more well-known jazz musicians are playing) you will need to buy a ticket (from 350CZ), whilst on other nights are free to enter.
- Location: Karmelitska 23, Prague 1, Lesser Town (nearest tram stop is Malostranske Namesti on tram line 12, 20 or 22 or underground line A – Malostranska).
- Opening Times: every day concerts start from 9 pm, but the bar and restaurant opens at 11 am and stay open all day with the last food order just before midnight and bar is open until 2-3 am in the morning.
- Tickets & Prices: free entry on most nights, but some concerts are 350 CZK
- Contact: www.malyglen.cz
6. AghaRTA Jazz Center
The basement club AghaRTA Jazz Centrum pays tribute to the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. The club was named after Davis’s famous double album in 1975 “Agharta.”, but sadly, he passed away the day before the club opened in 1991.
The AghaRTA Jazz Centrum focuses mainly on modern and avant-garde jazz. There are talented musicians playing every night and the jazz club own residential band called ‘Captain Fingers’ is always a great hit (they play several times a month). The intimate cellar spaces of the club offer seating at the bar and a warm atmosphere where you can enjoy modern jazz music.
Insider Tip: This venue gets often super busy (and possibly overbooked for such a small place), so even if you’ve reserved seats, you might not always be able to sit down. If this concerns you, I’d recommend visiting earlier in the week (Monday-Wednesday), when the place is often less busy.
Also have a dinner beforehand, as this jazz club serves only drinks and savoury snacks. The drink menu is good and reasonable prices (beer from 45 CZK, cocktails from 105 CZK, tea from 30 CZK and coffee from 40 CZK).
- Location: Zelezna 16, Prague 1, Old Town
- Opening Times: every day, bar is open from 7 pm and band from 9 pm (open until 1 am)
- Tickets & Prices: 300 CZK (one-off entrance fee for any day)
- Contact: www.agharta.cz
7. Jazz boat
The Jazz Boat is definitely a tourist venue, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you want to listen to a nice jazz, whilst eating a sophisticated dinner and admiring the views of Prague, then the Jazz boat is a perfect place to spend an evening.
The cruise lasts two and a half hours and the jazz band will play through with only a few breaks. Each night is slightly different, but you can always expect traditional to slightly modern jazz, blues, bossa nova, and other related musical styles.
You can board the Jazz Boat every evening from 8:00 pm, and it sets sail at 8:30 and returns back by 11 pm in the summer. In the winter the boat leaves 30 minutes earlier and also comes back earlier too.
Jazz Boat restaurant offers a three-course gourmet menu and there is a vegetarian option too. The bar has a good selection of wines from around the world, cocktails, beer and soft drinks.
The boat will cruise up and down the Vltava River and you’ll get the chance to see the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle on the top of the hill, National Theatre, the modern Dancing House aka Ginger & Rodgers and the yellow-lit penguins in front of the Kampa Museum in Sovovy Mills and well as seeing the lesser-known residential areas of Prague.
Insider Tip: If you prefer to do more Prague sightseeing and taking photos, whilst listening to the music choose the basic ticket as you’ll be able to move around the boat and stay on the top deck if you like. If you prefer to sit, eat and listen and see the jazz band, opt for the ticket & food option and you’ll be seated downstairs inside the boat.
- Location: Jazzboat, Boat stand number 18, Náplavka Na Františku, Prague 1.
- Tickets & Prices: 980 CZK standard ticket or 1650 CZK with food menu option (3 course dinner included but drinks are extra). Snacks or salads are from 130 CZK. Drinks from 65 CZK for beer, soft drinks or coffee to 160 CZK for cocktails.
8. Malostranska Beseda
I really like Malostranska Beseda, because it puts on different musical styles including jazz, rock, funk, folk-rock, alternative, folk, blues, chanson, oldies, and many others, as well as putting on non-mainstream theatre productions. You are more likely to see more locals here than in other jazz clubs in Prague and people really come here to listen to the music and not just have it as a background noise when they are eating or chatting to their friends.
The club has plenty of space on the first floor of a historic building right on the Lesser Town Square, which has impressive views of Malostranské Square. The restaurant and the cafe are in separate areas, which makes it easier to listen to the music as there is no constant shuffle of people ordering food or drinks like at other venues.
Prices are also very decent, considering that this is a tourist location. The bar has an impressive selection of Moravian, Italian and German vine and apart from the ‘have to be on each bar menu’ Aperol Spritz, refreshingly they don’t serve cocktails. Beer starts from 50 CZK for 0.3 ltr, soft drinks from 50 CZK, coffee or tea 65.
Apart from the music club, there is also a restaurant, cafe, bar and gallery area, so Malostranska Beseda is worth visiting any time of the day.
Insider Tips: I always buy the tickets in advance as they often sell out. Also, the cafe does amazing breakfasts and the art gallery has great views of the Lesser Town Square!
- Location: Malostranske Namesti 35/21, Prague 1, Lesser Town (tram stop number 22, 15, 20)
- Opening Times: Concerts start from 7 or 8 pm, Restaurant – daily 11 am – 11 pm, cafe 9 am – 10 pm,
- Tickets: from 350 CZK – 500 CZK
- Contact: www.malostranska-beseda.cz
This blog post was originally written on 21 November 2023 and last updated on 21 November 2023
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