Where to Hear Jazz in Raleigh

These are the locals bars and restaurants that are hosting regular jazz nights for your relaxed, improvisational music enjoyment.
by Addie Ladner & Ayn-Monique Klahre

*Al Strong & Friends at Boatman Spirits Co. | Image courtesy Boatman Spirits Co.*

Jazz music is inherently social, where bands often feed off the crowd’s energy and no one’s going to yell at you if you’re having a quiet side conversation while they play. And after a few years of missing it due to the closing of jazz bar C. Grace and restaurant Humble Pie (which hosted weekly jazz nights), several Raleigh bars and restaurants are bringing it back as a regular offering. Here’s where to hear jazz in Raleigh.

Boatman Spirits in Seaboard Station has Jazz Night every Wednesday night (8 – 11 p.m.; 713 Seaboard Station Drive; boatmanspirits.com)

Figulina will host Sidecar Social on the first Sunday of January, February and March. Expect a lively, diverse setlist from Sidecar to enjoy alongside a special “Lasagna Lounge” menu from chef David Ellis (Jan. 4, Feb. 1 & March 1 | 5 – 8 p.m.; $10; 317 S. Harrington Street; figulinaraleigh.com)

Moon Room in Smoky Hollow offers live jazz Wednesday through Saturday evenings (8 p.m.; 500 N. West St, Suite 150; moonroomraleigh.com)

Stir Raleigh has a Jazz Brunch every Sunday (4242 Six Forks Road, #100; stirraleigh.com)

St. Pierre in Iron Works is hosting Latin jazz on Thursdays through January — and we hope they keep it up! (6-8 p.m.; 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 118; stpierrewine.com)

Watts & Ward hosts jazz on Sunday evenings to wind down as you head into the next workweek. (6-9 p.m.; 200 S. Blount Street; wattsandtward.com)

For more ideas on where to find jazz in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill on a week-to-week basis, check out the Triangle Jazz Calendar, which is run by jazz enthusiast and high school student Gavin Hitmar.