We absolutely love coming to Blu Jazz. The space is super cool and I love how intimate it is. Their talent scouts really do a great job at bringing top notch talent to their stage. This is the only jazz bar I've been to so maybe what I'm about to say is typical for jazz clubs but the only thing I really dislike about coming here is that the audience tends to chit chat the entire time. I find it incredibly rude, not only for those around that came here for a gr at show but so rude to the performers. read more

We checked out Blue Jazz last Friday. I had been wanting to go for quite a while. What a pleasant surprise! I was charmed by the quaint but very hip environment. The bar service was friendly and efficient. The waitress downstairs was attentive. It was clean, cozy, and a good venue for an intimate setting for jazz and other performances. My husband, John, enjoyed a burger, which was yummy, and I had a gluten-free beef dish with twice-washed fries and squash. We had sauerkraut balls that were delicious. Actually, everything - the food was delicious. We plan on going back. read more

Omg! This spot is known for music but let's take time to appreciate the drinks and food. I ordered the Brussels sprouts spicy agave mustard and sunflower seeds and Thai chilli wings. Wings weren't on the menu but they have them! Both were delicious Brussels sprouts were fresh and savory I literally loved them and wings were cooked deliciously with a tangy sauce with pickled carrots as a side. So well balanced. Music was great as well we seem Om a group. I ordered the Burberry refresher with blanco tequila and it was also yummy. Nice service and polite staff. As you can see with my pictures everything was eaten up! read more

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This jazz club will B Low U away, BLU as Tony would say with its great atmosphere and music. Just sit back and relax to the music. The service is very attentive and friendly. The drinks are moderately priced. Over all a great night out. read more

Very very cool authentic jazz club in Akron. Worth traveling to from neighboring cities/regions. Cocktails, music and service were all top notch. Just don't stay at the hotel across the street unless you want to be treated like a second rate citizen. I will definitely be back. read more

I love this place. I've been searching for that classic jazz ambiance for so long and I finally found it here. The drinks are nice and there's a small food menu, nothing for vegans though except the fries I believe. However, that's not the reason to come right? Lol. The bands that play here are all over the place when it comes to the different sub genres of jazz, so I'd definitely do a little research before coming if you're picky or seeking a certain something. The parking is the only annoying thing. read more

Went to hear some local jazz talent and was very impressed with Ava Preston and her band. After the first set, locals from nearby colleges were invited to join in and they did. Pleasurable experience and will return. Not much to offer for food, got the double hamburger which was very good and messy. Did not have anything else, like fries, but was very filling. The cocktails were some of the best I've ever had. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive. read more

Husband and I visited this club to watch a jazz band. The woman at the check in was extremely friendly and helpful with getting a table ready for our large party (there were 6 of us). We arrived at 7:20; band started at 8. It wasn't too crowded when we arrived but really filled up the last 20 min before the music started. Our table was right next to the dance floor and we had a spectacular view of the band! The drinks were very strong too, making the price worth it. Food was amazing....we recommend the muffalata and the Mediterranean sampler. Our waiter was super friendly as well. This is such a fun club; we had a blast and will certainly be back! I would recommend getting there 30 min in advance on the weekend. The second time we visited it was a Thursday. We didn't need to arrive too early because it was not that busy. I would highly recommend the flavorful and filling veggie skewers with dirty rice instead of white (if you're not a vegetarian). The food is excellent but drinks a bit pricey. Great place to dance. Don't be intimidated by the amazing dancers who frequent here. My hubs and I are just learning to salsa and even though we screwed up a few turns, no one cared and we still had a good time! read more

BLU Jazz+ - Brazilian Dance Party - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Consistently rated as one of the top Jazz Clubs in the country and there is good reason why. DO NOT SLEEP ON BLU JAZZ. The atmosphere is upwardly casual with that laid back jazz feel. Top notch musicians from across the county play here along with our own "world famous" local musicians like Theron Brown, Jackie Warren and Dan Wilson(just to name a few). And, the grub from Blu Plate is pretty darn good also. The full bar, with a nice wine list and cocktails is always a hit. The only thing is the downtown parking situation. However, for only $5 valet you are good to go. The sound system is very nice and the cozy space give the feel of the artists playing just for you. Way to go BluJazz! read more

Attention for jazz lovers- a place that you can't skip! One of my favorite spots in Akron! You can come here after the dinner, or you can come to the upstairs restaurant to dine and after walk downstairs to listen jazz or you can come straight to the jazz place and have small entrees and appetizers/salads. Tom, the owner, always makes sure to invite interesting and popular jazz musicians/bands. I come here at least 1-2 times per month! I love jazz and I'm happy that we have this lounge in the neighborhood. Definitely visit! By the way, check out their website to know about musicians or bands schedule or who plays that night. read more

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Jazz jazz jazz!!!! I didn't dine in. Went straight down to the lower level for a jazz concert. Venue is incredible, very intimate, surprisingly clean, and service was great. One of the light fixtures came loose because the band was so loud and it hit my friend in the head, so the manager gave us a free round on the house. Even in the crowded area people were waving around refilling drinks, taking orders, setting up more chairs and tables to accommodate. The jazz club culture is amazing and definitely something everyone should experience. I'd say this place is a must-see when in Akron. And definitely check out THE ADMIRABLES on soc media. read more

Glad we experienced it, got a Po Boy, Open Faced Steak Sandwich, crab cakes, gumbo and $9 Rum Smash drinks. The drinks were good and the gumbo was great. It's an older crowd. The $4 valet parking was convenient. Won't be rushing back, but a nice place to eat. read more

BLU Jazz+ - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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This Jazz club used to be FAB! Great food, great artists. COVID came and of course it took a toll. They don't book out gigs months at a time now. Hard to plan far ahead to see ashowandstay downtown. I hope it gets better. read more

The venue and atmosphere downstairs is perfect for live jazz. The staff were friendly and the drinks were great. Would highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

This venue features live jazz acts inside an intimate concert layout. The upper level features a restaurant and pianist playing your favorite tunes . Aaron, our server provided stellar customer service and accommodated each request with a smile and can do attitude. Valet parking is available along with food and full bar options. This is a gem to discover. read more

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Wow! The atmosphere is on point! Great jazz and blu's experience. We will definitely be back.

I love the music there .the music was not laud but stirred the air enough to have a comfortable background sound. The free bread they serve was very tasty! the butter was cold though. I had a big combo. i hope it has brown rice instead of white one read more

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A basement jazz club that definitely has the "cool" vibe working in it's favor. Every time I go, I get a different specialty cocktail and all of them have been great. The food menu is limited and comes from the restaurant upstairs, but who goes to a jazz club for the food menu? They have really had some great musicians pass through the place. I especially like to go to Blu Jazz when it's a jazz band that plays music that can be danced to...such a treat. The dance floor is small. It would be nice if Blu Jazz would remove the tables and chairs from the dance floor when they are expecting a larger number of dancers to attend for the evening. read more

BLU Jazz+ - The specialty drink menu - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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While we came for th jazz we stopped upstairs and had dinner. I had the cornmeal encrusted catfish with remoulade coleslaw and fries. The fish had no flavor, it was not seasoned well or seasoned at all. The coleslaw while different was good, but again it could of used a little salt and pepper. My date had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, while the presentation was good we had to send it back as it was burnt. They were very nice and made another, however it was burnt as well. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff was very nice and accommodating. We decided not to stay for the jazz concert but they did have a pianist playing while we had dinner. He was awesome and even took request from some of the patrons. read more

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So fortunate to see this amazing restaurant Came for happy hour and listened to a piano player that brought back great memories Definitely a must go to Good and drinks were outstanding The service was the best! read more

Wonderful new venue - not a bad seat in the house! Specialty drinks, while on the sweet side, were innovative and interesting. Of course, all the food is from 3 Point, which is a plus for me. That's another review I need to write, because 3 Point doesn't get the credit it deserves! Tickets were very affordable - only $8!! And we were able to load them to an app on our phones, so no messing with paper tickets! Very easy to purchase through the website! Long and short of it, this is a hidden gem! Check it out! read more

BLU Jazz+ - Stage - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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We loved our night out here. We live about an hour away and put Blue Jazz+ on our staycation itinerary. I'm so glad we did. Bobby Selvaggio was leading the big band which sounded cool enough, but what knocked us out was that this is, as he explained, a 'reading band'. These young virtuosos were playing through charts for the first time, many of them compositions by the members. It was amazing to know that, because they sounded fantastic. The space feels very intimate, yet is quite spacious. I recommend arriving early to pick a spot you like but there are no bad seats. Their focus is on classic cocktails, speakeasy style, and the servers were friendly and knowledgeable if you'd like a little modification. They do not serve food, but I think outside food is ok as we saw a group with pizza. I'd like to see them at least sell some snacky-snacks as I always want a little something with liquor. In any case I highly recommend Blue Jazz+. You couldn't do better in any big city and this is a treasure in NE Ohio. read more

Wonderful venue with attached parking! Lovely staff, great music and an amazing drink and food menu. I'm in love with the savory crawfish beniets. Lots of seating choices and a very cool vibe. read more

BLU Jazz+ - Stage - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

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Had a great night. The band was good. The service was attentive. I like the lay out of the place and the acoustics. I would definitely come back. Parking is not the easiest. read more

BLU Jazz+ - Sitting in the back - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

An easy, no-doubt, slam-dunk 5 star review. A swanky, classy, sophisticated underground establishment that has been impeccably detailed and decorated to the highest standards of later-evening musical entertainment venues. Dimly lit, moody, with an ambience that says "hello, night on the town in the big city," you'll need to pinch yourself several times to remind yourself that you're in humble ol' Akron. All tables are good tables at Blu as far as being able to see the stage is concerned, as one previous reviewer pointed out. Find a seat, plop down, and enjoy the show; regardless of who is playing, you're in for a good evening. The venue carries the sound well off of the stage, but the music never quite feels too loud as to prevent you from having a conversation, should you wish. The bar area alone might be Akron's best place to enjoy a hand-made adult beverage. Sip a Sazerac as you soak in the sounds of jazz piano and thank your lucky stars the weekend has arrived. The food menu is brought to you by the Three Point upstairs, and features several fun choices. Poutine, Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, Potstickers - lots of stuff that fits into the "comfort food revival" category popular in today's forward-thinking casual dining restaurants. If Blu is your second (or third) stop of the evening crawl, what better way to slow the rate of alcohol absorption into your bloodstream? A food purist will find room to nitpick: the poutine uses gouda cheese instead of cheese curds (just ain't the same), and although the shrimp and grits impresses with its perfectly-cooked jumbo prawns that jut high out of the dish, it loses some points for its lukewarm, hardened grits that need to be reheated with more liquid and perhaps more butter and cheese. In the end, though, you're not really there to eat, right? read more

Moved from NYC and lucked out in finding this new jazz joint! Space very large, lots of seating and up at the bar as well. Dimly lit, classy, romantic loungey atmosphere. Saw a jazz trio and really enjoyed it. Solid cocktail assortment as well as a whole page list of beers. Had one app and the food was also on point! Service very good. I left there super relaxed and looking for another show to come back to. So glad this venue is in Akron! read more

BLU Jazz+ - a man in a tuxedo on stage - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Great spot to hang with some friends and hear great music. They get some great musicians and bands that come through and the food is excellent. read more

BLU Jazz+ - Bandstand - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

Music was great, but unfortunately the night took a turn for the worse. The bar staff opened a tab on my card, and at the end of the night when I went to retrieve it, it was gone. They lost it. It would've been fine if the staff would have made any effort at all to help me, but instead I was treated like an idiot. I was told they had "no idea" where my card went and it was my problem to deal with. I also was not intoxicated at all. I had one drink. I was trying to act reasonable and understanding, but it was hard when I was being treated with such disrespect. Not sure if I'll be coming back. I couldn't believe the treatment I received. The bar staff should not be treating its customers this way. Unacceptable. read more

New upscale jazz club with a nostalgic feel and modern amenities. Photos of jazz greats line the walls and there's not a bad seat in the house. Amazing local talent will blow you away! Do yourself a favor and try the fish tacos! read more

BLU Jazz+ - Opening night at BLU Jazz Akron!!! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Akron, Ohio

We love going to Blu. Dinner (now also lunch) is great upstairs at Blu Plate, then we head downstairs to listen to amazing music. So cool to have this fabulous venue right in Downtown Akron. We recommend this night out to all our friends. read more

An interesting combination of restaurant (on the ground level) and jazz venue (in the basement). The restaurant features southern cooking. I had an excellent ettoufe with just enough spice and my son had an excellent stuffed pork shop over dirty rice. Excellent food at a reasonable price. Jazz venue is large and comfortable with drinks available. We listened to an excellent jazz trip for three hours that cost us $15 per drink. All in all, a nice place at reasonable prices. read more

Wonderful service, live music and food! I recommend the charcuterie board. Great atmosphere for a date.

Live jazz in Akron, a wonderful addition to North East Ohio music scene. One of Downbeats Top 100 Global Jazz Clubs. Not bad for a newer club. Food is very good if you like southern cooking (we love the Gumbo), staff is attentive and the owner Tony always sets a great example of customer service and enthusiasm for the music and all guests. Their restaurant upstairs Blu Plate does a very nice job and has a piano player to enhance the atmosphere. There is valet parking available. read more

Cool little jazz bar in downtown Akron. The service was great, and the venue was pretty cool. The entertainment was good, but not sure why it switched to a DJ or something towards the end of the night. Overall, cool place, would recommend. read more

I was so hopeful about this restaurant but was disappointed. We were seated right away and the drinks came out quickly but it went downhill from there. The restaurant was virtually empty except for our group of 5. The food took forever to come out and then it was sub-par. I ordered the etouffee and was looking forward to an authentic dish, but it was bland and sweet. My son had the pork chop, again bland and sweet. Four out of 5 dishes were disappointing. Then we ordered 2 desserts and waited at least 30 minutes. I really wish I could have given this restaurant a 4 or 5 star review as we could really use a good southern/soul restaurant in Akron. read more

Great place to hear jazz. Intimate setting like a Chicago jazz bar. Very nice waiters, waitresses and bar staff. Will make this a regular stop. read more

Blue Plate Restaurant located upstairs from Blue Jazz. Chef Lee at Blue Plate will keep diners coming back. The selections though few are all creative and shows the intense passion of the chef. we had the Pork Chop stuffed with cornbread with a side of red beans and rice. Absolutely hands down the best we have ever had.. The server that we had was very nice but didn't even know what was included with the dish and did not offer any specials at all.If the owners invest in hiring top notch servers that really have the same passion that Chef Lee has about the venue and the menu, Blu Plate will be a huge success.. read more

This is an excellent venue. I've gone there several times and loved the music and the atmosphere. The acoustics are great and so is the food. However, the menu should be expanded and the audience should be more mindful of the artists and not talk so much during the performances. Kudos to Tony Troppe and his staff. Perhaps this place will put Akron on the map for jazz. read more

This was the worst dining experience I've had in years. It took 30 minutes for the server to take our order. Nearly 40 minutes to get our food, and AN HOUR TO RECEIVE THE CHECK. It was ridiculous. The music was decent but the service was extremely poor. P.S. Do NOT order the half-chicken! It was awful!!!! read more

This was my first time going to BLU Jazz+, and I'm so happy I went! Was a little confused at first how the seating worked. Didn't know if we needed to get drinks at the bar and then sit, or if someone would just come to our table. We took our chances and sat down and had service pretty quickly. I ordered the "Blu Line" drink and it was fantastic. $9 seems a little pricey, but the it was a bigger martini glass. Didn't get to stay too long and order any more drinks or check out the food menu, but even with this I highly suggest going to check it out! Perfect place for a date night or a hangout with some friends to listen to some fantastic jazz. read more