A fantastic and historic place to see some great jazz and have dinner and drinks. Can't miss spot when in the Poconos. Always friendly service too. read more

We visited the Deer Head Inn to celebrate my mom's birthday. We had some drinks, wine, and bubbly. Our waitress brought water to the table when the bar was backed up. We started our meal with potato skins, which I hadn't had anywhere in a long time; they were delicious with melted cheese, bacon, and thinly sliced green onions, brightening them significantly. Next, I had delightful eggplant dumplings. My family had crab cakes, beet salad, and a cheese steak. All of which were good. For dessert, I had chocolate mousse that was fluffy and intensely chocolatey. My family tried New York cheesecake and the special pumpkin bread pudding and enjoyed both. There was a jazz band who played two sets during our time there. We arrived at 7 and left at 10 pm. The band was amazing, and I would love to return again. The atmosphere is quiet outside of the music and unrushed. read more

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This place was great! Stayed her for one night while enjoying the local nature. First off our room was great, comfy bed, decorated nice. As well as the rest of the hotel was really pretty and eclectic. Wanted to enjoy the food and the live music. Got seats right up front at the bar. Jazz band was excellent, really enjoyed ourselves. The food was also great, nothing innovative but classic done right. Started with their slip pea soup, loved it. For entrees we shared the Shrimp scampi and the beef bourguignon. They were both fantastic and paired nicely with their wine selection. Finished off with pumpkin bread pudding. What a great ending to this meal. We also had the free breakfast the next morning and it was very nice. Lots of breads and muffins, yogurt, fresh fruits, coffee, juice and soft boiled eggs. Love this place and can't wait to stay here again soon. read more

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Updated review, September 2024: Hi there! I'm still a local and me and my family went back to the Deer Head to celebrate my father's birthday Music: $20 cover charge for what would consider a good jazz trio (not a jazz fan myself but I still enjoyed it) Service: super friendly, excellent timing, gave great recommendations! Huge improvement here! Food: we ordered the mezze platter to share, pear and arugula flatbread, manicotti, salmon, and tuna (see pictures). Everything was fresh and delicious! Entrees came with salad and grilled focaccia, the balsamic dressing was excellent! Another highlight was the risotto cake that came with the salmon. Great vegetarian options! Drinks: Bullet whiskey manhattan special highly recommend; wines and beers top quality and served ice cold Price: this can vary significantly depending on if you come for a drink, maybe a snack to a full multi-course meal Final thought: If you are a jazz fan definitely check it out. Food and drinks are fresh and tasty but this is a jazz bar that serves food, the jazz is the star here. read more

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Definitely go for the jazz. Atmosphere is electric. Stage is close so no amplification needed. Great selection of musical acts. Absolutely top flight. The food is good. The burger was excellent. The pork chop was also very tasty. The crab cake was a major disappointment. Not much meat and it was fried in old oil so it had a very funky taste. Still worth the trip. read more

Legendary Jazz venue with surprisingly good vegan options to go along with the music. A fabulous night with Paul Jost that hit all the right notes. Definitely a night to remember. read more

Deer Head Inn - The AT right outside Dear Head Inn - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania

Great jazz club they had been around for long time. Located in historic inn, which has rooms to rent. When music is live, a cover charge is added. Food is good as service. read more

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Food Style & Presentation: Homestyle; Good Customer Service: Excellent Ambiance & Aesthetic: A homey feel with whimsical lighting and jazz-inspired wall art Price Range: $$ Deer Head Inn is a quaint jazz club that has live music, dining and lodging. While I stood here two nights and loved it, this review is focused on the dining experience. Many people come here just for the music and dinner/drinks. We purchased the jazz package add-on, which includes the live performance from 7-10 PM and a $65 credit toward food (excluding alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity). We drank strong cocktails served by a friendly bartender and spaced out our food orders while enjoying the sounds of the Parker Trio: Jon Ballantyne on the piano, Gene Perla on bass and Bryon Landham on drums. We shared the baked brie, a soft cow's milk cheese that originates from Brie in Northern France. It came topped with mixed berries in a sauce, shaved nuts and pita wedges. The sweet and tart flavor of the berries was a nice juxtaposition with the subtle, creamy and buttery taste of brie. For my entrée, I ordered the Eggplant Rollatini - fried and rolled eggplant slices with ricotta cheese filling - over linguine with marinara sauce. It came with a choice of soup or house salad. I enjoyed the comforting and autumn flavor of the sweet and fresh-tasting ginger carrot soup. Eggplant rollatini is a fave of mine with the combination of the mildness/low salt profile of the ricotta and the tanginess of the marinara. We ended the night with a decadent and rich chocolate mousse (not pictured) and chatting it up with kind strangers and the musicians. We're looking forward to our next stay here! read more

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We stopped in around 6 PM on a weekend night to have dinner and listen to some music. The hostess informed us that there would be a $15 per person charge cover for the music and we were fine with paying that. But when we walked in the restaurant was completely empty and the band was doing soundcheck. I asked when the act would be going on and she said not until 7 PM. I get that they have to charge a cover charge for the band but was kind of disappointed that we still had to pay in the act wasn't going on for another hour. I get it it's not that big of a deal but just worth noting. We had the Mediterranean platter appetizer which was pretty good but didn't come with enough pita And there is an up charge for more pita which was pretty annoying. I had the chicken sandwich which was very OK but the bread it came on seem to be pretty low quality roll and the side of chips wasn't housemaid or anything but ridged Lays chips or something like that. We've had the chicken teriyaki stirfry which was very salty and soggy because they use too much sauce and saturated the rice. We are not music connoisseurs or anything but the jazz band was pretty bad. Once the act finally came on I got a cocktail and settled in and anticipated listening to their whole set. But the bass player and lead singer were pretty bad so we ended up leaving midway through the first set. There are a lot of good reviews at this place and maybe we just came on a bad night So maybe we will give another try when we are in town read more

The only reason I am not giving this five stars is due to the dessert. My husband and I went on the rare treat of going out. We chose this place based on Yelp reviews. We were not disappointed. We definitely recommend this place. From the friendly and accommodating staff to the incredibly superb and tasty meals, it is all wrapped up nicely by professional musicians playing music from another era. I ordered the baked salmon with roasted vegetables and risotto cake. Just excellent. My husband ordered the sesame ahi tuna with wild rice and seasonal vegetables. The presentation was picture worthy. I don't know why we didn't take pictures. He says it was delectable. For starters, we got the Mezze platter, which consists of hummus, roasted eggplant, tomato dip, roasted red peppers, and olive with pita wedges. Having these mediterranean flavors as a starter was a bonus. To end our night, we ordered dessert. My husband ordered the chocolate mousse, which was wonderful, and I tasted. I ordered the highlighted dessert the lemon tart. I have had this confection throughout my life And have to say this was too tart of a tart. The raspberry sauce drizzled across the plate was so tart. It made my lips purse. Is other than that, it was such a nice night. read more

I ordered the spinach stuffed shells and a salad. The salad was a nice size and received in a timely manner. However, when I received my entree, it was a bowl full of sauce. I couldn't even find my shells because I didn't receive shells. They gave me 2 manicotti that I had to fork through the sauce to find. Very disappointing. At least the music was good read more

Cute place with live jazz. It's really an old inn and there is no TV in the room ( which was fine but was a surprise). If you are looking for a quiet getaway, it's a great choice. It seems like just a Thursday through Sunday joint, and when we checked in on Wednesday, I think we were the only guests. The folks there were really nice as well, so that always helps. read more

Had a great dinner, great entertainment, and great service. Nice layout. We sat in the rear so we could talk softly but still see the entertainment. Hope to return sometime! read more

Deer Head Inn - Great entertainment! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania

150 year old building operates as an inn, restaurant, and jazz lounge with live entertainment. Stayed at in fir 2 nights. Quiet. Charming. Simple but only cold breakfast. Reasonable prices. Right on the AT. read more

This place is sooo cute! I come here everytime I go to the poconos to listen to the Jazz music and have dinner! Haven't stayed at the Inn itself but the food is good and music is wonderful! :) read more

This hidden gem tucked away in the Delaware Water Gap is the perfect escape for a romantic getaway for those jazz music lovers! Intimate atmosphere, kind service, and peaceful listening. Definitely would recommend! read more

Deer Head Inn - The Ken Peplowski Big Band - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania

Phenomenal music, food and service. I can't believe it took me so many years to visit this wonderful place. Don't waste any time in discovering it for yourself read more

The food, music and atmosphere of the Deer Head Inn is outstanding..I cannot speak to the accommodations (having never stayed there). The food was delicious, hot and served promptly. Musically there are few words to adequately describe the venue. Imagine if you will, listening to an 18 piece jazz orchestra playing in your living room. It was spectacular. It is important to support places like this in times like these. So get off the computer and go. read more

Have heard about this place for years and finally made it there last night. Was worth the hour trip from Fleetville. The music was so good (Mark Woodyatt and Friends) and the meal was unexpectedly good. Service was friendly and excellent. Can't wait to go back! read more

Excellent food! Great jazz entertainment! Pleasant waitress. Fun place. We will be back. read more

I've known this place for decades. The menu changes and I always find something good to eat. I really go for the MUSIC, though. Quality musicians and the place has a great vibe! The rooms for rent are beautifully old, full of antiques. Just a great all around experience. read more

I write this at the risk of it biting us in the butt for future reservations. Having an event to attend in Jacobsburg PA, We needed a room in the Pocono Mtn area. I looked carefully for a decent hotel. In the past my wife & I spent some very disappointing stays at at least a dozen area hotels. Even walked out on a couple & lost our deposits. I dreadfully started the task once again, this time the reviews were far worse than the pre-covid days. Finding this 'out-of-the-way' Inn off the main Pocono drags, I decided to book a room. Anyone wanting clean, stress free rooms without fear of bed bugs, crime & filth this is it. Yes, in the past I have found signs of bed bugs in at least four hotels. The lack of the traditional amenities 'offered' in area hotels is well worth the peace of mind we always look for. It's a gem of an Inn of the early twentieth century where cleanliness outsells the fear of dirty pools and dangerous hallways. Nestled in the small but very pleasant town of Water Gap it's the place we will always stay when in a fifteen mile radius of any event we may attend. Only one word of advice, which they told me as well, (but I still took the top floor) they have no elevator. The disabled or those on the elderly side, we're in our seventies, you may opt for the lower floors. Please do your best to dine there as well. And if you enjoy jazz, man are you in for a treat. A big thank you to Mary Carrig who assisted me with our reservations. We had a great stay. P.S., Haven't sat in rockers on a porch like yours at night in years. It was outstanding. I hope our laughter hasn't disturbed other guests. read more

This is one of the oldest continuously operating jazz venues on the East Coast- and dinner was delicious! The martini's were also excellent- which Mike was really happy about! We enjoyed the music- and plan to be back often this summer! The team could not have been nicer as well- which always makes for a great experience. read more

This place is great. Well worth the flight and drive from Florida. Great food, drinks and entertainment. The surrounding countryside is beautiful and there is a lovely winery up the road with great views and charcuterie. read more

TICK TOCK DONT STOP THE CLOCK YA BOI D-ROCK IS BACK ON THE BLOCK! Yo I ain't be reviewin in a while cuz Covid bro, but ya boy done gone venture inna the world now n places be still bangin' dawg. Went up 2 da Pocono for the weekend so mi amor coud go see her big fat tub of a father n her lil cross eyed brother before his remedial a$$ start taken his dum dum classes at school again. Kid so dum it make u feel like u a nasa scientist or soenthin bro. Anywho we sit down outside on the deck bcuz my girl's fatso dad has copd from being a a slob so he like fresh air to remind him what life wuz like 24,000 McFlurries ago. They b some beautiful jazz or sonethin playen in the back inside n it sound so nice like you waiting to get into heaven n it was nice to have a distraction from lil dum dum dim bulb staring at me n his sister across the table at the same time wit his crossed eyes. We get some beers n some apps n the truffle fry be letting ya boi know how this place get down. Them truffle oil they b using for them fries mixed wit dat sea salt b banging n give da bat signal that exec chef know waddup. Next we get that pizza flatbread thing they be slinging n it was mad nice bro. Like mr Rogers nice dawg. Finally da last thing I eat was the sesame tofu thing n ya boi thought he was gonna have excuse himself to go cry tears of joy round the corner. Them noodles wit da tofu wuz so good it make me know they b good in da world n evil will never win bcuz the exec chef gonna battle it wit dat spatula or whatever dude be cookin wit. We wuz full n happy when we left n it made havin to sleep in my girl's ugly dum lil brother's bedroom better even tho them sheets smelled n I could hear her hog father wheezing in the other room while he wear his c pap at night. Life is good bro. Thank u dear head for a magical evening dawg. This had been another bangin a$$ review by ya boi, Mr Magic, D-roc the magnificent. read more

If you wanna get buzzed, chill, and enjoy a night of music-induced hope, do not go here. They will handcuff you to an old wooden beam and make you chug water until you can say the alphabet upside down. In reality, this place was shockingly pretentious. I feel like a snob even using the word pretentious but I don't know how else to say it. The general vibe was corporate event. And the bartender was mean. Let me provide an example: I walked up to the bar and ordered a "Weyerbacher" because I was tired of my waitress ignoring me. In turn, the bartender corrected me and said, in a very hostile tone, "It's an IPA." My question is - what purpose did that serve? Did it make her dead soul feel alive for a moment? Did I need that little tidbit of information? I feel like an elementary school child daydreaming of what I wish I had said back to the class bully. Oh wait, I'm an adult. Why did that happen? Perhaps the bartender fantasizes about Gordon Ramsay appearing to teach her lesson. I don't know. Something very long and splintered is stuck up her rump I suspect. But you know what, I thank her for the reminder that the beer I ordered was an IPA. I somehow missed that when I looked at the very short beer list. Why, I feel enlightened now in fact, like I'm a true beer connoisseur thanks to her educating me. There are more snapping-turtle-bartender instances but too hard to explain or fully capture in writing. Let's just say they involved ordering wine. Yeah. Imagine what fun the goddess of alcoholic beverages had with that one. The waitress was no better. She ignored me as I mentioned. I thought maybe she was just really busy but then I saw her sitting at a table on her phone. Maybe she was on break? Maybe? I have to wonder if a deer head manages this place. On a positive note, some of the patrons were friendly and the music was good. But unfortunately the service was bad enough to keep me from ever returning. There seems to be a certain standard you must meet to be treated well (or as you deserve as a paying customer) at this place. I mean, I paid $15 to get in, yet I was treated like I was a pest. Kind of killed the mood. It's sad because I really want to give a higher rating for this place and support a local jazz scene, but what good is a jazz band if you have to watch them in hell? And not even cool Halloween hell, like, real burning hell filled with nasty creatures that nip at your ankles. That's why I say don't go here. Wanna hear great jazz. Stay home. Relax. Sip something highly alcoholic that no one will scream at you for and listen to wortfm.org archives. Strictly Jazz Sounds or Fire Worship. You'll get lost in a good way and won't feel judged for it. read more

We (two couples) were staying in the Bushkill Falls area, Wanted to have a nice dinner out and found that not only did the Deerhead Inn's food have great reviews but they also were offering a Jazz evening. So we were able to get a reservation for the four of us. We showed up on time for our late seating (with the jazz trio) but, like the rest of those who had reservations, had to wait about 15 minutes outside before we were seated. It's a somewhat small place with only maybe 5 or 6 tables, but there is a large bar that abuts the dining area. We ordered and by the time we got our drinks, the trio started and played for about two hours with two breaks. The food was excellent, and the music was great. We'd highly recommend this venue. read more

First time eating and staying g here during a weekend of hiking and site-seeing. My girlfriend and I absolutely loved it, and this is coming from young adults in their 20s/30s. The rooms are beautifully maintained and the beds are super comfy. Antique charm throughout. As it is an old building, there are going to be some signs of age (upon check-in our door handle wouldn't turn to open the door) - the owner came up within 5 min and apologized while quickly solving the problem. Who cares! It's an old building and just adds to the rustic charm :D ITS BEYOND WORTH IT for the food and music alone. We were blown away by our dinner and the performance our particular Saturday night, and highly recommend the Jazz package if staying overnight. The music exceeded our expectations - we were afraid it may be boring but this trio really took us somewhere, all while improvising off each other for a full 3 hours of original compositions. We will be back, without a doubt. Thanks to the wonderful staff who completed our stay!! read more

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Fabulous, Fantastic, Fun! under new management Review for Food Only: Wow, the food is great. The music last night was incredible. I had the veggie burger, it is unlike any other veggie burger I've had. The waitress said they're trying out a new v.burger, a pea-based one. Usually I shy away from pea-based v.burgers but this one was out of this world. It was served on a soft flatbread and split in half, perfect for sharing. The porch outside is a great hang with plenty of seats and tables. The interior is comfortable with great sight-lines to the stage. The bar is beautiful and big. The staff is super friendly and helpful. We met a bunch of guys walking the Appalachian Trail and staying at the hostel across the street in the church. Three started in Georgia and one in Tennessee. None of them knew each other before. What a fun hang meeting interesting people walking the Trail. I'll be back! read more

Deer Head Inn - Beautiful - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania

This place has atmosphere! They book some of the best Jazz musicians alive! The food is also great! The only negative is do not plan on being able to have a conversation while there is a band playing... you will be shushed read more

Have wanted to go here for years. The clubs in the city are great too, but I love the idea of great jazz in a rustic woodsy setting. Finally got around to it and it did not disappoint. Just as cool as I had hoped. For starters, a $15 cover to see Bill Charlap - actually higher than for many of their other acts, but he is one of the greatest living jazz pianists and he played for 3 hours. It's a big old roadhouse - been there since 1885 - so the restaurant has a big oval bar and plenty of tables that look out onto the wrap-around porch. Can't comment on the lodging, but the food was very good - especially good for a jazz club. Go to a club in NY (with the exception of The Jazz Standard) and the food, if they have any at all, is pretty grim. The menu is limited, but they do a good job. The Flatbread Brie appetizer was very tasty and my chicken pot pie was excellent, seasoned with fresh rosemary. My wife had the glazed salmon, also very good. Sandwiches too if you don't want a full dinner entree. The only caveat - not the place for fancy cocktails. My wife asked for a Lemontini and clearly neither the waitress or the bartender knew what that was. They were very nice about it and the bartender came to the table to ask how to make it. "A" for effort, but still didn't come out quite right. So stick to straight-ahead drinks and you'll be fine. Wine selection is also modest, mostly less expensive bottles, but again, good enough. A couple good micro-brew selections on tap and plenty of choices in bottles. All you need to enjoy some good jazz. Pro-tip: Bring cash for the cover. Credit cards fine for drinks and dinner. read more

Deer Head Inn - Jazz, lodging and good food too - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania

Stopped in here by chance on a Sunday evening last summer after an afternoon traipsing around trails and waterfalls (can't really call what we did a hike). Had never heard of the place but it looked like it had character from the street so we stopped in. Got a corner table by the windows just as a jazz band was getting ready to play. What a great evening! Food was fine, nothing outstanding but good. Music was great. Atmosphere was of the this-used-to-be-THE-place, "well loved" (if you get my drift) style - a little worn and tired, but to me that actually played right into the history of the place (nation's oldest continuously operating jazz club!). It was a perfect find and a great end to the day. Waitress was fine from what I recall, interesting mix of people, and packed for a Sunday evening. It's in the middle of nowhere, so I wondered where all the people were from and how they knew if the Deer Head. I'd love to go back, maybe on a Friday or Saturday next time and stay over, hike in the day. read more

This place is an awesome jazz joint. Bar, food, great jazz. What else could you ask for?

Always great jazz presented in an intimate room with an appreciative audience. Never been disappointed in my many visits. Very convenient to book a room and spend the night after the last show rather than make a long drive home. read more

The Deer Head Inn is a place i really WANT to like. Oldest continually running jazz club in the country? Check. Stan Getz played here?! Check. Rustic charm & antique furniture? Okay cool. But then...when you get to your room with a "King Bed" you begin to realize....that this is just two Twin-sized beds pushed up next to each other with some foam in the middle of it??? When you ask the people at the hotel about this, they tell you "Oh, we can't fit King mattresses up these stairs." Then you look at the stairwells & realize that they are actually HUGE and this is a very strange & poor excuse. We then booked a "Queen" room & they said "Oh by the way, the Queens are actually Full-sized." It's just false advertising, which is really weird. Our mattress also had a large divot in the middle, & neither me nor my partner had a very restful sleep as a result. The place is charming. It needs to be repainted in parts, and it generally has a bygone-era feel. You get the feeling that this place was truly amazing in the 50s. We had some very good wine and watched some boiler-plate-but-not-bad-but-certainly-not-amazing jazz, but did not eat the food (ate out instead) so can't comment one way or another there. The included breakfast was underwhelming but quaint. I honestly feel frustrated because this place has the capability to be really incredible, and i DID have a nice time, but i chalk that up mostly to good company. There are other little decaying details- the ceiling tiles in the bar area are sagging / hanging down in places, the wonderful antique furniture in the hallways is crazily stained on the upholstery. The floor is crooked in the hallway, but i actually liked that. The bed nonsense alone is why this is a 2 star review & not a 3 star review. I feel like the Deer Head Inn is like your cousin that you know has real potential but decided to play videogames all day instead of pursuing that career in marine biology they always talked about. Or more accurately, it's like your Benjamin Button cousin who was once an esteemed scientist but has since regressed into a teenage slacker state, rotting away on the couch watching cartoons & eating junk food. It's a bummer, and the optimist in me is hopeful that this place can one day regain the prominence that is still baked into its walls. 1love read more

This is a delightful place, with helpful, pleasant staff and delicious food. Stayed the night; the rooms are clean and airy, with a very comfortable bed. The rooms each have stereos and albums of many genres as well as books upon books (guests are free to take any book they'd like, but not the albums). We'd be happy to stay there again. read more

I've gone here twice already with my girlfriend. Once for "The morning cure" breakfast and again for a jazz event on a Saturday evening. Both times were amazing. The outside sitting area is nice, although the chairs were a little uncomfortable. Breakfast food is very flavorful and portioned well. Wait staff is very nice and friendly. The Jazz event was fantastic. We made a reservation and one of the staff called back to confirm with me. When my girlfriend and I arrived, we were seated after paying the cover fee for the live performance. Hailey Niswanger and her quartet played phenomenal tunes that evening and the entrees were beyond great. A tad pricey but it was worth it for the enjoyable night. Will definitely come here again for a live performance and the great food. read more

Disappointing. The service was condescending and the food was poor and overpriced. Felt uncomfortable there and held as a captive audience, reminiscent of a bad class in school. Left early and had dessert at DairyQueen. That's how disappointed we were. Spent $300 there for the cover, sub- par food and obnoxious service. Music was pleasant but missed the mark in unifying as an enjoyable ensemble. Best part was the saxophonist but was drowned out by the other band members' egos? Not my first rodeo at a jazz club but will definitely not be back to this place. Go to a jazz brunch in NYC for superior ambiance, food and service for a fraction of the price. read more

Pretty much ignored. Waited about 20 minutes for water and drinks. Then a few more minutes for dinner order. Food was very good as well as the music, two stars. Wait staff...horrible. After dinner plates removed, didn't even come back for desert. Got thw waitress attention to ask a question....wow... she didnt even respond. .. really bad customer service. I won't be coming back and I'll tell all my friends to stay away. read more

First I want to rebuke "alisa d" for her review of the inn. We were staying there the night the water went off, down the street construction workers unexpectedly broke a water pipe causing the surrounding area to lose water. This was unexpected and as a matter of hygiene they could ny serve food with no working water In the face if this they actually comped our room, provided us with unlimited bottles water and Gallon jug, and the bar tender spent te to make a detailed list of surrounding restaurants. We actually overheard alisa d talking about how she left a bad review, but wait, didn't the bartender take the time to tell you to go to that restaurant !? For the guy who has a problem the the condition/price of the place, I think the charm of it is that it's suspended in time. While there is active improvement projects, I would say don't stay in a century old house f you are looking for the ritz Carlton. And please note that many jazz clubs with notable artists charge a cover so that they can afford to have higher caliber artists. We plan on going back anther time because the staff are good, honest people. And we had a nice time around town by their recommendations. read more