I came here to see Noah Gundersen play last night and it was perfection. I had never been to this venue before, but it is now one of my favorites in the area. From start to finish, it was great. I met up with a friend after work and we were a bit early so we spent some time at the bar. The drinks were strong, decently priced, and the bartenders were awesome. When we were seated, we ordered some food before the show started. I got the fresh mozz/tomato/basil sandwich and it was quite good. As far as the show goes... it was fantastic. The sound in this place was just incredible. The ambiance was fantastic and I really liked how laid back it was. There was a mix of table seating and rows of chairs. The crowd was really nice too. I didn't go in expecting much from a music venue located in a strip mall, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back. read more

I live a block away and have never been there for a performance. I have however been in the there a few times over the past few years to grab a coffee. Their iced coffees are full of win, especially on a hot saturday morning. I have been in there when there was a concert for kids being done by a band early saturday morning and it seemed to fit in quite well...not surprising I guess for a location that gets voted in the top 5 live music spots in DC. I really would give them 5 stars for being so cool, so awesome and so hip, but I have to take away one star for all those darned teenagers I have to endure hanging about, acting cool in their skater gear during the week :) read more

I'm not exactly a regular at Jammin Java, but I've been here about half a dozen times. This is a great place to see both established singer-songwriters (like Ron Sexsmith) as well as local newcomers (Luke Brindley) with incredible talent, destined for artistic, if maybe not commercial success. They have decent food, and a good beer selection (including Dogfish and Chimay, and Brooklyn Lager) and the staff of mostly cute girls are really friendly. On the downside, it is in a Northern Virginia Sprawl-Mall, and the acoustics aren't great. You will definitely hear the artists calling for sound adjustments long after sound check and never quite getting it right. But I don't think it's their fault: this isn't the Strathmore or Kennedy Center. But you can get tickets for great music in an intimate environment for under $20. Oh yeah, the place doubles as a very chill coffee place during the day. read more

Spacious, fairly clean, nice and attentive staff. Came here for a show past Friday and had a good time, although the music was mixed kind of oddly (vocals were too quiet and the guitars were pumped way too loud). There were also plenty of seats in the bar section and outside, and also a tv with live feed of the stage so you could still watch even if you were in the bar section. I also got a coffee, which tasted like piss water. Mistake! Come here for the music, not the food or drinks. read more

LOVE this venue! I've driven out here twice from DC to see one of my favorite bands, The Kin, play and both times my fiancé and I had a blast. The beer selection is great, the lighting the music is perfect and the chili is DELICIOUS! Overall, I highly recommend. Love everything here. Awesome job. :) read more

"Jammin Java" The name of this venue says it all! They got the coffee, they got the food, they got the alcohol, and they got all the jamming you can do with many great performers, day-in and day-out. If you're from Los Angles and know of Hotel Cafe, well then, I would consider Jammin Java as the Hotel Cafe of the DC metro area. The only difference is that Jammin Java is an all ages venue, and they also have seated shows for many of their shows. How cool is that? Who needs big venues when you can have an intimate show at a smaller venue where even the back seats are as good as the front row seats? It's definitely a lot more affordable with more down to Earth performers as low as $12 to $18 a person. If you come to one of the shows at Jammin Java, the chances of meeting the performers are very high as they tend to have a meet and greet after the show. And who needs to go to DC/Arlington for similar small venue? Parking and traffic is horrible. The parking at Jammin Java is great; easy parking. No need to worry about meter parking or garage parking that costs money. Parking at Jammin Java costs $0, zilch, nada, nothing! The service is great and everyone is nice. It also seems like this venue really cares about their performers and their customers. From the time you check-in with the JamnJavaDoorGal and wait in line to the time you leave, things will go smoothly without a hitch and it will feel like you're at home. I personally have not tried the food here at Jammin Java other than their soft pretzels, but many of the performers had great things to say about their salads and their sandwiches. Their pretzels are really soft, hot, and fresh like it was straight out the oven. I can really vouch how great this venue is because I've attended many many shows here and never has been disappointed. Here's a list of some of the artists that i've seen or heard they have come to Jammin Java. Marié Digby Kina Grannis Imaginary Friend Boyce Avenue LIGHTS Sungha Jung Trace Bundy Mikey Wax Nick Howard Rachel Platten David Choi Brooke Fraser Nick Jonas Second Serenade Definitely, check out this venue if you get a chance! You might some interest in some new up and coming performers. If you also want to check out some of performances from Jammin Java, you can check out my blog which captures many of the performances of the artists I listed above at http://LN13uLL.com read more

Scammin Java Yes you heard that right... scammin Java. That is the name that all my friends and I refer this location to. The reason being is that I went to purchase a ticket at one of jammin Java shows which was only supposed to be for one ticket($20 fees included) When I looked at my bank statement I got charged for two different payments of $20 tickets... so a total of $40! I called a majority of times during opening times but no one answered. So then I decided to write the general manager Lana an email explaining my situation... She told that it wasn't an accident and they did that on purpose, apparently if you want to get into a show you have to buy 2 tickets. So when you buy 1 ticket of your knowledge and second charge will happen without you knowing. Lana was nice(that I thought of) and told me she would refund me for both tickets... it has been 3 days now and she still hasn't refunded me the tickets. I emailed her twice and asked when she's going to refund me, but suddenly Lana has been real quite. So then I tried calling the store multiple times again(during opening hours) and no one is answering! Because of this incident, which hasn't only happened to me. A lot of my friends and I refuse to support this business. On top of that I'm good friends with a lot of the local bands, and at the moment 3 bands that I am friends with are soon pulling out from their shows due to poor quality business, and I'm sure more of them will be soon! Another 2 bands that I am friends with that have played here before have told me if they get contacted to play at this location, they are going to deny the offer. On top of that the food is way too expensive for its quality worth... I would rather eat a Chuck E Cheese pizza or order from Little Caesars that eat at Jammin Java! read more

Great venue, great sound system, attentive and friendly bar staff. Their system of booking 3 shows in 1 night needs some work as they close off the entire back section while the band is doing sound checks. Understandable but this means only half of the bar is open while the preparations take place and in particular, a significant number of people for a sold out show have to stand outside in the frigid cold as the half they keep open hits capacity. A solution for this would be to open up the full bar and simply cordon off the area after the bar ends to allow for the stage / band / crew to complete their preparations uninterrupted. Good snacky-food and a nice beer selection round the place out. read more

I went all the way out (from DC) to Vienna to see one of my favorite bands, Tim Be Told, perform at Jammin' Java. This music venue/cafe is quite unassuming from the exterior as it is in a strip mall, but I loved the inside! If I lived in the area, I think I would drop by more often to see the different band perform. Everyone on staff was very friendly and the menu seemed quite extensive. I only ordered a mango smoothie as I had already eaten dinner and it was too late for caffeine. I was surprised by the large stage in the back for the performers and found that it was much larger than I had expected. There is a lot of standing space for concert attendees as well as a few tables. There are also these random arcade games in the front. The concert was, of course, fantastic. But I have to say the sound system there is quite amazing as well. The lighting was pretty good, although I'm not sure I understand why there is this random disco ball in the middle of the room. I could not help but stare at it every now and then! Only shortcoming? It took me a while to figure out how to tell which room in the back was the women's restroom. It is spray painted around the edge of the door. But I was extremely hesitant to walk in as I had no idea if it was for the appropriate gender. My fears were confirmed when I was washing my hands and some guy peered in with the same question! read more

One of my absolute favorite places to come see a show been coming here since 2005 so many shows there The Friday Night Boys my favorite highway The bigger lights every Avenue crash boom bang The ruins city mc twist The hint Hotspur The dance party The downtown fiction The list goes on and on of the bands that seeing there The staff is very friendly The food is really really good would highly recommend this place to anybody looking for a place for there band to play Someone looking to see a great local show read more

I'm torn. As much as I love the concept of a coffee house that is also a venue for both new and proven musical talent, as a lover of coffee my every addicted gene rebels against this place -- guys, if you're advertising your business with "java" prominently in the name, please, please, learn how to make it. The mocha, in particular, appears to be Swiss Miss mixed with the water left over in the coffee pot after a day's worth of brewing. That said, it is one of the few local and unique places in what feels like an otherwise generic suburb, and offers wi-fi -- a plus, assuming that you actually want to experience the Web to a loud, live soundtrack. read more

I love this place and just realized I'd never written a review before. I attend evening concerts here about once every 2 months or so... and take my son to some of the kids shows in the morning. Two weeks ago my husband and I went to see a show that started at 7pm. For $10 each, we saw 3 different performers... all cool indie groups from NYC and other cities. What we love is that the groups vary all the time. Some folks are famous (we saw Five for Fighting here!) and some are sort of famous (we saw Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel perform here) and some are hoping to make it. For a pretty low price, you can sit in a cool venue, with easy parking, watch a fun show, have a beer/wine/drink/latte, and some pretty good food. Not bad for the suburbs of DC! And yesterday morning, I took my son to see the Great Zucchini (awesome kids entertainer) at 10:30am. They have great kids shows for just $5. I get my espresso drink and can watch my son have a great time watching the Great Zucchini or a music show... even when it's too hot/too cold/too rainy outside. If you haven't checked out Jammin' Java you're missing something great! read more

We visited for the JAGMAC show - kinda strange to have this setup in a strip mall location, but it works! Sound was surprisingly good. Staff was friendly. We got a Union Pizza which was decent. Drinks were kinda small and about half of them were a bit light on the liquor, but they were tasty. Kinda sad we didn't have coffee after the show, but since it was an afternoon concert, we were able to head to Great Falls Park to catch the sunset. If I lived closer, I'd probably visit frequently to check out smaller acts. read more

Jammin' Java is great! It has this really cool, intimate space, so everything feels connected. They bring in awesome live music and aren't afraid to switch it up from time-to-time. My experience there has always been great - the people are really friendly, and it's a real chill atmosphere. I have seen some of my favorite people perform here and it's always been a good time! good food too! read more

In NoVa, it's as good as it gets for an intimate music venue. Been to a number of shows here, all of which would classify as "dude-with-guitar/singer-songwriter" performances, and they've all been fantastic. The acoustics are better than one would expect for a coffeehouse, and the staff is super friendly. If you're looking to catch local artists before they get their big kid shoes, or stars on the brink of becoming global, Jammin' Java is the place to be. And almost without fail, artists will come out after the show to sign CDs or t-shirts in a meet-and-greet, which makes it all the more unique experience that you won't find in DC. read more

Fantastic venue for listening to music. Good food and great sound. The place is small and can be uncomfortable when shows are sold out. read more

Jammin' Java - Music Venues Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

I've never had problems with the night staff here during a show, but I'm really confused about the cafe. The phone message and hours on the door say they open at 3pm Monday - Wednesday. In fact, it says that here, too. I was excited to work up there after moving back from New York, having had a good experience working in the cafe last winter. But during this past month, I've gone three times and been turned away each time with "we're not open until 5." The last two people to tell me were a bit rude about it. I'm sorry I interrupted your cigarette break and pow wow with your co-workers. You seemed really busy. Unfortunately, in this case, third time was not a charm. I won't be making any more attempts to give the cafe steady business. Caffe Amouri is around the corner and they play good music, too. read more

This is a great music venue with a misleading name and an ugly strip-mall facade. The acoustics are surprisingly good and so is the ambiance. We ventured out on a rainy weeknight to see Mountain Minstrelsy-- a pet project of Marah. There was a moment of hesitation when deciding where to sit. We settled on a long table on a weird raised area to the left of the stage. There isn't a bad seat in this cozy club, so we had a great view of the band for the whole show. Even when they disconnected from the amps and performed a few acoustic songs next to their merch table. 15 minutes after we secured beers at the bar, our waitress introduced herself and presented us with a few menus. By that time we were ready for refills. I would have been annoyed if we were waiting to be acknowledged, but like I said, I had an ice-cold Stella to keep me company up until then. I ordered a reuben dog. It was ok. By no means a revelation, but a decent hot dog covered with 1000 island, swiss, and sauerkraut. I'm just glad they offered food. I plan to keep my eyes open for other artists playing here. It was a treat to see a good band without the hassle of crossing the beltway. read more

Went down here last night to see Willy Porter and Natalia Zukerman perform live. Great music in a great environment, and we had front row seats at the perfect side angle. Porter is a hell of a guitarist. I didn't get the chance to try out any of the food, because I had already eaten, but from everything I've heard they serve the good stuff. We need more places like this in VA. read more

Come in the morning and maybe you'll catch Tot Rock-- live music for rambunctious toddlers and their affluent stay-at-home-moms (the occasional dad) with silly songs like 'We Go Potty' and 'Purple Turtle'. Free Wifi decent, but the winter thermostat's set low so bring a good sweater if you're looking to surf a while. read more

Good venue. By "good" we mean... floors aren't sticky. food isn't ridiculously overpriced. sound quality is good, if venue is small in nature. crowd is not... snobby or emo or any other ridiculous niche. we've been to two shows here and are planning on attending a third in May 2010. you'll find all sorts of folks of all sorts of ages and ranges. definitely didn't feel to hipstered or anything. nice staff, very accomodating. read more

I love music and go to a lot of concerts (last summer I attended around 30 different shows at over 18 venues in 4 or 5 different states). Jammin' Java has been and remains my favorite place to see a show. I love smaller venues and this is one that is set up for a great show (as opposed to places that try to make extra money by setting up a stage in a corner, etc.) Best parts about Jammin' Java: 1. Size - it holds maybe 200 people if it's packed - you're never far from the stage and the artists. 2. Meet and greet - pretty much every artist who plays here spends time before or after the show meeting fans at the merch table - that is rare these days. 3. Location/parking - there is plenty of free parking and honestly it's nice to see a show in a decent neighborhood where you're not afraid to be or drive through late at night. Things that could improve: 1. Seated/standing - it used to be that the only standing shows were for bands that were definitely "dancing" bands - louder/rock bands - now almost all shows are standing (or mostly standing with a few seats). That may be to allow more people to come to the show but it definitely changes the experience. 2. Bands/line-up - Jammin Java definitely used to be an old-style coffeehouse featuring mostly singer/songwriters. Now it is much more of a rock club on many night - which is a challenge in a smaller space because it can get very loud. But what's great is that the club is doing a lot more business and attracting more people. Just pay close attention to the line up each night and make sure you know what you're getting into. There are a lot of venues in the DC area but for the price and the experience - none are better than Jammin' Java. This is the place I wish I lived down the street from so I could just pop in whenever the mood moved me. read more

We hosted our ten year high school reunion at Jammin Java. The venue was a perfect size for about 100 attendees. Not too big, not too small. The ambiance was warm, cozy and nostalgic, especially for JMHS alumni. Luke and his staff were very helpful and responsive in the early phases, and our event coordinator Natalie (From Impact Collective) was outstanding. Natalie was very helpful in accomodating all of our specific requests and questions regarding food, pricing, beverages, logistics etc. Natalie also manned the ticketing station and allowed us to enjoy ourselves at the event. Great venue, friendly staff and an oustanding coordinator! Thanks Jammin Java for making our reunion special. read more

Even though Jammin Java is 1 1/2hrs. from my house, it's definetly worth the drive every single time!!! It's a smaller, intimate venue that i love! I try to attend atleast a few shows a year. They always have my favorite musicians, for a more than reasonable price. & the workers happen to be extremely friendly; it's my 2nd home away from home. If JJ were closer, i would probably be at a show a week. I would HIGHLY recommend JJ to anyone who loves up-close experiences at concerts. read more

I work with musicians for my job and have been to many of the DC local venues. Jammin' Java is a fine venue, but it is soooooooooo far from DC (35 minute drive from Capitol Hill). Once you finally arrive, it is kind of a cool venue. You can order drinks and food and take them anywhere in the venue which is a good perk. They usually have a good balance of smaller name musicians and bigger names. read more

TOTALLY dig this place for a small, intimate show!!! I recommend getting a table if you can, so you can enjoy and not have to worry about having to get there early for a seat. you'd never expect this great of a place from a strip mall loc next to a mattress store! will be coming back. read more

How have I never reviewed Jammin Java? Seriously my favorite live music venue in the DC area, for a number of reasons. That being said, this is a review of the music venue, not the coffee shop or the music school. First of all, I am a huge lover of independent music. The small time, your CD purchase fills our van's gas tank, write our own music... you get the picture. If I had to choose how to spend my evenings, live music would be my number one choice. And a majority of the artists that I like to see live come to Jammin Java when they're in the area. Normally, there is plenty of parking, and a great location - right now the big parking lot at the old safeway is closed, so its a little more difficult, but there's still plenty of parking both in Jammin Java's strip and in the shopping center across the street. Shows rarely cost more than $15. Gotta love that. There's a full bar, but its an all ages venue. They're VERY good about making sure that underagers aren't served, but I can still enjoy a drink or two. The staff is outstanding. The place is family owned, and primarily run by the sons, who are both musicians. The General Manager has been there for a while, as have several of the staff members, and they go out of their way to get to know the folks that are there regularly. The sound is always outstanding, and they truly listen to what the bands what in that department. There's not a bad seat in the house, and the bathrooms are always clean. The food's not bad - a little expensive, but if you like chili, its a HUGE bowl. Otherwise, there are a ton of places to eat in the vicinity. The only thing I wish Jammin Java had was Metro access- granted, you can bus/cab from Vienna, but its not really close. Other than that, I look forward to renewing my multiple times a month relationship with Jammin Java now that I'm back in the area! read more

I was really close to giving this place five stars and the only reason I didn't is because it's not close to the metro--the 463 Fairfax connector did however drop me off one block away though so it wasn't too bad. I went here to see Mutlu and at first sight thought it was going to be a lame venue but once I stepped inside it was the exact opposite (which i guess is not lame but very cool!). I think they should take Java out of the name because that lends too much to coffee shop and it definitely didn't exude that vibe at all! It's straight-up bar vibe at night and the stage has good lighting, the bartenders were incredibly nice and the prices were pretty decent. Overall, had a great experience there and would def go back again...such a great place to see an artist. I still can't get over how good the sound was either! read more

A terrific small music venue with an eclectic variety of acts/groups all throughout the year. In fact, JJ is an oasis in the homogeneous 'burbs. Above-average menu (though some variety once in a while would be nice!) that is vegetarian-friendly. An excellent coffee bar too! I never seem to get to JJ often enough, but when I do, I'm always thinking, "I should come here more!" read more

I come here for the singer song writer's circle performances. It's intimate, laid back and a good time. Come early because the seating limited. read more

Great, intimate venue for your upcoming and/or lesser know musicians. There is such a variety of genres too so there is sure to be a show for every musical taste. During the day (not sure which day(s) exactly), they have shows just for kids. My parents have taken my nephew there and he loves it. read more

I'm still trying to decide what I think of Jammin' Java. Overall, I love that it's small and intimate. Things that will take some getting used to include no tickets (your name is added to the list) and weird seating (get in line earlier than you might have planned in order to get a seat - and seat hogs get there and have one person save 5+ seats). Things that cause negative points - the cider they serve is Hardcore. Blech. And the food - the menu sounded good, but once there, it turns out it's all canned or otherwise not actually cooked there - it's just assembled. I will be back if there is another band I want to see, but not "just because." read more

Pros: Intimate venue to hear live music; it's non-smoking; it's not downtown like almost every other music venue worth going to; and they usually have some pretty decent (albeit small) acts come through. Cons: Their sound person cranks up the volume to almost unbearably loud levels for rock shows -- and I go to a lot of rock shows in general; their coffee beverages are overpriced and not always good (I had actual coffee grounds in my iced coffee once... gross); it's loaded with high school kids hanging around and generally pretending to be cool. Overall, not a bad place to see a show if you like/are interested in the band that's playing, but I wouldn't go just to hang out there, unless you're under 18. With a few changes (better sound person, better coffee baristas), this place could be really good. read more

I like this venue! I've been here twice and am glad to say that I haven't encountered any rowdy youngins or junior fashion bloggers annoyingly take pictures of themselves during the sets. It's a smaller space which is perfect for shorter people (like myself). If you don't get a spot in the front row, standing from the bar also allows you to see the band pretty clearly. I haven't had food here but drinks are not bad! I think I had about 3 of the Sonia's and was feeling pretty good afterwards! The bartender was very quick and efficient. I think the last concert was apparently sold out but the place did not feel too overcrowded. As the plus, the bathrooms smell and look clean! read more

Amaze establishment from the friends staff and the look inside the venue. Tasty affordable food and drinks. The music was awesome! Went to see Fortunate youth and New Kingston reggae bands play last night. My brother got to pop the question on stage to his girlfriend and she said Yes!! Unforgettable night and would highly recommend anyone to visit this venue! read more

Jammin' Java - She said YES!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Watched a great concert and staff was friendly. The event has enough space for 100 or 200 people and they're "cool". I will be back when a artist i like goes there read more

Just visited for the first time to see a show - what an unexpected gem! The staff were all super-friendly, the sound system is great, the food and drink is pretty good. Get a table if you can. The staff went out of their way to make us comfortable. Can't say enough good things about them. read more

The place is pretty small, which I actually prefer, but my true complaint is the prices, but even more so, the nachos! I saw the pulled pork tacos come out and they looked amazing, so I assumed that the nachos would be just as fabulous, but unfortunately they were far from it. They were cold and the cheese had hardened to the point of being glue. It seemed like the cheese was layered in, melted, and then the whole plate set aside until somebody ordered the nachos and then a small amount of sauce, onion, tomato, and pork added without any reheating. I would've been happier to pay the $11 for a plate of Tostitos and canned queso. We also ordered the soy garlic wings and they were delicious, but again rather over-priced. The staff was very nice, the music was great (Crys Matthews, Eric Scott, and Ashley Phillips), but the prices and nachos left something to be desired. read more

In all my years living in Fairfax, I never really thought about Jammin' Java. It wasn't until I moved to Richmond and realized that many of the smaller artists I love host concerts there. I recently attended a concert there and was amazed at how much I loved it. I hate huge crowds and it was a perfect set up for me. I never felt overly crowed, had a perfect sport close to the stage, and I didn't have to wait too long for drinks. My husband and I shared a flatbread pizza, which we really loved, and spent the night drinking whiskey sours and Irish coffees. I love that, since it is such a small venue, we were given the opportunity to stay afterwards to meet the artist and get autographs. It really was an amazing night and I look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Always a great room to see a wide variety of eclectic acts. Great variety of artists and the shows always SOUND GREAT. And with the prices being very reasonable, it's a great place to take a chance on an artist/group that you've never heard of. Bartenders are nice and friendly, and pour a good drink. Highly recommend going to Jammin' Java. read more