Blue Note

The Blue Note in Los Angeles has a stellar reputation for the awesome talents who has graced it's stage. This night was one of those nights. We came down to LA to see Ben Folds and his band. The music was exceptional! Super fun, swing jazzy Christmas music and stories. This is the why of only 3 stars: we were jammed in like sardines. Couldn't move. If you had to go to the restroom, forget, you had to hold it for the entire show. My friend and I were so jammed in against the stage, that we lost feeling in our legs. If you have anxiety about being jammed into small places, this is not the place for you. There is a $20 drink minimum. The glass was approximately 4 oz with less than a inch in the drink. Major RIP OFF! You can see in the photo. The food didn't arrive until the end of the show, and I don't recall anything about it. Ben gave me a bag of goodies at the end, and one of his mic men, also gave me the set list and as he did he said, "you're a trooper for being cheerful while being so jammed in". I gave set list to my friend. I understand, they wanted to get a lot of folks in for fabulous music, but the night waned a bit due to extreme seating discomfort. If you pay in cash, they won't prove change, so bring your creditcard. We parked in a paid lot nearby.

I loved the sound here. Our server was very friendly. Speed of service is a challenge in a setting like this do be strategic when ordering since it will be awhile. The food is less than good. The potions are mediocre, flavors are average, and the prices do not equate to a good value. Understandably, there is a minimum food purchase here. My recommendation would be to enjoy a proper dinner before or after your show, and fulfil your minimums... The seating is WAAAAAY TOO TIGHT. It feels like a fire hazard, and unless you're in the seat on the aisle, good luck getting up to use the restroom.

Went to the Blue Note this weekend at the spur of the moment I saw Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) I didn't really know much about him or his catalogue of music. I am not exaggerating...this show blew my mind, opened my soul, cleared my heart. Yes it was the music. What he called "The Re-Evaluation" - of what we have been been told is jazz. He describes it as 'stretch music' - you'll have to go to a show to hear why. Let it enter in. Then there was the flutist, Elena Pinderhughes- Amongst the brass and percussion, the voice of her flute enters in, softening - an invitation, reminding us to bring our heart into it. A beautiful polarity was danced through music and I was grateful to bear witness. We need each other Musician to musician Individual to collective Heart to body Mind to spirit. And this is just ONE of the many shows coming up at this new venue, led by artists that is offering a place to see great live music every day. I feel like I've been waiting for this since moving to LA. I'm hoping some kind of membership is coming soon! Now, the logistics They offer two shows - one at 7pm the other at 9:30. I stayed for both! Arrive early if it's a sold out show, seating is first come first served. I sat right at the front because I love the interaction. There's a table minimum of $20 I had the marinated olives and the salmon. Both good. They also have non-alcoholic drinks. The server was the best - attentive, quick. It's all ages and they encourage bringing the youth. I love that. I went by myself - nervous at first but with the way seating goes - if you are open, you soon see, you are never alone. Shout out to Uncle Reggie! It's not the most inexpensive night out, it gave me pause at first for a spur of the moment outing. But I am confirming it was worth it in every way. I've spent more for much less. It's not just a dinner jazz spot- it's a whole music experience. You deserve it.

We went to see Charlie Puth a few days ago at this location. Such an intimate and welcoming environment. We were treated so kindly from the person who scanned our tickets to the servers. What’s even more beautiful was that we had our kids with us, and the gentleman who scanned our tickets pulled us from the very long line and seated us next to Charlie! Our kids were above the clouds and felt very special! Thank you, Blue Note! We had an incredible experience!

The best venue for a nice evening out with great artists, music and good. The atmosphere inside is very beautiful and warm. The staff and general manager make you feel at home and like family. Came to see Robert Glasper with my godsister for her birthday and everyone ensured she had a great time being she is from out of town, Thank you Blue Note Los Angeles for an amazing evening. Can’t wait to return.

Absolutely love this venue! There’s not a bad seat in the house. The service was so attentive and friendly, and the food and drinks were great as well. I had a French 75 and Clever Cosmo, and the salmon for dinner. My dining companions ordered the endive salad, tuna, and whipped feta and everything was beautifully plated. The location is close to parking and hotels, so it’s really easy to get to. Would love to attend an event here again.

I had a fantastic time at Esperanza Spalding's performance at Blue Note Los Angeles in early September 2025. Seating is first come, first serve, so it's a good idea to arrive early to get a decent table or seat at the bar. The venue has tasty food and the acoustics are decent. The venue's restroom is all-gender.

Really loved both my visits for brass tracks and mayer hawthrown. The manager Sam is so nice and accommodating when I made an error on my ticket. The venue is beautiful and the food and drinks delicious, I sat table seating both times but the vip area is the most comfortable and all seats in the house have a great view. Can't wait to come back.

The vibe, lighting sound is incredible. We saw Kenny Garrett and couldn't have asked for a better show. Drinks are typical hollywood prices and the plates are small. The location is phenomenal and their musical acts are top tier. I'll definitely be back. Thank you to Sam for being an amazing host.

Los Angeles finally has a first class jazz club! The space is phenomenal - beautiful and oh so comfortable with great acoustics that enhance fabulous music. We had the pleasure of seeing Ravi Coltrane and dined at the club. Going back tomorrow for Kenny Garette - can't wait. I strongly urge you to pay this place a visit. Food was delicious, service was top notch, and the music...next level.

My dad purchased invalid tickets from GoTickets.com and while in line, Sam discovered our situation and deciding to honor the tickets. Wanted to put this out there so people don't make the same mistake we did. We had an amazing time and Sam was beyond kind to us!

Just attended last night to see Mayer Hawthorne, and while he got on late and did about an hour set for the 7pm show (I wonder if he did a longer set for the 9pm, as there was no turnaround), the club had good vibes with a nice mixed crowd. The sound was clear, but about 1/2 way in, I had to put earplugs in (I have to do that now for any concert). I had an issue with ticketing, and the manager of the club immediately resolved it with great aplomb. Got seated at the bar- sit at the wooden bar facing the stage- you're above all the seated people and won't be twisting around to see the act. Max, my waiter was very attentive, had good suggestions for drinks- I got the Rosé Cenote, which was smoky, spicy, and delicious. For food, I got the Peruvian scallops- tiny but flavorful, and the Spicy Valencia Almonds, which were great (I want to find them). I would advise in purchasing the pre-paid parking for $15+tax, just make sure you validate at the maître d's stand by the door on the left before you leave. Oh yes, they keep it chilly there for the artists, so come prepared.

I am so happy Blue Note opened in Los Angeles. We had an amazing experience at Blue Note NY and I am glad now it's only 3 hours drive from San Diego. Sound system is on point (just like the NY location). The line up is great. Comfortable seating and good drinks and food

I had the pleasure of visiting the blue note 3 times during opening week. Walking in you can see the intimate layout and how tight the tables are. There are several different areas to sit at depending on the ticket you bought and if you have a table reserved for you. Ive sat at the bar and also the tables so there are pros and cons to both seating areas. All seating for the most part is first come first serve. The exception would be if you are vip, or have a table reserved. So arriving early is imperative if u want the seat of your preference. Again seating can get tight so depending on where u sit , prepare to get bumped, or adjust your seat to accommodate your neighbor. Now because i attended during the opening week , the menu was limited to allow staff to adjust to the flow of things. I tried the Whipped Feta Appetizer with bread and the Salmon dish. The whipped feta was a hit and miss with the feta ranging from more a liquid consistency to an actual whipped texture as it was intended. I enjoyed the salmon , broccolini and wasabi mashed potatoes but it did take awhile to arrive at my table the both times I ordered it. The live shows I watched was nothing short of amazing and the sound was perfect to me . Special shout out to the bar staff, waitresses Michelle and Ahn(sorry if i misspelled it). Management were also really helpful, i truly did not encounter an unhelpful staff member. The bathroom is interesting, it is gender neutral. I believe there is a total of 6 oversized /accessible individual stalls . So don't get startled if u are washing your hands next to the opposite gender. There is also a bathroom attendant inside at all times. Overall, I enjoyed the blue note and i hope to change my review to 5 stars in the future once the kinks are worked out . I definitely plan to come back.

Honestly hoping this review will get someone from Blue Note to reach out. I haven't even been here yet, I know I will love the place! Here is my issue... I bought tickets for a show that's in 6 days (I bought the ticket 2 or 3 MONTHS ago). I never received a confirmation email or the tickets! I was charged and see it on my bank statement. I have been calling and emailing for well over a month and haven't gotten a response! I live 3 hours away so I have been delaying driving out there just to talk to someone and see what's up with my tickets!

This REVIEW is focused ON the FOOD. But the staff, the ambience of the venue, the music are top-notch. However, if you are going to want to eat, it's recommended that you eat somewhere else because the food here is pricey yet subpar. We ordered an appetizer of some sort with supposed feta that was not good. In addition, the chicken schnitzel was nothing to write home about. And we got some olive appetizer for $5 to $7 with maybe six little olives in a small little plate, lol.

I generally don't think much of jazz club food but this place is pretty good! The menu is nothing fancy but I had a great piece of salmon and a tomato salad to go along with an awesome performance by Killer Mike. I'm definitely checking the schedule for future shows I need to check out.

The Blue Note Club Jazz Club definitely nails the vibe when it comes to atmosphere. The dim lighting and intimate setting make it feel like the perfect spot to kick off an evening. Seating is very tight, with tables packed closely together, but I have to give credit to the waitstaff--they move through the space with impressive skill. My sister and I lucked out and had a whole table to ourselves (though the tables are meant to seat eight). We attended the first show (8/20/25), scheduled for 7:00 pm. We arrived around 7:05, and the music hadn't started yet. At 7:25, Terrace Martin and his band came out, but to our disappointment, there was more talking than actual playing. By 7:45, Terrace brought out Kenyon Dixon, and the show wrapped up at 8:10--well short of the hour we were expecting. When we shared our disappointment, our server explained that shows are typically an hour, and with the 2nd show starting at 9:30, the venue needs time to reset. Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that the experience felt cut short and left us wanting more. When artists don't deliver the full show, it reflects poorly on the venue. As for food and drinks: it was a mixed bag. I ordered the endive Caesar salad and wings. The salad was bland and too tart for my taste, but the wings were an absolute hit--crispy, flavorful, and definitely worth ordering. My bourbon cocktail (the name escapes me) was strong, bourbon-forward, and delicious if you like your drinks on the bold side. A couple of notes: the music is loud. Loud enough that people near us were plugging their ears with their fingers. Be prepared for volume. On the bright side, service was excellent. Our server, Daphane, was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and really helped make the night more enjoyable despite the disappointments. I'm a big fan of live music and jazz clubs, and I genuinely want to see Blue Note Club Jazz Club thrive. I'm willing to extend some grace since it's their opening week, but they need to work on starting shows on time and making sure audiences get the full hour they're expecting and paying for. With the right tweaks, this place could be something special.

We went to Blue Note to see Kamasi Washington. He was phenomenal as always. The food was excellent! Loved the drinks, especially the Rosé Cenote. We will be back!

Intimate setting with a serene ambiance. The food, drinks, music, and service were great. Would recommend coming early to get the best seating. Our server Josie was attentive and personable. Enjoyed my time here. Will be returning!

Enjoyed Robert Glasper's show last night with 3 friends.. This is a new venue out in Hollywood. Early arrival is suggested. We arrived about 40min early and the line had already formed We paid for table seating and had our own table. There are larger tables which seat 6 people. We didn't want to sit with others so the early arrival helped. The larger tables are tighter squeeze. It's a very intimate venue- a little larger than Verse LA if you've been there. There's a parking structure next-door or you may luck up on a street space. There's a $20 minimum spend for food and drinks which is easily hit. Three of us had the Wagyu burger with fries. Juicy goodness. One of my friends also enjoyed some wings. I didn't get pictures of the food because by the time it arrived, the show had already started. I didn't want my camera flash interrupting the moment. All in all a wonderful evening. I do think they need to change their set up however. I want to see some shows in December and my thought is if it's raining I would not want to wait outside in a long line to get a decent table. by the way, our server was amazing I wish I could remember her name.

The ambiance of the venue was definitely worth hype. A lot of effort into getting this place ready for its grand opening. For that I say thank you to the owners and staff. From a food perspective, there is still work to be done. Food arriving late and cold should not happen. Not on the wait staff. Obviously with this being opening week, some hiccups are expected. The salmon was excellent, and the flavor of the burger was on point. But cold food is a pet peeve. The sound system was high quality and the acoustics were good. Enough sound deadening was achieved with the curtains on the walls. Robert Glasper performed and did his thing and saved my initial impression of this incarnation of Blue Note Overall, this Blue Note will be successful, but the back of the house operations needs help and/or change.

I was excited to see Mayer Hawthorne at the newly opened Blue Note Jazz Club. The place is intimate with terrific acoustics. Tables are close but I sat at the bar and felt like I had the best seat in the house. Management was friendly and made you feel welcome. Staff was attentive and very professional. Best of all was Mayer sounded better than ever. The food menu needs a little work. We ordered the scallops and the burger(not pictured). Both were good and priced well but I saw someone who ordered the whipped feta with bread . The bread were two slim pieces of what looked like pita. So they need to work on the appetizer list ,maybe add another one or two sandwiches. But was there for the music and not the food. Venue is excellent for music. The two managers were so friendly and kind. Never been to a club with staff like that. Kudos to the Blue Note.

The new Blue Note LA was a whole vibe last night I loved the setup--bar seating was clutch since I could sip, sit, stand, and dance without blocking anybody's view. Service was great the drinks were perfect, vibes were right, and BJ the Chicago Kid did not disappoint. Girls' night = success

Amazing service from the staff. David the GM is wonderful and accommodating. Thank you!

The venue is a vibe and would highly recommend. Once the house is full, the seating is very tight in certain areas so be aware of that. Sound system is incredible. The food is mediocre, we had the chicken schnitzel, and there was absolutely no seasoning on it, very bland. Just a little seasoning and it would've been a hit. Unfortunately, they didn't have all that was needed for the drinks on the menu, so it was limited , but it was the first week, so giving them grace and I'm sure all of that will get better. Terrence Martin and Kenyon Dixon were a 10. However, they started late approximately 7:30, and our show seemed rush and they ran out of time. They had a hard out because there was another show starting at 9:30. The show ended under an hour. Atmosphere: Beautiful inside and nice location. Crowd: It was a full house. Very diverse crowd different age ranges, seating can get tight depending on what tables you're at. Price: Well, worth the price Service: The staff was courteous, but it's the first week so you can kind of tell they were all over the place. Once the show is over, we had to actually hunt our waitress down to even pay our bill. This will improve over time. Facilities: Very clean, very nice. For those of you who care, the bathrooms are unisex meaning men and women all use the same restroom at the same time. I've never experienced that, but I guess it's OK.

Service great. Atmosphere great. I ordered salmon with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Salmon was hot, broccoli Luke warm and mashed potatoes were cold. My husband ordered a burger and fries and the fries were cold. The food was good though! My biggest issue was the table seating. The booths are fine. But the tables are so close together , you feel like sardines. People cannot walk between tables and you are pretty much back to back with the person at the table behind you. It's nearly impossible to get up once you are seated at the table. The waiters aren't able to come behind you to serve your plate or drink, so you are playing pass the plate. The table seating is the only reason I would hesitate coming back since it is uncomfortably tight.

I attended the Philharmonik show on 8/18/25. Positives: Amazing space. They really put a lot of work into it. Great sound system, cool layout. We had table seating, and were sat at a 6 top for 3 people, so plenty of room. The staff were fantastic, and service was quick. We got the scallops and the chicken wings, both were amazing! Can't wait to try more food at the next show. They didn't have all of the signature cocktails available, but I get it, they just opened 4 days ago. If you park in the garage off of Ivar, they validate your parking and it's FREE!!!! This is HUGE for LA. Mids: They have a really nice merch area, however the very nice person running the area had no idea how to actually sell the merch. Took us about 10mins to buy a single shirt while they fumbled around with a tablet, called someone else for help, who also didn't know how to ring up a shirt. We were the only ones in the merch area at the time, so they weren't overwhelmed with selling a bunch of stuff. It's ok though, growing pains. It won't stop me from returning. The Negatives: I go to A LOT of concerts of all genres. But last night was painfully loud. The space is very long but not very deep. The show was not sold out. I'd say 100-ish in attendance, I was clocking 124 decibels on my NIOSH app pretty regularly. Which in my professional and non professional opinion (I run a small sound company as a side hustle) was way too loud for what was needed for the space. I didn't bring in my ear plugs because I've never needed them at a jazz show before, boy was that a mistake. It was painful at times. I plan to write a very kind email about the sound level to the management and hopefully the make corrections. I'm going again Friday and will bring my ear plugs just in case. I'm also not sure if the sound person worked for Blue Note or was traveling with the band. They spent a lot of the night monitoring in headphones. So they weren't hearing what we heard in the room. Tl;dr Conclusion: I love this space and have no qualms about returning. I want to see this venue succeed so badly!! They are bringing great artists to our area and will be instrumental in helping Jazz thrive in the LA area along with other spots like The Baked Potato, Catalina's, The Blue Whale, etc. It's a brand new venue so there's some room to improve of course, all good, I'm here for it. I hope they can tame the sound level a bit. The mix was quite good, just too loud overall imho. I have tickets to four more shows and will update this review as they grow.

We went to see the Soul Rebels at the Blue Note in LA and had a fantastic time. From the moment we arrived, the vibe was on point. Staff were friendly and professional. We were escorted to our table seats (not a bad seat in the house) just steps away from the stage. Our waiter (Theo) was there to answer any questions and take our order. We had Old Fashioneds that were made perfectly with Eagle Rare. The food was amazing too. The sound system was amazing and the crowd was energized. A great set by the band wrapped up a perfect night out in LA.

SEATING: Cabaret style. If you do not want to sit next to a stranger in the same space equivalent to that of an airplane. I suggest you book a party of 8 to consume the entire table. ATMOSPHERE: Inviting & warm. FOOD: I had the Salmon. It would have been great if it wasn't cold and undercooked. It will get better as time progress per I went to the second show. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Polite, inviting and friendly. Overall, I will go back but I need a booth or as stated above a party of 8 so that I'm not sitting with strangers.

Saw Esperanza Spalding live here. The acoustics were great. It wasn't crazy loud which we really appreciated. We sat at the bar. The drinks were good and the bar tender friendly. Maybe next time we'll try the dining area.

Blue Note LA is underwhelming. Location/Entry: Parking is a bit of a hassle, it's a good walk from the venue if you don't realize there's a shortcut. Not a big deal for me, but something to keep in mind if you're a woman with some fancy shoes. Getting inside was straightforward & the entry process was smooth. Service/Staff: The wait staff was cool & helpful (probably more due to the $20 minimum than anything) but no real complaints. The bartender (a guy w/locs) seemed checked out, uninterested & irritated. The drinks were honestly just not good. Would've been nice for a friendly woman to be behind the bar, or just somebody friendly period. Food/Menu: The menu is basic & if you have any dietary restrictions, not really a lot of options. They claim their two salads can be made vegan/gluten-free, but that wasn't my experience. I ordered the Caesar (vegan). The choice of lettuce was bitter & I ended up violently ill by the end of the night. Something was definitely off. Atmosphere: The venue is cramped, aisles are tight, seating even tighter. Bathrooms had no toilet seat covers which was weird, never seen that in a public restroom. Was kind of wondering how that would go for women & it is an all gender restroom FYI. The music was louder than a vibe you'd expect at a jazz club. The ambiance felt more commercial than an authentic jazz experience. Overall: It didn't feel like a true jazz club, more of a Hollywood attempt at one. There was no real atmosphere or cultural feel, which isn't surprising for LA. I wouldn't recommend. If you're curious go but once but once is enough.

Amazing venue and team, great ambience, well managed and LA is happy to have this brand!!!

I wanted so bad to give this place 5 stars because the music and atmosphere are both just amazing. The only reason I have to dock them a star is because my food was received ICE COLD. I ordered a Wagyu hamburger for $28, and by the time they dropped it off at my table, it wasn't even room temperature. It was ice cold. My girlfriend and I both agreed that it felt like they just pulled it out of the refrigerator. Seems like they might be understaffed and forgot my burger was ready and sitting on the counter for so long. So on that note! Don't have high expectations for the food. The musicians did absolutely amazing. I came to watch Ravi Coltrane. The atmosphere was beautiful and very fitting for a classy jazz club, although people wore everything from classy dress clothes to casual wear like flip flops with a hoodie. Literally. And the sound system was well balanced with good quality sound. So in a gist, come for the music and atmosphere, but definitely do not have high expectations for the food.

I attended the first night of Kenny Garrett's run at the LA Blue Note last night. The concert was fantastic. What an artist! As to the venue: It was a great experience! The technical stuff, both sound and lighting, was top notch. Staff was very friendly and though there were a couple of small hiccups in service (the venue opened less than a month ago and staff is still perfecting things), they got all of my party's orders correct with timely and polite service. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for a jazz club. Seating was a little tight but there is more room than at the flagship NYC Blue Note. I love that there are no reserved seats and that it's first come first served. I paid for parking in advance which I strongly suggest you do, although you might be able to find street parking if you don't mind spending some time cruising the neighborhood and walking a few blocks. A great addition to the LA jazz scene!