Sam First - Jazz Club & Bar

What a fantastic spot! I love the decor—it’s got such a unique charm. The drinks are excellent, and the music creates an incredible atmosphere. You’d never guess you’re right next to the airport; this place feels like stepping into another era. They open at 6 PM, so if you have a layover at LAX, it’s the perfect spot for a quick drink and some great jazz. Only 10 min walking from terminal 1.

I think this is mostly a place for serious music listeners who probably have a fairly good idea of what they are going to listen to. The prices are totally reasonable and affordable to also for me, occasionally take a chance on hearing someone I don’t know but have a good feeling about. This club is the best thing to happen to LA. Very grateful for all they are doing for live music in LA.

Very cool spot. Stopped in for a couple drinks before a flight out of LAX. Definitely recommend

Sam First is second to none! What a great venue. I honestly thought it was going to be a weird venue given its proximity to LAX but I was happily surprised at this chic and great-sounding jazz venue. I saw a cool man order tea and a cookie so I ordered tea and the bar accidentally brought cookies with my tea. That’s a mistake I can improvise off of.

Fantastic small intimate jazz bar. Loved the location...a few minutes via a cab from the airport hotel I stayed in overnight. Loved the two drinks I had...barman Pablo recommendation was perfect. The entertainment SO fantastic...female lead on piano with her original music. Well worth visiting and enjoying a relaxed, classy evening of music and friendly companionship.

As a frequent attendee of Sam First, I’ve come to appreciate the occasional good performances. Sadly, the overall experience is marred by poor management. The service can be slow and inattentive, the enforcement of guest standards arbitrary, the food sub-par, and the atmosphere often feels more awkward than intimate. Indeed, without the performers' own followers, the attendance would occasionally be quite low. With better leadership, this place could be remarkable. What makes the mismanagement even more concerning is that it operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity, meaning the club isn’t privately owned but exists for the benefit of the community. Given managent likely took this nonprofit route after struggling to run the club profitably, hoping for donations and public grants, one would expect a stronger commitment to its mission and public. The lack of accountability is troubling—poor management doesn’t just affect the audience and musicians, but also undermines the club’s charitable purpose.

Nice small intimate atmosphere…by the band name “Samba Nostagica”, we thought we were going to hear some Latin type music. It was instrumental hard Jazz with no sprinkling of Latin! They were good…just not we thought. There was 6 of us. I recommend getting there very early as we couldn’t find seating together & arrived 25 minute ahead. The session was only 45 minutes long & half of that was listening to life stories by piano player. Literally 4 max songs😞

Meh, vibe was ok. Compared to nyc jazz bars it felt sterile. 2 drink minimum and cover a decent date night but don’t think I’ll come back

Reviews looked great, so I walked nextdoor from the hotel to give it a try. Maybe a total of 10 patrons inside and no band on stage yet. Door guy stopped me before I could open the door, mentioned that the inside was for tickets only, running $25 a piece. I was welcome to sit outside and have drinks, but just kinda killed it for me being charged a cover for a bar that wasn't even half full with no entertainment on stage. ‍

A nice and very intimate jazz lounge to visit. I enjoyed my first visit in this place and listened to a jazz band performance for about one and half hours. Their cocktails were delicious as well. You can buy the tickets online before going. Would love to return to see other performers.

Super cool intimate bar. Call ahead if you want to reserve a booth (would enhance the experience). Very small though so come a little early to get a spot. Very friendly, small service staff but enough to get things moving. I wasn't sure how to flag someone down to get a bite to eat as I was seated in front of the show so didn't want to distract the performance. Would recommend sitting in a booth near the bar as that's near the kitchen so you could get small bites as well as drinks without impeding the performance.

Excellent has venue great crowd. Fast service. Huge variety of drinks. Easy reservation. Street parking is available.

Jazz bar right by LAX, seriously, one wrong turn and you'll be stuck in LAX traffic. Came for a Gerald Clinton Tuesday night with some friends and it was so fun and romantic! Tips: * Seating might be difficult if you come late * Bring some ear plugs incase you sit near the front Green Beast cocktail (5/5) refreshing w a little salt and absinthe. Best cocktail I've had! Service was so pleasant, from the security to the bartenders! Thank you for hosting a wonderful night.

This is of the most elegant (but not pretentious) bars I've ever been to in LA! The interior was nicely decorated with some cool photos hung taken by the owner hung on the wall and a really warm and cozy atmosphere. A major plus if you enjoy LIVE jazz music! They have small food selection like a cheese plate, some light snacks, nothing too crazy. Come here after dinner and ask for Carlos if you wanna be taken care of! :) Carlos was my fav, he was so friendly and funny, he made my friends and I feel welcomed and at ease. Lots of metered street parking available (free after 8pm).

Awesome Jazz bar. We ve been here twice and we absolutely love it. The place is very intimate and cozy. The service is great and the prices are fair for a type of bar like this. It doesnt feel trendy at all, but still classy. We did order a platter and we got charged about 30% more than the menu price and they added a side to our plate w out our knowlege that cost even more. We didnt mind this, but some people might. Just keep an eye on your bill.

My first time here and I like that is it small and intimate. Get there early so that you can get a good seat and maybe a free parking spot on the back. If not, the parking garage on 98th is reasonable. The jazz was good. The empenadas were tasty. I had lamb, spicy beef, and spinach. More partial to the spicy beef, but the lamb and spinach were good, too. Good for a night out. The sets are only one hour.

A hidden gem in the most unexpected location. Live jazz daily? That's almost unheard of. One thing I would suggest is having servers doing rounds during the set to get more sales and perhaps lower the cover fee a little bit.

I was looking for a jazz bar that gave me similar vibes to La La Land or something upscale to enjoy with my best girl friend. Sam First did not disappoint. We were able to buy tickets to their live show the night before. Upon arrival, parking was not too hard to find and the vibes were immaculate. We ordered espresso martinis and they were brought to our seats; so the service was more upscale than a basic bar. There are signs stating to respect the musicians (mainly to keep your voice level low and talking to a minimum) which I appreciated because it allowed us to be in the moment. The music was fantastic and we were able to get another drink halfway through thanks to the servers coming around. We didn't order food but small bites are an option if requested. Overall, a great experience that I would recommend to all jazz lovers!

Awesome trio enhanced by an intimate appealing setting. Drinks and food were excellent too My new favorite local jazz spot

The food was palpable, the vibe exquisite. I loved the service and the atmosphere. The music even better. The drinks sublime. I could go on. I went with my boyfriend and it was a perfect date. I want to come back. I will come back. Thank you

This place! Unassuming, great jazz, atmosphere and vibe right there in the shadow of LAX and so close to the So. Bay community, no excuse if you're not checking out this unique space, esp if you're a lover of jazz.

Came for the Gerard Clayton Tuesday night session, for both the 730pm house band session and the 9pm jam session. We were able to snag some free parking in the garage, but there's also free street parking after 6pm. We showed up around 720pm and were able to grab drinks before the first session started. We got a few cocktails to start the night, and some glasses of wine later on. We also ordered the salmon crostini for some bites. The shows were awesome! We had such a good time, the bartenders were extremely accommodating and the ambience was perfect - chill, inviting and calm (despite the bar being right near LAX). Would love to come back again for a future date night!

Great and talented musicians of all ages! I paid to get in, but felt it was totally worth it. Might be a great date night for an intimate one on one setting.

What a fun jazz bar! Definitely a must come back! Gf and I purchased tickets to a show and jam session and they did not disappoint. Artists were super talented, understood the vibe of the room, and played to the audience but stayed true to their sound. It was truly a remarkable experience. Live music in an ambient space. Drinks were finely made. Priced around $14 for a cocktail / glass of wine. We wanted to get a bottle of the Italian Pinot Grigio (~$40), but it wasn't available at the time. Salmon crostini was delish! The salmon was nice and fatty over a warm toasted baguette. Not too crunchy where it would cut up your mouth, but a lovely crunch that melts together with the fish. Parking is kinda limited. Arrive early to park free in the lot or street parking nearby. Really liked the event.. could have been a one of, but definitely want to attend more outings at this venue. Be back soon!

If you're in to live music, this is an awesome spot. I come here before picking up my partner from LAX. It's a great place to kill some time! Pro tip, check if there's a band playing before heading there. It ticketed after the bad starts. Drinks a solid, and the best anywhere around LAX!

Great ambiance and music! I will definitely go again. My only suggestion is to go to the 7pm show than the 9pm so you can enjoy the experience more with rush!

Great intimate venue. Very close to LAX. The staff was very nice and the seating is clean and comfortable. It's like watching jazz musicians in a nice living room.

I went to this place with a friend to view their late night jazz session. Walking in you can see a variety of seating options. Had to grab a couple drinks and I appreciated the options and that the bartender was skillful. Got a couple of old fashions and I was definitely feeling good. My friend and I shared a charcuterie board and it slapped hard! Pairing that with the beautiful crew of performers and we had a good night. The only sad thing was the night went by too quickly :(. Even if you're not a jazz fan, check this place out the next time you pass by LAX!

Intimate little jazz club w spectacular talent. Friendly staff w reasonable prices. Last night was http://melindasullivan.com/#bio-section Tap jazz combo. Quite the unexpected treat

Anazing. Jacob Mann is legit. Good jazz and good cocktails. Never been and it was amazing.

Jazz club/bar by LAX with live music. Came here on a Tuesday around 9pm and they were already playing music, but the bouncer let us in and we paid a $15 cover charge per person (we didn't have tickets beforehand). There's a small parking lot that's shared with other businesses. Credit cards accepted. It's super close to the airport but the crowd seemed to be quite local (and eclectic). They do have food, but we just got some gin and tonics to enjoy the show and hung out afterwards.

Grrreat music and awesome bartender/bar staff!! Highly recommend! Can't wait to return! Also listened to their live streaming (again reasonably priced) because I had to work and such great music! They are reasonably priced all around and I definitely will be back! Went here for a much needed date night and my boyfriend also enjoyed the music and ambiance! Met some cool, friendly people and had a nice conversation in between sets. There's also a nice, cozy outdoor spot for a meet and greet. I had the best old fashioned and if I wasn't such a light weight I would drink a lot of their other cocktails! The venue is cozy, intimate with just the right amount of people present to comfortably enjoy the music. It's not overly packed with people and it's not too loud. Parking is slim pickings but because the cocktails are most delicious, a cab/ride service may be best.

Service horrible! Horrible uncomfortable seats! Will not go there again. I wouldn't recommend this place! Small cramped first time and last time.. smh

Super cool place. Wayyy too out of the way unfortunately. Would be cool to stop by before a flight at lax. Being next to the airport was not a concern or problem for us. We got lucky with street parking & could honestly hear cars on the outside street better than any planes above. Forgot we were so close to the airport! Sucks that it's 45 mins drive from me :(

Perfect! A cool chic bar which attracts mind-boggling talent. As Joe Labarbera himself said (I'm paraphrasing): "Sam first bar: everyone's favorite place to see jazz, and every jazz musician's favorite place to play it." Long may this bar live.

I love this place. One of the best kept secrets. Cool room. Great place to see live music. A hidden gem of a jazz bar!

Service was awesome and bartender really helpful. Nice atmosphere and great place to listen to jazz. Fair warning though , talking is not allowed in the restaurant. Your best bet is to seat outside and you can still enjoy the music and talk. A different band every night, but the Brazilian jazz band is one you don't want to miss. Their is a twenty dollar cover charge per person, but I think it's worth it, if you're really into jazz.

The musical acts at this bar are magical; the events manager is setting a high standard for jazz venues and changing the buzz around this art form for the entire west coast, even going beyond just Los Angeles. Much of that has to do with the self-consciously urbane, designed interior at this bar. It sets a tone around which the music itself can shimmer. The head bartender Mark has a creative hand with his cocktails, but can be as understated as the bar's location, right at the exit of LAX airport. The sound system in the house is without equal. On any given night you could run into Grammy-winning instrumentalists playing mere feet from you, and bidding you a good evening. I can't count the excellent musicians I've met here, and the community of repeat visitors from among the jazz afficionado set who travel clear across Los Angeles to visit this spot. I can't vouch for their cheese or humus plates, they seem extremely basic and without imagination. (They could hire me to up their nibbles game! Being a cross between a gourmand and a foodie I bet I could come up with an elevated jazz menu that is as noteworthy as their shows.) I must also note that there's something slightly askew about the flow of this place, which requires people crossing in front of the band if they enter late and want to get a drink at the bar. The bar should ideally be located at the opposite end of the room from the stage, but here it's adjacent, so there is always bar staff traipsing across the sightlines of the musicians as they serve patrons seated around the room. And the bathrooms are behind the stage so you have to go around the band. It's odd, the flow. The textured walls appear to be made of spring coils. It feels like a movie star's luxurious basement studio-bar. Again, the music provided by world touring artists as well as Los Angeles' own finest, is divine! Standard entry of $20 for two sets usually at 8 and 9:30 pm. Convenient to public transit if you use any buses, they are walking distance from the LAX City Bus center along Vicksburg Avenue.

True jazz lovers will definitely appreciate this club. Attentive bar service. Cozy atmosphere. Excellent musicians.

To start, this venue is in a very strange location. The venue itself is on the bottom floor of a oddly designed office building. You are pretty much in LAX - I saw like 5 different Wally Park express type buses drive by. Parking lot was full but we got a meter spot on 96th a few blocks behind the club. First greeted by bouncer telling us we couldn't go inside because the first set went long - a bit odd for a venue who should want you in the door buying drinks and a bad first impression . But after the first set ended he did not let us in till like 10 minutes later. I wasn't familiar with the main artist of the night but knew a few of the musicians in the band. The artist spent almost as much time talking as he did playing music. They played 5 songs which I would say was easily under an hour of total music. Which for $30 a set per person+1 drink minimum seems a bit steep to me. I get some artists play more than others so I'm not going to judge the club on one night. It is nice they have a discount for students, but I'd say I felt like I overpaid. I'm a musician and get they have to these pay musicians fairly, but I think if tickets were $20 per set they would get more business. It really wasn't that crowded for the 9:30 set. And also I'm not exactly sure what the deal is with the odd assortment of chairs that don't match. There was even a drum stool for somebody to sit. Like really? I wanna feel comfortable when I'm at a venue. I don't want to feel like I'm in an office building. They have a few couches and tables. Again for the price I'm at least expecting the seating to be a bit more coordinated and not thrown together like a swap meet. All the bar employees were friendly. I'm going to give Sam First one more shot but between the location, the price, and the short set I have to say I was a unfortunately a bit underwhelmed.

Cool, chill place for a date night or to just relax & listen to some Jazz. Small venue, $15 cover the Sunday I went. No talking during the playing, It was different but was great to be able to really enjoy the music. So put your cell phone away and be present. Take your phone out only to discreetly take a couple of photos or videos to reminisce later (or for your yelp review) Bartenders was as attentive as he could be as there was no waitress and it was only him. So sit back and enjoy the music until he gets to you. Seating was good if you arrived early, otherwise you may be stuck in the corner until something opens up. Gender neutral restrooms. Parking lot does have spaces for this business & if you don't find one, drive around the block for street parking which is t metered late.. which is a plus.

The ambiance was great the music was great. I recommend this place for a first date to set the tempo.

Great jazz bar near LAX! I wanted to drop by Sam First before my red-eye back to NYC and I'm so glad that I did. First off, it's a very comfy venue. You can sit at the bar, a table, a plush couch, or a lounge chair, your pick! More importantly, I have been loving Sam First's bookings as of recently. They have a great diverse mix of acts ranging from traditional jazz to more adventurous electronic jazz. Sam First is definitely a top place to check out some of the most exciting jazz musicians in LA in a nice atmosphere (no talking too thankfully) and great drinks. Also, as noted on their website, they really are just ~10 minute walk to/from LAX (the sidewalks are good and there are plenty of signs around LAX so that you can find your terminal easily) and there was plenty of space to keep my luggage with me during the show. And finally, thanks to Mark and Peter on staff for making my first visit definitely not my last!

If you are a Jazz aficionado or just lover of the music, this place needs be your go to place as often as possible. Great music plus great cocktails.

This will be the last time I go to Sam First. I'm sure that doesn't matter, but I'm going to post anyway. Last night on 01/18/23, my friend and I were basically kicked out for no reason. We were not being disruptive and antagonistic in any way. We drove for hours to come and see one of our favorite groups. We arrived for the first set and had a total of 3 drinks. After the set, my friend said the bartender whispered in his ear to "sober up" and would not serve him anymore. I saw him leaving and went outside to see what was going on. The bartender then served me my check outside and threatened to call the police. So insulting!

A very small intimate club across from LAX. Excellent sounding room. They tell the audience to be quiet before the performance. The staff was friendly, speaking with the bouncer afterward, I commented how I liked how they tell the audience to be quiet, he said. I do not tell them to be quiet twice, they are removed. Yeah!!! What a novel concept, going out to see and hear music and actually doing so and not chit chatting about crap during the performance. I will be back.

Hidden gem! I can only rave about how great this place is. I will be back for sure! Tips: 1. Arrive early to secure parking. 2. Do NOT talk during the music sets. 3. DO order an Old Fashioned. 4. Eat before you come as the menu is great for drinks and bar treats, there are no full meal options. Such an intimate venue, great for dates or close friends. We were fortunate to visit when the Sam Barsh Trio performed and what a treat it was!

My new favorite spot in LA! I honestly love everything about this spot - a fantastic spot to enjoy live jazz, great decor, and great drinks thanks to Mark the Bartender. We were greeted as soon as we arrived, and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the Sam's Old Fashioned (repeatedly!), and I was thrilled to see that they offered my favorite Pinot Noir (Hitching Post Winery). While the drinks are great, people come here for the jazz. Two sets of music, and the diverse clientele is there to enjoy the music in this intimate venue. No talking with your friend while the musicians are doing their thing - go somewhere else if you can't be quiet! The bar also has some really interesting decor, and my favorite design element is the fun house mirror above the bathroom sink. Cannot wait to return - this will definitely become one of my regular hot spots!

I enjoyed attending this venue until tonight. After Jacques and his band performed, I came up to Marvin Smith to introduce myself because he performs with one of my bassist friends. I called him by his first name and he started bad mouthing me in front of everyone because I didn't address him as Mr Smith. It completely ruined the vibe and my overall experience. I don't recommend watching any shows that include him.

I don't know if I can add any superlatives that haven't already been submitted here. This is a simply wonderful jazz club that happens to be a few blocks from LAX. So if you're in town for a while, perhaps staying at an airport hotel, all of your evening entertainment needs are met! They have nationally known acts on a regular basis, with generally a nominal cover charge (maybe $10 or $15). The bar is very well stocked and the bar staff are pros. When I was there, I had wonderful charcuterie that was more than enough to serve as my dinner there ($23 or so). If you're a jazz fan, or think you might someday be a jazz fan, or if you just want to soak up some cool jazz ambiance, look no further. Locals, get your butts down here and support this place! I've seen some mention that this is a "dive" bar. Not according to this dive-bar lover! It's actually a nicely appointed, well-furnished club atmosphere. So have no apprehension, it would make a good first date venue, etc.

Free Parking on the side. Mark made the Long Island with love . The Tom Collins was 5 stars alone . And Mark got creative with a drink that was just amazing. I hope it gets out placed the menu soon. I need to fly out more often so I can stop by Sams First.

To be honest, no one hangs out by lax unless you are picking someone up from lax or staying @ hotel row, so i was pleasantly supposed to find this hidden gem while my cousins & I needed to kill time before their flight. Sam first bar is a modern speaker easy jazz bar, without the gimmick. The decor is quite chic, modern, relaxing, colorful with interesting furniture and the best gallery wall of photos. The bar attender - Mike made our drinks and @ first I expected a quick pour here and there is liquor & ice, but Mike elevated the experience ... I mean, these drinks were crafted & delicious. The is a great place to hang out after a good dinner, since they serve just drinks and snacks. The jazz band for the evening was rehearing before their session, so we had the pleasure of enjoying their rehearsal time. I've found my spot by lax to chill and take my guests . I would no longer be so reluctant to pick up guests from the ve lax.

If you are staying in hotel row at LAX, Don't even spend a single dollar at a hotel bar. They suck and over priced. Sam's offers a relaxed hang with local jazz and excellent cocktails. I'll call it now, you can find me here most Tuesday's or Wednesday's. Cheers!

This is a fantastic jazz bar in the hotel district near LAX! They open at 4:00PM daily! This is a great spot for a drink if you are staying at a hotel that does not have a bar. I went twice during my stay in Los Angeles. One day right when they opened and another late evening. Very nice craft cocktail menu. I tried a couple of different drinks during my two visits, but the Aperol Spritz was my favorite. They also have a little snack menu. The cheese board is quite good. During my late evening visit, there was live music which was very enjoyable. It is not a huge place but quite comfortable with several little seating areas for intimate conversation. There is plenty of seating at the bar. They also have a nice patio if you care to sit outside. I will certainly return to Sam First when I am staying in the area.

Trendy, current, intimate, loungy, relaxing, are just a few characteristics of Sam First Bar. And it's conveniently located right next to LAX next to the H Hotel. The staff is beyond friendly and attentive, which I really appreciate. We came on a special jazz night to see Jane Monheit perform, which was cool. It was my first jazz show and I'd say I really dig it; will probably do more of these. Would be great if the shows could be at Sam First. I had some good wines, but I will suggest that they add more varieties of reds to the list, preferably pinots from the Russian River, please, and thank you. Oh, and parking sucks, like really sucks, so good luck. But, it's a great new bar, so check it out.

I travel A LOT for my job, so trust me on this one. The area around LAX generally a wasteland of mediocre hotel bars. Sam First is a cool laid back modern lounge with excellent cocktails and a very nice beer selection. You can get some snacks (nibbles) here too. The live music is a wonderful addition to my Manhattan. The prices are about the same as the hotel bars but there is so much more here, better atmosphere, booze, and bartenders.

If you are looking for a bar where you can get an average mixed drink that you could order absolutely anywhere then don't go here. If, however, you want a handcrafted artisan beverage with natural and house-crafted mixers for a good price then head down to Sam First! I was in LA for a conference next door to Sam First and stopped in for what I thought would be an average glass of wine. I ended up with a delicious mixed drink using a rum base with a house-made grapefruit mixer. (The Olives are to die for too!) The atmosphere is relaxing and the bartender and barback were wonderful! I would highly recommend!