6 Best Jazz Clubs in Prague: Where to Hear Live Music in the Czech Capital

Prague rightfully ranks among Europe's jazz capitals — its club culture took shape back in the 1950s, when jazz was practically an underground art form under the communist regime. Today, live music fills the atmospheric cellars of the Old Town every single night. This guide is for anyone looking to spend an evening away from the tourist crowds, in the company of a saxophone, a double bass, and a glass of Czech beer — from legendary stages that remember Bill Clinton with a sax in hand, to modern venues along the Vltava embankment.

Reduta Jazz Club, Národní 20, Prague 1

Prague's oldest jazz club, founded in 1957, sits on Národní Street just steps from the National Theatre. The venue occupies an intimate cellar space right around the corner from the theatre. Over the decades, dozens of stars have graced Reduta's stage: since 1958, when jazz musicians first performed here, the club has hosted the likes of Emil Viklický, Martin Kratochvíl, Jiří Stivín, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dee Dee Bridgewater and B.B. King. The club is also famous for an impromptu saxophone performance by U.S. President Bill Clinton back in 1994. In early 2016, The Guardian named it one of Europe's top 10 jazz clubs. Live music plays every night: doors open at 7:30 pm, concerts start at 9 pm, and the lineup ranges from modern jazz, funk and fusion to blues, mainstream and traditional Dixieland.

AghaRTA Jazz Centrum, Železná 16, Prague 1 (Old Town)

Tucked into the cellars of a historic building just steps from Old Town Square, on the way to the Estates Theatre, Agharta takes its name from the classic Miles Davis album. It opened its doors on September 29, 1991 — the day after the jazz legend's death. The club has hosted an impressive roster of names over the years, including Diana Krall, Candy Dulfer, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, the Brecker Brothers, Maceo Parker, Wayne Shorter, Miroslav Vitouš, Mark Whitfield and the Yellowjackets. AghaRTA also runs its own year-round festival, the AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festival, with concerts held every evening.

Jazz Dock, Janáčkovo nábřeží 2, Prague 5 – Smíchov

The city's most modern jazz venue — and one with arguably the best views — sits right on the banks of the Vltava in Smíchov, just below the Janáčkovo embankment. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a sleek modern interior and its own boat dock give the club a unique setting, while a flexible layout allows for both intimate concerts and larger-scale shows. Jazz Dock keeps late hours, staying open until 2–3 am on weekdays and 3–4 am on weekends, and its excellent acoustics make it possible to host jazz sets right through the night. The program goes well beyond classic jazz, built around multi-day concert runs by well-known Czech and international acts, plus regular themed jazz festivals.

U Malého Glena, Karmelitská 23, Prague 1 (Malá Strana)

One of the city's smallest and coziest jazz clubs is hidden in the cellar of a baroque building in Malá Strana, just five minutes from Charles Bridge. It's a beloved bar and jazz club, with the venue itself — one of Prague's tiniest jazz spots — downstairs, where live jazz or blues plays every single night. Open since 1995, the club is known for the genuinely high caliber of its musicians, having hosted Sharon Jones, James Zollar, Brad Mehldau and Jeff Ballard. Sundays bring open jam sessions — just add your name to the waiting list and sort out the details with the house band leader — plus a dedicated blues jam once a month. Doors open at 7:30 pm, with concerts starting at 9 pm.

Jazz & Blues Club Ungelt, Týn 2, Prague 1 (Old Town)

Set in the historic Ungelt courtyard just behind the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn, literally steps from Old Town Square, this two-story club occupies a unique historic vaulted cellar dating back to the 11th century. The atmosphere is genuinely medieval: the building, with its two atmospheric, air-conditioned vaulted cellar halls, dates to 1101, and the program spans not just pure jazz but rock, funk and fusion too. Concerts kick off every evening at 9 pm, while the upper floor houses a gastropub serving Czech and Italian cuisine.

Blues Sklep, Liliová 10, Prague 1 (Old Town)

The name says it all: Blues Sklep ("sklep" means "cellar" in Czech) is a classic Old Town cellar with dark Gothic vaults setting the scene for jazz sessions held nearly every night. It's easy to find, tucked into an archway on the charming little street of Liliová, which links Charles Bridge to the Old Town. The lineup here is wonderfully varied, with bands playing everything from traditional New Orleans jazz to bebop, blues, funk and soul. The club is open daily from 7 pm to 2:30 am, with live music running from 9 pm to midnight — a great option for a late evening after a stroll across the bridge.

Prague's jazz scene is remarkably diverse — from historic cellars where Duke Ellington himself once played, to a glass-walled club on the water with views of the Castle. If you're only in town for a couple of nights, it's worth picking at least one club in the Old Town (AghaRTA, Ungelt or Blues Sklep are all within easy walking distance of each other) and one on the other side of the Vltava, whether that's the intimate U Malého Glena in Malá Strana or the grand Jazz Dock in Smíchov. Either way, booking a table in advance and arriving at the start of the concert rather than at midnight is simply good form at Prague's jazz clubs.

See also:

• 6 Best Water Parks in Czechia: Where to Go with Kids and the Whole Family in Any Weather
• From Beer Baths to a Sauna Boat: 8 Best Spas and Bathhouses in Prague

Source: aroundprague.cz