We were looking for an authentic New York jazz club experience, and Smalls delivered! We reserved our tickets online, and when we arrived we found a line of folks waiting to get in. You can either reserve your tickets in advance, or you can wait in line to see if there are any remaining seats. We didn't want to chance it, so did the reservation. The line moved quickly and we found our seats. There is a one drink minimum purchase required, but it can be water or juice or whatever you desire, doesn't have to be alcohol. On the night we went the Lew Tabackin Trio played, and the energy they brought to the club was amazing. The atmosphere and ambience of the club was perfect. The staff were all friendly and upbeat. Smalls is a must-visit stop if you want to hear real jazz.

Recently traveled from Australia to New York mostly to check out the jazz clubs and out of the clubs I visited, Smalls by far had the best and most casual atmosphere. I’m a bit sad there’s nothing like this place where I live as I said to my wife during the show we attended that I would be a weekly regular here if I lived locally. They host an eclectic array of jazz artists but they all stay true to the jazz traditions so you can be pretty much guaranteed to enjoy whoever is playing on the night you attend. Even better this is not a club like Smoke or Village Vanguard that kicks you out after one set - we were allowed to stay as long as we wanted during multiple sets. Service (drinks only) was friendly and the venue is intimate without being crowded like a few other clubs can be. Smalls was definitely my pick of the New York jazz clubs. Hope to return one day if I ever go to New York again.

From the moment I stepped into this space, I let go of my usual role as the protagonist in my own life story. Tonight, I was content to be an observer, surrendering the spotlight to the real main characters. In this intimate setting, I found myself immersed in a different kind of story. The music filled the air with its captivating beauty, and the audience was a diverse yet harmonious community, brought together by a shared sense of curiosity. Amidst this enchanting backdrop, even the cocktails felt like an integral part of the experience. Here, the focus was not on chasing fame or fortune but on sharing a genuine passion. The atmosphere was undeniably romantic. In this moment and once again, I can’t help but feel that I have found the New York I have always dreamt of.

Went to a show this past weekend and wasn't sure what to expect. The space is a little smaller and I'm glad we ordered tickets ahead of time. We grabbed seats at the bar which provided a good view and space for drinks. The service was great, with the waiter and bar tender working their butts off. The performance was okay and I enjoyed it enough. The bummer was that it only went for an hour, so in a way it felt rushed. I don't know if I'd go back but I'm glad I checked it out.

Very talented local jazz musicians and a great listening atmosphere with a wide selection of drinks. Would recommend getting tickets beforehand, but thankful that the staff was able to find us some extra seats last minute when we stopped by spontaneously for a date night! The basement location is very unique and intimate such that you may thoroughly enjoy the music and feel relaxed and away from the rush of the city.

Incredible, historic jazz club. The place is small and intimate, so much so that little or no amplification is needed for most instruments. The acoustics are great for jazz, especially since it's packed with bodies. The club has good AC and stays cool throughout the show. Saw some great musicians here recently, and will definitely be coming back for other gigs.

The musicians were very talented and the crowd was engaged the entire time. Even on a rainy night, the house was packed and with a line waiting outside ready for the next show. The server was sweet and attentive to the large crowd of people. The seating is tight, but other than that the tickets were very affordable compared to other jazz bars and there was only a one drink minimum per person. I recommend this place to anyone interested in an authentic jazz bar experience, just be sure to arrive early so you can get first dibs on seating!

Difficult to encapsulate the whole experience into a concise review, but I'll try. I saw Joe Magnarelli Quintet here on my blessed birthday, 12/08/2023. The Quintet was fantastic. Piano, upright bass, trombone, percussion, and Joe on the trumpet. The set was brilliant, with Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and my personal favorite Herbie Hancock represented. There was also a Christmas tune in there, but they did a good one. Much appreciation goes out to the band, who made my birthday night special. The waitress who brought drinks to our seats was also very good, she was prompt to get us another round but did not inordinately obstruct our view of the performance. Drinks are a little pricey but it's to be expected in a specialty venue such as this. There is a one-drink minimum but not any sort of strict dress code. I was dressed in khakis and a sweater and I felt completely comfortable. The name is very appropriate, as it is a very small basement joint, and the place fills up very quickly. If you're going out on a weekend, especially during the holiday season, I would highly recommend a reservation. Both the early and the late set on Friday the 8th sold completely out, so I'm glad I bought tickets in advance. It was a really fun experience and I would be very happy to have the chance to revisit this place. I only wish there were more places like it left in New York.

Amazing jazz club. Relatively small bit this makes the atmosphere intensive. You can almost touch the artists. The music comes to live and has an incredible energy. You can reserve tickets for an additional 10$ or see if there are tickets left. But online ticket holders will get entry first. Well worth the extra price to secure good seats.

We were told to check this spot out after a show at Village Vanguard. Great advice! Caught the jazz jam session until 3 am, great players and drinks!

First time here and as the name would suggest, it’s a cozy venue! We stayed masked except for sipping drinks. It has many of the best parts of charming downtown venues, but is also quiet cramped and in disrepair, so don’t come thinking this will be a swanky venue. Staff was great and drink service organized and efficient. The most important part, the JAZZ, was awesome and I left abuzz.

Jazz lovers paradise. One of the places old, true jazz joints left standing. If you like jazz you should go. Great staff and service makes it that much better. Marissa the lone bartender serving a crowd of say 75ish was amazingly attentive to everyone

You can buy tickets online in advance although it will cost you an extra $10. Well worth it, although you’ll want to be one of the first at the door either way to find a good seat - for us that was the bar to be sure and get served early and often. A great night out with friends to hear some good music. I look forward to going back.

Sister location for Mezzrow, run my same establishment. One of the famous spots for jazz in town Basement spacious venue with intimate cozy vibes. Many seating options. I prefer the bar area to get a nice view of the stage and the audience, but it gets little chattier. Friendly staff, good service, would recommend the management to consider more comfortable seats. Went there twice since I'm a jazz fan, the performers are good and they have live streaming too or if you want to check their free recorded session on YouTube. Get tickets online to avoid lineups

Great jazz club. Definitely recommend. Go there 40 mins before opening time to get one of the walk-in tickets (costs 25$ versus the 40$ regular fee). Note that there is only 15 walk-in tickets per show, so be there early! (There is no food served, just drinks)

Located in the village, this spot is as cozy as it gets. The atmosphere was upbeat. Went on a Thursday night and got to the door 30ish before the show, and got in without getting reserved tickets. We sat through 3 sets, which is possible of there isn't massive demand to get in. Staff were kind, though unfortunately due to the small space of the venue a waiter tripped trying to avoid stepping on anyone while avoiding a trombone and soaked my leg in beer. No real harm done. Just be wary of the splash zones, but kidding aside this place has good bones, a nice staff, good cocktails (decent pours bout 12 or 16$ depending on liquor used). The beers are about 8-9$ but based on the neighborhood it's not as marked up as it could be for a club (8$ happy hours being advertised by other restaurants????). Food selection is small, but there isn't room for much else but nuts and olives. If you want an intimate venue with a great rotation of artists, you can't go wrong with Small's.

This is definitely a place for music and music alone. We had a great time for our anniversary. Some serious talent coming out of this place. The place is small overall and you have to have a two drink minimum which kind of sucks but I guess that’s how they make extra money, which is fine but at least offer something more upscale than drive bar style drinks. Since the place is small, seating is bit awkward. The show made everything worth it though!

This place is a gem in NYC. They don’t require minimum drinks. They only charge you an entrance of $35/ person. Live jazz performance was great. Service was good too. Price of drinks is reasonable.

Wow, amazing experience, highly recommended. I feel like the bartender could use another bartender, but then we'd all just drink more. Drinks were amazing and the music from the Matt Jorgensen quartet was sublime.

Excellent place to go on a jam night or a Sunday. This is one of the best places in NYC for many many decades and is so much fun. You can spend hours down there for a nominal fee of $10 or for free. Drinks are solid and well priced and bar menu is legit enough, the few times I’ve gotten food there. The music is good, but sometimes the place is crowded so once you find your seat make sure to stay in it or secure it with another member of your party.

Loved it.. best Jazz spot in NY . It's just big enough to have a great vibe. The waiter was top notch and very attentive. If you are looking for a place to listen to GOOD jazz and don't want to feel like you just have been fleeced, then look no further. Highly recommended best prices and best jazz

An amazing place for live and intimate jazz music! Would totally recommend this to all my friends visiting NYC. Concept is a bit weird though. If you didn’t manage (or think) to get tickets online you might have to get there 35-45 minutes earlier to get some of the 15 walk-in seats available. The place has nice cocktails and drinks, kind staff and a unique atmosphere. Walk-in costs $25 and you need to get a drink inside. Plenty to chose from and service is rather fast. Performers are really amazing and they also offer a live streaming online. Overall a very good (although confusing) experience. I would happily do it again and hope to discover some new talented performers.

I had heard a lot about Jazz clubs in NYC. So this first time that we came to NYC we were offered to visit one by one our friends. It was really amazing experience and I like the band. Bar people in this club were also nice and caring. We had a few good drinks while listening to the band. I highly recommend this place. Remember to book in advance and be there in time as you would get the perfect seat.

Just the right kind of little, classic place for intimate, good jazz! Don’t blink as you walk by or you’ll miss the door. Saw Richie Vitale Quintet album release. The five of them just barely fit on the stage. Get there early for front row or a table but no bad seat in house. Whole club and bar is in basement of small restaurant above. We got tix online ahead of time, got in well with those. I think it was one drink minimum per person per set.

Man...I LOVE Smalls. Same with Mezzrow. Both places are real. Great jazz EVERY time I go there. Reasonable prices. Great crowd that really listens. I go there almost every time I visit NYC. My last visit was 9-11-2022 for Martin Wind's Counterpoint. Can't wait to get back there.

Had a lovely night here this last weekend! An hour of pure jazzy tones. The place, as the name implies, is small, but it's very worth the experience and expense - which goes to helping artists continue to playing at venues according to their mission statement. The drink menu is a bit limited and I don't recommend their cosmo (I don't usually get a cosmo, but this one was mostly juice I'm afraid). That being said, I went for the music, not the drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and everyone in that establishment was all about the jazz!

Always a great time! Small (as the name suggests) and cozy. Book in advance or come early to get a good spot. Friendly service.

Amazing ambience and I loved this live jazz experience! Great musicians. Drinks were okay- a bit slow but the wait was alright because of the music. Customer service was also great! Overall enjoyed my time and would love to come back.

This place is an awesome venue. Really intimate with the band which is cool. We showed up at 7pm for a 7:30pm show and got front row seats. It’s incredible to sit so close, feel the music, and observe the band. I highly recommend coming here… and buying your ticket ahead of time!

World class Jazz Old School NYC Club. Next door to the Village Vanguard.

Intimate, no frills jazz club with history and swagger. Saw Greg Glassman quartet, reserved seats and was able to walk in 20min early to grab seats up front. Fantastic evening with great talent. Never seen an act here that I didn't like. Cocktails are nothing to scream about but the service for reserved seat patrons is a nice touch.

Fantastic place to enjoy live jazz in an atmospheric setting. Best to book tickets online in advance, the wait line could be long and not guarantee getting in.

Smalls is a paradox in the Jazz world--at once a revered institution (in the sense of being a long running venue that provides both a hip audience for established acts and something like the classic apprenticeship experience for aspiring musicians) and a relatively tiny, obscure downtown venue operated on a perpetual shoestring. If you care about superb live music and especially if you care about Jazz, it's very much worth your time & your support. There are maybe 3 or 4 places like it left in New York. Don't miss the chance to experience its intimate improvisational magic first hand.

Great place in a tiny spot. Hear real ‘live’ music here. Not too fancy but they make good music.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Great music for a great price. We went for the Adam Birnbaum Quartet show and our minds were blown. It’s a super intimate space with great vibes. The drinks were pretty good and the waitress did a great job getting around to everyone in the club. I will 100% be coming back.