Blues Alley

Because I would kick myself if i didn't catch a few jazz shows in DC while I am in town, I headed to Blues Alley to see how the iconic venue would tickle my fancy. Spoil alert: I had an excellent time.I had a full day in the city to myself and I needed to catch some more live jazz. I had already caught one at Jojo's and needed more. So, after a quick perusal online for shows , I landed on Blues Alley. Totally perfect since one of my coworkers already had recommended it to me.Arrived for the 7pm show and was able to snag a seat in the back. I'm a solo adventurer, but I'd absolutely bring a date here. It was definitely meant to be a place you listen to jazz and nuzzle. I saw a few cute couples doing just that.Music was phenomenal! It was a great show put on by a saxophonist and it lasted about an hour and a half.I didn't grab food here, but I did notice the service was speedy and efficient. Plates were coming out mighty fast and people seemed to enjoy the offerings.I did, however opt for a few simple cocktails which were great and did what they should have.All in all, great show at Blues Alley. Definitely my favorite so far in DC. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch more jazz in the city that can match my great experience at this venue.

Amazing place! I love it. Every once in a while you find these type of magical places that really take you out of the ordinary and make you disconnect, that's Blues Alley. I cannot say much about the food, since we just had a couple of drinks. But the atmosphere is great, and people a friendly. The space is great as well.

This is such a beautiful phenomenol place for jazz in dc! Anyone who is a fan has to check this place out. Please note if you go to a sold out show, you will be crammed in a bit, kind of like if you go to comedy cellar in dc. The service was quick and easy! We got all our food quickly though note if your hungry, be readily prepared to price your order because they are servicing a lot of tables in short amount of time. I ordered the blackened catfish, which was wonderful and my friend loved the Cajun chicken. My other friend, who is a vegetarian, had limited options but she loved the stuffed mushrooms. Definitely come here to enjoy a calm and wonderful atmosphere of smooth jazz!!

Blues Alley is an incredible jazz bar hidden in a quiet alleyway off Georgetown's bustling streets. The food is good and the music is always incredible. They invite the best jazz musicians, who make each night special and unforgettable. While the ticket prices are expensive, I've never left without feeling like they were worth it. The servers are quick and attentive. The atmosphere is relaxed yet upscale. Put on some nice clothes. I've been here several times and have never felt like it wasn't worth it. I'm looking forward to my next visit!

Great venue for live jazz and blues. You don't come here for the food. That being said, some of the food is fine. They actually don't mess up the salmon. It's a decent meal. If you order a salad, definitely get the dressing on the side. They cannot be trusted to put dressing on themselves without drowning your meal.

Excellent time at Blues Alley. I've been looking for a place that play live music here in DC, and this place didn't disappoint. The band was excellent and the staff were really nice and the food was pretty decent. I had the blackened catfish with the rice and beans. The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The rice and beans were just okay. A few of things to note. The place is literally in an alley, so be sure not to overlook. Get there early as it's open seating and the seating is tight. Stake out where you want to seat and plant yourself there. The bathrooms are upstairs, and I didn't see an elevator. An old man with a cane had to drag himself up the steps. Overall, great experience.

Do you love live music? Then Blues Alley is a MUST visit in the DC area! I've been to numerous jazz bars in the city (back when there were numerous clubs to choose from), and Blues Alley is by far my favorite experience. First off, you won't find the entrance off any of the main streets in Georgetown - the entrance for Blues Alley is literally in an alley. While it might sound sketchy, it's in a well-lit area and you can't miss the giant marquee sign above the door. Secondly, when you walk through the door you feel like you're stepping back in time to when speakeasies were the places to be. The venue itself is cozy and intimate, and some of the seating is so close to the stage that you can literally reach out and touch the musicians (you shouldn't touch the musicians). The seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the doors open 15 minutes before showtime so make sure you arrive early if you want to have the best seating selection, albeit there is no bad seat in the house.Because the venue is so intimate, you might want to bring earplugs or sit further back towards the bar if you are hearing sensitive. Besides that, the atmosphere is great because the energy from the audience and performers feeds off each other creating a fun and energetic vibe. In addition to purchasing your ticket, there is also a $15 food/drink minimum per person. You can expect to pay the standard DC food and drink prices (i.e. $10 appetizers, $5-$10 beers, +$15 entrees). The staff is friendly, attentive, and quick so nothing but praise in that department.From beginning to end I had a great time and would say that visiting Blues Alley is well worth the cost of admission, and is an experience you won't soon forget!

I absolutely loved my experience at Blue's Alley in DC! It is literally located in an alley, as its name suggests. There is ample parking in the parking garage that is only a short distance from the venue. The venue is very intimate and the performers this night had great vocals. One artist that performed was selling her vinyls after which I thought was so classic. The food and drinks were good as well! This is a great date night venue or just a great place to go with a group of friends or solo.

I would consider myself a regular at Blues Alley and frankly this is one of my favorite places in the city. I have seen all different kinds of artists here and every show is fantastic. They really know how to feature amazing musicians, which is expected seeing as Blues Alley is the oldest continuously operating jazz club in the country. The vibes are relaxed and welcoming and it's always such a fun time. The food and drinks are excellent as well, my favorite is the jambalaya and the bread pudding is great too. Great spot for date night, or to come and enjoy the music by yourself. One thing to remember is that it's an intimate club and it can be loud for people with sensitivity to sound. If that is you, bring earplugs and enjoy!

I really love the small, intimate atmosphere here. You feel as though you are with family, and the artists we've seen seem to appreciate the venue as well.Recently we saw Marion Meadows, a really cool cat and awesome sax player! We got there early and got a prime spot.There is a minimum order, but we have learned to eat beforehand. The food isn't all that! We did get an appetizer, spinach artichoke dip and chips and glasses of wine. The desserts are okay. Not a fan of the entrees.You have to line up outside to wait for doors to open. Buy your tickets ahead of time. It's first come first serve with seating and it's close quarters in there. The early show is early, but it's nowhere near as packed as the later one. The later show can be s but livelier crowd wise though. You decide what you prefer. But get there EARLY!