Four of Sydney’s Best Restaurants and Bars for Live Jazz

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Sydney has a small but robust jazz scene, thanks to dedicated spots like Lazybones and Camelot Lounge. And although live-jazz-focused restaurants like Jazushi have been around for a long time, jazz nights – and lunches – are an increasingly common sight around town. Here are a few of our favourite Hot-Listed venues getting in on the jazzy fun.

Attenzione, Redfern

Attenzione was an instant hit – and one of our favourite new restaurants – when it landed just over a year ago. And though it’s as hot as ever, now that it’s not brand new, Attenzione really feels like it’s becoming even better – more offbeat, and more of a neighbourhood spot. The team is constantly shaking things up with wine dinners, takeovers and even adding fan-voted specials to the menu. Attenzione’s jazz nights – instituted at the start of the year – have been embraced with particular gusto by locals. You’ll find live jazz there every Sunday, with sets at 6pm and 8pm. Walk-in spots are usually available, but seats are hot property – so if you want to guarantee some more sax in your life, you’ll want to book.

The Apollo, Potts Point

Olympus and its beautiful dining room has been stealing the spotlight since it opened at the tail-end of last year. But The Apollo, its long-running older sibling, is as hot as ever. On any given evening in Potts Point, you’ll find it packed to the gills. A key factor in that longevity is that it’s never been content to rest on its laurels (or its saganaki). The Apollo is constantly finding new ways to entice people through the doors – like its Gin & Jazz series, which is back after a successful debut last year. On the last Sunday of every month, from 12pm to 4pm, you can tuck into a $95 set menu packed with Apollo classics with a backdrop of live jazz. There are two more Sundays to go before the series wraps, but you can bet it’ll be back sooner rather than later. Next up is the Arthur Washington Quartet on August 31.

The Apollo's Gin & Jazz Sundays have two more events this year. Photo: Courtesy of The Apollo

The Cricketers Arms, Surry Hills

You can catch the Arthur Washington Quartet even sooner at Surry Hills stalwart The Cricketers Arms. The guys play there just about every Wednesday – usually with a bunch of musical mates in tow. This is one you’ll want to warm up the vocal cords for – singalongs are heavily encouraged. Sets are from 7pm to 10pm, but it’s worth stopping by early for a meal at upstairs bistro Chez Crix. Sydney is filled with great second-floor French bistros like Porcine and Bistro Grenier, but this one may have flown under your radar. It’s got a great wine list and all of its downstairs counterpart’s rickety charm, with some added Gallic panache thrown in for good measure. Head chef Wesley Cooper Jones is doing some really cool things in the kitchen – and it’s priced very attractively, too.

The Old Fitz, Woolloomooloo

We’re not sure why Sunday seems to be the most common night for jazz in Sydney, but we’re certainly not complaining. And it’s hard to think of a better way to stave off the end-of-the-weekend blues than by buckling in for a roast and some jazz at the Old Fitz. It’s on every Sunday arvo at this Woolloomooloo institution. Roasts – with all the classic trimmings – get started from 12pm, and the live jazz kicks off from 2pm. The roast sells out quickly, so if you want to make sure you get a feed in alongside some tunes, it’s a good idea to book.

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