
Mu is from the folk at Brilliant Corners, who know their music thanks to the vast back-catalogue of vinyl that soundtracks their cocktail bar & Japanese eatery. When to catch it : Every night | Cover charge? None | Call 020 3828 2000 for bookings But it’s a 1930’s-styled American bar in a former bank, The Ned, with a stage that literally takes centre stage ( it’s in the middle of the venue ), and you can always expect the daily lineup of live music – from Friday’s classic jazz trios to fresh new acts on Monday – to be on the money… If we had a nickel for every time we’ve recommended the The Nickel we probably wouldn’t be all that rich (they aren’t worth much these days). When to catch it: Friday & Saturday, 9pm-11pm | Cover charge? No Inside, the place looks gorgeous, with copper & steel mixing utensils sit upon the wood-panelled bar, ready and waiting for one of the skilled barkeeps to create one of nearly 50 cocktails available from the menu… And it’s made a hell of a home for itself there. Jazz lounge speakeasy The Gibson seeeems to have travelled from Belle Epoque Paris – via 1930s America – to modern-day London. When to catch it: Sat-Tues nights | Cover charge? No | Book a table & see who’s playing here And yes, a little live music on Sundays and Mondays.

Located inside a handsome old saloon on Bethnal Green Road, it features an expertly crafted list of high quality cocktails, more than forty Leprechaun Green Irish whiskies, and a vast selection of locally brewed craft beers and poitín, a once-illegal Irish spirit. But make no mistake, this place is a cocktail bar, and one of the best bars in East London too.
LIVE MUSIC BAR CHICAGO FREE
When to catch it: Most nights, check programme here| Cover charge? Individually ticketed, free on Fridays An intimate, bi-level space with candlelit cabaret tables and an art deco-styled bar, it’s the perfect London bar with live music to head to whenever you fancy port cocktails accompanied by a hand-pumped harmonium. Servant Jazz Quarters is a bit like a classier version of the raucous servants quarters below deck in Titanic.
LIVE MUSIC BAR CHICAGO PLUS
When to catch it: Every night from 9pm, plus midnight sets on Fri/Sat | Cover charge? Free-£10 depending on the day | Book a table & see who’s playing here

It’s the kind of spot you’d never notice unless you were specifically looking for a brick-walled jazz den serving some of the city’s most unusual cocktails. Nightjar is hidden away behind a curtain at the bottom of a staircase behind a very dark, unmarked door facing Old Street roundabout. JUMP TO: East London | Central London | South London | West London | North London Not necessarily dedicated gig venues (for that, we’ve made a special guide to the best live music venues in London), but somewhere atmospheric where you can enjoy a smooth tipple with a mood music garnish. So let’s have a drum roll… a bit of saxophone… and a little bass… for we are about to announce the best bars in the capital with regular live music nights. The Best London Bars With Live Music | Tipples and Trumpet Solos
