Great old school jazz bar. Really cozy and quickly fills up by 9pm. Amazing music and service...you will not be disappointed. Lovely crowd of people. Definitely go there if youre looking for an authentic NY Jazz bar.

Went there last year while on holiday new york..we visited harlem and Paris blues very lovely place plenty celebrities went there malcolm X ,Martin Luther King,bill Clinton, etc etc lovely people very plesant to talk too..just found out the gentleman has passed away of covid 19 such ashame RIP

This place is really cool. Its not a dive bar, but its not top of the range either. However what they do have is great jazz every night till late. And the bands always get the crowed involved.The space inside is small so I imagine at times when busy it could be hard to get a spot here. It has a small place for dancing that is very intimate with the band, however I could see this being filled up when busy not leaving much room other than to stand and listen.We decided to sit outside for part of our stay as they have a little bit of seating and a couple of the band members did come out and play in the door way for us. With the donations bucket but it was super nice.I will definitely be going back. Good chill spot for a night of smooth jazz.

Perhaps in heaven there will be a more perfect jazz club, but it is hard to imagine.When I entered, the well dressed owner enthusiastically greeted me like I was his favorite regular. When I sat down and ordered a locally brewed beer and said how good the place smelled, they told me that the food was free. IT WAS FREE!I stayed for two whole sets and never wanted the music to end.

This is a historic neighborhood jazz dive bar. The atmosphere and service here is so much fun.

A hidden speakeasy with great music and good beer. We were surprised that most of the guest there that night were european. The band was excellent!

Did you ever wonder if still exist a place to enjoy an authentic blues singer like in the olden days in sort of speak easy almost hidden place? Well, the Paris Blues is up to that. Really authentic jazz experience old school Harlem. Small old place, very limited bar and no food is served, almost decadent but once the music starts you are up for an amazing experience of jazz and blues, Great male and female singers, very, very much worth the experience.

Amizing jazz bar! Great shows. Highly recommend

This place is a legend. Definitely worth a visit for some quality Jazz in a cozy setting. The proprietor has been supporting jazz artists for a few decades and continues to do so.

This place is ultra cool & super sexy! It felt like we were in a movie as extras hahaha. The band was awesome & Im glad I experienced it. Owner was dressed to the 9s & mingling. They even had homemade food, for free. It was a spur of the moment date night & a great choice by my date.

We were told to check this place out because it was one of the few clubs with live music the night we were in town. Everyone was super friendly and the music was great. There was no cover charge which I was initially excited about. They quickly recover that with a mandatory two drink minimum, with the cheapest well drink at ten dollars. For five drinks we were out the door at $75 after tip, plus another $10 to tip the band. There are no prices posted anywhere, so as long as you know what you are getting into, its a cool place to head to.

I am a native New Yorker who relocated to Georgia 81/2 years. On 10/23 I had several appointments at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After my appointments, I hooked up with my brother for dinner. After dinner I accompanied him to Paris Blues. The waitresses were very friendly, the atmosphere was jazzy and bluesy. The free food was ongoing . The band was superb, especially the sax player. Love, love,loved it. Joy from Georia

On a whim, I decided to meet old friends for a birthday toast at Paris Blues. It was my first time there. At a glance upon arrival, it was a neighborhood speakeasy that had hyper-local character such as eclectic decor, tattered vinyl benches, and fixtures that have stood the test of time along with a crowd of music lovers. I scanned the room and didnt see my friends so, I sat at a bench near a table to enjoy the vocalist and small band that was playing. After Id been there for about 10 minutes I was approached by a woman who asked me if I wanted something. I replied that I was waiting for friends. She then engaged in a back and forth, which seemed triggered by my not ordering a drink right away. As she clearly wasnt satisfied with my answer she took measures to aggressively trolled me such as staring me down, sitting across from me whispering. The musicians came around with their tip bucket and I shared, glad to have heard some soulful music.When I met her gaze after several prolonged hateful glances at me she was further triggered. I could see she really needed to argue more or somehow win. She again engaged me with defensive hostility. I iterated very clearly that it was my birthday and I was waiting for my friends. As Id never been to the bar and her unusually aggressive behavior was directed at me, I inquired if she wanted me to leave. She didnt give any information or directives that helped me understand why she was so triggered or what she wanted me to do other than fear her which I did not. I dont understand why I was bullied, trolled, treated with hate, hostility, and unkindness in my own neighborhood. I adore local neighborhood joints and even feel protective of mom and pop owners, but this is never the way to go. For an $8 drink my friends purchased to celebrate my birthday 20 minutes after my arrival as opposed to 5 minutes after my arrival I cant help but wonder if this was worth it for the owners or if this particular person handpicks people to be mean to for sport. I wish I didnt have to write this candid recount of how aggressively I was trolled because I didnt do anything to deserve the unanticipated toxicity but I was given little choice. Awful, awful experience.

The show, the feeling, the kindnes!!Highly recommend this place!! Jazz in the place where eas born. No cover charge.

The music was fantastic with 3 sets played and during each set different guests joined in to either play an instrument or sing.The host and bartender were superbly friendly and the margaritas were great. There was no cover to get in, but a donation bucket for the band was presented.They do not serve food, just drinks and great music in a nice atmosphere.

Love that they have great music, but 9$ for a coronna is too much. makes me feel like its a toursit trap. The bartenders are super unprofessional and 1/2 drunk. The Owner SAM is a great guy. I still love the place and hope it stays open forever.

Amazing live music!We called ahead and nobody picked up the phone. But an hour later the owner of the place called us back! Later, we came there and were welcomed immediately!The live music was great! Sam, the owner came over and chatted with us for a little. Awesome place to have an amazing night! Highly recommend!

Great neighborhood jazz bar! What a find! I cant say enough about the owners! I used to hang out at the now defunct Cleopatras Needle, on the UWS, on New Years, so this was a last minute change in plans, but it couldnt have worked out better!

I felt home immediately even though being far away from home. Will come back!

The place is a bit strange for newcomers but the jazz bands are just awesome. Besides they have tasty soul food!

Had a birthday party with friends there~ it was a cozy place with some decent jazz

I had to write after reading some google reviews. My experience was the most amazing!! Got there early on a Monday night and was able to meet Sam, the owner of Paris Blues for 50 years. I looked at all his pictures and accolades on the wall. He spoke to us and explained some history, made us feel very welcome. There is no cover and they fed us a wonderful home cooked meal - also free. Wow!! Very cozy bar, the type I love. The drinks were in line with New York City prices people, not overly expensive as some stated, not at all. The band were all virtuoso performers in their own right. The energy was crazy! I would highly recommend this experience and opportunity. This place will not be around forever, you will be lucky to be part of this historical place.

Great for music and people watching but the drink prices were high (and this is coming from someone who lives in Miami). Vodka soda is $12 but you can find better cocktails for equal price. Come to watch people but not to drink.

Fun place on a Wednesday night. Great music.

Great music, no cover. The drinks are way overpriced, but they have to make up for the no cover somewhere. Everyone was very friendly. Its pretty dingy, but does give the place character. Its a very welcoming and familial atmosphere. Be sure to tip the musicians!

My time here started off well, but it unfortunately took a turn for the worst when the bartender demanded that we pay a $50 dollar tab for two drinks that were already covered. We felt like the bartender was trying to pull a fast one on us and pocket the money. And there is NO reason two drinks should EVER be $50 dollars. The place is also very small with limited seating.

The music was fantastic but beware the drink prices! We really enjoyed our night at Paris Blues until we received the bill for the drinks. Spontaneous combustion was great, and there was no cover charge. However, they come around with a bucket to collect tips for the band. We gave $30 because the band was great. There is no menu for drinks -$15 for VERY average cocktails (I’ve had much better downtown for $10) and $9 for bottled beer. The bar is pretty dive-y, but I’m generally ok with that, but not expecting high price drinks!!. On the whole, really great but expect to be ripped off for drinks.

If you love blues jazz, head over to Harlem for the best right here. I was amazed!

Low key and friendly staff! Great jazz.

Great corner Jazz Bar and we were greeted by the owner.

Very cute, very no frills dive bar with live jazz. As soon as you walk in, youll feel like youre in a secret party down in the Bayou, and the home-cooked eats (BBQ) alone are reason to come back. Also a very popular tourist attraction, but youll be able to tell the locals apart because the tourists are the ones posing for pictures with the 60+, Lady Marmalade-ish bartenders (nope, no costumes, just real folks unafraid to live their art out loud). Great place; a true Harlem late night gem!

Awesome atmosphere, great music and lots of rich history. A truly spectacular experience. If youre ever in Manhattan, make the trip, its well worth it.

This is an overly priced tourist trap. From the moment we walked in, we were stalked to buy drinks, stared at until our drinks were finished and happily asked for a top up, we had 7 drinks before any one assumes that we’re avoiding. The focus isn’t about experiencing jazz or having a good time, it’s about getting every drop of money from a customer. The band that we’re playing were arguing with each other. Highly disappointed with visiting this place, especially when it’s so highly rated. 1 round of 2 beers and a wine = 30 dollars.

Nice music and down to earth vibe. The place need to be renovated and remodern. Also need better customer service.

Be weary of staff. Good music is all thats good

Chill vibe at this cool amooth jazz place with 2 drink minimum. Really enjoyed the mix of pepple from around the world relaxing and soaking in the sounds and culture of NYC.

Loved this small yet homey place. Wanna listen to Jazz and chill in a New York experience away from the fancy and expensive places, this is the one for you.

Great spot for some live jazz and FREEE food!! They serve free food when the band plays!

You have to pass some time relaxing in this club

Wonderful dive bar atmosphere with authentic, homey welcome early including sharing in the complimentary supper. Excellent band gave virtuoso performance on a Friday night with no cover charge, spanning styles from blues to R&B to jazz and more. Highly recommended. I wish I had stayed longer and cant wait to go back. Dancer friendly.

Nice laid back place but please update the pricing. It should be 2-3 $$ signs. A drink is ~$12 per mixed drink.

Very authentic. Great music, nice staff - definitely a recommendation!

The easiest and most authentic Jazz experience Ive had in Harlem. This is a fun dive bar with laid back bar staff, regular live jazz that Ive always found to be really good and simple chicken, rice and beans or something similar on the house. No cover to go in or for the music but I think, theres a two drinks minimum requirement.

The musicians were great and I loved the music but we had a horrible experience service wise. We went in and it was fine at first. We were a group of six and 2 of us dont drink but the other 4 were planning on drinking that night. As soon as we said we wanted water, she gave us this look like she was irritated. The others ordered their drinks and after the first set of drinks she never came back. There is a 2 drink minimum per person so the 2 of us that dont drink were going to try and order light drinks but because she never came back we never got the chance. She walked by our table and saw our empty drinks multiple times and hadnt talked to us once since the beginning. As someone who works in a restaurant I thought that was ridiculous.Im not sure if it was just that night but it was incredibly hot in the bar, which I thought was strange considering alcohol usually makes people heat up.There is no drink menu, which is incredibly inconvenient. The water we got were the tiny water bottles people hand out at events and ended up being $3 each. The alcohol was also incredibly expensive and because there is no menu there really is no way of knowing what youre getting.

The music is fantastic, but the service and pub is awful. I thought it was going to be cute from outside, but it turned out to be very touristy. They have no menus, just 3 crappy beers and a very limited alcohol selection. Unbelievably high prices. You can easily find better places in the city.

Hidden gem. Dynamite jazz

This is our of a time capsule. You can get an authentic experience of what an old Halrem blues/jazz club from 50 years ago was like. Samuel the owner is as nice as he can be. He is an Alabama native and adds a touch of Southern flare to his place. Love it here

Quickly summarizing all the reviews I read before going there:1) Bad service: definitely not - we came to a full house (all seats taken) and had our beers within two minutes, subsequent service was equally fast2) Rude service: I found it rather friendly, maybe overly assertive as Americans are prone to be (i.e. shaking a tip basket in your head).3) Run down and dirty bathrooms: The venue was most likely rejuvenated at the time it was built - but that is part of the charm. The bathrooms are not the cleanest, but on par with most bars / clubs.4) Missing menu, bad selection of drinks and steep / unknown prices: There is no menu, sad but true. The bar looked well stocked and there were a couple of different beers available. I paid 9 per bottle, which is very steep in itself. Making matters worse, you never know if there is already a tip included or not...5) Attracts tourists: when we were there, you could tell the bar was 90% filled with Europeans. however, the music and the vibe was still great.Overall, I would definitely go again.

Come & drink & enjoy good music!

A good place to enjoy a sweet jazz party

Nice atmosphere. Drinks are a bit expensive.

Music here can often, but not always, be superior than music one pays hundreds of dollars to hear. Friday night with some of the sweetest vocals is worth the admission plus the mediocre drinks. Rarely I give 5 stars, but I do love to hang out and listen to them blues and jazz.

Great venue and great music, along with a nice crowd.

Great spot that represents historic harlem! live music every night after 9 pm. good drink prices.

Made me feel at home even when I was miles away from home

Amazing spot for Harlem jazz. Drinks are pricey around $10, but it keeps the cover away

Hidden gem in Harlem. So chill a place. If you like jazz from the soul, this is the place. The musicians, the owners, the clients, they are all of the true nature. After 9 or 10 PM, the party gets going. Drink a bourbon and enjoy the music and the atmosphere!

Great atmosphere. The live band had such a good energy—I would definitely go back if I was ever in NYC again.

One of the last touches of Harlem of the past. Great jazz, awesome patrons and our beloved Sam - who has owned the place since the late 1960s.Special shout out to Sue Kelly who has tended bar in Harlem dives for decades.Sam and Sue are my treasures!

This quaint little bar has great live jazz and a local feel. I cant speak to the food, but the bar has a decent selection. Its great for a relaxed date night or just sitting solo at the bar while listening to a jam session.

Don’t be fooled by the “no cover.” It’s built into the 2 drink minimum. We were charged $37 for 2 (extremely mediocre) whiskey sours and a coke. Apparently $15 for each well drink and $7 for the coke (although there’s no menu or itemized receipt). If you don’t care about money, it’s not a bad place though.

Cozy old fashioned bar with live jazz. They serve Soul food free - rice with chicken/vegetables. Drinks expensive but that makes up for the free music and food! A very unreconstructed place.

Live music is pretty good.

Glass of the worse wine if Ive had at a bar: 12$ + tip.Go with beers of known brands if you come here. The wine they serve is from 2$ bottles.Music was good!

A true slice of Americana, Paris Blues. There is something hopefully romantic about the old world decor. A place where they introduce themselves, shake your hand and ask your name. The live band is tight as a group, filling the air with smooth funk. A place for the pre-initiated, the self-aware, the cool. Relax, soak up some local suds and enjoy the company. Make sure you tip the musicians, they gotta eat too. If you are the high-expectation type, like to complain type, or cant let go and have some fun type; this place is NOT for you. Just keep stepping jive mother..shut-your-mouth.

The ambiance is great and the bartender sue is such a blast. She is a lovely lady and will keep a smile on your face at all times. The jazz here is also to die for when they are performing. I love this vintage and retro place! I hope it continues here for many many years to come.

Great music and great people. Especially Hilda!

Best kept secret in NY. The type of place you just dont find anymore. Is it a dive? Completely. But the music and the atmosphere is just something so difficult to find nowadays. The drinks are good (and reasonable for ny), the staff is friendly and no cover and free food! You cannot go wrong!Be friendly, respect the staff and the musicians and dont drink yourself stupid. Youll have an amazing time.And do yourself a favor, go on a Monday. House band plays every week and they are spectacular!

Spectacular place to listen to live music

Neighborhood juke joint thats been around forever. Always live jazz sometimes it really jams like on the weekends. Lots of European tourists. Free red beans if you get there early enough. Only problem is not a great choice of alcohol.

Good old feel for and old club great musicians cozy crowd gets crowded

I had a great time listening to some local Blues. Good quaint environment with friendly bartenders.

It was a joy, the atmosphere was so comfortable. The jass and music was terrific and danceable. I will attend again

Susan was absolutely welcoming and amazing. We were a party of three at 5:00pm and it was our first time there. We felt like we had been a part of the community for generations. A diamond in the rough for sure!

A wonderful quint lil spot thats just right the music was awesome

Amazing atmosphere and music.

Brilliant little bar with live music every night. Loved the atmosphere and the musicians were top notch.

Amazing place ! Tyrone’s band is wonderful and the ladies at the bar are friendly and fascinating.One of my favorite NYC landmark bars ️

The waiters were very rude but the music was great!

Very authentic place though very small. In the heart of Harlem. Live jazz music and good atmosphere, not cheap!

Jazz lovers from all over the world converge on this one of a kind dive bar for good vibes and good live jazz. No cover charge, free delicious buffet, and exceptional musicians more than offset the slightly high drink prices. People complaining about nominally high drink prices dont get it...the band has to eat. I keep going back because I love the unpretentious and authentic owners and the crowd is cool. There is no better value in Manhattan for a night of memorable live jazz.

The music is great. The service is good The place needs a facelift.Regardless, will be back to enjoy the overall warmth.

Perhaps the most authentic jazz/blues bar in New York! I go there at least once a week and sometime even twice a week. They have live music every night! Owner Sam is a cool man who has been running it since last 48 years.

Did not go in but took a peak. Nice.

Excellent music every night of the week and the food aint too shabby neither. Outdoor seating and decently priced drinks

Amazing jazz music bar

If Sam is there to talk to you, it is great, he is a legend. Some Saturdays they have an Asian female singer who has a pretty good voice and sings with the band. Great version of House of the Rising Sun

Smoking hot music in a local Harlem dive bar. The later the better.

This is not jazz music, maybe cowboy country jazz. If you like that music then you’ll love this place.

Wonderful time the evening ladys that work the bar are great people owner sweet Music jazz so good lovely place to visit be well everyone had a nice time friendly

Comfortabele relaxed live music for the jazz lover

The Band was really nice but thats it. The service was bad and a water was 6 dollars. Never Again.

I love it!!! Cool music, homely atmosphere, absolutely awesome drummer Abou on Saturdays!

Amazing music and vibe.

This place is a hole. a good one though, good musicians terrible drinks, but the best environment is the city, the people there are really nice, the bartenders are cool and helpful. I took one star because the glass were dirty.

Well i decided to go to this place with my wife and a good friend visiting from Holland. So we made the journey to Harlem. It was a steamy July day and figured to have a couple of drinks with good music. Unfortunately things didnt necessarily turn out that way. Upon entering there we stumbled into some photo shoot for some musicians and thought of leaving but were talked into staying. There were no other customers there, just 15 or so people with photographers and assistants and Afro American women with fake puffy afro wigs (the musicians i would pressume). Lol. There were no waiters to attend to us so an assistant of the photo-shoot was asked to serve us our drinks. The place was hot with an air-conditioner that was on but doing very little to cool the place down. As we tried to have a conversation all these people were milling about talking French. Suffice it to say the whole experience was surreal. We quickly finished our drinks and again this photo assistant took our money to pay the bartender as we quickly made our way out of there. Unfortunately the negative reviews for this place seem to be true. Might give it a second chance but not for a long while.

Top jazz, really enjoyed it!But, be aware - very expensive drinks with no price lists. We paid 60$ for 4 drinks.Nevertheless, music quality was amazing, so we loved it!

Always good live music!! One of the old style bars that remainds NYC as was use to be.

Great food and atmosphere

We were welcomed with open arms. Such a friendly staff and cool crowd. The music that night was Vitos (amazing) and Johnny Love Songs made an appearance and dedicated a song to my boyfriend and I. It was perfect. We got to meet the owner and he was a stand up fellow. You could feel the love that went into the place and they really want you to have a good time. We went for a drink around 6:30 and were going to leave after and we left about midnight. Haha. Great time, wonderful people, fantastic tunes!!!!!