The Jazz Bar

The Jazz Bar is a basement music venue at 1a Chambers Street, beneath a building dating from around 1860, a short walk from the South Bridge and the Royal Mile. Despite the name, the programme covers jazz, blues, funk and more, and there is live music every day of the week. It is a reliable place to hear live music late at night, with listings published in two-week blocks on the venue's website.

The venue is reached by two flights of stairs, 16 steps and then 9 more, with handrails, which gives it the feel of a proper underground club. Many shows are free or pay-on-the-door, and entry fees can be paid by cash or card. Some shows are sold in advance, but the venue says door tickets are guaranteed unless a listing states otherwise, so you can usually decide on the night.

Usual opening hours are Monday from 7pm to 11pm, Tuesday from 6pm to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 2am, Friday from 5pm to 3am, Saturday from 2pm to 3am and Sunday from 4.30pm to 12.30am, though monthly listings can differ. Hours change during the July and August festival period, when the venue is at its busiest. Events listed between midnight and 5am belong to the night of the date shown, which is worth remembering when planning a late show.

The Jazz Bar suits music lovers, couples, solo travellers and groups looking for a lively evening that is not centred on a club or a pub crawl. It is ideal for an after-dinner drink with music, and the late weekend hours mean you can arrive well after a meal and still catch several sets. The stairs mean it is not suitable for visitors who cannot manage steps.

Chambers Street is one of the most central addresses in the Old Town. The National Museum of Scotland is on the same street, Greyfriars Kirkyard and George IV Bridge are a few minutes west, and the Royal Mile is a short walk north via the South Bridge or Blair Street. The Cowgate, with its late bars and clubs, is directly below, and Whistle Binkies, another live music bar, is a couple of minutes away on South Bridge, so it is easy to combine both on the same night. Check your route home before a late show, especially at weekends.