Blues Alley

Blues Alley has been presenting live jazz since 1965 and describes itself as the nation's oldest continuing jazz supper club. It is tucked into an alley off Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, in an eighteenth-century red-brick carriage house, and the small, intimate room is a large part of its appeal.

Over the decades the club has hosted many of the biggest names in jazz. Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan both played here, as did the singer Eva Cassidy. Today the club is open seven days a week with a programme of live jazz. Tickets are sold online through the club's website, and popular acts can sell out, so book ahead for weekends.

As a supper club, Blues Alley serves dinner as well as drinks. The menu offers Creole cooking along with steak and seafood, and there is a cocktail list. Arriving early to eat before the show is the traditional way to enjoy it, and it also gives you time to settle into a good seat. For any minimum spend, dress or age rules, look at the details for your show when you buy tickets.

The club suits jazz fans, couples on a night out and anyone looking for an evening that feels rooted in Washington's cultural history. The room is small, so keep conversation for between numbers out of respect for the musicians and other guests. Allow two to three hours for dinner and a set.

Blues Alley also supports jazz education through the Blues Alley Jazz Society, a separate non-profit organisation, and it takes part in Hispanic Heritage Jazz Month. These programmes are part of what has kept the club connected to the wider jazz community for so long. Check the club's calendar for the artists playing during your stay, and book dinner and the show together if you want the full supper club experience.

The club is in the heart of Georgetown, a short walk from M Street and the Georgetown Waterfront. Martin's Tavern and Fiola Mare are both nearby for a meal before or after a show, and the Four Seasons is a short walk to the east. Georgetown has no Metro station, so plan to arrive by taxi or ride share, particularly late at night.