Top Live Music in South Korea

Club FF ★ 4.3

Club FF is a music club at Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Display ★ 4.2

Display stages weekend jazz sessions behind its red phone-box door in Seomyeon, Busan, vinyl between sets and a modest cover when the band plays.

Ovantgarde ★ 4.0

Ovantgarde books indie and rock acts into its Kyungsung University basement in Busan, a student-priced live room running most nights of the week.

Evans ★ 3.6

Evans is one of the oldest clubs in Hongdae on Wausan-ro, with live performances every day, a new group of musicians each month and jazz after 9 p.m.

TipAdmission is 15,000 won per person with drinks sold separately; you can enjoy a cocktail or beer during the concert.

Live Jazz Cafe Chunnyun ★ 3.6

Live Jazz Cafe Chunnyun on Supyo-ro has offered live jazz since opening in 1996, the club that allowed band performances inside restaurants.

TipThe jazz performance fee is KRW 15,000; open Sunday to Friday 18:30 to 23:00 and Saturday 17:00 to 23:15.

All That Jazz ★ 3.6

All That Jazz, opened in Itaewon in 1978, is the first jazz club in Korea, with a collection of over 2,000 records and around 600 CDs of jazz history.

TipFrom Monday to Thursday there is no cover charge if you meet the 5,000 won drinks minimum; it has moved to a space near the Hamilton Hotel.

Yeonnam 5701 ★ 3.6

Yeonnam 5701 is an underground jazz bar on Donggyo-ro 23-gil with food and wine and separate areas to focus on live performances or dine while watching.

TipOpen Thursday to Monday 18:30 to 23:00 and closed every Tuesday and Wednesday; lineups are on its Instagram and Facebook pages.

Boogie Woogie ★ 3.6

Boogie Woogie is a live bar on Hoenamu-ro for robust, fast-beat piano performances and jazz, a pick for starting the weekend on a Friday night.

TipOpen Monday to Thursday 18:30 to 01:30; set discounts and priority seating are available when booking.

Dido Jazz Lounge ★ 3.6

Dido Jazz Lounge is a cultural space on Jayang-ro 18-gil in Gwangjin-gu with food, wine and live jazz performances, with lineups posted on its Instagram.

TipAdmission is 12,000 won; open Wednesday to Sunday 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM and closed every Monday and Tuesday.

Pets Sounds Music Pub ★ 3.6

Pets Sounds Music Pub on Hoenamu-ro stages many genres, from retro and post-punk to heavy metal and dream pop, with pizza, chicken wings and cocktails.

TipOpen Monday to Thursday 17:30 to 02:00 and Friday to Sunday 17:00 to 03:00 on the third floor of the building.

Jazz Story ★ 3.6

Jazz Story, moved from Samcheong-dong to Seongbuk-dong, is closer to a house for listening to music than a live cafe, with jazz under incandescent lights.

TipLive performances run 20:00 to 23:00 with a 5,000 KRW fee per day; open Tuesday to Sunday 17:00 to 01:00 and closed Mondays.