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Best live music venues for a date in New York
Eat early, catch the set, stay for one more.
98 spots · Jump to the list
Live music takes the pressure off a date: there's always something to react to, and nobody has to carry the conversation. The list runs from jazz clubs to bars with a band in the corner. Check the lineup before you go, eat beforehand, and leave time for a drink afterwards to talk about the set.
This guide ranks 98 live music venues in New York. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
Showing 97–98 of 98 spots
Good to know
- What's the best place for live music in New York for a date?
- Our top pick is Night Club 101 in East Village / LES. Madison Square Garden round out the top 2.
- Which New York neighborhoods have the best live music venues?
- Chelsea / Hell's Kitchen (1) and East Village / LES (1) have the most spots in the top 2.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a night of live music: dinner, then the show, then nightcap. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.