Uptown Jazz Cafe

Dark and warm, but the music was good and the girl behind the bar friendly. We were there on a Wednesday and it was very quiet: a five man band for less than ten customers, but the atmosphere was still nice.

As a jazz lover, Uptown is it.
Drinks there are the same price as every other bar! the door charge all goes to the musicians and its usually it’s around $ 10 as opposed to bennett’s lane which is like $ 20 on the weekend. And there’s Japanese!
Thank you Uptown!

Drinks are a bit too expensive, which is a shame, because Uptown Jazz is a sweet place.
This is where I go if I want to have a nice sit down and listen to jazz. Maybe good for a date, but only if your (potential) significant other is amenable to such music (nothing more frustrating than being at a gig with someone who’s not into it). The little candles on the tables make it quite romantic.
The mix of music is sweet, there is some modern self-​indulgent stuff, there’s some old stuff, and it attracts high calibre (if not well-​known) performers. As I said, it’s a place to go to listen to the music, not to dance to something with an easy beat. There won’t be any tunes to hum, but you will get a good buzz from the set.

Is it bad that so many of my reviews revolve around the fun and beautiful staff at these places? Oh well, people make a place!
The Jazz Café is quite cute. Upstairs, with its music emanating into the street at night. You may not see the door at first, but follow your ear and look upstairs.
Come inside and welcome yourself into a dark den of a jazz club. Simple and straightforward. Not elaborate. Not immaculately decorated. Just a great bar with good music, and some beautiful bar girls at your service.
They are always smiling, ear to ear to invite you in, and sexy and sultry as they make your drink. It’s expensive, but they pour a good drink and helps you enjoy the mood.

Why is it that all of Melbourne’s jazz bars are hidden? They are always up a laneway, or down in a basement, or in the case of Uptown up a set of uninviting stairs at the upper end of Brunswick street.
I’m not going to lie to you, Uptown is small, so if you are expecting something the size of Bennetts Lane then, well, head to Bennetts Lane. But it is definitely the size of this bar that makes it great — so cosy, comfortable and gives you that feeling that you were lucky to find it and that you really have found something special.
Jazz plays nightly Wednesday to Saturday from 7pm, and a surprising selection of Japanese food is also available. In fact, Uptown have self-​proclaimed that they have some of the best Japanese food in town.
I, unfortunately, have not tried the food as I spent all my money for the night on the rather expensive booze. Their house white was pushing $ 10 per glass which definitely hurt the wallet a bit, but considering the atmosphere and the incredible music it is almost worth it.