Dalston Jazz Bar

Review summary

1. A

   Ana Maria

   London

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great concept and great food. The service was lovely and so the music
   

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2. N

   Natasha

   Manchester

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 31, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing restaurant, will be back! Jazz musicians were really talented and the food was great.
   

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3. R

   Rebecca

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 28, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What an incredible experience. Amazing live jazz band, intimate setting, fresh seafood (including oysters)! It feels like a local treasure and I’m so glad I found this spot. I’ll be returning soon.
   

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4. O

   Ola

   London

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 27, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   The worst experience. Avoid using OpenTable for reservations with this venue. This is the first time I’ve ever written a negative review. I usually support small businesses, especially those that combine culture (like live music) with dining, but my experience with this venue was so distressing I feel compelled to warn others. I booked through OpenTable and called 29 hours in advance to cancel due to illness. The staff refused to help, citing a 48-hour cancellation policy, and told me to contact OpenTable. They also claimed that had I booked directly, they would have cancelled without issue, but because I used OpenTable, they couldn’t assist without incurring fees. When I contacted OpenTable, they confirmed the restaurant could cancel without any penalty/fees. Despite emailing the restaurant with this information, I received no response. When I called again, the manager screamed at me, made inappropriate comments about my name and nationality, and ended the conversation abruptly, claiming he would contact OpenTable—which he never did. This degrading and hostile treatment left me deeply upset and anxious. To make matters worse, the restaurant profited from me (£30 for this reservation) while leaving me traumatised. I cannot stress enough how appalling this experience was.
   

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5. S

   Sarah

   London

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The best kind of organised chaos, staff are rushing around placing new dishes on your table constantly. The feel of the place is lovely, quite intimate and romantic. Food is amazing, so fresh tasting and they will replace things like the chips and bread for hot fresh plates. Fish is spectacular. The seafood special is the way to go. No faults really, only marked ever so slightly down because, the toilet is not very nice but no real problems just cold and damp, and overall the place is cold, and the door is left open so it basically feels like your outside but its alright and didn't really bother me but if you go this time of year be warned to wear a nice jumper for when you take your coat off. But I would 100% recommend to anyone looking to book! arrive on time for the best tables so you don't have to share!!
   

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6. T

   Tor

   London

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 7, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Top evening out. We were a big table and the staff were great, kept on coming out with more and more delicious dishes. We were fed & watered so well! Fab atmosphere, cosy & fun with good tunes. Really happy with how well we were looked after at Jazz Bar & it made our special occasion all the more special :)
   

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7. D

   Daniela

   London

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 3, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fabulous bar with excellent music and food. I have already made another reservation to be back!
   

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8. T

   Tynisha

   London

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 3, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Review of Dalston Jazz Bar: Overhyped and Underwhelming I had high expectations for Dalston Jazz Bar given the buzz around it, but my visit was a major letdown. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the decor—or lack thereof. It felt more like a primary school lunch hall than a cozy jazz spot, which wasn’t the vibe I was hoping for. Things went downhill quickly when we were seated but left unattended for a good 10-15 minutes, despite the restaurant not being busy. That’s a long wait to even be acknowledged. When I finally got a look at the tableware, I was shocked. The plates had visible white stains, as though they hadn’t been properly cleaned, and the water and wine glasses were cloudy—an immediate “ew” moment for me. The tap water was served in a bottle that had strange bubbles, which was confusing since it was supposed to be still water, not sparkling. It was unsettling and added to the growing list of red flags. When service finally arrived, it was a disaster. The waiter repeatedly got our order wrong—not once or twice, but around five times. I’m usually understanding about mistakes, but this was excessive and frustrating. As for the food, it was just as disappointing. The mussels in white wine sauce were overwhelmed by the sauce’s flavor, and the mussels themselves were unpleasantly soft. The prawns, served in a tomato-based sauce, were bland once the shell was removed, lacking any real seasoning or taste. Even the chips, our side dish, were so over-salted they were nearly inedible. Overall, the food quality, service, and atmosphere were far below expectations. If I could sum up my advice in one sentence: don’t waste your time. There are far better places to enjoy a meal and good music.
   

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9. K

   Kelly

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 3, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything about this place is fantastic! The food, the atmosphere, the service and the staff are absolutely lovely! Superb!!
   

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10. M

    Maeva

    Bath

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Amazing staff! Amazing Vibes! Amazing music! And the food perfect!
    

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