Sam First - Jazz Club & Bar - Los Angeles, California

Karen G.

What a fantastic spot! I love the decor—it’s got such a unique charm. The drinks are excellent, and the music creates an incredible atmosphere. You’d never guess you’re right next to the airport; this place feels like stepping into another era. They open at 6 PM, so if you have a layover at LAX, it’s the perfect spot for a quick drink and some great jazz. Only 10 min walking from terminal 1.

Ryan B.

Very cool spot. Stopped in for a couple drinks before a flight out of LAX. Definitely recommend

Wendy N.

Fantastic small intimate jazz bar. Loved the location...a few minutes via a cab from the airport hotel I stayed in overnight.
Loved the two drinks I had...barman Pablo recommendation was perfect. The entertainment SO fantastic...female lead on piano with her original music. Well worth visiting and enjoying a relaxed, classy evening of music and friendly companionship.

Terri

Nice small intimate atmosphere…by the band name “Samba Nostagica”, we thought we were going to hear some Latin type music. It was instrumental hard Jazz with no sprinkling of Latin! They were good…just not we
thought. There was 6 of us. I recommend getting there very early as we couldn’t find seating together & arrived 25 minute ahead. The session was only 45 minutes long & half of that was listening to life stories by piano player. Literally 4 max songs😞

Rachel R.

Sam First is second to none! What a great venue. I honestly thought it was going to be a weird venue given its proximity to LAX but I was happily surprised at this chic and great-sounding jazz venue.

I saw a cool man order tea and a cookie so I ordered tea and the bar accidentally brought cookies with my tea. That’s a mistake I can improvise off of.

Jeff M.

As a frequent attendee of Sam First, I’ve come to appreciate the occasional good performances. Sadly, the overall experience is marred by poor management. The service can be slow and inattentive, the enforcement of guest standards arbitrary, the food sub-par, and the atmosphere often feels more awkward than intimate. Indeed, without the performers' own followers, the attendance would occasionally be quite low. With better leadership, this place could be remarkable.

What makes the mismanagement even more concerning is that it operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity, meaning the club isn’t privately owned but exists for the benefit of the community. Given managent likely took this nonprofit route after struggling to run the club profitably, hoping for donations and public grants, one would expect a stronger commitment to its mission and public. The lack of accountability is troubling—poor management doesn’t just affect the audience and musicians, but also undermines the club’s charitable purpose.

Claudette D.

Best coastal jazz club.. now a 501c3 non-profit. Presenting eye level jazz wizards in a close room where servers and customers stop talking when the music starts. Genius sound engineer tunes the sound system during warm ups so it's perfect. Excellent cocktails, always 5 or 8 draft beers and a few interesting brews in cans or bottles, good enough munchies... because it's all about the music. Try it. If you ADORE jazz, you will love Sam First. If you want to talk constantly while the artists are playing... go somewhere else. ❤️
On weekends, purchase tix online to ensure seats. Gerald Claytons Tuesday nights cultivate the up and coming with joy and commitment.

Lanky

Great food and service, and regularly hosts strong talent. The venue is very small, and I'd imagine finding seating is a challenge for more popular performances, but we had a comfy spot off to the side for my visit.

Parking is a bit of an issue, but that's the norm for anything LA at this point.

Definitely give this venue a shot if you're interested the area and love jazz!