Top Jazz, best venue, excellent bar, worst parking and getting to find. If you want the best, it is worth it, if you like big venues and pop music, go catch Kenny G at a stadium. I would go to this place often, but it is about 140 miles from where I live and I am not into the LAX metro thing. But if you are into Uber and such, park in Venice and uber there and claim to have been at the West Coast Village Vanguard of LA'sbest. read more

Sam First Bar - Bonzo ! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Omg this place is SPECIAL and you must absolutely get tickets in advance. I am a sucker for high quality live jazz, the kind that's not just in the background and if you're looking for that too, then this is it. World-class musicians and a warmly-lit, beautiful space with great cocktails. They recently added empanadas to their menu and they are reaalllly yummy! Parking isn't usually a challenge and the crowd is full of to-the-bone music lovers. Be warned, this is not a spot to chat while the music is playing; the focus IS the music. Because they are also streaming and recording the sets, the crowd is pretty subdued. However, if you get there early, you'll have time to sip and socialize. Recently, the ticket prices have increased significantly, but it's still well worth the cost to support local talent and a great venue. read more

Wow, what a gem! I was missing jazz clubs from NYC so I did a little research and came across this venue. What a special place. It's small enough to feel like you are listening to and watching a performance right in your living room. The bar program is excellent and more importantly, the music program is simply fantastic! I will for sure, come back again and again. read more

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Located near LAX among the airport hotels, Sam First is a small space in the back of a nondescript building off Century Blvd. The welcome is warm and atmosphere inviting. Seating is in comfortable armchairs. The bar is well stocked with some standards as well as rarities. Bartender is expert in turning out high quality spirits. Food is mostly appetizers, we had the empanadas which were OK only. Most people had nothing to eat. The attraction is the music which was quite good. As the room filled up, the sole server and bartender were working continuously and were hard to flag down. I wanted some coffee and ice cream that but couldn't get the attention of the server. After the concert, there was a line to settle up and then we had to leave. Sam First has a unique atmosphere but falls short on food and service. If you want some good jazz and drinks, it is a strong contender. read more

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We came back on a Saturday night in March and once again was pleased with the venue. The place looks hip and trendy, with comfortable seating and an intimate feel. The menu featured nice small plates, like hummus, spinach dip with pita, olives, empanadas, and charcuterie. The cocktails and wines are lovely. I had a solid Manhattan and enjoyed their Cabernet. The featured trio were top-notch performers, playing an accessible unique jazz style which we thoroughly enjoyed. This is great hidden gem to visit. read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Shared a really cool experience with some friends that surprised me with tickets to live jazz show. I was blown away by the skills that each artist showed. Seats seem like first come first serve, so we found a table in the middle that could accommodate for 4. Can get a little tight, but our servers were able to get our orders and drinks just fine. Didn't order any food, but the drinks were good. I love a good espresso martini and they got options here for those. Would recommend for anyone looking to get some live music in. The demographic is slightly on the older side, but honestly, no cares, musics for everybody. read more

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A friend brought us to Sam First Bar for the first time, and what a hidden gem! Tucked away near the airport, this cozy little bar totally surprised us--in the best way. We happened to catch a West Coast jazz band doing an album release party, and the live music was absolutely incredible. It felt like a private concert in an intimate setting. The drinks were delicious, the service was attentive and friendly, and the vibe was just right--chill but elevated. It's rare to find a spot that nails both the craft cocktail scene and live music, but Sam First really delivers. Definitely worth seeking out! read more

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My husband and I attended for a jam session (we're in our mid thirties) the crowd seemed a bit younger than expected. Lots of transplants trying to get their name out there. Make sure to purchase tickets before going. Parking is a little tough, street parking is limited after 8pm. Drinks were okay, we had a cheese and nuts board which was pretty basic. read more

Super groovy spot just outside of LAX. Incredible sound system and acoustics. Music, of course, was top-notch, as was their liquor selection. read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My wife and I popped into Sam First for some live music on a date night. The band (whose name escapes me) was terrific! The band leader, who played the sax, and the trumpeter had one of the best harmonic vibes you'll ever experience. We had a some cocktails and light bites, all of which were very good. This is a small venue so seating may be at a premium on weekend evenings, but it was ample for the 7 pm showing on a Thursday night. Our bartender, Pedro was attentive and made great drinks. The venue was clean and the restrooms were well maintained. There's no real onsite parking. There's some street parking, but we chose to wreck our budget by parking in the hotel parking lot which is onsite, ugh. HOWEVER, it was actually worth it, if you look at it as buying one less premium drink, for which we spare no expense anyway. Then again, if you drink too much and get a room at the hotel, parking is free anyway. Good spot, great vibes, great music. read more

Amaaaaazing venue and musicians. So close to lax, parking is a little hard because they have a tiny lot or street parking (with meters), so highly recommend coming early. Full bar and light snacks. Must buy a ticket but no requirement to buy any drinks like some other jazz bars. Super cozy bar with lots of these little tubes all around the ceiling and wall, I think it's for acoustic/soundproofing purposes but also adds to the ambience. Had such a fantastic time listening to live jazz and enjoying some white wine. They have their own record label and they are a nonprofit, which I thought was pretty cool. Highly recommend for JAZZ enthusiasts read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place is tucked away, but such a good find! I came here on a Friday night for the 9:30 show. We got lucky with parking, but it can be tricky to land street parking on this little side street so close to the airport. But the music was lovely (though the set felt short and was over before I knew it!), the empanadas were decent, and the space was intimate and cozy. I would have given 5 stars, but there was only one bartender serving everyone in the place, so service was a little slow to begin with, and toward the end of the night, the bartender did leave his customers to go talk to someone else in the audience, so we had to wait to close out our tab. That was a little weird! But aside from that, it was a really nice experience. read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Live Jazz, and good drinks. Need I say more? The drinks were pretty good and the staff is all super friendly. There was a 20$ cover, and some really good musicians. The street parking was pretty easy to find on a Tuesday night. read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Had such a great time here watching the 7:30pm jazz show. We were lucky enough to snag one of the few parking spots in the back, otherwise you'd need to park at one of the airport lots and walk over. This bar is RIGHT next to LAX. People from the hotels and those waiting for flights were there as well as a few locals! There isn't really dinner per se, but you can order a drink and a small appetizer like a charcuterie board or empanadas. Everything was pretty good and I'd come back again! read more

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This place is SUCH A GEM! This was my first time visiting - I will be here at least monthly and I've told all my friends about it. The location is a bit odd smooshed in right near LAX, but I was able to find a parking spot easily in the back (follow instructions provided in email confirmation). The aesthetic is so cute and I love how it's a smaller cozy vibe with room for perhaps 20-30 people. I saw Tone Forest with Miro Sprague, Jason Ennis & Marty Jaffe with a couple friends and it was a wonderful experience. We went to the 7:30pm showing and there was also a 9:30pm showing you could attend. Tickets were $30/person and they have yummy food/bites and a full bar as well. The server/bartender will come around and quietly serve you during the show. This is my new favorite spot in West LA!!! read more

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A nice and very intimate jazz lounge to visit. I enjoyed my first visit in this place and listened to a jazz band performance for about one and half hours. Their cocktails were delicious as well. You can buy the tickets online before going. Would love to return to see other performers. read more

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Truly what are you doing if you haven't been here yet? Amazing vibes, music, and service! Cannot wait to be the cool person that introduces this spot to my friends. Such talented musicians. read more

Super cool intimate bar. Call ahead if you want to reserve a booth (would enhance the experience). Very small though so come a little early to get a spot. Very friendly, small service staff but enough to get things moving. I wasn't sure how to flag someone down to get a bite to eat as I was seated in front of the show so didn't want to distract the performance. Would recommend sitting in a booth near the bar as that's near the kitchen so you could get small bites as well as drinks without impeding the performance. read more

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Jazz bar right by LAX, seriously, one wrong turn and you'll be stuck in LAX traffic. Came for a Gerald Clinton Tuesday night with some friends and it was so fun and romantic! Tips: * Seating might be difficult if you come late * Bring some ear plugs incase you sit near the front Green Beast cocktail (5/5) refreshing w a little salt and absinthe. Best cocktail I've had! Service was so pleasant, from the security to the bartenders! Thank you for hosting a wonderful night. read more

Sam First Bar - a piano, drums, and other musical instruments - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Oh wow, this has now become my new favorite place in the LA area for serious live jazz listening . This small place sure gives a super intimate listening/ viewing experience. There are a variety of seating options, but up close are several armchairs (see photo of how close you are to the performers). As others mention, its good to arrive at least 30 mins early, to give you time to pick a choice seat, order a cocktail (the drinks are sophisticated and tasty), and during the time prior to the performance is the only time you can talk with the people you came with. As the website says, no talking is allowed during the performance, which totally makes sense given how small the venue is. People were there by themselves, totally fine to go by oneself if in the LA area with time to kill during an evening. It is literally in walking distance to the Terminal 1-2 area. The performer when I went was Edward Simon and his trio, playing music from his newly released album. It seems that Sam First carefully select a good range of serious jazz musicians to play. GIven the small venue size, its possible to chat with the performers after the show (at least on this day, people could).. I will be back for sure read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We had a wonderful date night here! Jazz band was incredibly talented and there was comfortable seating. Service was also excellent.

Outstanding experience. A real jazz venue for jazz lovers. A plethora of an amazing artists and performers for all. The staff is dope. The ambiance hits the right tone. It feels really good inside and outside. Thanks a million Sam's First. read more

I ordered 3 different bourbons on the menu before they actually had something of interest to my pallet! They said they were out of them! When you pay $45.00 for admission, you expect the venue to hold up your their end of the bargain and have the spirits they offer in their menu. Laziness speaks lack of respect for your customers! It's not that hard folks! read more

This is such a small cozy venue for jazz. Everyone working there from the host to servers were so hospitable. But the highlight was the proximity the space allowed to the performers. Again, such a cool place and nonprofit as well. I'll definitely patronize this place again. read more

Excellent has venue great crowd. Fast service. Huge variety of drinks. Easy reservation. Street parking is available. read more

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came back here for the Taylor Eigsti show last night and it was a great experience. Had a great Whiskey sour and we were literally in the band. While $35 for a set is definitely steep this is a top notch experience. Probably up there with Vibrato as the nicest Jazz clubs in Los Angeles. This place is not cutting any corners. I have to start coming here more often. read more

Awesome Jazz bar. We ve been here twice and we absolutely love it. The place is very intimate and cozy. The service is great and the prices are fair for a type of bar like this. It doesnt feel trendy at all, but still classy. We did order a platter and we got charged about 30% more than the menu price and they added a side to our plate w out our knowlege that cost even more. We didnt mind this, but some people might. Just keep an eye on your bill. read more

Sam First Bar - a woman sitting on a stool in front of a piano - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Reviews looked great, so I walked nextdoor from the hotel to give it a try. Maybe a total of 10 patrons inside and no band on stage yet. Door guy stopped me before I could open the door, mentioned that the inside was for tickets only, running $25 a piece. I was welcome to sit outside and have drinks, but just kinda killed it for me being charged a cover for a bar that wasn't even half full with no entertainment on stage. ‍ read more

Came for the Gerard Clayton Tuesday night session, for both the 730pm house band session and the 9pm jam session. We were able to snag some free parking in the garage, but there's also free street parking after 6pm. We showed up around 720pm and were able to grab drinks before the first session started. We got a few cocktails to start the night, and some glasses of wine later on. We also ordered the salmon crostini for some bites. The shows were awesome! We had such a good time, the bartenders were extremely accommodating and the ambience was perfect - chill, inviting and calm (despite the bar being right near LAX). Would love to come back again for a future date night! read more

Sam First Bar - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is of the most elegant (but not pretentious) bars I've ever been to in LA! The interior was nicely decorated with some cool photos hung taken by the owner hung on the wall and a really warm and cozy atmosphere. A major plus if you enjoy LIVE jazz music! They have small food selection like a cheese plate, some light snacks, nothing too crazy. Come here after dinner and ask for Carlos if you wanna be taken care of! :) Carlos was my fav, he was so friendly and funny, he made my friends and I feel welcomed and at ease. Lots of metered street parking available (free after 8pm). read more

Sam First Bar - Live jazz band -- come between 6:30pm-9pm to catch them live! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My first time here and I like that is it small and intimate. Get there early so that you can get a good seat and maybe a free parking spot on the back. If not, the parking garage on 98th is reasonable. The jazz was good. The empenadas were tasty. I had lamb, spicy beef, and spinach. More partial to the spicy beef, but the lamb and spinach were good, too. Good for a night out. The sets are only one hour. read more

Sam First Bar - Roy McCurdy quartet. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What a fun jazz bar! Definitely a must come back! Gf and I purchased tickets to a show and jam session and they did not disappoint. Artists were super talented, understood the vibe of the room, and played to the audience but stayed true to their sound. It was truly a remarkable experience. Live music in an ambient space. Drinks were finely made. Priced around $14 for a cocktail / glass of wine. We wanted to get a bottle of the Italian Pinot Grigio (~$40), but it wasn't available at the time. Salmon crostini was delish! The salmon was nice and fatty over a warm toasted baguette. Not too crunchy where it would cut up your mouth, but a lovely crunch that melts together with the fish. Parking is kinda limited. Arrive early to park free in the lot or street parking nearby. Really liked the event.. could have been a one of, but definitely want to attend more outings at this venue. Be back soon! read more

Sam First Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Service was awesome and bartender really helpful. Nice atmosphere and great place to listen to jazz. Fair warning though , talking is not allowed in the restaurant. Your best bet is to seat outside and you can still enjoy the music and talk. A different band every night, but the Brazilian jazz band is one you don't want to miss. Their is a twenty dollar cover charge per person, but I think it's worth it, if you're really into jazz. read more

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Amazing bar with beautiful vibes and great music. Pedro was the sweetest, who makes amazing drinks. You can tell he is very conscious & aware of the customers needs and everything that is going on at the bar, all at the same time. Very impressive. Daisy & Hannah were also very kind and made sure we had the upmost best experience. . read more

If you're in to live music, this is an awesome spot. I come here before picking up my partner from LAX. It's a great place to kill some time! Pro tip, check if there's a band playing before heading there. It ticketed after the bad starts. Drinks a solid, and the best anywhere around LAX! read more

Definitely will return! The service & food was good. The music & venue was nice & intimate.

The musical acts at this bar are magical; the events manager is setting a high standard for jazz venues and changing the buzz around this art form for the entire west coast, even going beyond just Los Angeles. Much of that has to do with the self-consciously urbane, designed interior at this bar. It sets a tone around which the music itself can shimmer. The head bartender Mark has a creative hand with his cocktails, but can be as understated as the bar's location, right at the exit of LAX airport. The sound system in the house is without equal. On any given night you could run into Grammy-winning instrumentalists playing mere feet from you, and bidding you a good evening. I can't count the excellent musicians I've met here, and the community of repeat visitors from among the jazz afficionado set who travel clear across Los Angeles to visit this spot. I can't vouch for their cheese or humus plates, they seem extremely basic and without imagination. (They could hire me to up their nibbles game! Being a cross between a gourmand and a foodie I bet I could come up with an elevated jazz menu that is as noteworthy as their shows.) I must also note that there's something slightly askew about the flow of this place, which requires people crossing in front of the band if they enter late and want to get a drink at the bar. The bar should ideally be located at the opposite end of the room from the stage, but here it's adjacent, so there is always bar staff traipsing across the sightlines of the musicians as they serve patrons seated around the room. And the bathrooms are behind the stage so you have to go around the band. It's odd, the flow. The textured walls appear to be made of spring coils. It feels like a movie star's luxurious basement studio-bar. Again, the music provided by world touring artists as well as Los Angeles' own finest, is divine! Standard entry of $20 for two sets usually at 8 and 9:30 pm. Convenient to public transit if you use any buses, they are walking distance from the LAX City Bus center along Vicksburg Avenue. read more

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A hidden gem in the most unexpected location. Live jazz daily? That's almost unheard of. One thing I would suggest is having servers doing rounds during the set to get more sales and perhaps lower the cover fee a little bit. read more

I was looking for a jazz bar that gave me similar vibes to La La Land or something upscale to enjoy with my best girl friend. Sam First did not disappoint. We were able to buy tickets to their live show the night before. Upon arrival, parking was not too hard to find and the vibes were immaculate. We ordered espresso martinis and they were brought to our seats; so the service was more upscale than a basic bar. There are signs stating to respect the musicians (mainly to keep your voice level low and talking to a minimum) which I appreciated because it allowed us to be in the moment. The music was fantastic and we were able to get another drink halfway through thanks to the servers coming around. We didn't order food but small bites are an option if requested. Overall, a great experience that I would recommend to all jazz lovers! read more

A great evening of jazz with b LA. Acoustics, vibe and atmosphere are worth the visit.