Nicknamed The Big Apple, the city has endowed that juicy fruit with multiple meanings, especially after cementing itself as the world’s jazz capital in the 1940s. It also bred punk rock, fueled the explosion of Latin music and disco, and remains sweet and ripe with innovation in the music industry. Whether you’re looking for new ways to get lost in it or hoping to revisit old haunts—from indie sessions at Baby’s All Right to uncovering how to get to Carnegie Hall—this is your list of things for music lovers to do in NYC.
1. Hear blue notes at the best jazz clubs in the city
Jazz has been adding bebop energy to NYC’s music scene ever since the cultural renaissance that took hold in creative hubs like Harlem and Greenwich Village. As a top destination for informal jam sessions and improvised melodies, New York has some of the best jazz clubs in the world.
The original Club Cinderella, now rebranded as Zinc Bar, still has that 1940s jazz hotspot charm that once attracted legends like Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. Over at the Roxy Hotel, The Django serves up live jazz paired with a Parisian boîte aesthetic, while in Harlem, Bill Saxton continues the tradition of straight-ahead jazz at his intimate speakeasy venue.
2. Live in the moment at a silent disco
Venues like Lincoln Center, 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar, Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, and Taj II Lounge and Event Space are no strangers to silent disco events. And sometimes, popping on those wireless headphones is a nice break—clubs are usually way too loud to talk anyway, so why not skip the shouting over the music and just get lost in your own world? Moreover, the silent disco has recently stepped up its game by shifting the focus to the music itself—allowing you to truly appreciate the skill of competing DJs and experience where a quality song can take you.
3. Discover bars and restaurants with live music
For those times when music lovers in NYC just don’t feel like dealing with packed crowds, long lines, or the struggle of grabbing a drink from a food truck only to fight their way back through a sea of people, plenty of NYC’s bars and restaurants come with great live music in a more relaxed setting.
Some standouts: Astoria’s The Wolfhound is an Irish pub known for craft beers, trivia, and, most importantly, lively trad music sessions. The Flatiron Room’s NoMad and Murray Hill locations aren’t just about smooth single malts—they feature live entertainment spanning boogie rock, gypsy soul, and much more. And for an intimate indie music experience, Baby’s All Right is the place to be.
4. Kick it street and subway style
Experiencing street performers and buskers in the subway can be an inspiring moment in the city. What might seem a tough deal in a fast-paced city is actually a coveted position for many—take Music Under New York (MUNY), established by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This successful program presents thousands of performances annually at over 40 locations across the MTA’s transit system. You won’t find much more variety than the classic rock covers performed by The Meetles or the dreamy sounds created by the Saw Lady.
And when something as innovative as the Reach New York, An Urban Musical Instrument is connecting people with an urban musical experience, there’s a lot to be said for the subway. Installed at Herald Square station, it is an interactive sound installation that creates musical notes when you have your hands in front of sensors.
5. Get traditional with classical music concerts
Ahem, attention please! Yes, jazz is embedded in the musical roots of this city—just like hip-hop, pop, and rap—but let’s not forget that the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera House, and Carnegie Hall came first. Today, between Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, the variety of classical music concerts in NYC certainly stands out. Sit in the very venues where Yo-Yo Ma, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Bernstein once performed, enjoy the phone-free experience of The Crypt Sessions at the Church of the Intercession in Harlem, and more.
And more also means attending the widely popular Candlelight concerts, which have been taking over some of the finest venues in the city. String quartets, pianists, and jazz bands perform instrumental covers of the music you know and love, whether it’s classical or contemporary. These tributes range from reimagined film soundtracks to classical takes on Lauryn Hill’s soulful hits and renditions of the songs that defined the ’90s.
6. Attend shows at the best music venues
There’s no easy place to begin when it comes to NYC’s music scene, simply because the list of the best music venues is so long. Starting with Radio City Music Hall, the iconic Art Deco building that’s home to the Rockettes, then moving on to the aforementioned Carnegie Hall, a prestigious international hub for artists worldwide, and also including the vibrant The Cutting Room. Okay, so the list may go on, but hey, that just means there are plenty of performances to choose from—something every music lover can appreciate.
7. Spend hours (of course) browsing the best record stores
With some of the best songs written about NYC, it’s no surprise the city is home to some of the best record stores. For those who take the sport of flipping through vinyl racks, hunting for rare gems, and crate digging through heaps of record jackets to find a true treasure seriously, it’s an all-day-long activity. Stranded Records in the East Village never disappoints with its international collection, Generation Records is perfect for the bargain-hunter and hardcore punk fan in you, and Human Head Records offers a bit of everything, with fair prices to match.
8. Blend your love for music with drama at a musical
Seasoned theatergoer, showtune lover, or newcomer to elaborate sets, costumes, and larger-than-life spectacles—whichever box you fit, New York has everything a music enthusiast could ask for when it comes to dipping your toe or diving into the dazzling deep end of musicals. From new Broadway shows to long-running masterpieces like The Phantom of the Opera and Chicago, immerse yourself in showstoppers, and we bet you’ll be hoping for an encore or two.
9. Travel through music history at a storied landmark
Although most of the city’s music venues where shows continue to be hosted have earned their place in music history, there are a few spots that manage to hold those chaotic legends and wild moments that could only belong to rock stars and tortured poets within their concrete time capsule. Take the Chelsea Hotel, for example, immortalized by Leonard Cohen’s confessional ballad, The Strokes’ Under Control, and others (including songs by legends like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Duran Duran). Infamous, yes, but worth a visit, absolutely. You’ll also find yourself in Manhattan’s artsy Chelsea neighborhood, home to galleries, theaters, and The High Line.
10. Visit the museums that are trapping music in time
When you’ve had your fill of shows and events, spending a laid-back afternoon at a museum can be thrilling in a different way—especially when it’s dedicated to showcasing archival Louis Armstrong records, Broadway costumes, and never-before-heard jazz concert recordings. Explore places like the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Museum of Broadway, the National Jazz Museum, and more for an enlightening experience and a trip down memory lane.