Birdland 315 W. 44th St. (8th & 9th Aves.)
Hell's Kitchen
212.581.3080
Birdland:
You don’t just stumble into Birdland for the Creole food (although the Southern fried chicken and waffles are sinfully addictive). Cats come here to see world-class jazz performed live. Unlike other clubs, Birdland is not a standing-room-only joint. Here at what Charlie Parker called “the jazz center of the world,” crowds witness musical magic from the comfort of barstools or candlelit tables forming a semicircle around the performance stage. There’s generally a $20-$40 door charge and a $10 drink minimum at the tables (this is why you don’t just come in for the food); at the bar, though, that includes a complimentary Pale Ale. But you won’t be whining about the cost once you know that you can get a load of greats like Chick Corea or Roy Haynes doing their thing here. If the original Bird approves, it must be cool.
