Minton's Playhouse

Minton's Playhouse is a jazz club in Harlem, Manhattan, located at 210 West 118th Street, offering nightly live music in a restored building with high ceilings and furnishings from the original era. The venue combines a restaurant and performance stage under one roof, drawing visitors who enjoy both dining and listening to live performances.

Henry Minton opened the venue in 1938 as a meeting point for musicians who developed new playing styles here after their regular performances. These late-night sessions led to the birth of bebop, a style that fundamentally changed the jazz genre.

Musicians used this venue for late-night gatherings after performing at other clubs, sharing new ideas and playing together without formal arrangements. The name honors Henry Minton, who created a space for experiments that shaped the genre for decades to come.

The venue opens daily at 6 PM and offers both food and live music until midnight, with performances spread throughout the evening. Visitors who prefer seating near the stage should arrive early or reserve in advance.

The venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and received New York City landmark status in 2023. Both honors recognize the contribution to music history that emerged here during late-night jam sessions.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1938

GPS coordinates: 40.80472,-73.95333

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29