The Top Music Venues in Queens

If you love live music and are local to Queens, New York, you’re in luck – Queens is packed with great music venues. From local colleges and performance halls to bars and restaurants that offer live music, you’ll find an amazing variety of performances held every night of the week. But with so many choices, where do you start? We’ve highlighted some of our favorite top music venues in Queens to help.

These venues are dedicated to providing some of the top music performances around.

Queens College has a great concert series. Stop by their LeFrak Concert Hall for some of the best orchestral and symphonic shows around.

At Sage Music, we offer small, intimate concerts that give you a chance to observe the details that go into each piece. It’s a great way to get up close and personal with the performers. Many of our concerts are classical or acoustic.

The Jackson Room brings globally inspired Jazz to Queens, New York. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but it offers quality concerts that feature some talented musicians.

This large-scale venue is the place to be if you want to see some major label acts. Constructed in 1923, Forest Hills Stadium was just renovated in 2013 and has hosted acts like Death Cab for Cutie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, Jethro Tull, and more.

The Trans-Pecos is an all-age venue and a community resource center. The venue has a great summer lineup featuring acts like Shy Lennox, Sizzy Rocket, and Pro Teens.

Looking to enjoy a drink and some dinner with a live music background? These bars are known for their live music and their great atmosphere.

The Claret Wine Bar offers a low-key, relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long day. This bar has great bartenders and good food and drink, paired with live music for the complete package.

If you’re looking for outdoor music, this is the place to go. The patio is the best, especially in the summer. Their music acts include acoustic, Jazz, and folk.

The Shillelagh Tavern brings Irish and Gaelic rock to Queens. They also feature local music and some rock, too.

The LetLove Inn features a variety of Jazz and DJs. It’s a great place to enjoy a cocktail and listen to some music.

Terrazza 7 is the best place to catch Latin music in Queens. The bar features a huge variety of music, from folk to jazz, salsa, cumbia, and more.

Papazzio Restaurant opened in 1990 and is a fine-dining restaurant located in Bayside. Papazzio features a great calendar of live music, so you can enjoy a full meal and some entertainment, too.

Located in Astoria, the Strand Smokehouse features delicious smoked meats and craft beers. The restaurant also hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as on Sunday afternoons.

If you’re looking for atmosphere, this is the place to go. This bar was nominated for Time Out New York’s Best Wine Bar and is located just one stop from Grand Central. Enjoy wines from all over the world, a cheese selection, and fresh local oysters. The venue also features live Jazz, completing the atmosphere.

In addition to these bars and restaurants, we also recommend:

• Brian Dempseys
• Café D’Antigua Bar and Lounge
• Domaine’s Astoria
• Dominie’s Hoek
• Crescent and Vine
• The Bonnie
• Joe’s Garage
• Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
• Oliver’s
• RaR Bar
• The Footlight
• Woodhaven House

There’s something about live music that captivates us. A live band can instantly transform a room, which recorded music just can’t do. Live music is a test of a performer’s talents, since there’s no going back and fixing mistakes. And when a performer engages with the audience? It can make for a performance that you’ll remember all your life.

New York City, and Queens in particular, is home to a thriving music scene. We’re lucky to have so many great venues where we can enjoy so many different types of live music. Whether you’re a fan of jazz, rock, classical, acoustic, or nearly any other type of music, you’ll be able to find it live somewhere in Queens. Maybe you want to explore new types of music or discover up-and-coming artists right in your own city. These venues allow you to do just that.