Vibe: Sophisticated Listening Room | Historic Elegance | The Heartbeat of Broadway
Keys Jazz Bistro is a premier 4,000-square-foot jazz destination located on the historic Broadway strip in North Beach. Founded by Dr. Simon Rowe—a distinguished pianist and former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute—the venue occupies a space with a deep musical lineage, once home to the legendary 1950s club El Matador. Designed as a “listening room,” Keys prioritizes the connection between artist and audience, offering a refined environment where world-class jazz, seasonal dining, and community culture converge.
The venue is thoughtfully divided into two distinct areas. Upon entering, guests are welcomed into a front bar and lounge (80 capacity), which sits on the site of the original El Matador. Beyond this lies the “Listening Room” (125 capacity)—an intimate, state-of-the-art performance space where no seat is more than 25 feet from the stage. The room features a Yamaha concert grand piano and a resident Hammond B3 organ, bathed in warm lighting and optimized for acoustic perfection.
Marquee Residencies: The programming features a mix of Bay Area legends and international touring artists. Regular favorites include vocalists like Clairdee and Lavay Smith, along with the house Simon Rowe Organ Trio.
Dinner and a Show: Keys offers a casual but seasonal menu and full dinner service in the listening room, allowing guests to dine without interrupting the nuances of the performance. Signature cocktails and a curated wine list are designed to complement the sophisticated, mid-century atmosphere.
Legacy & Community: The bistro is home to Jazz in the Neighborhood, an organization advocating for fair wages for musicians. This commitment to the craft is palpable, making every show feel like a contribution to the thriving future of the art form.
The Ritual of the Set
Performance schedules typically run Wednesday through Saturday with sets at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM (plus a late-night 10:30 PM Hammond B3 set on Saturdays), and Sunday shows at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The “Will-Call” style check-in and first-come, first-served seating policy encourage a relaxed, communal experience where fans are invited to arrive early, grab a drink at the historic bar, and prepare for a night of deep musical immersion.
Returning to Keys, Suzanna Smith fronts another stellar ensemble to work her magic around the Peggy Lee songbook. “There are relatively few contemporary female vocalists who evoke Peggy Lee, at least not genuinely. Suzanna Smith numbers among that rare ilk. That Smith sounds like Lee — slightly breathy and warmly sensual with a hint of...
Returning to Keys, Suzanna Smith fronts another stellar ensemble to work her magic around the Peggy Lee songbook. “There are relatively few contemporary female vocalists who evoke Peggy Lee, at least not genuinely. Suzanna Smith numbers among that rare ilk. That Smith sounds like Lee — slightly breathy and warmly sensual with a hint of...
Keeping folks up past 10 pm in SF is no easy feat, but Key’s owner Simon Rowe has been showcasing the best of the Bay Area’s organ trios in his late night Saturday sets. His ‘Transcendent Trio’, formed for a “Jazz on the Patio” residency during the pandemic will feature the dynamic Kai Lyons- guitar,...
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers have performed at many of the top festivals and concert venues in the US, Europe, Japan and Canada. They have headlined at Jazz At Lincoln Center on New Year’s Eve, and were featured at the official Oscars after-party in Hollywood. Performing classics and obscure gems from the...
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers have performed at many of the top festivals and concert venues in the US, Europe, Japan and Canada. They have headlined at Jazz At Lincoln Center on New Year’s Eve, and were featured at the official Oscars after-party in Hollywood. Performing classics and obscure gems from the...
Now entering its second year, Jazz Mafia’s Monthly Residency has become a laboratory for magic—unexpected collaborations, long-awaited reunions, spontaneous experiments that somehow turn into fan favorites, and the kind of once-in-a-room moments that help define the Bay Area scene. To launch 2026, we’re taking that spirit to the extreme by bringing in one of the...
Now entering its second year, Jazz Mafia’s Monthly Residency has become a laboratory for magic—unexpected collaborations, long-awaited reunions, spontaneous experiments that somehow turn into fan favorites, and the kind of once-in-a-room moments that help define the Bay Area scene. To launch 2026, we’re taking that spirit to the extreme by bringing in one of the...
Contemporary jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer, Peter Horvath has been perfecting his craft since the age of six when he began taking classical piano lessons. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he attended the Bela Bartok Conservatory of Music. At age 17, he won the National Jazz Combo Competition in Hungary and two years later moved to...
Contemporary jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer, Peter Horvath has been perfecting his craft since the age of six when he began taking classical piano lessons. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he attended the Bela Bartok Conservatory of Music. At age 17, he won the National Jazz Combo Competition in Hungary and two years later moved to...
Having worked together for decades,Guitar Trifecta debut at Keys with their unique brand of interplay. Comprised of veterans Lloyd Gregory,Carl Lockett and Eddie Pasternak, these giants have blended their individual styles into one singular voice. Carl Lockett is a Bay Area legend. A musical child prodigy, Carl started out as a drummer, then went to...
Having worked together for decades,Guitar Trifecta debut at Keys with their unique brand of interplay. Comprised of veterans Lloyd Gregory,Carl Lockett and Eddie Pasternak, these giants have blended their individual styles into one singular voice. Carl Lockett is a Bay Area legend. A musical child prodigy, Carl started out as a drummer, then went to...
A cowboy and a samurai walk into a bar…it could happen! Bruce Forman and Akira Tana team up to explore the archetypes, and their relation to the jazz ethos. Expect thrilling improvisation, storytelling, and tons of fun! “Bruce Forman is one of the great lights of our age.” Barney Kessel, Jazz Times A hectic touring...
