Keys Jazz Bistro

Address
498 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133 United States Get Directions
Website https://keysjazzbistro.com/
Vibe: Sophisticated Listening Room | Historic Elegance | Heartbeat of Broadway
Keys Jazz Bistro occupies a storied 4,000-square-foot space along the historic Broadway corridor in North Beach, once home to the legendary 1950s club El Matador.  Founded by Dr. Simon Rowe — a distinguished pianist and former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute — Keys is built around a single conviction: that jazz deserves to be heard.  Every design decision, from the 125-seat Listening Room to the resident Yamaha concert grand and Hammond B3 organ, serves the music first.  The result is a room where sound commands the spotlight.
Live Music & Atmosphere
The Listening Room is designed so no seat is more than 25 feet from the stage — acoustics optimized, sightlines unobstructed, and the room temperature set to reverence.  Programming draws Bay Area legends and international touring artists: vocalists like Clairdee and Lavay Smith, and the house Simon Rowe Organ Trio anchoring the weekly calendar.  The front bar and lounge (80 capacity) occupies the original El Matador footprint — the place to arrive early, settle in, and let the evening unfold.
Dinner and a Show
A full menu featuring appetizers and Australian meat pies — a nod to the owner’s roots — is served tableside so you can eat without missing a note.  Signature cocktails and a curated wine list complement the mid-century atmosphere — sophisticated without being fussy.
Details That Define the Room
• Tickets available online; reservations strongly recommended, especially on weekends.
• Will-call check-in — give your name at the door; no printed ticket required.
• Shows run Wed–Sat at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, with a 10:30 PM Hammond B3 late set on Saturdays. Sunday shows at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
• First-come, first-served seating inside.
• Keys is home to Jazz in the Neighborhood, advocating for fair musician wages — every ticket supports the cause.
Categories: North Beach

Events at this venue

Today

  • Clairdee Sings Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin

    Clairdee Sings Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Join us for an evening celebrating the music of Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin—three iconic composers who shaped Broadway, Hollywood, and the core repertoire of jazz standards. Known for her warmth, clarity, and emotional honesty, celebrated vocalist Clairdee brings her unmistakable voice to these timeless classics. As a master storyteller, her interpretations honor the original spirit of the Great...

    $40

  • Clairdee Sings Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin

    Clairdee Sings Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Join us for an evening celebrating the music of Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin—three iconic composers who shaped Broadway, Hollywood, and the core repertoire of jazz standards. Known for her warmth, clarity, and emotional honesty, celebrated vocalist Clairdee brings her unmistakable voice to these timeless classics. As a master storyteller, her interpretations honor the original spirit of the Great...

    $40

  • Late Set: Simon Rowe Organ Trio

    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    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,...

    $15

  • Paula West

    Paula West
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    A true treasure of the Bay Area jazz scene, vocalist Paula West is celebrated for her rich contralto voice and deeply expressive interpretations of song.Her repertoire moves effortlessly from the Great American Songbook to inspired reinventions of music by artists like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Johnny Cash, always delivered with nuance, emotional...

    $40

  • Paula West

    Paula West
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    A true treasure of the Bay Area jazz scene, vocalist Paula West is celebrated for her rich contralto voice and deeply expressive interpretations of song.Her repertoire moves effortlessly from the Great American Songbook to inspired reinventions of music by artists like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Johnny Cash, always delivered with nuance, emotional...

    $40

  • Agape Soul

    Agape Soul
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Love-Centric. Soul-Crafted. Groove-Infused. AgapeSoul fuses soul, funk, jazz, and R&B into a sound that’s undeniably soulful and deeply uplifting. Led by bassist and visionary Darryl Anders, the band delivers tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and infectious feel-good energy. Fronted by powerhouse vocalists Fred Ross and Sonya Distel, and anchored by an electrifying rhythm section—Anders on bass,...

    $40

  • Tony Lindsay

    Tony Lindsay
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    After 25 years as the lead vocalist for Santana, Tony Lindsay has garnered 11 Grammy awards, traveled on numerous world tours and recorded on seven Santana CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003), Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007), Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008). In addition to many Grammy Show performances, Tony’s time with...

    $40

  • Fog City Swing

    Fog City Swing
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This...

    $40

  • Fog City Swing

    Fog City Swing
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area’s newest and hottest jazz and swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. Enjoy an evening of swing, hard bop, and even some classic pop favorites performed only the way they can! This...

    $40

  • Adam Klipple Soul Quintet

    Adam Klipple Soul Quintet
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Pianist and keyboardist Adam Klipple has toured the world with artists such as Veronica Swift and Lauryn Hill. Currently touring with Blood Sweat and Tears, Adam is bringing his wild and funky 5-piece band to Keys Jazz Bistro. The quintet plays original soulful arrangements of songs you know, sure to surprise! From Chopin and Tchaikovsky...

    $30

  • Adam Klipple Soul Quintet

    Adam Klipple Soul Quintet
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Pianist and keyboardist Adam Klipple has toured the world with artists such as Veronica Swift and Lauryn Hill. Currently touring with Blood Sweat and Tears, Adam is bringing his wild and funky 5-piece band to Keys Jazz Bistro. The quintet plays original soulful arrangements of songs you know, sure to surprise! From Chopin and Tchaikovsky...

    $30

  • Lara Louise

    Lara Louise
    Keys Jazz Bistro 498 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States

    Keys Jazz Bistro welcomes Dutch-born vocalist Lara Louise for an evening of classic songs, characterized by a soft, sultry voice blending her folk roots with French chanson, Bossa Nova, and the Great American Songbook. Lara Louise and guitarist Gawain Mathews have been making music together since 2020, and their renditions of jazz standards have quietly...

    $40