Upstairs At the Van Dyke Cafe

love to go here when I’m traveling to Miami. Love the live music. Great Jazz Lounge. I’ll be back

The jazz is great but I find it offensive the 2 ½ dollar extra charge for another slice of pita bread. Furthermore, the recorded announcement they have indicating their hours of operation is inaccurate, indicating they’re open for an hour later than is the case. Totally misleading. I have informed the manager of this more than once but nothing was ever done.

LOVE THIS PLACE! Such an intimate little music venue hidden away on Lincoln Rd! Its $ 7/​person to get a table or free standing room. The drinks could definitely be stronger! But the live music is always fun, interactive and diverse!

The Upstairs Jazz Lounge at the Van Dyke Café is a Awseome place! I wish i would have known about this place since day one of moving to Miami. Great live music. After a long day at work this will close your evening out in a fantastic way. Miami Beach needs more places like this. Great food, Drinks, Service & Music. I have heard some great bands from all over here. Nothing like live music in a great atmosphere…
I would recommend this place to everyone!

I was excited about going to this live music joint that’s a little different from the rest of Miami. Initial impression is that it’s expensive. There’s a $ 7 cover to sit down at a table, free to stand. You can order drinks ($ 10+) and from their restaurant menu. I got a pisco sour which was well done, but not very strong, and a dessert (all $ 10+). 15% suggested gratuity, but you can adjust as you wish.
What is nice is that the venue is intimate. There’s not a bad seat in the house. The night my friend and I went, they hosted DJs accompanied by live musicians and singers. First, we heard electric violin, Middle Eastern sound with some wailing/​rapping not unlike Karmin. Next up, a cellist with a soulful singer. All the while, a DJ was playing tracks in the background. I thought it was ok, but I was hoping for more jazz/​blues so I just came on the wrong night. They have a calendar online so I’d check the music before going.
The crowd was mostly older. I guess the cover charge keeps out the riffraff. It’s really dark so I had to use a smartphone flashlight app to read the menus. They do accept credit cards.

GO UPSTAIRS!!! Such a cool vibe, cool Bartenders, Great Music, You would never know you were even in Miami– let alone on Lincoln Rd :0)

Have been here several times & aLways a good time here. Love live jazz. good drinks.

I wasn’t expecting much when I first visited UATVDC. It’s not like Miami Beach is renowned for its jazz scene and the number of venues around town is sparce to say the least.
But, alas, I was suprised. The acts are diversified but digestable, easy going but intelectually stimulating, accessible but awe-​inspiring.
Since my first visit one year ago I must’ve stopped by four or five aditional times and the consistency in quality is evident.
The fact that you can enjoy a fine meal with excellent service is just the cherry on top of the proverbial cake …

Been here a couple of times, and I must say it’s really cool. It’s super jazzy/​blue-​sy, and I like that it’s dark up there — gives it an intimate vibe. I feel like I need to snap my fingers!
Their tables are set up so you have a view of the stage. They also have a bar on the side, small, but perfect for this little venue. I was disappointed last time I came because the band was finishing up, and we got stuck sitting downstairs in the regular restaurant. Upstairs is the place to be!

Loved the atmosphere and food upstairs at the Van Dyke!
The live entertainment was great (and I’m not a jazz fan), service was good, and food was delicious. On the con side, it was a bit packed but I imagine that’s also part of the atmosphere and it’s on the pricey side but given the location, that is expected. The drinks were good (our table had wine and cocktails).
I’d recommend the upstairs at the Van Dyke, its relaxed atmosphere with a touch of class was perfect for my taste.

Fun spot to catch some Jazz, the drinks are good and normal price for the area. The upstairs bar is much nicer than downstairs and its a cool hang out. The main issue was the slow bar service, it took me 15 minutes just to get 2 drinks (nothing fancy either) I will be back.

I love this spot… downstairs is a regular restaurant… with windows all around so that everyone can pass by and say, «yes, this is a regular restaurant.» …then there is upstairs… I feel so naughty going upstairs… like I’m going to a speak-​easy or back-​room poker game. What a treasure…
I’ve been to spot a few times before — and liked each time. The service is prompt, they have finger food, drinks are ok… but what makes this place is the entertainment– yep. live music… they have a monthly calendar available so you can plan your evening — but in my opinion, the spontaneous visits are the best — with no expectations, you already win. If you sit — you pay $ 5 per person at the table… if you stand… it’s free. I prefer to sit — and really $ 5 is a great price for a concert.

On nights when you’re looking to trade the trendy for the low-​key, Lincoln Road refuge, Upstairs At The Van Dyke, provides no better backdrop to your mellow musings and jazzy leanings.
Their monthly calendar is robust with live musical happenings and you’re likely to find an up-​and-​coming artist or band there just about every night. And as you sip on a classic cocktail or fine wine, you’ll bask in the jazz club surroundings.
Intimate and inviting, the upstairs space makes you feel connected to the music. From the great acoustics to the small stage, there’s a deep synergy between the audience and the performers. A fan of spots like this, the only other venue in this ballpark is Hoy Como Ayer, another one of my favorites. If you’re trying to impress a sexy date with your high brow interests, this is the ideal spot to ignite the romance.

**GOOD SUNDAY JAZZ WITH PORN STAR DRINK**
No cover on Sundays.
Small place with limited seating.
We stood by the bar counter and enjoyed the music from afar. Jazz was *ok* by my standards (I’m from NOLA, come on), nothing spectacular.
Friendly bar staff.
Cocktails menu was *ok*.
We ordered the creative Porn Star, a naughty citrus martini served with a champagne shot.
We stayed for an hour and bounced.
RECOMMEND the Porn Star.

Hot, small place, limited seating. Cover charge varies on the weekends, good music. Calamari rubbery undercooked and limp, Chicken Fettuccine sucked ass per the hubby. Overpriced cocktails. $ 13 for a Lemon Drop Martini, WTF, where they do that at?! Oh, Miami. :/
Will I come back: Uhm probably not.

Although I went here to listen to live Jazz music, the band played classic pop instead. However, they were so good that I wasn’t disappointed. The place does have a very jazzy type of feel to it. The bartenders are also very good.
I was disappointed to learn that unless you stand at the bar, you are charged a cover charge per person to sit at a table. Worst for us, we had our drinks from the bar and walked them over to the table. The waiters never did anything for us and still charged us the cover charges. Plus, they automatically add on the gratuity. That stunk. But all in all, I’d go back here again. I had a great experience, the music was good, the drinks were awesome, and the crowd is very diverse. Plus, after you’re done here, there is still plenty to see and experience in the neighborhood below.

No cover (free) Jazz club with good musicians? Hell yes, I’m in!* I came here to see a friend from New York perform and had a great time. If you enjoy good live music with quality musicians this is a place worth checking out when you are in Miami.
*this review is from a one time visit

Palo, an Afro-​Cuban band, was playing live music here. Leslie the main singer had a pretty good voice and this place was packed with people standing around but it wasn’t overly packed. Energy was high and the setting was quite intimate. I enjoyed a gazpacho (decent) while enjoying the music. Overall, a good place to enjoy live music with friends (and random strangers).

I had gone a couple of times pre-​Yelp, and then again this past Saturday. Thank goodness there’s still live music to be enjoyed in Miami!
I met up with a group of friends to see the funk band Palo and we were promptly getting down and boogeying in the intimate space to awesome Afro-​Cuban funk. Intimate in this case refers to the small real estate of the performance space. The tight space can be a blessing in that it amplifies the sound and vibe of the music, while at the same time a curse in that friends who were running on Miami time might not be able to meet up with you until at least the next set. This ties in with their no-​reservation policy, even if said group of friends is already dining at the restaurant.
I guess it’s the price to pay to enjoy live music.

Van Dyke’s Jazz upstairs would be a perfect place if it weren’t for the multitude of minor annoyances you have to endure to finally enjoy yourself. Let’s talk about the great first. This place is a gem. It is unbelievable that they can fill an entire calendar month with an eclectic array of jazz. I traveled the US to appreciate and experience the differences between the jazz in New Orleans, Memphis, St Louis, Chicago and Harlem. So, I appreciate the diversity of jazz and how it tells a story of a culture through it’s music. At Van Dyke’s, they give you all kinds of jazz from local jazz talents to Afro-​Latino Jazz, to Smooth Jazz, Blues, and many more. Literally, you will experience something new every night.
I went last night for my second time Maryel Epps, who was promoted as a Diva of Song and Love. She was fabulous. If she reminded me of any type of jazz I experienced in the US, it would definitely be Harlem jazz. In the clubs I went to in Harlem, the vocalists were brimming with personality just like Miss Epps was. She mixed her act with well-​known songs, her own songs, and gospel songs. The hand-​drummer and pianist were very talented. I love that on a weekday, it feels so much more like a cool and dark jazz place as opposed to the weekends, where it can turn into a monkey-​shit fight free for all.
The aforementioned annoyances: The weighing of pros and cons in deciding whether to put your car in the garage for more money or continuing to find the mythical «ideal space,» the fact that you have to show up at exactly the right time in order to secure a good seat, the fact that it’s difficult to get your waiter’s attention when you need him/​her, and finally, the fact that the mixed drinks taste terrible. Do NOT get the strawberry daquiri. I would say go only for things that you know have to be good: glenfiddich single-​malt scotch aged 12 years is a good choice, for instance.