Diane Reeves! What a fabulous performance!! Wow, what a band she has!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Gabrielle Garrett
Best intimate music venue with the best acoustics I have experienced. I love coming, for jazz, Celtic music and more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Dee Bevan
Every December we went and see Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola perform on this stage ? always super fun!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Esther Centers
Santa Cruz is so lucky to have the Kuumbwa!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Forsberg
Saw irish music concert. No food.Parking: About 2 blocks from the venue.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 3
Pedro Cookie
Best venue in the Bay Area hands down.I’d rate kuumbwa 6 stars if I could!!!!Thank you for all the amazing shows, keep them coming ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K Takahara
Chef and kitchen staff are very nice.Everything else, terribly organized, boomer mess. Sells more tickets than there are seats. Bad selection of performers. The kind of stuff only white American boomers would be impressed by. Bad atmosphere. Everybody is racist. While my wife and I were looking for seats some white lady came up to me and said, "There's seats outside" (outside the building). It was a cold November night btw. Not worth $150 per concert just to be crammed in with racist, rude, old people. Unless you enjoy very entitled geriatrics pushing past you saying " I NEED to get through " I NEED to get water" "I NEED this NEED that" , looking at you like you are trash, then I would not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Alice Harrison
I came to Kuwumba Jazz to see Hiromi play her new album "Sonicwonderland". Cozy atmosphere! Incredible show.
Atmosphere: 5
Michael Peno
Wonderful experience as always. Been enjoying this club since I was a youngster. The highest quality friendly kind people work and volunteer here. Music is always great. Don't change a thing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace Stetson
There's nowhere quite like the Kuumbwa, and I love it that way.For reference, I am biased: my partner is one of the sound guys, and I joined the team in April 2023 as a volunteer. But holy hell, I have never found such a hidden gem quite like the K. This is the spot for jazz in the greater Monterey Bay, and perhaps even beyond that; Tim Jackson has created a master class of jazz venues, and it shows throughout every aspect of the space.If you're coming for a show, make sure to stop by the bar for reasonably priced beers, wines, and non-alc options. Plus, order the special dinner from the cafe (always delightful and expertly crafted) and DO NOT FORGET, I repeat, DO NOT FORGET to get dessert. My favorites? The tofu chocolate mousse pie and/or the carrot cake — hell, GET BOTH!And then there's the jazz! From legends like Oz Noy to Hiromi to Hermeto Pascoal, it's time to get into this music! There's no time like the present — truly, all of those acts are from just this year!
LOVE LOVE LOVE KUUMBWA????️???? ?We saw Hiromi and Sonic Wonderland!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
lovekirtan44
LOVE THE KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER!!! We saw HIROMI
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Edan Cassidy
First Class food, music, and staff. We love it here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh lawson
A very neat, tucked away little music venue. I really liked how cozy it felt. They served dinner items and sweets before the show, and had a nice little bar to grab drinks before or during. The skylight provided ambient lighting during the show, which was a nice touch. Very good acoustics. Would definitely go to see a show here again!Parking: Very limited. Find street parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Rachel Meyer
Kuumbwa does it right. Every show has been marvelous and you feel special being in the audience. They have a nice albariño wine priced low at like $35 a bottle. Dessert was great- not too sweet and made with fresh quality ingredients.
Diane Reeves! What a fabulous performance!! Wow, what a band she has!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Best intimate music venue with the best acoustics I have experienced. I love coming, for jazz, Celtic music and more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Every December we went and see Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola perform on this stage ? always super fun!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Santa Cruz is so lucky to have the Kuumbwa!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Saw irish music concert. No food.Parking: About 2 blocks from the venue.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 3
Best venue in the Bay Area hands down.I’d rate kuumbwa 6 stars if I could!!!!Thank you for all the amazing shows, keep them coming ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chef and kitchen staff are very nice.Everything else, terribly organized, boomer mess. Sells more tickets than there are seats. Bad selection of performers. The kind of stuff only white American boomers would be impressed by. Bad atmosphere. Everybody is racist. While my wife and I were looking for seats some white lady came up to me and said, "There's seats outside" (outside the building). It was a cold November night btw. Not worth $150 per concert just to be crammed in with racist, rude, old people. Unless you enjoy very entitled geriatrics pushing past you saying " I NEED to get through " I NEED to get water" "I NEED this NEED that" , looking at you like you are trash, then I would not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
I came to Kuwumba Jazz to see Hiromi play her new album "Sonicwonderland". Cozy atmosphere! Incredible show.
Atmosphere: 5
Wonderful experience as always. Been enjoying this club since I was a youngster. The highest quality friendly kind people work and volunteer here. Music is always great. Don't change a thing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There's nowhere quite like the Kuumbwa, and I love it that way.For reference, I am biased: my partner is one of the sound guys, and I joined the team in April 2023 as a volunteer. But holy hell, I have never found such a hidden gem quite like the K. This is the spot for jazz in the greater Monterey Bay, and perhaps even beyond that; Tim Jackson has created a master class of jazz venues, and it shows throughout every aspect of the space.If you're coming for a show, make sure to stop by the bar for reasonably priced beers, wines, and non-alc options. Plus, order the special dinner from the cafe (always delightful and expertly crafted) and DO NOT FORGET, I repeat, DO NOT FORGET to get dessert. My favorites? The tofu chocolate mousse pie and/or the carrot cake — hell, GET BOTH!And then there's the jazz! From legends like Oz Noy to Hiromi to Hermeto Pascoal, it's time to get into this music! There's no time like the present — truly, all of those acts are from just this year!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Platter, Green Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
LOVE LOVE LOVE KUUMBWA????️???? ?We saw Hiromi and Sonic Wonderland!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LOVE THE KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER!!! We saw HIROMI
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First Class food, music, and staff. We love it here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A very neat, tucked away little music venue. I really liked how cozy it felt. They served dinner items and sweets before the show, and had a nice little bar to grab drinks before or during. The skylight provided ambient lighting during the show, which was a nice touch. Very good acoustics. Would definitely go to see a show here again!Parking: Very limited. Find street parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Kuumbwa does it right. Every show has been marvelous and you feel special being in the audience. They have a nice albariño wine priced low at like $35 a bottle. Dessert was great- not too sweet and made with fresh quality ingredients.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5