French Concession
An intimate jazz bar with an art deco feel and a drinks menu to match Shanghai's decadent era. Cocktails are top notch, with plenty of vintage flavours on…
Must-see entertainment in Asia
Chiang Mai
This compact jazz club tends to pack in as many musicians as it does patrons, with local and visiting instrumentalists offering nightly sets and…
Pune
It's a magical atmosphere anytime, but live jazz Thursday nights at alfresco Shisha are a Pune institution. Snuggle up on Iranian-style lounges downstairs…
Kuala Lumpur
Blink and you’d miss this small live-music venue, bar and bistro, hidden as it is behind a grove of bamboo. NBT, as it's known to its faithful patrons, is…
Thimphu
Thimphu's premier live-music venue and bar, strong on blues, rock and reggae, and friendly to boot. Beers on tap include Amber Ale and Dragon Stout from…
Ubud
This open-air venue in a temple compound has a flame-lit, carved-stone backdrop and is an evocative place to see a dance performance. Different companies…
Dushanbe
Built in 1942, this fine Opera House was completely refitted in 2009 and the gardens re-landscaped in 2013. It attracts quality international and local…
Banglamphu
This basement pub, a favourite destination in Bangkok for live music, hosts a nightly revolving cast of bands for an almost exclusively Thai crowd – many…
Malaysia
Tap into the local music scene at this grungy, arty venue, which hosts concerts and open-mic nights (and shakes up a decent cocktail). Happy hour is…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
The several venues here are home to the national drama, changgeuk (Korean opera), orchestra and dance companies. Free concerts and movies are put on in…
Bangkok
After more than 65 years of service, the Mandarin Oriental's Bamboo Bar remains one of the city's premier locales for live jazz. Guest vocalists are flown…
Shanghai
Down a quiet street, this leafy cabin surrounded by trees is an intimate live venue run by the JZ family with live jazz, and regular acoustic folk and…
National Centre for the Performing Arts
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Plonked in the middle of an artificial lake like an alien spaceship, the Paul Andreu–designed NCPA (aka 'The Egg') is a surreal yet spectacular venue at…
Tumen Ekh National Song & Dance Ensemble
Ulaanbaatar
The Tumen Ekh Song & Dance Ensemble at the State Youth & Children’s Theatre is the most popular tourist cultural show in town, featuring traditional…
Osaka
The classical performing art most associated with Osaka is bunraku, which makes dramatic use of highly sophisticated puppets. Visiting the theatre is a…
Shanghai
The Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe has popular performances here most nights from 7.30pm. It’s a short but fun show and is high on the to-do list of most…
Kowloon
Illuminating both sides of Victoria Harbour every night, symphony of lights is a kitsch paean to all that bling real estate (and a middle finger to Earth…
Gyeonggi-do & Incheon
Put it all on black at Korea's first Vegas-style casino, featuring an enormous gaming floor where bow-tied croupiers shuffle cards and stack chips at…
Jaipur
Just off MI Rd, Raj Mandir is the place to go to see a Hindi film in India. This opulent cinema looks like a huge pink cream cake, with a meringue…
Shenzhen
From hair metal to experimental jazz, all genres are equal at this warehouse live-music venue that welcomes eclectic performers from around the world. The…
Hanoi
This atmospheric venue tucked behind the Opera House is the place in Hanoi to catch live jazz. There’s a full bar, a food menu and high-quality gigs…
Gangtok
Gangtok's most happening music bar bathes its drinkers in a tsunami of sound Wednesday to Friday evenings, when live bands typically crank out rock or…
Macau
The go-to place for indie music in Macau, this excellent dive inside an industrial building hosts live acts from Macau and overseas. There are two or…
Taichung
Sweet indie spot that has people coming from all over the island for its gigs. Acts featured here include visual-art-and-drummer duo Adrena Adrena, Taipei…
National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts (Weiwuying)
Kaohsiung
This 9.9-hectare, Dutch-designed building resembling a giant stingray is the premier centre for art and culture in southern Taiwan. It has a state-of-the…
Seoul
Sounding like 'mellow out' in English, this small live-music bar is very Yeonnam-dong – Hongdae's mellower, cooler sibling. The dark industrial-chic space…
Tainan
This intimate dive at Ximen Roundabout is the place for live indie music in Tainan and one of the top ones in southern Taiwan. There are weekly gigs by…
Bandung
In the southern part of the city about 3km from the centre, this is a school for traditional Sundanese arts – music, dancing and pencak silat (martial…
Nanjing
Kūnqǔ, an extant form of Chinese opera originating from Jiangsu, is staged at this intimate theatre every Saturday evening at 7.15pm. The English…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Traditional Korean classical and folk music and dance are performed, preserved and taught at this centre, which is home to the Court Music Orchestra, the…
Dalat
Expect top-notch improvised covers of Hendrix, the Eagles, the Doors and other classics at this recently relocated live-music bar owned by blues guitarist…
Kaohsiung
A classy jazz bar hosting accomplished musicians from Taiwan and Asia most Fridays and Saturdays, from 8pm to 10pm. Tickets range from NT$400 to NT$800,…
Yangon
This German cultural organisation occupies a beautifully restored villa dating from the 1920s. Apart from language classes, the library and a cafe in the…
Seoul
Appealing across the generations, Evans offers top-grade jazz and a great atmosphere. If you want a seat, get here early or book ahead – live music…
Beijing
A hip hutong livehouse popular with local musicians, Jiang Hu stages folk, blues, jazz and open-mic shows most nights in its wood-beamed courtyard space…
Taipei
Taipei's longest-running jazz club, Blue Note has been around since 1974. It's a moody little purple cavern with a fairy-lit ceiling. Very local and…
Wuhan
Vox Livehouse is Wuhan's indie music venue of choice. Cover charge ranges from free to ¥220; call or check online for opening dates. It's on the south…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Most famous for its critically acclaimed musical Miso, this theatre company also produces a number of traditional nonverbal musicals.
Seoul
A top live venue with up to eight local indie bands playing at the weekend until midnight. Afterwards it becomes a dance club with DJs.
Guangzhou
Two steps from the metro exit, 191 Space is a throbbing dive that features live indie gigs from China and overseas every weekend.
