There’s no shortage of cool music to check out in New York City. But most well-known spots are so packed you end up staring at the sweaty shirt of the person in front of you who’s blocking your view instead of being able to see the musicians on stage. Enter Sofar, with its mission of bringing secret concerts to unique spaces, it’s a perfect match for live music in NYC. These intimate venues for music range from a cocktail tasting room to a furniture store. The venues are varied but the constant is this: live sets from three artists in spaces small enough that you can see the music as it’s made.
6 Great Venues for Live Music in NYC
Check out these Sofar spots for live music in NYC:
1. Highside Workshop
A warehouse, reimagined as a space dedicated to creative expression. That’s the magic of Highside Workshop, a renovated warehouse in Bushwick that hosts art shows, poetry slams, and most importantly for fans of Sofar Sounds, live music. As a Sofar venue, this New York City space is perfect—a little bit hidden but super welcoming, and big enough to comfortably host a great night of live music. The collective spirit is strong here, making this the kind of place where inspiration flows from the stage into the audience and back again. It’s good vibes all around.
2. pinkFROG Cafe
pinkFROG Cafe is what happens when your artsy BFF actually follows through on that dream of opening a cafe packed with books, art, and quirky lamps. A spot where everyone is welcome, there’s a different performance every night, and art always saves the day. Sofar, in this analogy, is the friend who knows the cool musicians and sets up the shows that fill you with that sense that music can save the world, which maybe it can.
3. Brooklyn Greens
It’s not every day that there’s such perfect overlap between golfers and music lovers, but the stars align at Brooklyn Greens, an indoor wonderland of putting greens and virtual golf simulators in an unassuming building in East Williamsburg. The Brooklyn Greens/Sofar Sounds collab brings three bands to the astroturf for these Live Music on the Greens events. And that means, even in the dead of winter, there’s a way to kick back on the (sorta) grass and enjoy some live music in NYC.
4. Wandering Barman
For a night out with guaranteed music and cocktails, invite yourself to a Sofar performance at Wandering Barman. You might already be familiar with the company’s bottled cocktails (hello marigold and kaffir lime margaritas). Here at the super-vibey tasting room, enjoy the cool contrast of cement gray and neon with statement walls that glow orange and pink while you sip a signature cocktail or mocktail. Then, it’s time to catch a Sofar set delivering live music in NYC as it should be enjoyed, with a drink in hand and a front-row seat to the music.
5. Lazzoni
If there’s one thing you absolutely do not need to worry about during a Sofar show at Lazzoni, it’s finding a comfortable place to sit. That’s because this NYC Sofar venue has a day job: it’s a modern furniture store. Sofar meets sofas: it’s a match made in heaven, and an unexpected way to do a little home shopping in between sets. Bonus: There are a bunch of good bars and restaurants nearby so if you find yourself saying, “That show was amazing! I don’t want the night to end,” it’s easy to keep the party going.
6. Gaia NoMaya
See a show at Gaia NoMaya and you enter a different world, one in which the plants have won (they’re everywhere and it’s fantastic), music surrounds you, and the primary inhabitants are crystals and candles. This NYC venue for live music sets a tone that helps you tap into the healing aspects of sound. It’s a place where you can sink into a comfy low couch or lounge on a handwoven rug and just let the music wash over you. There’s also a salt cave and an attached spa called the Wellness Womb, both perfect for those pre-show energy cleansings.
Join Sofar and Delta SkyMiles to unlock all that our favorite music scenes have to offer, and visit here to see how a SkyMiles Membership can take what you love and make it more.
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Words by Christine Sarkis
