Velera
Lovely venue for close-up listening of high-quality jazz
Shintomi Akasaka Hitotsugi Building B1, Akasaka 4-chome 1-2, Minato-ku, Tokyo-to, 107-0052
03-6277-8772
Akasaka-Mitsuke Station (Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line) (4 minutes), Nagatacho Station (Nanboku, Hanzomon, Yurakucho Lines) (11 minutes), Akasaka Station (Chiyoda Line) (6 minutes)
〒107-0052 東京都港区赤坂４丁目１－２シントミ赤坂一ツ木ビル B1
(赤坂見附駅より徒歩4分）
Evening sets at 19:00 and 21:00
Afternoon shows at 16:30 and 20:00
Music charges range from Y3,000 to Y4,800, depending on the band. Doors open at 19:00, and the first set starts at 19:30 and the second set at 21:00. On Saturdays and Sundays, the shows are from 16:30, so check carefully before planning. Music almost nightly, though Mondays are off.
A relatively recent newcomer to the Tokyo jazz world, Velera fits in perfectly with the middle of Akasaka, a lively nighttime area. It’s a club that was needed, though, and the club manager knows how to bring in and present top-notch music. Pulling from the best jazz musicians in Tokyo, it’s a place that’s easy to like.
Service is excellent, and the seats are comfortable. There is just enough food to accompany drinks, but that’s OK since Akasaka has every type of eating establishment within a short walk. Drinks are exceptionally good, with a wide selection of top-shelf liquor.
I’d typically recommend arriving early to secure a front-row seat, but all seats at Velera are front row. The band stretches across one wall, and customers sit along the other. It feels a little unusual at first, but it lets the audience hear and see the band up close. That intimacy changes the experience of the music, and for the better.
Velera is a welcoming club that delivers high-quality jazz in a warm space, with immaculate sound and a comfortable vibe that’s deeply pleasing.
