Turntable Chicken Jazz

Who Should Book Turntable Chicken Jazz

If you are planning a date night near Midtown and want something with more personality than a hotel bar but less commitment than a full tasting menu, Turntable Chicken Jazz at 20 W 33rd St is worth putting on your shortlist. The name alone signals that this is not a formulaic Midtown option, the address near Penn Station and the Empire State Building makes it genuinely convenient for a pre- or post-theatre evening, a first date, or a low-pressure celebration that does not require a jacket and a six-week booking window.

The Room and the Vibe

Turntable Chicken Jazz sits in a part of Midtown that rarely rewards the curious, which makes a venue with this kind of concept stand out on location alone. For a date night, the visual identity matters: the name suggests a space that plays with music and food in the same breath, that kind of programmatic decision typically signals a room designed for staying a while rather than turning tables fast. That is good news for two people who want to settle in, order a round, not feel rushed. Compared to the more clinical cocktail bars that populate this corridor of the city, a concept-driven room like this tends to attract a crowd that is there to enjoy itself rather than close a deal.

Date Night Assessment

For a two-person evening, the format here has real appeal. A name that combines jazz, chicken, the physicality of a turntable suggests an atmosphere built around sound and comfort rather than white-tablecloth formality. That is a practical advantage on a date: the energy does the conversational heavy lifting without the volume levels of a late-night bar making it impossible to actually talk. If you are comparing options in this neighbourhood, a concept venue in this mould typically holds its own against the generic hotel bars near the Garden, though for a more cocktail-forward date night you would get more programme depth at Angel's Share in the East Village or Attaboy NYC on the Lower East Side. Both require more of a crosstown commitment, but deliver a more defined bar experience.

Practical Details

Address: 20 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001. Reservations: Given the Midtown location and concept-driven format, walk-in availability is plausible, especially earlier in the evening; booking ahead is sensible for a weekend date but likely not essential on a weeknight. Dress: No dress code information is available, but the concept positioning suggests smart-casual is the safe call. Budget: Pricing is not confirmed in our data; expect Midtown-range pricing, which typically runs higher than downtown equivalents for drinks and food. Getting there: The 33rd St address puts you within walking distance of Penn Station, the 34th St-Herald Square subway hub, the Empire State Building; one of the more transit-accessible spots in the borough for guests coming from multiple directions.

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how Turntable Chicken Jazz stacks up against other New York City bars worth considering for a similar evening.

For broader context on where to eat, drink, stay in New York, browse our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City bars guide, our full New York City hotels guide, our full New York City wineries guide, and our full New York City experiences guide. If you are building a longer trip and want bar comparisons beyond New York, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, and Julep in Houston each represent strong regional benchmarks for what a well-run cocktail-and-food concept can deliver.