Incheon jazz bar with flaming steak and live music: Jazz 257

This time, I visited Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch, located at Artfore in front of Songdo Central Park.

I paired a stone steak with a flame performance with red wine and a non-alcoholic mojito, then watched a live performance too. It did not lean toward only the meal or only the show, and the food was delicious as well, so it was a very full experience all in one place.

Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch: location and visitor information

It is about 600 m from Central Park Station Exit 2, on the second floor of Artfore Building D opposite the water taxi dock, so it is easy to add to a visit around Central Park. Hours and performance schedules can change, so please check Naver Booking and the venue's updates before visiting.

An atmosphere with chandeliers and a stage

As soon as you enter, you see the performance stage and the long run of audience seating. White fabric is softly draped across the ceiling, while chandeliers and tiny bulbs gently light the space.

The red lighting throughout the room and little lanterns on the tables come together naturally to create a proper jazz-bar atmosphere. There are seats in front of the stage as well as tables where you can relax over dinner, so the dining area is well set up too.

Opened in August 2020, this venue combines meals, drinks, and live performances close to Central Park Lake. Reservations and group visits are available, and it can also be used for birthdays, anniversaries, and gatherings.

The venue notes that international staff also assist guests and that the food is prepared daily with fresh ingredients.

From steak to handmade-dough pizza

The menu centers on stone steak, pizza, and pasta, with plenty of drink options including wine, cocktails, and beer. The signature stone steak is ₩49,000 and arrives on a hot stone plate with a vegetable garnish.

The pizzas use handmade dough made by an international chef, and the current menu says the dough is aged for 72 hours. There are several options, including margherita, pepperoni, and gorgonzola, so they are nice to share when visiting in a group. Based on the current information, the performance fee is ₩10,000 per person Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and ₩15,000 per person for Friday and Saturday band performances.

The flaming Jazz Stone Steak

The menu I had was the Jazz Stone Steak, which comes with a flame performance. Flames rose right at the table, catching my eye from the moment the main dish arrived.

Thick steak is cut into easy-to-eat pieces and placed on a hot stone with vegetables alongside it. You might think the show and atmosphere would be the focus here, but once I tried it, the food was satisfying enough to hold its own.

The cut surface and sheen of the meat looked so appetizing, and being served on a warm stone made it nice for a leisurely meal. A bite of steak with red wine made the overall combination flow together beautifully too.

Red wine and a non-alcoholic mojito

I ordered red wine with the steak too. Having a glass of wine at a seat with a direct view of the stage made the meal and performance feel even more naturally connected.

I also ordered a bright, refreshing-looking non-alcoholic mojito. It was nice that people who do not drink can still choose a beverage that suits the performance atmosphere.

With the steak, red wine, and non-alcoholic mojito all on one table, the combination worked really well.

Live jazz right in front of me

The live performance begins at 8 p.m. On the day I visited, jazz artists came onstage and performed, and I watched them from right in front.

The show ran in two sets until 10 p.m., with an approximately 20-minute break after the first set. During the intermission, you can enjoy your food and conversation before settling in again for the second set. Band performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays, while a variety of live acts continue on weekdays and Sundays too.

The artists and lineup can differ by date, so check the schedule before visiting if there is a performance you want to see. Watching jazz right in front of me while eating delicious food was clearly a different kind of fun from an ordinary meal. It is neither just a place to watch a show nor only a restaurant—the appeal here is being able to enjoy both together.

Birthday and proposal events

During the performance that day, there were special events for a guest celebrating a birthday and another guest preparing a proposal. With celebration events continuing in a space filled with music, it naturally felt like a lovely place for an anniversary. It looks like you can select birthday or proposal events on the Naver Booking page! If you have something planned, check the reservation page, haha.

For an anniversary dinner near Songdo Central Park

From the flame-performance stone steak to red wine, a non-alcoholic mojito, and live jazz, everything was perfect. The food was satisfying, and the steak-and-wine pairing was harmonious, making for a very enjoyable meal while watching the performance.

If you are looking for an evening around Central Park with steak, wine, and live music, I recommend Jazz 257! You will be especially pleased if you visit on a day when you want to make an occasion such as a birthday or proposal a little more special!