Songdo jazz bar for cheering up a friend tired from work: Jazz 257

For Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch, check opening hours, last order and break time separately. Parking is free for 4 hours in the Artfore underground garage.

Today I'm sharing my trip with a friend to Jazz 257, a Songdo Central Park favorite where we ate steak and pizza while listening to live jazz. It was such a memorable night that I wanted to write it down right away 🥰

Why I chose Jazz 257 in Songdo Central Park to cheer up a friend

I chose Jazz 257 because you can have dinner while watching live jazz near Songdo Central Park. My friend has been really worn out by work lately.

So this time I begged to go somewhere with atmosphere instead of just eating and parting ways, haha. While searching for places near Songdo Central Park, I found one where you can eat during a live jazz show. It was both our first jazz bar, so we decided right away.

How to get to Jazz 257 and where to park at Artfore

Jazz 257 is on the 2nd floor of Building D at Songdo Artfore, and you can park in the Artfore underground garage free for 4 hours. Walking the Artfore alley at night, the lights glowing between the pointed-roof buildings felt like a European street.

Walk a bit along the alley and the JAZZ 257 sign glows white. It's easy to find, so we didn't get lost.

If you're driving, use the Artfore underground garage. It appears right after you go around the roundabout at the entrance. Enter B1 and turn right for the Building D side, then take the stairs or elevator up to the 2nd floor. With 4 hours of free parking, we could enjoy the show without rushing.

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Jazz 257?

The interior of Jazz 257 has low lighting and a snow globe lantern on every table, for a calm mood. From the window seats you can see the night view toward the Central Park lake.

The moment we walked in, the low lighting calmed me right down. Each table has a snow globe lantern that sparkles, so cute 🩷 The window seats face the Central Park lake, so at night you can see the lit-up bridges and buildings. The window seats with red lighting were pretty for photos too.

We sat right in front of the stage. With drums, saxophone, guitar and even bongos set up, I was excited before the show even started ☺️ Friday and Saturday have band performances, and weekdays and Sundays have live shows in various genres. You can find show news on the official Jazz 257 Instagram.

A glass of wine as the live jazz begins

At Jazz 257 my friend ordered white wine and I had red. The drums kicked in just as our glasses clinked, perfect timing, haha.

Hearing the music from right in front, I could feel the sound in my body. It wasn't so loud that we couldn't talk, though, so we chatted comfortably.

How good is the glass-dome flaming steak at Jazz 257?

The steak at Jazz 257 arrives covered with a glass dome, and when it's lifted, smoke spreads and a flame performance happens on the stone plate. When the dome is opened, the trapped smoke rushes out and the aroma hits you first 🤤

Then they do a flame performance on the stone plate. The fire shot up suddenly and we were both frantically filming videos, haha.

The hot stone plate holds steak, onion, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and bell pepper. A sprig of rosemary on top showed the care that went into it.

The first bite is nicely seared with a savory flavor first. The inside is pink, tender as you chew, and still juicy. A subtle rosemary aroma comes back in the aftertaste, so it wasn't greasy.

Adding a bit of the whole grain mustard served alongside gave a sharp kick that kept me going back. I also liked that the stone plate kept it warm down to the last piece. The grilled onion was wonderfully sweet and great with the meat.

Handmade-dough margherita pizza at Jazz 257

For the pizza at Jazz 257 I wanted to stick to the basics, so I chose the margherita. I was extra curious because the handmade dough is made by a foreign chef.

When I lifted a slice the cheese stretched so far that I squealed without meaning to 😍 The tomato sauce is tangy and rich, with basil aroma wrapped over the top. The dough is chewy and the crust is plain like bread, so I finished every bit.

A sip of red wine and a bite of pizza go together surprisingly well.

Why Jazz 257 stands out among Songdo Central Park restaurants

The biggest thing about Jazz 257 is enjoying good food and live music in one place. No need to go separately for a show and for dinner, so the evening felt full.

The staff also explained each dish kindly whenever it came out, so we felt at ease. With 4 hours of free parking, bringing a car is no burden.

Group seats reportedly fit a minimum of 20 up to 70 people. There are also couple seats, a terrace and bar tables, so it looks fine for birthday parties, anniversaries or company dinners.

Final verdict on Jazz 257

As we left, my friend said she felt like she had properly rested for the first time in a while, and that made me proud too 🥺 Jazz 257, a Songdo Central Park favorite, gave us a day with both good food and good atmosphere. I was satisfied.

Next time I want to come back with my boyfriend on an anniversary and sit by the window 💗

Jazz 257 Songdo Central Park Branch: hours, parking and booking info

• Address: Unit 201, Building D, Artfore, 257 Incheontower-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon (2nd floor)
• Subway: Central Park Station, Incheon Subway Line 1
• Menu: Signature Jaemakase Special Menu ₩200,000, signature Midnight steak/wine ₩99,000
• Parking: 4 hours free in the Artfore underground garage (enter B1, turn right for Building D)
• Reservations available, group seats for 20-70, couple seats, terrace and bar tables, corkage allowed, Wi-Fi, separate men's and women's restrooms
• Check opening hours, break time, days off and the margherita pizza price before visiting