10 Best Places to Experience Reggae in Jamaica

The Bob Marley Museum occupies the former home of the reggae music legend in Kingston. It offers a fascinating glimpse into Marley’s life through a photographic gallery, an 80-seat theatre, and a record shop. You can see his favourite outfits, his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and displays of his many gold and platinum records. There's even a lifesize hologram of the legend performing at the One Love Peace concert in 1978.

The Bob Marley Museum preserves all of the house’s original rooms, including the bedroom and onsite recording studio. There’s also a gift shop offering a wide range of Marley-related memorabilia.

The Trench Town Culture Yard is a great place to experience rocksteady, ska and reggae music in Jamaica. Trench Town is a 7-block residential neighbourhood that dates back to the 1940s, with modest houses surrounding communal yards. It’s also considered the birthplace of reggae music, thanks to iconic names like The Wailers, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Anton Ellies.

The Trench Town Culture Yard serves as a living museum where you can learn about the unique history of reggae music. A guided tour takes you to the neighbourhood’s many communal yards, galleries, and prominent bars.

Kingston Dub Club is a lively nightspot playing quality ska, rocksteady, and reggae music in Jamaica. It’s known for hosting Rocker's Soundsystem, one of the best on the island. Every Sunday, the club’s brightly painted speaker stacks blast out bass-heavy roots reggae and dub sounds.

Thanks to its lively atmosphere, the club gets packed with animated dancers and reggae lovers until late. You can enjoy excellent drinks and ital food (a vegetarian diet that's prominent in Jamaica's Rastafari movement). Kingston Dub Club is in the hills of St. Andrew, offering dramatic views of the city’s skyline.

Reggae Sumfest is one of the largest music festivals in Jamaica. It takes place in mid-July, featuring a series of events in several venues across Montego Bay. Prominent artists who have performed at the festival include Beyonce, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, Usher, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, and Mary J. Blige.

Reggae Sumfest usually starts with a beach party on Tropical Bliss (Sunday), followed by a street dance event at Old Hospital Park (Monday). Other events include themed parties, seminars and workshops. The main event is a 2-day celebration featuring some of the world’s best dancehall and reggae artists.

Nine Mile is a special destination for fans of reggae musician Bob Marley. Located in the Saint Ann countryside, the village is both Marley’s birthplace and final resting place. A must-visit is the Bob Marley Mausoleum, which occupies a small chapel near his childhood home. You can see many of Marley’s guitars, awards, and photographs in this small venue.

Nine Mile is about 142 km northwest of Kingston. Tours from the Jamaican capital are available for those who want to spend a few hours in Marley’s birthplace.

Rockers International Records is an old-school music store on Orange Street, around 2 blocks northwest of Liberty Hall. This family-owned venue is a great place for those looking for original vinyl records by renowned rock and reggae musicians.

Rockers International Records is almost like a living museum, thanks to its 1970s decor and vibe. Many artists often visit the place – if you’re lucky, you might run into Cedric Myton from the Congos or Lester Sterling from the Skatalites, both of whom are among the store’s regular visitors.

Redbones Blues Cafe is a longstanding family-owned restaurant that hosts quality live music in Kingston. Since 1976, it has been a prominent place to experience reggae in Jamaica. Its stage hosts many renowned musicians from various genres, along with art exhibitions, foreign films, and poetry readings.

Redbones Blues Cafe is busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, when jazz and blues concerts take place until late. The kitchen specialises in Caribbean and fusion dishes – great for when you’re looking for a nice dinner (and show) in Kingston.

Rae Town Old Hits is a sound system session that dates back to 1982, making it one of the longest-running events in Jamaica. It’s organised by a local team (Sister Norma, Brother Bunny, and Senor Daley) and a resident sound system, Klassique Disco. The party takes place on Sunday nights at Sabina Park, next to the Kingston Cricket Club.

Rae Town Old Hits attracts hundreds of foreign and local reggae fans with its stellar playlist of rare cuts from the 1950s to 1980s. There’s a small entry fee to enjoy the session, but it’s well worth it for the fun and authentic reggae atmosphere.

Dubwise Jamaica is a prominent sound system event founded by DJ Yaadcore in 2013. The yearly session usually takes place on Barbican Road, near the Orchid Village Plaza. You can expect a high-energy atmosphere thanks to quality dub reggae by prominent artists, both local and international. You might even catch Yaadcore at the turntables, accompanied by well-respected musicians.

While Dubwise Jamaica originated as a weekly night dub session in Kingston, it has since expanded to several locations around the world, including Miami, Brooklyn, and Trinidad.