But for all of its comeliness, the club is exceedingly comfortable and never comes across as off-putting or pretentious. The helpful and friendly staff may have much to do with this. Lush Life's clientele ranges from seasoned jazz lovers to the younger set. Traditional acoustic jazz is the usual fare, with an emphasis on piano trios and lady torch singers. Nothing too wild here in terms of the avant garde or fusion, and a big band wouldn't fit on the stage.
Modern jazz plays over the speakers until the band starts.
Smoking is allowed at Lush Life, but thanks to the high ceiling and good ventilation, the redolence of cigarette smoke from neighboring tables is hardly noticeable. The strongest aroma in the club is the incense from the candles adorning all of the tables. The clientele at Lush Life seems to be plucked from almost every demographic. There are the older jazz hounds who may have even caught the Duke Ellington orchestra while Strayhorn was a member. The attractive location on the Near North Side may account for the pleasant societal mix.