In the structure of the title complex, [Cu(C(8)H(4)O(4))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(H(2)O)]·C(3)H(7)NO, the Cu(II) ion is penta-coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by two O atoms of a 3-formyl-2-oxidobenzoate dianion and two N atoms of a 1,10-phenanthroline ligand occupying the basal plane and a water O atom located at the apical site. The structure displays O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding and inter-molecular π-π stacking inter-actions between 1,10-phenantroline ligands [inter-planar distance of 3.448 (5) Å].