Baker Peters Jazz Club, Knoxville

The 19th-century mansion that Baker Peters Jazz Club calls home has stood firmly through waves of violence and joy. During the Civil War, it saw wounded soldiers, betrayal, and a murderous retribution for revenge, but today, blues notes and pulsing beats fill the walls instead as the club hosts musical acts that range from funk to jazz. Stationed amid the history and music du jour, diners lose themselves in lobster claws wrapped in prosciutto, gourmet popcorn in flavors such as dill pickle and Cajun, or the kitchen's signature filet burger with smoked-cheddar cream cheese. Specialty jalapeño margaritas complement meals alongside wines such as the 14 Hands malbec, named for the number of Lilliputians required to lift each glass. Baker Peters also lights up luxury cigars in a private humidor, where notes of cedar, coffee, and toast drift from Romeo y Julieta, Rocky Patel, and Cohiba cigars.