Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar, Philadelphia

Most people don't go to a restaurant to sing. But that's not true at Jolly's American Beer Bar. Here, diners sway and croon at their tables as two pianists at adjacent baby grands animatedly play popular tunes from a range of eras. The dueling pianos, an entertainment form hailing from the 1930s and a fixture at this University City establishment, imbues the space with an ecstatic and raucous energy. The professional ivory ticklers' hands cascade across the keys, covering songs from icons such as Billy Joel, Elvis Presley, and Lady Gaga. In between melodies, the musicians treat the audience to bits of ribald humor and plates of deep-fried quarter notes.

In the midst of the crowd sing-alongs, patrons can sip from a cache of American craft beers from breweries such as Russian River, Dogfish Head, and Rogue or sup on handmade morsels in the form of thai chicken wings or a Carolina–style barbecue pulled-pork sandwich.