Le Poisson Rouge, New York

Christened "the coolest place to hear contemporary music in New York" by the New York Times, Le Poisson Rouge has hosted everyone from Lou Reed and Patti Smith to Yo La Tengo. Though it's reputation rests on music, the self-described "multimedia art cabaret" accommodates theater, film, dance, and literary events, too. Thanks to its flexible configurations, the space can convert from a seated screening room for 250 individuals to a standing-room only concert hall for 700 people, plus700 additional people sitting on the first 700's shoulders. As each evening's show unfurls, bartenders pour top-shelf liquors while chefs craft snacks such as mushroom sliders and flatbreads topped with serrano ham. For visual art, meanwhile, head to The Gallery at LPR, an adjoining, soundproof space that's featured exhibitions by prominent artists such as Chuck Close and Ofri Cnaani.