Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar

You can always tell what day of the week it is by peaking your head into Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar's modern dining room. On Mondays through Thursdays, salsa bounces off the eatery's vibrant red oak and exposed-brick walls as instructors lead groups in free dance lessons. Soul and R&B bands please cochlear passageways on Fridays and Saturdays, and end the week by featuring a rotating melange of genres and top 40 hits.

Of course, this up-tempo atmosphere is fueled by food inspired by the Mediterranean, where some anthropologists believe music also exists. Just like jazz players enjoy slipping extra notes into their solos, executive chef Michael Skan isn't afraid to add his own little flourishes to classic items. He gives the fresh-made pasta dishes playful names like "Sexy Spaghettini"—which comes mixed with tiger Shrimp, grilled chicken, and a spicy cilantro olive oil—and deep fries New York-style cheesecakes. The bartenders share Chef Skan's creative flair, mixing signature martins such as the "Orgasmic Catz," an amalgamation of raspberry vodka, Cointreau, Champagne, lime, and cranberry.