Playboy Online’s A-List – America’s Best Jazz Clubs

One of those rare jazz venues that actually serves terrific food — rather than nominal and overpriced chips and cheeseburgers — the Dakota wins as much high praise for its eclectic American cuisine as for its stellar music bookings. The upscale restaurant and club is the prime destination for major-label jazz stars touring between Chicago and the West Coast, and a nightlife gem in a city better known by its paisley affinities for Princely funk. In business since the 1980s, the venue opened at its current spot in 2002, boasting acoustics appealing enough for several musicians — such as Chicago tenor titan Von Freeman — to record live albums here.

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