Food | Dakota Jazz Club | Preservation Hall | New Orleans

A truly great jazz club needs super sound, a stage that everybody can see, and, of course, the charm to lure the best musicians onto its stage. A world-class piano, an evocative atmosphere, and fine food and drink are the finishing touches. What follows are our picks for the five best spots to hear the blues. - Mark Henricks

New Orleans
Having survived the Beatles, hip-hop, and even the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Preservation Hall reopened in April 2006 after a several-months-long hiatus. Today the hall presents much of the same traditional New Orleans jazz that it did back in 1961. There's neither food nor beverage, and seating is limited, but it's only $8 per show, so you can afford to drink and dine elsewhere in the French Quarter. 726 St. Peter Street, (504) 522-2841, www.preservation hall.com

Minneapolis
On the ground floor of Target's headquarters, Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant serves some of the finest jazz cuisine in the U.S. Award-winning chef Jack Riebel's art goes on the plate, while Dr. John, Branford Marsalis, and bluesy artists like Marcia Ball fill the stage. The club seats 145, and the adjoining restaurant behind floor-to-ceiling curtains accommodates another 145. Restaurant patrons hear without seeing - and without paying the $5 to $40 cover. 1010 Nicollet Mall, (612) 332-1010, www.dakotacooks.com

Seattle