A few favorites:
Rusty's in south Toledo, back in the 80s. Long gone now. Very music-focused but also had a great scene and vibe.

Churchill Grounds here in Atlanta - unfortunately closed down about a year ago, but a great scene and I believe Sam, who ran it still arranges jazz shows at other bars/venues around town.

A perennial favorite is Bemelman's bar at the Carlyle in NYC. I get boss-girl up there about once a year when I have business, and we try to get there when they have a trio playing standards. Just great ambience and a lot of fun.

For something completely different--nothing stronger than coffee to drink and the setting is more like a classroom with folding chairs and florescent lighting, but the Mamie A. Clayton Library and Museum in L.A. is an undiscovered gem. Four times a year, on Sunday afternoons, you can hear extraordinary jazz--sometimes played by people whose names are well known, sometimes by up and comers. The ambience is institutional, but the music is superb and the atmosphere is warm, friendly and intimate. The best live jazz I've heard and I try not to miss it.

Blues Alley in Washington, DC Georgetown area. It was probably 12 years ago so I don’t recall a lot. Only I liked the venue, the cocktails, and the music that night!

I have good memories from The Plaza III steakhouse jazz lounge at The Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just checked their website and they closed the business earlier this month after five decades of operation :sigh:.

No longer open but we enjoyed the Caravan of Dreams in Ft. Worth. Small yet enjoyable. First show we saw there was David Sanborn, last show was our son's first concert to attend - Little Feat.

Bummer about Plaza III - we went there when we lived in KC. Nice spot.

My vote goes to the Dakota in Minneapolis. Great venue and good food, the Dakota is just a very comfortable place to enjoy live music.

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We've seen Hugh Masakela, Shawn Colvin, Dan Hicks, The Bad Plus, Pinetop Perkins, Firefall, Nachito Herrera (a local favorite).

Prince has played here, Dave Brubeck, McCoy Tyner, Stanley Clarke, Bela Fleck, Cowboy Junkies, Bob Mould, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, John McLaughlin....the list goes on. I think their success is due in part to the eclectic mix of genres and the overall high quality of the performers they bring in.

Tom

Do places like Small's, Blue Note, Sweet Rhythms and Dizzy's (all in NYC) count? All are good venues with food & drinks, but one goes there for the music. Especially Small's (lousy food).

Oops.......... almost forgot the Village Vanguard. And, Sweet Rhythms is no more.

Maduro Jazz And Lounge Bar, Grand Hyatt, Tokyo.

Very unique place and atmosphere, one of my favourites