Good Life promises downtown Boston just that. A popular destination for after-work unwinding, the bar is a hit among club-goers and music enthusiasts. Spread over two levels, the bar has undergone a modernizing face-lift that thrusts it into the neighborhood’s trendy club scene. Featuring live gigs and guest DJs spinning eclectic beats, this is one of the best dance clubs in town. The exposed brick walls are blank canvases to a rotating exhibition of emerging local artists. There is also an American menu featuring timeless bistro classics like sandwiches, burgers, pastas, Paninis and mac-and-cheese. Enjoy fish tacos, BBQ pork sliders, or marinated steak tips with creative cocktails or wine and bring in an exhilarating time at Good Life.

This venerable club, founded in 1947, was the first African-American-owned nightclub in New England. Wally's Cafe is a proving ground for young jazz musicians, and audience members (or famous visitors) often step up and jam. Much of the narrow space is filled with the bar, and it is standing-room-only on weekend nights. The crowd is a mix of musicians, locals, and bohemians of all ages. Live music is played every night, and there is a jazz brunch on Sunday afternoons for you to enjoy, even on weekends.

For almost a decade, this Cambridge club has been one of the better jazz venues in town. Ride the glass elevator of Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel up to a room with 180-person capacity. The low stage, small tables and glass windows overlooking the Charles River create an intimate setting. The "Supper Club" ticket combines dinner and the show. Group rates and catering are available for jazz functions. The club has a full service bar. Check website for more.

Mainly a venue for rock 'n' roll acts, Paradise Rock Club draws a partying crowd in their late 20s and early 30s. If you do not want to dance, comfortable couches upstairs allow pleasant observation of all the goings-on downstairs. One of the best places in Boston to see live music, the club hosts pop, alternative and better-known local acts almost nightly. Prominent acts who have made appearances include Bare Naked Ladies, Flaming Lips, the Wallflowers, Goo Goo Dolls, and Jack Johnson.