Ortlieb's Jazzhaus Inc   

This cozy North Philly dive is, in fact, the city's most important jazz haunt, with a history that stretches back more than a few decades and includes some of jazzdom's luminaries. These days, the club serves as a roost for such hometown heroes as Mickey Roker and Bootsie Barnes and the occasional high-profile guest artist. Ortlieb's is also the proving ground for the city's aspiring young musicians, who turn out for a Tuesday-night jam session that has become a veritable institution. While there's usually no cover charge on weeknights, the weekend charge hovers around $5. Regardless of what night you're there, expect a prodigious amount of cigarette smoke; consider it part of the club's charming low-fi vibe.