Hotel Vegas

No, it’s not really a hotel, but it was once a flophouse and brothel! Over its past five years operating as a prominent east side music venue, the place has proudly retained a grunginess that meshes masterfully with the slew of punk, rock, psych and fringe-type musicians that all seem to frequent the place even when they’re not playing. Hotel Vegas’s showroom itself is dim, but warm and inviting, not to mention wonderfully raucous when the music’s going. Meanwhile, the neighboring Volstead Lounge—connected by a sprawling, picnic table-laden patio that occasionally hosts a satellite stage—looks more like a vintage ’60s cocktail lounge, though it’s typically packed with sweaty bodies grinding to the beats of some local DJ. Pro tip: if one space is charging a cover and the other isn’t, entry to one will (usually) get you in through the other’s back door.