Wally's Cafe

Since 1947, this unassuming South End spot has been the premier showcase for Boston jazz talent, including plenty of students from Berklee, the Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory of Music. The crowd is a colorblind mix that usually includes multiple generations of music enthusiasts. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. Nightly live music includes sets of blues, jazz, and/or funk. No matter the day of the week, it's invariably jazzy, often inventive and always without a cover charge.