Fodor's Expert Review Wally's Café

A rare gem for jazz and blues fans, Wally's Café, founded in 1947, is the oldest continuously operating family-owned jazz club in America. Patrons may see nostalgic stars like Branford Marsalis or Esperanza Spalding drop by, because the place is internationally renowned for its steady stream of heated performances by local bands and guests. Wally's diverse crowd attracts regulars from the South End and Roxbury, and music-hungry students, especially from Berklee College of Music. It's jammed every night of the year and there's never a cover. Monday it's blues and Thursday it's Latin jazz. Daily jam sessions run from 6 to 9 pm; bring your horn! Arrive early if you want a seat, because the line can be brutal.