Best Restaurants for Music Lovers
Bluebird Cafe, Nashville
While this humble café has hit TV fame on Nashville, it still holds true to its dedication to the "heroes behind the hits" and acoustic sound. The original owner sold the venue to the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) to continue its legacy of celebrating songwriters. The menu may jump from Chicken Fingers to Quesadillas, but that just means you're sure to find something you'll enjoy while listening to the music you know in a whole new way.
Bluebird Cafe: 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 383-1461; bluebirdcafe.com
Caffe Vivaldi, New York
The hole-in-the-wall restaurant is a staple of New York living, but rarely do they add live musicians to the table-jostling equation. The intimacy in Caffe Vivaldi is part of the charm and has swayed big names like Woody Allen, Al Pacino, and Nobel Prize-winning poet Joseph Brodsky. The nightly performances are an eclectic mix of styles and, best yet, you won't compromise on food with their drool-inducing menu of seafood entrées and homemade pasta.
Caffe Vivaldi: 32 Jones St, New York, NY 10014; (212) 691-7538; caffevivaldi.com
Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago
Yes, the electric blues legend opened a restaurant that celebrates — what else? — other musical legends. What kind of legends, you ask? ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and David Bowie are just some of the performers who have graced the stage. Whether you catch a local artist or national, the music is live and impassioned every night of the week. Plus, the place serves up some seriously down-home Cajun food.
Buddy Guy's Legends: 700 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL, 60605; (312) 427-1190; buddyguy.com
St. Peter Stiftskeller, Salzburg, Austria
For classical music lovers, Austria is a dream trip. If you're looking to capture the feeling of the grand days of classical performance, St. Peter Stiftskeller is your destination of choice. They offer a Mozart dinner, featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by the Amadeus Consort Ensemble (in historical costumes) live as you enjoy a three-course dinner of period-appropriate recipes. Plan your travels accordingly.
St. Peter Stiftskeller: Sankt-Peter-Bezirk 1/4, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; +43 662 8412680; stpeter-stiftskeller.at
Malbec/Tango House, New York
Dinner and a show in the winter has never been easier; rather than plunging back into the slush after a $38 pre-theatre, three-course dinner, you can simply walk downstairs to enjoy a four-piece band tango show. The venue was a cabaret in the 20s, and although the show has changed, it still holds old-school character. Live performances wow attendees Tuesday through Saturday.
Malbec and Tango House: 428 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003; (212) 419-4645; malbechouse.com; tangohouse.net
Crossroads at House of Blues, Multiple Locations
The House of Blues has long been known as a place to go to hear great music, but it's not slacking on the food dished up either. The newest menu — available at locations across the country — is designed by celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez and it's studded with new soon-to-be hits and refreshing twists on long-time favorites.
Crossroads at House of Blues: multiple locations; houseofblues.com
Sarastro, London
If you find yourself across the pond wanting to see a show, perhaps without the cost of an actual show, you can get dinner and a performance at Sarastro. Though the live performances are usually quartets or opera singers, the restaurant also books acts that play everything from Motown to Latin music. The quarters may be cramped, but you're sure to be in the thick of the music, and with two shows a day, a busy night doesn't mean you'll miss out.
Sarastro: 126 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5SU, United Kingdom; +44 20 7836 0101; sarastro-restaurant.com
Chefs Reveal What Restaurant Life Is Really Like
Starbucks Is Selling The Most Adorable Keychains
7 Food Network Stars Have Made Millions
7 Things To Know About Being A Private Chef
