At Dallas’ Balcony Club it is, for the most part, standing room only. They don’t take reservations. It’s just good old-fashioned first come first serve. But standing in this crowded atmosphere is worth it; the live jazz music is divine and the club is a hot spot for residents and visitors alike.

Lucky guests can snag a stool or a dark, cozy and beware – highly coveted booth throughout the course of the evening as patrons come and go. Come dressed up because this place is also swarming with local and Hollywood celebrities looking to enjoy some good drinks and fine tunes.

The floor may be jam packed, but the service is excellent, friendly and can provide some great tips on the beer, wine and perfectly prepared cocktail selection provided in this swank setting.

The Balcony Club is situated in the Lakewood neighborhood and is partly attached to the Art Deco single-screen Lakewood Theatre that has existed on the site since 1938. Regular movies are no longer shown on its silver screen, but its presence adds a little certain something to the mood of its jazz bar neighbor. In fact, the Balcony Club actually is located on the theatre’s balcony floor.

Open daily; the bar really begins to jazz things up on Thursday for the weekend rush. The bar meets piano lounge is dark and mysterious without the pretension. It is cool, classy and jazzy, but most definitely not snobby.

Visitors might be overjoyed at the opportunity to finally enjoy a Cuban, but as a warning for not so smoke friendly guests, cigar smoking is allowed inside. In many ways, however, the smoky air filled with the sweet scented leaf adds to the classic jazz element of deep and mellow vocals and the accompanying instruments that can be heard even as one approaches from the street.