Jackson may not be very well known for its club scene, but Club Total sure is well known in Jackson for its club vibe and cool ambiance. Total is sure to take you to a new high and give you a great experience you aren't likely to forget in a hurry. The club is great for its open mic nights and other events that encourage the locals to mix and mingle and be.

Martin's, a Mississippi original since 1953, offers perhaps the largest selection of beers (both domestic and imports) wine, and spirits in the state. It also boasts an affordable lunch buffet featuring classic Southern cuisine such as red beans, rice, and shrimp creole. Their dinner menu has enough appetizers, entrees, and sides to please any palate. There is also a short order menu. During late nights, Martin's offers live music, karaoke, and open mike. Hospitality reigns here, with the friendliest bar staff in all of Jackson, an attentive and courteous wait staff, and a local crowd from all walks of life. -Cindy Leggett

This old brick two-story in the shadow of the Capitol heats up after dark. George Street is a mild-mannered pub and eatery during the day, popular with the lunch crowd from the government buildings nearby. The menu offers a full fare of sandwiches, burgers and a few more extravagant dishes. Later hours draw the college crowd. After the kitchen closes at 9p, the music cranks up, and the bar scene is in full effect. Upstairs, local bands take the stage and keep the party going late into the night. A cover charge is occasionally required.

It is a bit hard to say whether this is a bar or a restaurant, but you will get plenty of food and drink here. Lively and always fun, the wait staff is engaging and quick to laugh. The entire menu is praiseworthy, but if you are not a fan of anchovies, let your waiter know early. Whatever may happen to strike your fancy, be sure to try the Ouzo (or something else from the full bar) and save just a little bit of room for the baklava, perhaps the richest and stickiest confection ever designed.

Located on the west side of town within the lobby of the Coliseum Hotel, this fun place is known to many locals as the site of the "Happiest Hour in Town." The restaurant offers a fine selection of Mexican specialties and appetizers, with special seating available for meetings or private parties. Most come for the drinks-especially the frozen margaritas-including a good number of area residents who know a good time when they see one. Catering service and an economical kids' menu are also provided.

Occupying the second floor of an old brick building at the corner of Fortification and Jefferson streets, this cozy pub is as known for its raucous parties as for its warm and quiet moments. A model train circles overhead as local bands take the stage, and big plates of Irish stew, shepherd's pie and the signature Beef Boxty satisfy the need for stick-to-your-ribs fulfillment. A menu of great bar appetizers is also available, featuring such unusual treats as fried dill pickles. A comprehensive bar doles out great Irish malt whiskeys and stouts. For a twist, try the Guinness and 7UP.

Now in its 35th year as a professional theater, New Stage is one of Jackson's most celebrated cultural institutions. The theater produces a wide range of plays and musicals, from classic Shakespeare to a recent presentation of the hit musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. New Stage's full professional season includes a five-show main subscription series, a Christmas show and several children's shows. The theater showcases original work in its Eudora Welty New Plays Series and in its free offerings at Late Nite at New Stage.

This is a favorite stop for those who want a heavy lunch in a light atmosphere. The red beans and rice plate, jambalaya, fried pickles and Works Burger are particularly good. The restaurant also attracts a regular after-work crowd to its deck for a quick pitcher of beer and endless banter about the woes of office life. For the sports lover, the televisions are always on, and the bar is always open. It is located in the Fondren shopping district only a few miles from downtown.

This relaxed and decidedly hip restaurant also offers a brewpub and the best live music in the state. The downtown spot offers distinctly Southern fare, including red beans and rice, po' boys, burgers, quiches and seafood, with a creative twist and a variety of sandwiches. A blackboard reveals the daily plate lunch (three vegetables and a meat). All items are moderately priced. Keep your eyes peeled, as actors who regularly film in the state like to hang out here. Be sure to check out the Elvis décor in the bathroom.

You will love this restaurant for its famous Inez Burger with chili cheese fries. The Inez is a massive, heart-stopping hamburger-and-fries combo that will meet your cholesterol quota for the entire week. If that does not suit, try the plate lunch special with all the usual Southern side items. Located across from Millsaps College, this diner is a staple for college students and downtown businesspeople alike. Like its preferred customers, this place is long on character and short on fanciness. No credit cards accepted.