A true alternative in the Orlando live music landscape, this Thornton Park gem, mostly known for weddings, has recently been outfitted and staffed as a proper music venue. What it now offers is a live stage set in a kind of historic courtyard milieu instead of the usual bar. Since its launch in February, the Veranda Live has featured a weighty list of music acts both local (the Hate Bombs, the Ludes, the Wildtones, Heather Lee & Jordan Wynn, Hindu Cowboys) and national (Drivin' N Cryin', Pylon Reenactment Society, Raelyn Nelson Band).

2. The Guesthouse

3. Mathers Social Gathering, mathersorlando.com

2. The Hammered Lamb, thehammeredlamb.com

3. Eden Bar, enzian.org

thecopperrocket.com

Ah, the Copper Rocket. The Maitland pub has gone through plenty of ups and downs with its different owners over the years, but the most recent owner, Selman Markovic, was really something special. And after the episode of Spike TV's Bar Rescue featuring the Rocket finally aired this spring – about a year after filming – everyone got to see exactly how special. As loudmouth host Jon Taffer pointed out several times throughout the episode, Markovic had problems taking responsibility for any of the problems at his bar, from poor service to health code violations to mistreatment of employees. To no one's surprise, the Copper Rocket was sold shortly after the filming of the episode, and since then, new owners AKT Enterprises have put a ton of work into rescuing the bar from Markovic's reputation.

2. Trick Shots Billiards, trickshotsbilliards.com

3. Spatz, facebook.com/spatz1025

2. Rick Big, The Thirsty Topher, thethirstytopher.com

3. Lee Courtley, Independent Bar, independentbar.net

2. DJ Ponyboy, facebook.com/ponyboydj

3. Matt Roquentin Lamen

2. Mac & Cheese, independentbar.net

3. Girl the Party, girltheparty.com

2. Whiskey Sharts, shartsville.com

3. Sean Holcomb, seanholcomb.com

2. Nirvanna, facebook.com/nirvannatributeband

3. Skin Deep, skindeeprocks.com