Atlanta Gay Bars

BJ's has been a staple in Atlanta's gay nightlife scene since 1995. It's open seven days a week for all your alcohol and male dancer needs, as in the main area you can find go-go boys dancing on the bar as DJs provide a range of great music. BJ's also serves great food and drinks including creative cocktails, and in the back rooms you can find pool tables, darts, and more hot men on the TV.

Mixx Atlanta combines a proper dance floor and stage with enough lounge and patio space to actually talk between songs. Music and programming vary through the week, with karaoke, themed nights, DJs and performances attracting a diverse LGBTQ+ crowd rather than one narrowly defined scene. Location is a big advantage: Mixx shares the 1492 Piedmont Avenue complex with Atlanta Eagle, while Felix's and Oscar's are just a short walk away. That makes this one of the easiest parts of Atlanta for hopping between different gay venues without repeatedly calling a rideshare. GayMapper tip: Mixx works especially well when you want dancing but aren't necessarily looking for the full-on club atmosphere of Heretic.

Atlanta's number-one lesbian bar for more than 24 years, My Sister's Room is the favourite destination for lesbians and queer women, but the whole LGBTQ+ community is welcome. It's renowned across the South and the world for its fun and friendly atmosphere and all round good vibes, creating a safe space for everyone. There are nightly drag and burlesque shows, comedy, karaoke, and plenty of good times, complete with the best wings in Atlanta!

The T is a friendly community bar located in Atlanta's historic Grant Park neighbourhood. Its casual vibe makes everyone feel at home, and the additional of karaoke and a jukebox mean the space is always buzzing. You can have a friendly game of pool or play one of video games on offer, a great way to socialise and get to know the friendly crowd. Drinks are cheap and there are nightly specials that keep people coming back.

Felix's is the kind of gay neighbourhood bar where the emphasis is more on chatting, karaoke and regulars than chasing a huge club night. Open since 2001, it has a laid-back patio, classic drinks and a changing programme that includes karaoke, trivia and drag, attracting a mainly local LGBTQ+ crowd with a good mix of ages. It also sits in one of Atlanta's handiest little gay nightlife clusters. Oscar's is virtually next door, while Atlanta Eagle and Mixx are just along Piedmont Avenue, making Felix's an easy starting point or relaxed final stop on a night around the Ansley/Piedmont area.

Neighbourhood gay bar in Atlanta where there's always something going on. Tripp's has karaoke on Mondays, Bingo on Wednesdays, and live music and shows throughout the week that attract a loyal crowd of gays who enjoy playing darts and the other games that are on offer. Weekends are especially popular, with events such as the "Skin" party that features shirtless dancers, and there are more parties hosted here than any other bar in Atlanta, from private celebrations to regular events.

The Marquette is much more than another late-night club. Its roots stretch back decades, and the venue describes itself as Atlanta's oldest LGBTQ+ entertainment establishment, with an especially important place in the history of the city's Black LGBTQ+ community. Today it mixes music, dancing and live entertainment with food, drinks and a proper after-hours schedule. It's well west of the Midtown gay-bar cluster, so this is somewhere to make a deliberate trip rather than include in a Piedmont Avenue crawl. Fridays and Saturdays can run until 6am, drawing a predominantly Black LGBTQ+ crowd looking for music, performances, food and a night that carries on long after most of Atlanta has wound down. GayMapper tip: Come late rather than early — the Marquette makes most sense as an after-hours destination and offers a very different side of Atlanta's gay scene from Midtown.

X Midtown is a popular and trendy bar on Atlanta's gay scene, boasting Midtown's hottest bartenders and a huge outdoor patio. In this quirky outdoor space, you can find a tiki bar and a unique living plant wall to add to the atmosphere. The patio is always popular, but inside there's a lively dance floor fuelled by talented DJs and amazing music, plus cheap drinks to keep you going late into the night.

Friends Neighbourhood Bar is a great place in Atlanta to party, meet your friends, or make new ones. You can play a game of pool, pinball, or one of several electronic games on offer in the bar, while the Jukebox plays a wide range of songs. The back and front porches offer a view of the Atlanta skyline and a lovely space to relax. There's poker every Monday and Thursday night and plenty of drinks to keep you going.

Lore brings a newer, more deliberately queer feel to Atlanta nightlife. Spread over two levels, it combines full bars, performance space, a substantial dance floor, professional sound and lighting and a patio, with a busy programme ranging from drag cabaret and themed dance parties to karaoke, comedy and queer watch parties. It's on Edgewood Avenue in Old Fourth Ward rather than in the established Midtown gay-bar cluster, so think of Lore as a destination rather than somewhere you'll simply stumble across while bar-hopping around Piedmont Avenue. The crowd is mixed across genders and tends towards Atlanta's younger, creative queer community, particularly on the busier drag and dance nights. GayMapper tip: Check the programme before heading over — the atmosphere can change considerably depending on whether it's a drag show, dance party or more relaxed community night.

Oscar's Bar is Atlanta's best martini bar that doubles as an art bar with show tunes and videos on demand. Talented local artists are featured every other month, along with great videos that you can choose and play your favourites. Martini Mondays and Show Tune Tuesdays are the most popular nights here at Oscars, along with Retro Videos on Wednesdays and 80's night on Fridays. Karaoke, friendly staff, and a great crowd mean the atmosphere is always lively.

Lips is the ultimate experience in drag dining! Wait staff are in drag and queens perform on stage as you eat, and Lips has been serving up dinner, drinks, and drag across America for almost 25 years in multiple venues. Here in Atlanta, the interior of the restaurant and its resident queens are fabulous, colourful, and provide a great night of entertainment, perfect for celebrations like birthdays and especially popular with bachelorette parties.

Located in the heart of Atlanta's Midtown Gayborhood, Blake's on the Park is your neighbourhood bar with great music, live entertainment, delicious food and drinks. Open seven days a week, Blake's has Atlanta'a best bartenders and is the best place in the city to meet men, but despite its very gay vibe, this bar is still straight friendly and draws a super mixed crowd. Karaoke and drag shows are just some of the lively entertainment hosted here throughout the week.

An old-school landmark amongst gay bars, this Atlanta hot spot is still one of the most beloved places to party in Midtown. The bartenders are sociable, the crowds are attractive, and the DJs are top-notch. The Heretic's special events are particularly popular, including a lively Latino night and a Time Warp night with classic dance tunes. Let go on the dance floor and party till dawn or stop by in the morning for a drink with friends.

Since 1978, this popular bar has reliably drawn a mixed age but mostly male and African American crowd. Regulars here love to dance and enjoy the lively hip hop music that's always playing, keeping the party going well into the night. Amazing music coupled with cheap drinks served by great bartenders make Bulldogs a fun place to hang out any night of the week, but the bar is particularly packed at weekends.

Mary's in East Atlanta Village is known for its fun vibe and trendy crowd. Weekly and monthly special events include the city's best karaoke, regular drag shows, and a host of skilled DJs with the best music and videos. The minute you walk through the door, you're on the dance floor with a truly mixed crowd, all enjoying cheap drinks served by friendly bartenders, while upstairs the airy loft is perfect for people watching.

Atlanta's only gay sports bar has been the nation's leader in the industry for years. It serves Atlanta's sports community along with the LGBTQ+ community and prides itself on giving its customers a friendly environment that welcomes all identities. There are 30 TVs to watch your favourite sporting events, plus a full menu to go with it. Classic pub food and solid drinks coupled with an interior decorated with sports memorabilia and rainbows creates a unique yet traditional vibe.

This low-key gay leather bar is fairly unassuming but hidden inside is a hot dance floor, hotter men, and three fully stocked bars. There's even a leather shop on site so there's no excuses not to have some fun with the guys you just met, and if you need to you can cool off on the deck. Whether you like hot leather men, guys in rubber or gear, bears and cubs, you'll find a guy for you here.