Mary's

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.