clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

These Atlanta Restaurants Feature Fireside Dining on the Patio

Bring on the Beer From These Breweries and Brewpubs Around Atlanta

The Best Bets for Ramen Around Atlanta

More in Atlanta See more maps
Northside Tavern.
Northside Tavern.
Stephen Talkovich

10 Atlanta Dive Bars for All Your Valentine's Day Needs

Because not everyone wants roses, chocolate, and champagne

by Chris Fuhrmeister Updated
View as Map
Northside Tavern.
| Stephen Talkovich
by Chris Fuhrmeister Updated

Valentine's Day — aka Black Tuesday for those who are single or not into the mushy, romantic celebrations — is here. Restaurants will be packed with couples batting their eyelashes and dining on overpriced prix fixe meals. If that thought is repulsive, perhaps a visit to one of Atlanta's fine dive bars is in order.

Atlanta's drinking scene has plenty of options where one can find a classic cocktail in a nice setting. But, those bars may be filled with couples celebrating on V-Day. These watering holes will be devoid of all things romance, and no one is going to ask about any flowers or chocolates.

The following 10 bars are mapped north to south and are not ranked. But, they're all great options for a casual drink any time of the year, not only on Valentine's Day. Don't see your favorite spot? Show it some love in the comments or shoot an email to the Eater Atlanta tipline.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Rusty Nail

Copy Link

The team behind this Buford Highway dive — there's also a Roswell location — likes to bill it as "the South's version of Cheers." Different drink specials are available throughout the week, including 16 ounce cans of PBR for $2.50 on Tuesdays.

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA, 30329
(404) 634-6306
(404) 634-6306
Yelp/Joseph W.

Also featured in:

Mr. C's

Copy Link

The pitchers are cheap, the jukebox works, and the air is smoky. Isn't that the recipe for a perfect dive?

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 605-0888
(404) 605-0888
Yelp/Chad E.

Also featured in:

Smith's Olde Bar

Copy Link

There was some concern the iconic dive and music venue was headed to the chopping block, but those fears have passed. Whether a live show in the Music Room or drinks in the Bar Room are in order, Smith's is a winner.

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 875-1522
(404) 875-1522
Smith's Olde Bar/Facebook

Also featured in:

Northside Tavern

Copy Link

This Westside hole-in-the-wall offers live music every night. Nathan Nelson will be blasting the tunes this Tuesday evening.

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 874-8745
(404) 874-8745
Northside Tavern/Stephen Talkovich

Also featured in:

The Highlander

Copy Link

The Highlander opened in 1992, and it claims to be "a fixture of Atlanta's late-night party scene." If eating crab legs in a dive bar sounds like a good idea, they're all-you-can-eat on Tuesdays for $27.95 per person.

931 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 872-0060
(404) 872-0060
Matthew Wong/Eater Atlanta

Also featured in:

The Righteous Room

Copy Link

This Poncey-Highland dive is a favorite of many local bartenders, so it must be doing something right. There's a Brookhaven outpost as well.

1051 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-0939
(404) 874-0939
Yelp/Dave N.

Trackside Tavern

Copy Link

Like so many bars on this list, this is a neighborhood mainstay. And for those who want more than cheap domestic beers, Trackside's list of brews on tap goes above and beyond what can be found at most dives.

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 378-0504
(404) 378-0504
Yelp/Robin S.

Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

Copy Link

Located in Little Five Points, the Yacht Club is always full of hard-drinking Atlantans, and it's a good bet before or after a show at Variety Playhouse. Smoking is allowed, of course, and the bar happens to be the only "yacht club" in landlocked Atlanta.

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 688-2582
(404) 688-2582
Google Maps

Also featured in:

Elmyr Restaurant & Cantina

Copy Link

Elmyr is certainly Atlanta's best smoky dive that also serves nourishing, cheap burritos.

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 588-0250
(404) 588-0250
Yelp/Daniel B.

Elliott Street Deli & Pub

Copy Link

Located in Castleberry Hill, Elliott Street offers a nice view of the Downtown skyline from its front door. Don't ask for PBR; the bar serves Miller High Life instead, and the portrait of Frank Zappa will judge you for placing the wrong order.

51 Elliott St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 523-2174
(404) 523-2174
Foursquare/Michael B.

Also featured in:

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Rusty Nail

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA, 30329

The team behind this Buford Highway dive — there's also a Roswell location — likes to bill it as "the South's version of Cheers." Different drink specials are available throughout the week, including 16 ounce cans of PBR for $2.50 on Tuesdays.

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA, 30329
(404) 634-6306
(404) 634-6306
Yelp/Joseph W.

Mr. C's

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

The pitchers are cheap, the jukebox works, and the air is smoky. Isn't that the recipe for a perfect dive?

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 605-0888
(404) 605-0888
Yelp/Chad E.

Smith's Olde Bar

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

There was some concern the iconic dive and music venue was headed to the chopping block, but those fears have passed. Whether a live show in the Music Room or drinks in the Bar Room are in order, Smith's is a winner.

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 875-1522
(404) 875-1522
Smith's Olde Bar/Facebook

Northside Tavern

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

This Westside hole-in-the-wall offers live music every night. Nathan Nelson will be blasting the tunes this Tuesday evening.

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 874-8745
(404) 874-8745
Northside Tavern/Stephen Talkovich

The Highlander

931 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

The Highlander opened in 1992, and it claims to be "a fixture of Atlanta's late-night party scene." If eating crab legs in a dive bar sounds like a good idea, they're all-you-can-eat on Tuesdays for $27.95 per person.

931 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 872-0060
(404) 872-0060
Matthew Wong/Eater Atlanta

The Righteous Room

1051 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

This Poncey-Highland dive is a favorite of many local bartenders, so it must be doing something right. There's a Brookhaven outpost as well.

1051 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-0939
(404) 874-0939
Yelp/Dave N.

Trackside Tavern

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Like so many bars on this list, this is a neighborhood mainstay. And for those who want more than cheap domestic beers, Trackside's list of brews on tap goes above and beyond what can be found at most dives.

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 378-0504
(404) 378-0504
Yelp/Robin S.

Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Located in Little Five Points, the Yacht Club is always full of hard-drinking Atlantans, and it's a good bet before or after a show at Variety Playhouse. Smoking is allowed, of course, and the bar happens to be the only "yacht club" in landlocked Atlanta.

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 688-2582
(404) 688-2582
Google Maps

Elmyr Restaurant & Cantina

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Elmyr is certainly Atlanta's best smoky dive that also serves nourishing, cheap burritos.

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 588-0250
(404) 588-0250
Yelp/Daniel B.

Elliott Street Deli & Pub

51 Elliott St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Located in Castleberry Hill, Elliott Street offers a nice view of the Downtown skyline from its front door. Don't ask for PBR; the bar serves Miller High Life instead, and the portrait of Frank Zappa will judge you for placing the wrong order.

51 Elliott St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 523-2174
(404) 523-2174
Foursquare/Michael B.

Related Maps