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

Because not everyone wants roses, chocolate, and champagne

by Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Updated Feb 14, 2017, 10:45am EST

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Northside Tavern.

| Stephen Talkovich

by Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Updated Feb 14, 2017, 10:45am EST

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.

Rusty Nail

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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

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Also featured in:

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Mr. C's

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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

Also featured in:

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Smith's Olde Bar

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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

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Northside Tavern

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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

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The Highlander

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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

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The Righteous Room

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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.

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1051 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

(404) 874-0939

Trackside Tavern

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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.

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313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 378-0504

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Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

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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

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Elmyr Restaurant & Cantina

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

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1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

(404) 588-0250

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Elliott Street Deli & Pub

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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

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