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19 Dive Bars for a Low-Key Evening in Atlanta

No reservations, no pricey menu, no dressing up, no BS

by Eater Staff Updated Feb 10, 2023, 8:30am EST

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by Eater Staff Updated Feb 10, 2023, 8:30am EST

The Righteous Room

Dive bars offer more than budget drinks and a small cast of colorful regulars. These low-key establishments also offer respite from the daily grind and the buzzy crowds who often frequent the city’s trendier, overpopulated watering holes. It’s hard to beat a dive bar on some nights. Sometimes all one really wants is to relax solo with a good book or with a group of friends and escape the frenetic pace of life with loaded nachos and wings paired with a cold beer, rum and Coke, or a well shot.

Don’t see a favorite dive bar on the list? Send Eater Atlanta the details to check out for the next update via the tipline.

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Mr C’s Bar & Grill

Located on Howell Mill Road across from the post office, this longtime dive bar serves cheap pitchers of beer and includes a working jukebox, words of “wisdom” on a sign out front, and an always colorful cast of characters.

Open in Google Maps

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Northside Tavern

Few Atlanta bars are as iconic (or regularly serve as a filming location for movies and TV shows) than this westside Atlanta haunt. Despite explosive growth along this portion of Howell Mill Road, Northside Tavern endures and continues to be the spot for shots of Wild Turkey, cans of PBR, and blues music into the wee hours of the morning. Keep an eye out here for celebrity sightings here.

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

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Also featured in:

Eleventh Street Pub

Surrounded by an ever-growing population of shiny new high rises, Eleventh Street Pub keeps it casual and real in Midtown for those seeking good old-fashioned pub grub, including wings, burgers, and bowls of PEI mussels and fries, cold beer, and sports on the TV. The lengthy beer list here is a healthy mix of craft and dive bar classics.

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1041 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

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Ideal Sportsbar

For four decades now, this Lakewood bar has been a comfortable neighborhood spot for winding down and a gathering place for sports fans. Grab some wings, tater tots, and beer (or a stiff drink) and shoot some pool while taking in a game or two on the TVs here.

Open in Google Maps

1953 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Also featured in:

Head to These Sports Bars Around Atlanta to Watch the Super Bowl

Five Paces Inn

Open since 1955, head to this dive bar institution in Buckhead to watch sports and sip on cold beers or a budget-friendly cocktail. Five Paces can become a standing-room-only affair the later it gets, especially on the weekends when the DJs are spinning. Weekday evenings are generally quieter and filled with local residents.

Open in Google Maps

41 Irby Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Red Door Tavern

Red Door Tavern has been part of the Buckhead bar scene for nearly 20 years now. In 2019, the bar added a 1980s-inspired arcade adjacent to the main entrance. Arcadia features classic arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man, Tekken, and Galaga, murals of old school game characters like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers, and a floor consisting of 180,000 pennies. Pull up for beer, cocktails, and sports on the televisions.

Open in Google Maps

3180 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305

Also featured in:

Eat, Drink, and Play at These Atlanta Game Bars and Bowling Alleys

Elbow Room

For 25 years now, Elbow Room has been a neighborhood gathering spot for beer, pool, and darts while watching a few games on the many televisions around the bar. Pub food abounds here, including wings and burgers, as well as the popular stromboli, beer-battered onion rings, and garlic cheese breadsticks.

Open in Google Maps

248 Pharr Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

Also featured in:

LA’s Best Sports Bars For a Full Season of Football Action

Smith's Olde Bar

The iconic Midtown dive bar and music venue located on Piedmont Avenue is always ready for those seeking drinks, dancing, and a live show nearly every night. Make sure to head here to football on the weekends.

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

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Also featured in:

The Independent

This low-key hangout in Virginia-Highland is relaxed and built around billiards. It’s rare to see an empty pool table most evenings, especially on the weekends when friends and strangers alike gather around tables to shoot a round or two. As for food, find everything from burgers and fried chicken sandwiches to brats made from local meat purveyor Fripper’s and hand pies by Atlanta pop-up Heaps ATL.

Open in Google Maps

931 Monroe Dr NE suite c-205, Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

Jack's Pizza & Wings

Jack’s has been a staple in the Old Fourth Ward for years, serving classic pizzas and jumbo slices, like the Hangover topped with bacon, tomatoes, green peppers, spinach, and jalapenos, and baskets of oven-baked wings. Head to this dive bar for great beer-and-a-shot combo deals.

Open in Google Maps

676 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Also featured in:

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97 Estoria

This chill dive bar in Cabbagetown offers plenty of seating both inside and outside on the tree-covered patio. Beer, wine, cocktails, Fernet shots, and classic bar food have all made 97 Estoria a popular neighborhood hangout for years now.

Open in Google Maps

727 Wylie St SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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Also featured in:

The Local

Filled with gritty dive bar charm, the Local is often a gathering spot for local residents throughout the week and those cruising Ponce on the weekends. This bar features a dart board, trivia nights, karaoke, and serves some of Atlanta’s best wings in flavors like tikka masala and spicy Korean BBQ. Share baskets of wings with a pitcher of cold beer with good friends for a solid evening in Atlanta.

758 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Righteous Room

This Poncey-Highland dive bar is a popular post-shift spot for many of Atlanta’s bartenders and restaurant industry workers, so it must be doing something right. Order the Fatty Grilled Cheese made with American cheese and topped with tomatoes and sunflowers sprouts grilled between two thick pieces of Texas toast.

1051 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Elmyr

Tacos, loaded nachos, and burritos paired with cold beer in a dive bar? That’s what Little Five Points dive bar Elmyr is serving up nightly next to the Variety Playhouse on Euclid. And it all totally hits the spot.

Open in Google Maps

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

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Also featured in:

Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

A change of ownership hasn’t destroyed the vibe or the food at this Little Five Points dive bar institution. It’s still a favorite among locals gathering for drinks and bites after work as well as the curious checking out the Little Five Points scene on the weekends. Order a cold beer or the dive bar classic Jack and Coke while slurping Brunswick stew, chowing down on jumbo wings, and munching on tater tots. The people watching here can’t be beat.

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Star Community Bar

Housed in a former bank on Moreland, and after undergoing a change of ownership and avoiding (for now) the possibility of closure due to development, the divey Star Bar is alive and well still slinging drinks and hosting live shows and music ranging from funk to punk in Little Five Points.

Open in Google Maps

437 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

The EARL

This East Atlanta Village dive bar is known for hosting a wide and eclectic range of alternative and underground bands on its stage. Most tickets for shows here are $20 or under. The Earl also includes a full bar and menu of pub food, including a couple of Atlanta’s finest burgers and its “Irish Nachos” — tater tots atop nacho chips covered in chili, cheese, lettuce, salsa, jalapeños, and sour cream.

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Rusty Nail Pub

This dive bills itself as “the South’s version of Cheers.” While that statement may or may not be true, the Rusty Nail’s distinct ambiance and drinks specials on Buford Highway never seem to disappoint locals or visitors to Atlanta. Make sure to check the schedule for team trivia nights here.

Open in Google Maps

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Visit Website

Trackside Tavern

This neighborhood bar is a Decatur mainstay. For those in need of a cold beer and dive bar ambiance, Trackside’s list of domestics on tap goes above and beyond, as does its chill atmosphere. As for food, expect smoked wings, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, and sausages served with chili and a side of collards on the menu here.

Open in Google Maps

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Make These Bars and Restaurants Around Atlanta Your Weekly Bingo Headquarters

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Mr C’s Bar & Grill

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Located on Howell Mill Road across from the post office, this longtime dive bar serves cheap pitchers of beer and includes a working jukebox, words of “wisdom” on a sign out front, and an always colorful cast of characters.

Open in Google Maps

1983 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Northside Tavern

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Few Atlanta bars are as iconic (or regularly serve as a filming location for movies and TV shows) than this westside Atlanta haunt. Despite explosive growth along this portion of Howell Mill Road, Northside Tavern endures and continues to be the spot for shots of Wild Turkey, cans of PBR, and blues music into the wee hours of the morning. Keep an eye out here for celebrity sightings here.

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

Eleventh Street Pub

1041 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

Surrounded by an ever-growing population of shiny new high rises, Eleventh Street Pub keeps it casual and real in Midtown for those seeking good old-fashioned pub grub, including wings, burgers, and bowls of PEI mussels and fries, cold beer, and sports on the TV. The lengthy beer list here is a healthy mix of craft and dive bar classics.

Open in Google Maps

1041 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Website

Ideal Sportsbar

1953 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

For four decades now, this Lakewood bar has been a comfortable neighborhood spot for winding down and a gathering place for sports fans. Grab some wings, tater tots, and beer (or a stiff drink) and shoot some pool while taking in a game or two on the TVs here.

Open in Google Maps

1953 Lakewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Five Paces Inn

41 Irby Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Open since 1955, head to this dive bar institution in Buckhead to watch sports and sip on cold beers or a budget-friendly cocktail. Five Paces can become a standing-room-only affair the later it gets, especially on the weekends when the DJs are spinning. Weekday evenings are generally quieter and filled with local residents.

Open in Google Maps

41 Irby Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Red Door Tavern

3180 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305

Red Door Tavern has been part of the Buckhead bar scene for nearly 20 years now. In 2019, the bar added a 1980s-inspired arcade adjacent to the main entrance. Arcadia features classic arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man, Tekken, and Galaga, murals of old school game characters like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers, and a floor consisting of 180,000 pennies. Pull up for beer, cocktails, and sports on the televisions.

Open in Google Maps

3180 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305

Elbow Room

248 Pharr Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

For 25 years now, Elbow Room has been a neighborhood gathering spot for beer, pool, and darts while watching a few games on the many televisions around the bar. Pub food abounds here, including wings and burgers, as well as the popular stromboli, beer-battered onion rings, and garlic cheese breadsticks.

Open in Google Maps

248 Pharr Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

Smith's Olde Bar

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

The iconic Midtown dive bar and music venue located on Piedmont Avenue is always ready for those seeking drinks, dancing, and a live show nearly every night. Make sure to head here to football on the weekends.

1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

The Independent

931 Monroe Dr NE suite c-205, Atlanta, GA 30308

This low-key hangout in Virginia-Highland is relaxed and built around billiards. It’s rare to see an empty pool table most evenings, especially on the weekends when friends and strangers alike gather around tables to shoot a round or two. As for food, find everything from burgers and fried chicken sandwiches to brats made from local meat purveyor Fripper’s and hand pies by Atlanta pop-up Heaps ATL.

Open in Google Maps

931 Monroe Dr NE suite c-205, Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

Jack's Pizza & Wings

676 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Jack’s has been a staple in the Old Fourth Ward for years, serving classic pizzas and jumbo slices, like the Hangover topped with bacon, tomatoes, green peppers, spinach, and jalapenos, and baskets of oven-baked wings. Head to this dive bar for great beer-and-a-shot combo deals.

Open in Google Maps

676 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

97 Estoria

727 Wylie St SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

This chill dive bar in Cabbagetown offers plenty of seating both inside and outside on the tree-covered patio. Beer, wine, cocktails, Fernet shots, and classic bar food have all made 97 Estoria a popular neighborhood hangout for years now.

Open in Google Maps

727 Wylie St SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Visit Website

The Local

758 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Filled with gritty dive bar charm, the Local is often a gathering spot for local residents throughout the week and those cruising Ponce on the weekends. This bar features a dart board, trivia nights, karaoke, and serves some of Atlanta’s best wings in flavors like tikka masala and spicy Korean BBQ. Share baskets of wings with a pitcher of cold beer with good friends for a solid evening in Atlanta.

758 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

The Righteous Room

1051 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

This Poncey-Highland dive bar is a popular post-shift spot for many of Atlanta’s bartenders and restaurant industry workers, so it must be doing something right. Order the Fatty Grilled Cheese made with American cheese and topped with tomatoes and sunflowers sprouts grilled between two thick pieces of Texas toast.

1051 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Elmyr

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Tacos, loaded nachos, and burritos paired with cold beer in a dive bar? That’s what Little Five Points dive bar Elmyr is serving up nightly next to the Variety Playhouse on Euclid. And it all totally hits the spot.

Open in Google Maps

1091 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

A change of ownership hasn’t destroyed the vibe or the food at this Little Five Points dive bar institution. It’s still a favorite among locals gathering for drinks and bites after work as well as the curious checking out the Little Five Points scene on the weekends. Order a cold beer or the dive bar classic Jack and Coke while slurping Brunswick stew, chowing down on jumbo wings, and munching on tater tots. The people watching here can’t be beat.

1136 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Star Community Bar

437 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Housed in a former bank on Moreland, and after undergoing a change of ownership and avoiding (for now) the possibility of closure due to development, the divey Star Bar is alive and well still slinging drinks and hosting live shows and music ranging from funk to punk in Little Five Points.

Open in Google Maps

437 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

The EARL

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

This East Atlanta Village dive bar is known for hosting a wide and eclectic range of alternative and underground bands on its stage. Most tickets for shows here are $20 or under. The Earl also includes a full bar and menu of pub food, including a couple of Atlanta’s finest burgers and its “Irish Nachos” — tater tots atop nacho chips covered in chili, cheese, lettuce, salsa, jalapeños, and sour cream.

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Visit Website

The Rusty Nail Pub

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

This dive bills itself as “the South’s version of Cheers.” While that statement may or may not be true, the Rusty Nail’s distinct ambiance and drinks specials on Buford Highway never seem to disappoint locals or visitors to Atlanta. Make sure to check the schedule for team trivia nights here.

Open in Google Maps

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Visit Website

Trackside Tavern

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

This neighborhood bar is a Decatur mainstay. For those in need of a cold beer and dive bar ambiance, Trackside’s list of domestics on tap goes above and beyond, as does its chill atmosphere. As for food, expect smoked wings, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, and sausages served with chili and a side of collards on the menu here.

Open in Google Maps

313 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Visit Website

Related Maps