The soundtrack at Aziza is designed to capture the same “melting pot” of cultures reflected in the Israeli restaurant’s menu, according to owner Tal Baum. Diners may hear French, Arabic, and Hebrew music, along with rap, pop, and electronic dance tunes. Baum uses songs she grew up listening to as a springboard for the dining room playlist, which she says captures the same musical vibes of songs heard in restaurants throughout Tel Aviv in Israel.

Though the cocktail bar has a larger space for live DJs and dancing, it also creates playlists to use on days and hours it doesn’t feature live music. The soundtracks usually span several genres, including soul, R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop, and house music, with artists ranging from Tems and Prince to Michael Jackson and H.E.R. Parlor also taps some of its resident DJs, such as Sed the Saint and DJ Kemit & Salah Ananse, to help develop playlists for the cocktail bar. Come during the week, or before 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, for drinks and low-key vibes at the intimate cocktail den. Then, stay later for the live DJ set.

Named for a song by Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast, the sandwich pop-up makes music a key part of its dining experience, highlighting hip-hop and R&B artists as an ode to ATL’s music industry. Chef Justin Dixon personally curates the playlists here, incorporating music from the mid-1980s through the early 2000s that he listened to growing up. Expect to hear artists like Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Jill Scott, Childish Gambino, and of course, Outkast. Catch the pop-up’s latest playlists on the Humble Mumble website.

The Summerhill restaurant features a number of playlists created by chef Jarrett Stieber, which all fall under one of two categories: genre-based or mood-based. On the former, diners may hear anything from 1960s psych rock and outlaw country to tropicália, zamrock, and Afro-electronic music. The mood-based playlists are typically inspired by one song that drives the rest of the picks. One, for example, is based on Boz Scagg’s What Can I Say, and another is inspired by Taylor Swift’s song This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things. To find Little Bear’s mixes, check out @jarrettstieber and @littlebearatl on Spotify. Any playlists for the restaurant include “Little Bear” in the name.

Having grown up around music, chef Craig Richards gives music played over the sound system a starring role at his Midtown Italian restaurant. He creates his own playlists and includes a vinyl collection to choose from, with songs leaning toward jazz, soul, new wave, and modern dance music. When the record player spins behind the bar, diners can often catch hits from albums such as Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack by Bee Gees, and Prince’s Purple Rain.

When there isn’t a DJs directing the music here, playlists are put together by the Our Bar staff. The bar always dedicates part of the playlist to the late Atlanta rapper Trouble, who used to stop by almost daily to play some of his new music. But people should also expect to hear local talent through the speakers, along with some underground artists, too. That includes local rappers LoeLife Boobie and Panama Jane, as well as a couple of former and current Our Bar ATL bartenders, Nikki Sweets and Li’Larry.

The playlist here is an eclectic mix of songs that captures the staff’s interests as well as the personality of Joystick. Some songs might lean into the “nerdiness” of the gamebar — like Atomic by Blondie. Others like Ric Flair Drip by Offset and Metro Boomin and Draco by Future, which actually filmed at Joystick, pay homage to Atlanta. There may be a few wild cards in the mix like a 1970s disco version of the Star Wars theme song or hip-hop from the Netherlands, but the staff also likes to play crowd-pleasers. On any given night, folks may hear sing-along songs like Alone by Heart or tracks from A-Ha. The game bar features a jukebox so patrons can queue up their own songs and dictate the vibe from time to time.

From the menu to the music, this Ponce City Market food stall tries to capture the energy of the late-night street food scene in India. Instead of featuring Indian classical tunes like sitar and tabla that tend to play in the background at many Indian restaurants, Botiwalla’s playlist includes Indian pop music, mixing Bollywood songs with other Indian pop styles like bhangra. And just as the restaurant draws from the Indian and American influences in chef and founder Meherwan Irani’s life, so do the songs. Expect a blend traditional Indian musical elements with Western pop styles to create energetic dance tracks. One song might include Southern hip-hop style drums, the next song might feature techno roots and mix English lyrics with Hindi or Punjabi.

The relaxed, nonchalant vibe at this pizzeria and bar extends to its music selection. At LLoyd’s, rock ‘n’ roll meets funk meets 1990s hip-hop in the songs playing over the sound system. The main playlist for LLoyd’s is a mix of guitar-driven rock, punk, indie, and quirky classics from the 1960s to the present day, though it also features funk, 1980s, and honky tonk playlists, too. For kicks and giggles, the team sometimes queues up a satirical playlist that matches the old-school interior of the bar. Named Shaggin’ Wagon, the queue includes soft rock songs from artists like the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Eddie Money, Linda Ronstadt, Wings, T. Rex, and Chicago.

Chef Joey Ward, with input from his team, creates his dining room playlist based on both his musical interests and mass appeal. Expect new retro songs, indie covers, hip-hop, 1990s rap, and new wave. For those looking for a more mellow atmosphere, come during the early part of service for softer and slower tracks like Brightside by The Lumineers. As the restaurant hits peak hours, expect fast-tempo songs — think José James and The War On Drugs — taking over to match the energy and bustle of the restaurant. Then, near the end of the evening, hip-hop and upbeat music from artists like Chance the Rapper and Ms. Lauryn Hill close the night out.

Chef Arnaldo Castillo started building his playlist back when he sold sandwiches for his pop-up residency La Chingana at Edgewood butcher shop and market Chop Shop. It started with Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule classics from the 2000s and 2010s — hits that Millennials like himself might enjoy. Now, the 31-hour playlist has evolved into an ongoing musical project that includes current and mainstream songs, along with recommendations from Tio Lucho’s managers.

Longtime bartender Que Solomon takes the lead on creating the musical vibes at this East Lake restaurant. From behind the bar, he’s learned how to read a room and adjusts the music to reflect the mood and diversity of people dining and drinking at Poor Hendrix. The restaurant doesn’t shy away from playing energetic artists like Atlanta rapper KEY!, Marijata, or Brent Faiyaz, for instance, but is just as comfortable playing chill tracks from the likes of Tom Misch or Khruangbin.

The owners of Little Cottage Brewery describe it as a “heavy metal brewery” with hints of sci-fi and fantasy thrown into the mix. While heavy metal is emphasized at this Avondale Estates brewery, the playlist does include a wide range of the genres based on the staff’s tastes. Expect to hear classic metal, such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as newer artists like Hath and Atlanta’s Irist.