In terms of sheer variety, Atlanta has long ruled the Southeast in gay nightlife. The scene has undergone a number of changes in recent years, though several long-running favorites (Blake's, Burkhart's, Heretic) continue to pull in big crowds. But since the famous gay club, Backstreet, closed, a number of similarly cool contenders have filled the void. In addition to great bars, you'll find several cool coffeehouses and restaurant lounges. Here's a look at some of the top gay bars in Atlanta.
11. The Jungle
In a space just off Cheshire Bridge Road that used to be The Chamber, and was also a country-western bar called Wild Mustang for a spell, you'll find this large, popular dance club that's especially well-regarded for its absolutely packed Latin nights on Fridays. Some of the top DJs in town spin here on weekends, and the club also occasionally still has country-western dance nights (which are well-appreciated by local fans, since Hoedowns is no longer around).
12. Club 708
Known for many years as Loretta's and rightly acclaimed as one of the top predominantly African-American gay clubs in the country, Club 708 carries on the tradition with plenty of energy and verve (and hot go-go dancers). The main draw here is dancing and great music, and the club pulses into the wee (as in till the sun comes up) hours many nights. 18-and-over nights ensure a youthful crowd many evenings, and music ranges from hip-hop to house. Club 708 is a favorite venue for parties thrown by Ozone Entertainment, including Atlanta Black Pride over Labor Day Weekend.13. Joe's on Juniper
Joe's is part of Atlanta's uber-gay Metrotainment restaurant group (which also operates queer faves like Einstein's, Cowtippers, Cheyenne Grill, and others) and is, to be sure, more a restaurant than a bar. But among the city's many gay-popular restaurants, it's arguably the best when a liquid dinner is all you're up to. This festive Midtown roadhouse has a patio the size of Piedmont Park, a rockin' jukebox, and an interior festooned with vintage signs and bric-a-brac. The comfort food's tasty (try the honey bunny BBQ wings), and the bar serves up huge cocktails as well as a zillion vintages of hard-to-find beer.14. Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse
photo by Andrew Collins
True, it's probably a little out there to list Outwrite as a gay Atlanta nightlife option, but one of the nation's most successful GLBT bookstores is open till 11 each night, serves drinks (the caffeinated kind, plus teas, juices, delicious baked goods, and such), and has a cozy but fun area for socializing with fellow bookish creatures. Ergo, it's a great little option for evening schmoozing. And lest this come off as a somewhat goodie-goodie choice, consider that there are few better places in town to cruise fellow hotties than the erotica aisle of this venerable store and cafe.
15. Felix's on the Square
A friendly, if quite tiny, gay neighborhood bar in the tres gay Ansley Square strip mall across from Piedmont Park in Atlanta's Midtown area, Felix's on the Square is a simple little gay hangout that's fun for early-evening drinks, hanging out with friends, chatting with the friendly staff, and fueling up on relatively affordable cocktails before heading out later to one of Atlanta's more popular, late-night gay clubs.
