The Best Atlanta Gay Bars and Clubs

There was a time when Blake's, despite its attractive decor (exposed-brick walls, cheerful sunporch) and appealing location near Piedmont Park and Outwrite Bookstore, seemed a bit too stuck up for its own good. And true enough, it still draws an awfully pretty bunch of boys (and more than a few girls). But the 'tude has softened a bit over the years, and once you fight your way past the occasional posse of plastics, you'll find some genuinely friendly barflies here (and a very nice staff). There's no question that it's highly popular place, and a good bet for visitors trying to get a sense of the gay Atlanta scene.

One of the city's hippest and coolest neighborhoods, East Atlanta Village, is home to this happily quirky cocktail bar that pulls in the city's most eclectic crowd - a mix of women and men, mostly gay but with plenty of supportive heteros. Creative theme nights (Wednesday's video-request Make Out Party, Saturday's "Maryoke" sing-alongs, Friday's trash-disco-inspired Boy's Room) feature some of the best get-your-hips-shakin' music in Atlanta. The crowd tends toward sexy in that be-yourself, dressed-down kinda way - Mary's doesn't have much use for snootiness. High-camp and drag are well-appreciated, however.

Gay bars and businesses have come and gone over the years to Ansley Square Shopping Center, a homo-frequented strip mall a bit north of Piedmont Park, but rambling Burkhart's has been a dependable, friendly fixture for seemingly eons. The bi-level space is great for people-watching (you can spy on cuties on the main floor from a second-floor railing up above), shooting pool, and belting out tunes during the famed Monday and Tuesday karaoke nights. The interior is happily cluttered and old-school, which actually feels pleasant given the self-consciously chic interiors of many newer spots.

If this relatively new bar (opened in March 2006) had a tagline, it might be "finally, a bar for the rest of us." Atlanta's gay club scene can feel a bit stand-and-model at times, or too finely pigeonholed by type. Amsterdam, refreshingly, is the kind of bar where just about anyone might feel welcome. It's mostly a guys' spot, but women often hang out here, and you'll see a nice mix of ages, styles, races, and so on. Part of the draw is the variety of diversions, including a nice section with pool tables - Amsterdam is a laid-back sports bar during the week (especially after work), but it draws more of a crowd on weekends. There's also casual restaurant.

For more than 30 years, this hugely popular gay club smack in the center of Midtown has been going strong as one of the largest and most successful African-American GLBT hangouts in the country. Always drawing good-sized crowds, especially on weekends, Bulldog's tends toward a fairly cruisy mix of guys in their 30s and 40s, though you'll see more than a few younger men, too, especially late on weekends. There are a few different spots to settle in with a drink and mingle or cruise, but in the warm weather, the large patio is the best place to congregate. Although the clientele is predominantly black, the staff and crowd couldn't be more welcoming of all kinds, whatever your race.

As the name suggests, the Heretic has long stood out among gay Atlanta bars for its rebellious, downright scandalous attitude. It's a favorite destination for leather aficionados (even has its own leather shop, open Wed., Fri., and Sat.), with Wednesday nights being the best such night for men in black (a dress code is firmly enforced in some parts of the bar). Other nights draw plenty of guys into leather as well as, more generally, a butch and cruisy bunch clad in jeans, T-shirts, flannels, and the like. Edgy though the vibe is here, the staff and clientele tend to be quite friendly.