6 late-night dives in Atlanta, editor-picked by TableJourney. All Atlanta nightlife.
Clermont Lounge ★ 4.2
old-fourth-ward · 789 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Clermont Lounge in the basement of the Hotel Clermont on Ponce de Leon has been Atlanta's oldest strip club and dive bar since 1965, with a circular jukebox stage and cheap pours running until 03:00.
Tip: Open weeknights 20:00, weekends from 15:00, last call 03:00. Cash preferred; the jukebox is dancer-funded so requests cost a dollar.
Manuel's Tavern ★ 4.5
virginia-highland · 602 N Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Manuel's Tavern in Poncey-Highland has poured since Manuel Maloof opened the doors in 1956, a National Register tavern with worn booths, political-press regulars and a beer-and-burger menu late.
Tip: Open late, kitchen runs to 23:00 most nights. The back rooms hold pool, the front bar holds the press; cash and card both welcome.
Joystick Gamebar ★ 4.4
old-fourth-ward · 427 Edgewood Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Joystick Gamebar on Edgewood is the arcade dive with 1970s through 1990s cabinets, pinball, a small-batch whiskey list, hand-crafted cocktails and a kitchen running burgers and tots until close.
Tip: Monday through Friday 16:00 to 02:30, weekends from noon. Quarter games take cash; pinball league nights run mid-week.
Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium ★ 4.4
old-fourth-ward · 466 Edgewood Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Sister Louisa's Church on Edgewood is the no-television, no-internet bar packed with Sister Louisa folk-art canvases, two ping pong tables and a Choir Practice singalong every Tuesday night.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Choir Practice runs Tuesday 22:00 with an organ singalong; ping pong is first-come and house paddles are free.
Argosy ★ 4.3
candler-park · 470 Flat Shoals Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Argosy on Flat Shoals is the East Atlanta Village beer hall with a 41-tap rotating draft list, wood-fired pizza, a covered side patio and a kitchen running through to last call most nights.
Tip: Open 16:00 to 02:00 most days, kitchen until 01:00. Patio fills first; reserve via OpenTable for the dining room on weekends.
Trackside Tavern ★ 4.0
decatur · 313 E College Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Trackside Tavern on East College Avenue is the Decatur dive that took the spot beside the MARTA tracks, with cheap beer, a burger-and-tots kitchen and occasional Saturday live music.
Tip: Cash-friendly, no cover, late kitchen. The covered patio sits trackside; freight trains roll past most evenings.