The Heretic ★ 4.4
$$midtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': '21:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '21:00-03:00', 'thursday': '21:00-03:00', 'friday': '21:00-04:00', 'saturday': '21:00-04:00', 'sunday': '21:00-03:00'}
The Heretic on Cheshire Bridge is the Atlanta leather, bear and circuit-party club with a labyrinthine layout, outdoor deck, leather shop and circuit-week residencies during Bear Pride and Atlanta Pride.
Tip: No cover before 23:00. Bear Pride takes over in April, Pride circuit weekend in October; leather shop runs Friday and Saturday.
My Sister's Room ★ 4.5
$$midtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': '17:00-00:00', 'thursday': '17:00-00:00', 'friday': '17:00-03:00', 'saturday': '13:00-03:00', 'sunday': '13:00-00:00'}
My Sister's Room, the country's longest-running lesbian bar at 28 years and counting, anchors Crescent Avenue with drag, burlesque, karaoke and comedy across two floors of the former Publico space.
Tip: Cover varies by event; weekend drag shows ticket via the venue site. Outdoor patio runs late on weekend nights.
Echo Room ★ 4.5
$$west-midtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': '20:00-00:00', 'friday': '20:00-00:00', 'saturday': '20:00-00:00', 'sunday': '14:00-18:00'}
Echo Room inside Westside Motor Lounge is Atlanta's vinyl-only listening bar with a 1,750 square foot studio-grade hi-fi room curated by Kai Alce, DJ Kemit, Salah Ananse and Mike Zarin.
Tip: Open Thursday through Saturday 20:00 to midnight plus a Sunday session 14:00 to 18:00. No reservations, walk-in only.
Commune ★ 4.4
$$$decatur{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': '18:00-23:00', 'wednesday': '18:00-23:00', 'thursday': '18:00-23:00', 'friday': '18:00-23:00', 'saturday': '18:00-23:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Commune in Avondale Estates is the listening room and wine bar with Klipsch AK6 speakers, a record-collector community and a Resy-bookable dinner menu running Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
Tip: Walk-in welcome, Resy reservation guarantees a seat. The wine list and the rotating vinyl sets are the orders; small plates pair through the night.
Stereo ★ 4.3
$$inman-park{'monday': '08:00-15:00', 'tuesday': '08:00-15:00', 'wednesday': '08:00-15:00, 19:00-00:00', 'thursday': '08:00-15:00, 19:00-00:00', 'friday': '08:00-15:00, 19:00-01:00', 'saturday': '08:00-15:00, 19:00-01:00', 'sunday': '08:00-15:00, 19:00-23:00'}
Stereo on DeKalb Avenue runs as a vinyl-forward coffee shop by day and a Japanese-style listening bar by night, with highball cocktails, a limited wine list and DJ-curated record sessions Wednesday through Sunday.
Tip: Daytime coffee 08:00 to 15:00; bar reopens at 19:00. Highball menu and natural-wine pours pair with the rotating vinyl program.
Clermont Lounge ★ 4.2
$old-fourth-ward{'monday': '20:00-03:00', 'tuesday': '20:00-03:00', 'wednesday': '20:00-03:00', 'thursday': '15:00-03:00', 'friday': '15:00-03:00', 'saturday': '15:00-03:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
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.