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The 2022-2023 Flagpole Guide To Athens, GA

Bars/Clubs

  • 1785 Bar & Grill

    1785athens.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 420 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 443-579-5566 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs. • Big college bar that gets its name from the year UGA was chartered. Also serves food (burgers, wings, tacos, nachos, loaded fries, salads), which means it's open Sundays. Margarita towers, pitchers of domestics. Poker Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays.

  • 9d's Bar Plus

    facebook.com/9dsbar

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 400 Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-461-0268 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs/live music. • College kids sweat it out on the dance floor to (mostly) ’90s jams. Buy a tallboy, shot or mixed drink for dancing fuel. Also: Zima to go with the theme.

  • Akademia Brewing Co.

    akademiabc.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 150 Crane Dr. Bogart, GA 30622. 678-726-2288

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Brunch. • Unlike most breweries, this one has a full restaurant of its own as well as a really wide variety of brews, from a pineapple grodziskie to super-hoppy IPAsBeer (available in flights) is featured in many dishes, like fancy fries topped with pork shoulder and ale cheese. Also: flatbreads, burgers, bangers and mash, salads, biscuits + beer at brunch. Cocktails, wine, shots and cider, too.

  • The Alley

    thealleyathensga.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2451 Jefferson Rd. Athens, GA 30607. 706-850-5040

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Beer, full bar, live music, trivia. Hours: Mon–Sat. • New bar that was once a bowling alley in Homewood Hills and will be again at some point. For now, it's mixing drinks and scheduling live music.

  • Allgood Lounge

    allgoodlounge.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 256 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-0166 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Opens earlier than most bars. • Two floors plus a rooftop tiki bar and TVs. Hundreds of drink options, including a build-your-own bloody mary bar. Twenty rotating beers, 55 whiskeys, 18 tequilas and over 200 bottled beers, one of the best selections in town.

  • Amici

    amici-cafe.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 233 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-0000 View Map

    • 8851 Macon Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-1027 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Pizza, Bars. Features: Trivia, catering, outside seating, art, take-out, delivery, full bar, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Two options are nearby for this small chain: downtown Athens and on Macon Highway in the Falls of Oconee shopping center. Wings and pizza, with a wide variety of toppings, plus sandwiches, pasta, salads and soup. Good craft brews. 

  • ARTini's Art Lounge

    artinisartlounge.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 337 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-8530 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Bars. Features: Art classes, parking. • Local in-town paint-and-sip with beer and wine, plus nonalcoholic beverages if you need to concentrate on your sunset masterpiece. Open studio time if you don't want a structured class. To-go kits for private parties in your own space.

  • Athentic Brewing Company

    athenticbrewing.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 108 Park Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-6252

    File Under: Breweries. Features: Beer, live music, comedy, trivia. • Small brewery with lots of offerings in the historic Boulevard neighborhood. Sixteen different taps, changing often, with sours, pilsners, wheat beers, ales, stouts, hard seltzer and more, plus a big patio that hosts events and food pop-ups (including by Homero Elizalde, yum!).

  • Bad Moon

    instagram.com/badmoonbar

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 246 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601 . No # specified

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Instagrammable, with lots of neon, disco balls and a light-up dance floor, ’90s music, karaoke. Choose from domestic and local standbys, or order a house specialty like the disco lemonade, jello shots or 1.5-gallon Moscow mule.

  • Bar South

    instagram.com/barsouthathensga

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 104 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified. View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, live music. • Roomy bar beloved by Barstool Sports with TVs, pool tables, darts and foosball. Beer and mixed drinks across a wide range of taste and budget. Pool tournaments.

  • Beef 'O' Brady's

    beefobradys.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-1916 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Catering, outside seating, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

  • Blind Pig Tavern

    blindpigtavern.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 312 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-3442

    • 2440 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-208-7979 View Map

    • 2301 College Station Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-4919

    • 22 N. Main St. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-310-4450

    File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Catering, outside seating, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. • Long-time Athens sports bar has several locations and a big menu including many vegetarian choices. Beer on tap and in bottles, including local brews. Standard cocktails plus a bloody mary bar on Saturday and Sunday.

  • Blue Sky

    blueskyathens.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 247 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-3153 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Cozy bar on the second story of a historic building, for students and townies with a nice view and a rooftop patio. Big drink selection: 300+ craft beers, 100+ scotches, a wide selection of whiskeys and wine from all over. 

  • Boar's Head Lounge

    instagram.com/boarsheadlounge

    Price: $

    Locations

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, outside seating. • Big, divey, multi-level student bar. Pool, beer pong, popcorn machines and more inside. Live music outside every Thursday and on game days. Regular specials on already inexpensive drafts and wells.

  • Bourbon Street

    https://www.instagram.com/bourbonstreetathens/

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 333 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-369-1313 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • College bar encourages you to chug through Power Hour and party New Orleans-style all night. Pool upstairs. Cheap beer, nightly specials and liquor drinks, including hurricanes and fishbowls.

  • Buddha Bar

    instagram.com/buddha_athens

    Price: $

    Locations

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar. • Less zen, more sake bombs that involve pounding on the table to make the shot fall into the drink. Skee-Ball in the back, lychee martinis, shots and beer. Lots of sports.

  • Buvez

    facebook.com/buvezathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 585 Barber St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-0172

    File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Bars, Sandwiches. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, Wi-Fi, comedy, live music. • Boo-vay, not booves. European-style cafe with a light menu (pre-made sandwiches, pastries, snacks at $1 a scoop, snoballs, including boozy ones) and a lot of different beverages: coffee, tea, cool sodas, craft cocktails, wine, beer and aperitifs. Popular with kids.

  • Catch 22 Gastropub

    catch22gp.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1021 Parkway Blvd. Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-6333 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This hashtag-happy gastropub welcomes "thirst seekers, hopgazers, palate pushers" and plays fast and loose with flavors like sriracha and blue cheese. Good beer selection, regular specials, street tacos, lots of fusion and a food truck that pops up at bars and breweries.

  • Centro Bar

    instagram.com/centrobarathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 400 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 404-271-8440

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Watch football on a big screen, dance under the disco ball and sign up for the weekly beer pong tournament. A balcony with its own bar wraps around the main floor. Full bar with specialty drinks like the East Clayton lemonade and key lime pie shots. DJs and karaoke.

  • Ciné

    athenscine.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 234 W. Hancock Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-3343 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, movies, art. • Yes, it's a movie theater, with a wide variety of indie flicks and classics on its two screens, but you can also go hang out in the bar and drink movie-themed cocktails or good beer, wine and liquor. Coffee, tea, sodas, local baked goods and fresh-popped popcorn, plus an art gallery run by ATHICA.

  • City Bar

    instagram.com/citybarath_

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 220 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-7612 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, trivia. • Watch sports on big-screen TVs in a historic space with marble accents and chandeliers. Daily drink deals, plus the usual selection of beer, seltzers and trendy shots. Spiked hot chocolate in the winter.

  • Clarke's Collective

    clarkescollective.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 225 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-5152

    File Under: Bars/Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, live music. • An event space and college bar, with frosé, Mario Kart, more cocktails than usual, a disco ball and a covered back patio.

  • The Clayton Social

    instagram.com/claytonsocial

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 335 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-395-6575

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, trivia. • Nicer college bar with a big "How Bout Them Dawgs" light-up sign for photo ops. Espresso martinis, aperol spritzes.

  • Cloud

    cloudathens.com

    Price: $☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 164 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-7771 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • Rainbow-lit bubble wall bar and a light-up dance floor. Spacious layout, pool, TV and laser lights. Full bar with all the shots and bombs you could ask for, plus boozy slushies. Beer pong tournaments and DJs.

  • Coconut Pat's

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 120 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-9800

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar. • Filling the need for a tiki bar in Athens, with loads of nautical decor, this bar is inside Cutters Pub and specializes in drinks served out of a fresh pineapple.

  • Cozy Bar

    instagram.com/cozybar179

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 179 N. Jackson St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Beer and wine, live music. • Itty-bitty space on a side street downtown, with paper lanterns and flowers on tables, gets rowdy and crowded. Food is sometimes available. Domestics, Asian beers, wine and liquor (especially sake bombs).

  • Creature Comforts Brewery

    creaturecomfortsbeer.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 271 W. Hancock Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-410-1043

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Breweries. Features: Beer, outside seating. • Big, beautiful brewery with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, pretty lighting and legit art. Popular year-round offerings include Tropicalia, Athena and Classic City Lager, but there are lots of seasonal and limited-edition beers, too. Purchase cans, bottles and merch on site to take home. Food trucks and pop-ups for eats.

  • Cutters Pub

    cutterspub.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 120 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-9800 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • One of the largest bars in town, with a more grown-up, less college-heavy crowd than many bars around it. Pool, Skee-Ball, Golden Tee, foosball, darts, a photo booth and football on TV. Huge whiskey selection, befitting its Irish branding, Guinness on tap.

  • DePalma's Italian Cafe

    depalmasitaliancafe.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 2080 Timothy Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-552-1237 View Map

    • 1965 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-369-0085 View Map

    • 401 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-354-6966 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, delivery, full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This Athens favorite has been in business for decades doing classic Italian, from pizza and standard red-sauced pasta to eggplant florentine and grilled salmon. Each location has a slightly different menu, but all have vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options; kids menu. Long wine list with many Italian reds and plenty of beers.

  • Dooley's Bar and Grill

    instagram.com/athdooleys

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 259 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar. Hours: Dinner. • Brand new bar that also makes food serves fancy grilled cheese, fried stuff, soups, salads, smash burgers and dessert (deep-fried Uncrustables), with an upstairs bar that also has darts and a pool table. Kids menu.

  • Double Barrel

    instagram.com/doublebarrelathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 429 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601 . No # specified

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, outside seating. • A college bar named for Athens’ famous non-working piece of Confederate memorabilia. TVs to watch sports and low prices (a wheel of deals). What you’d expect for drinks plus a cocktail named for UGA grad golfer Bubba Watson.

  • The Expat

    theexpatathens.com

    Price: $$$$

    Locations

    • 1680 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-521-5041

    File Under: Something Different, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Reservations, outside seating, take-out, full bar. Hours: Dinner. • Refined and intelligent restaurant with a beauteous bar has an Italian focus to its food, with anitpasti, burrata, housemade pasta (can be gluten-free), risotto and more. Offerings change regularly. Virgin cocktails made with as much love as the boozy ones, plus nice wines.

  • Five & Ten

    fiveandten.com

    Price: $$$$

    Locations

    • 1073 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-546-7300 View Map

    File Under: Something Different. Features: Full bar, reservations, catering, outside seating, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Dinner. • Celebrity chef Hugh Acheson's flagship restaurant, in a historic house on Milledge Avenue with a big covered porch. The menu is southern-ish but chef-driven and up to date, changing weekly depending on what’s in season. Wine list by James Beard nominee; unpretentious but smart cocktails; excellent after-dinner drinks. Look out for specials, including picnic stuff during football season.

  • Five Bar

    five-bar.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 269 N. Hull St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-5515 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Full bar, curbside pick-up, delivery. Hours: Dinner, weekend brunch. • Five entrees, five desserts, five apps and so on. Seafood from Destin is a point of emphasis, but you can also get a ribeye or fried chicken. Jazz brunch on weekends. Five specialty cocktails from the bar.

  • Flanagan's & Half Moon Pub

    instagram.com/flanagans_athens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 301 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-208-9711 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, outside seating. • Irish pub Flanagan’s and its downstairs sister bar get packed with students on late nights and weekends. Pool, daily specials on everything from cocktails to shots. Lots of whiskey, both on special and just regularly.

  • Flicker Theatre & Bar

    flickertheatreandbar.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 263 W. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-0039 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, outside seating, movies, art, trivia. • Cult film nights, cool movie posters and fun drinks at this chill townie bar. Also: boozy slushies, retro cocktails, mocktails, local tea, snacks (Pouch Pies' savory pies and more). Rent the side room for your private event.

  • General Beauregard's

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 164 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-521-5500 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Controversy-courting downtown spot decked out in Civil War memorabilia. Southern-themed cocktails.

  • The Globe

    facebook.com/globe.athens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 199 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-4721 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs, Something Different. Hours: Lunch and dinner. Features: Outside seating, Wi-Fi, live music. • An Athens classic, reopened after an interior renovation and with a new menu focusing on UK pub fare (bangers and mash, ploughman’s lunch, sausage roll, Irish stew). Huge beer selection, general literary atmosphere and pretty much everything you missed for the past few years. Upstairs has yet to get a facelift.

  • Grindhouse Killer Burgers

    grindhouseburgers.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1553 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30605. 706-612-9327 View Map

    File Under: Burgers, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Small chain out of Atlanta does smashburgers with one patty or two (beef, turkey, beans and quinoa, or Impossible Burger), plus bar snacks, fried sides and boozy or virgin milkshakes. Nice upstairs outside seating.

  • Hendershot's Coffee Bar

    hendershotscoffee.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 237 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-3050 View Map

    File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Bars. Features: Full bar, catering, counter service, live music, art, Wi-Fi, outside seating. Hours: Open Mon–Sat. • Coffee drinks, nitro coffee, teas and juices all day, plus baked goods from Independent. Lots of draft and bottled/canned craft beers, plus wine, craft cocktails and mocktails (some made with coffee). Loads of events, including some food pop-ups.

  • Hi-Lo Lounge

    hiloathens.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1354 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-8561

    File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Family-friendly tavern is all things to all people, with lots of food for lunch and dinner (including a kajillion vegetarian and vegan options) as well as a major bar selection. Noodles, fish and chips, chili, hot dogs, fried cheese, frittatas, coffee, pastries. Great beers; also whiskeys, classic cocktails and juice for kids.

  • Hilltop Grille

    hilltopgrille.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 2310 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-353-7667 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Reservations, live music, full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. Monday dinner. • Country club-ish place does classic American food with a bit of a Southern accent, like meatloaf, steak sandwich, crab cakes and gumbo. A fair amount of fried stuff but salads, too. Big desserts. Nice patio. Earlybird specials.

  • Hybar

    facebook.com/hybarathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 412 N. Thomas St. Athens, GA, 30601. 706-425-1800

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, dinner, outside seating. • Fancy rooftop bar with great views of downtown Athens and beyond, atop the Hyatt Place hotel. Also: some snacks (charcuterie, dips, wings) and some heartier eats (burgers, fried chicken strips, salad). Specialty cocktails, including some made with champagne and billed as Hybar Pops.

  • Iron Factory

    ironfactoryinc.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 255 W. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-395-6877

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, full bar, outside seating, karaoke. Hours: Dinner. • Korean barbecue cooked on your table: beef, pork belly, shrimp, mushrooms, other veggies. Wrap it in a lettuce leaf or radish slice, add condiments and enjoy. Everything comes with salad, rice and side vegetables. Korean soju and sake at the bar. Karaoke rooms.

  • The Lark Winespace

    thelarkwinespace.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 493 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-5455

    File Under: Something Different. Features: Wine, Outside Seating. Hours: Closed Mondays• The Expat’s Krista Slater's wine store and tasting room. Come taste before you buy, and have a snack while you're at it (tinned seafood, nuts, cheese, charcuterie, toasts and Condor chocolates). 

  • Last Resort Grill

    lastresortgrill.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 184 W. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-0810 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Outside seating, art, full bar, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. • Crowd-pleasing restaurant mixes Southern and Southwestern cuisine; veggie and vegan choices, plus fish and seafood are highlights. Large dessert case. Plan ahead for lines at brunch. Good bar, with American vodkas, gins and vermouths, as well as Armagnac, ice wine, Madeira, sherry and a long list of wines. Large outdoor dining area.

  • Little Kings Shuffle Club

    facebook.com/lkshuffleclub

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 223 W. Hancock Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-369-3144 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, trivia, live music, outside seating, Wi-Fi. • Grown folks' bar hosts music, comedy, trivia and frequent private events. Big patio with cornhole. A variety of bottled beers and rotating drafts that include seasonal brews. Wine and cocktails, too. Pop-up food offerings occasionally.

  • Live Wire Athens

    livewireathens.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 227 W. Dougherty St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-8283 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music/DJs, outside seating. • This all-purpose performance/events venue has three stages—two inside and one in a large beer garden—and does a variety of events. A good assortment of craft and local beer, as well as budget-friendly options. Wine and cocktails, too.

  • The Local 706

    thelocal706.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1676 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30605. 706-207-8700

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Sports bar and grill in the middle of Five Points. Lunch is meat and three. Dinner brings flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers, salads, fried cheese, wings and kids menu. Also, Southern-themed cocktails. Heated outside dining.

  • Lumberjaxe

    lumberjaxe.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 510 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-995-7405

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. • Yup, you can drink and throw axes at targets. Also: TVs, games like giant Jenga and handcrafted wood tables. Local craft beer and wine.

  • Madison Bar & Bistro

    indigoathens.com/dining

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 500 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-0430 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Reservations, outside seating, live music, room service, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and dinner, seven days. • Hotel Indigo’s restaurant serves croissant sandwiches and omelets for breakfast, plus a full dinner, with steak, salmon, sandwiches, salads and even a kids menu. Nice cocktails.

  • Magnolias

    magnoliasath.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 312 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-0797 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Two-story bar in a historic building keeps long hours, has free pool upstairs, a great view of downtown and campus and TVs for sports. The usual array of brews behind the bar; house drinks tend to be sweet and beachy. Dog friendly.

  • Mai Kai Kava Lounge

    maikaikavaga.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1035 Baxter St. Athens, GA 30606 . 706-850-1813

    File Under: Something Different. Features: Take-out, snacks. Hours: Seven days. • The only kava bar in Athens serves a nonalcoholic beverage that's made to chill you out. Also has board games, video games and pool so you can hang out. It offers traditional kava (in several varieties), kava by the growler, herbal tea made from kava, boba and kava mixed into cocktails, plus the promise of no hangovers.

  • Manhattan Café

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 337 N. Hull St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-369-9767 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, DJs. • Eclectic decor in a dimly lit, divey interior popular with townies. Zapp's potato chips pair well with specialty drinks, including a whole selection of hot ones in cold weather, listed on handwritten signs. Cocktails, beer, wine, sangria and sake.

  • Mell's Place

    Find Us on Facebook

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 4648 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30622. 706-548-0830 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, cash only. • Escape the downtown scene for the oldest bar in the area, built in 1952. The atmosphere is warm and unfussy with pool and karaoke. Cold domestic beer and liquor drinks.

  • Mellow Mushroom

    mellowmushroom.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 320 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-0892 View Map

    File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, delivery, outside seating, trivia, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Lots of toppings and specialty pies, plus pretzels made with the same dough, salads, subs, calzones and munchies; good beer selection.

  • Moonshine Bar

    instagram.com/moonshineathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 275 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified. View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: DJs, outside seating, live music. • Clayton Street party bar with wood paneling and literal buckets of liquor drinks. Yes, it has moonshine.

  • The National

    thenationalrestaurant.com

    Price: $$$$

    Locations

    • 232 W. Hancock Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-3450 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Something Different, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Reservations, catering, curbside pick-up, outside seating, Wi-Fi, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This place always pleases, whether for date night or an upscale lunch. The menu is Spanish/Mediterranean-inspired, with lots of vegetables (try the "power lunch") and high-quality ingredients. Roasted chicken with za'atar, Portuguese custard tarts, pizzettes and a lot more. Great wine list and cocktails. Hosts occasional pop-ups from small operations.

  • Normal Bar

    facebook.com/normal.bar.7

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1365 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-6186 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, live music. • Chill neighborhood bar in Normaltown with a great patio with firepits in the winter and a dimly lit interior with plenty of space. Craft and local beers and handcrafted cocktails. 

  • Nowhere Bar

    nowherebarlive.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 240 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-4742 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • Old-school dive bar with a big painting of its late founder, Sky Hertwig, is like traveling back in time. Darts, pool and lots of live music. Plenty of beers on draft, with the usual suspects behind the bar.

  • Oak House Distillery

    facebook.com/oakhousedistillery

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1015 Macon Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. TBA

    File Under: Distillery. Features: Full bar, outside seating.  A new distillery inside the historic Henry Bishop house, focusing on multiple gins, rum and vodka. Also offering cocktails and tours of the space. Tons of outdoor space under huge oak trees. Opening September 2022.

  • Oglethorpe Garage

    facebook.com/oglethorpegarage

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-8810

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Outside seating, full bar. Hours: Mon–Sat• A motorcycle bar, but not like in the movies. This is just a chill neighborhood spot for people who like to ride and/or fix bikes and enjoy an aperol spritz. Non-riders welcome, too. Snacks, pop-ups/food trucks, ping pong and a nice patio. Sports on TV, fire pits outside in cold weather.

  • The Old Pal

    theoldpal.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1320 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-4340 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, take-out. • Recognized regionally for real-good cocktails and named for an old-timey drink that combines rye, campari and vermouth. Cocktail menu changes seasonally and includes both classics and new things. Deep list of good spirits, plus some judiciously chosen wines and beers. Occasional snacks or pop-ups.

  • On the Rocks

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 255 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-354-6666 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar. • College sports bar with an impressive sound system that describes itself as "literally just a hallway with a bar in it." Plenty of inexpensive domestics, wells, shooters and frozen drinks. Every flavor of White Claw your heart desires.

  • Paloma Park

    palomapark.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 235 W. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-7356

    File Under: Bars/Clubs, Something Different. Features: Full bar, outside seating, trivia. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. • Part bar, part tapas restaurant, with small plates like hot chicken bao, Thai chicken salad, Wagyu sliders, charcuterie and chipotle hummus. DJs, cornhole on the patio, tequila specials, giant TV for sports.

  • Pauley's Original Crepe Bar

    pauleyscrepebar.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 134 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-0034 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Crepe-based restaurant by day (with savory and sweet options, plus non-pancake-based foods) turns into a busy bar by night, offering over 150 beers, including 28 on tap (customers who try 100 beers are recognized on the Around the World Beer Club wall), wines and cocktails.

  • The Pine

    thepineathens.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 1235 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605. 706-395-6278

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. First Friday lunch. • Mostly a bar, with a nice wine list, regular wine tastings and discounts for members of its wine club, but also a restaurant. Champagne brunch on weekends has egg dishes, hash and gougères. Oysters, tapas and cheese plates.

  • Porterhouse Grill

    porterhouseathens.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 459 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-369-0990 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Outside seating, live music. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Independently owned steakhouse also does crab cakes, chicken, shrimp scampi and other things that aren’t red meat as well as a la carte sides. Lunch includes a fried green tomato sandwich, grilled salmon BLT and she-crab soup. Desserts divided into edible and drinkable. Port and cognac for after dinner.

  • Puma Yu's

    instagram.com/pumayus

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 355 Oneta St., Ste. D-400 Athens, GA 30601. TBA

    File Under: Asian. Features: Full bar. • From two of the folks behind pop-up the Side Hustle comes this new intimate bar/restaurant focusing on a wide variety of Southeast Asian flavors on a small menu of food and some exciting cocktails, opening in the Southern Mill development.

  • The Rail Athens

    facebook.com/therailathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1120 Mitchell Bridge Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-354-7289 View Map

    File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken, Bars. Features: Outside seating, live music. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Bar with food, pool tables, dart boards, slot machines and big-screen TVs. Food includes burgers, wings, sandwiches, nachos and fries.

  • The Roadhouse

    facebook.com/roadhousedive

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 137 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-2324 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, outside seating. • This dive bar “serving hangovers since 1991” features neon beer signs and friendly bartenders.

  • Rodeo Night Club

    www.facebook.com/rodeonightclubathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1700 Commerce Road Athens, GA 30607. 678-780-0676

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs/live music. • Nightclub/music venue off the beaten path, focusing on Latin and country music. Ladies get in free regularly. Big dance floor, flashing lights, heavy bass.

  • The Rooftop

    georgiatheatre.com/rooftop

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 215 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-7670 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Counter service, outside seating, live music, catering. Hours: Dinner • Bar/restaurant on top of the historic Georgia Theatre is open during and just before shows, with snacks and heartier things (tacos, burgers, nice salads).

  • The Rook and Pawn

    therookandpawn.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 294 W. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-5040

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs, Something Different. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Board-game café with plenty of food: hot and cold sandwiches, pizza made with pita, salads, cheese plates, bowls of salty and sweet snacks, kids menu, coffees. Games for rent or purchase and drinks soft and hard.

  • The Root

    therootathens.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1235 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-395-6278

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • This bar in the basement of The Pine has a particularly great selection of whiskey, including scotch, and access to its big sibling's food menu. Plenty of craft beer and specialty shots. 

  • The Rowdy Goose

    instagram.com/therowdygoose

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 364 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • This college bar has a rooftop patio, a focus on brightly colored boozy slushies and a beer pong table. Karaoke.

  • The Royal Peasant

    royalpeasant.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1675 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-7920 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • English pub with a bitty kitchen does legit British food: housemade crisps, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, curries. Also, good burgers (lamb and beef). Soccer on the telly. U.K. beers, dry ciders, craft brews, wine, whiskey and cocktails.

  • Sake Mama

    instagram.com/sakemamauga

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 166 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar. • Club-type scene, complete with DJ. Knock some shots off chopsticks and hit the dance floor. A neon menu offers over 20 types of sake bombs. Beer, too. Big TVs for sports.

  • Sandbar

    instagram.com/sandbarathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 220 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-1988 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, outside seating. • Beach-themed college bar lets you take a shot off a surfboard or choose from “blackout buckets,” frozen drinks and a full bar to cover all the refreshments you need. Darts.

  • Saucehouse Barbeque

    saucehouse.com

    Price: $$☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 830 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-363-3351 View Map

    File Under: BBQ, Bars. Features: Full bar, catering, delivery, outside seating, take-out, counter service. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Wed–Sun. • Barbecue in a cavernous space in a variety of iterations: pork, brisket, ribs, tofu, hash or stew, served over a starch, plus sides: slaw, beans, potato salad and more. Available in bulk orders, too. Bar menu is smaller and focused on snacks.

  • Seabear Oyster Bar

    seabearoysterbar.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 297 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-4367 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Something Different, Bars. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Dinner. • Longtime hip oyster bar, with a great selection that changes frequently. Also fun takes on seafood and more: scallop fried rice, scallion pancake, lobster roll, grilled cheese. Beer, wine, absinthe, sake, serious cocktails and frozen Negronis. Hire its mobile unit to shuck at your party.

  • Shokitini

    shokitini.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 251 W. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-7933 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Karaoke, full bar, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Dinner, seven days. • Party sushi bar with private karaoke rooms. Lots of rolls and sashimi as well as surf and turf, noodles, fried tofu and apps. Hot and cold sake, saketinis, wine, mostly domestic beer but a few Japanese brews.

  • SideCar

    homemadeathens.com/sidecar

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1072 Baxter St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-201-9216

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Dinner. • Offshoot of home.made that shares a wall with its big sis is a place for chef Mimi Maumus to experiment with shareable small plates and for her bar staff to have fun with cocktails, including alcohol-free ones. Ten marvelous burgers a night, cute ice creams, playing cards, delightful takes on bar snacks.

  • Silver Dollar

    facebook.com/silverdollarathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 262 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-3093 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, outside seating, live music. • Not really western-themed, despite the name, just a classic college bar with a covered outdoor patio that's often dog friendly. Ten beers on tap, well drinks and daily specials. Beer pong and cornhole tournaments and the Dawgs on TV.

  • Sister Louisa's Church

    sisterlouisaschurch.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 254 W. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-3668

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Eclectic bar with velvet paintings, Pee-Wee Herman dolls and satirical religious art; now offers a patio behind what was the Caledonia Lounge. Dance or play ping-pong. Try the house sangria. 

  • Sound Track

    facebook.com/soundtrackathens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 321 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 404-988-6434

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • Club atmosphere with lots of dancing, including regular Latin Night. Mostly neon and pumpin’ tunes. Standard well drinks, shots, beer and bottle service. Open mic, reggae, industry night.

  • South Kitchen and Bar

    southkitchenbar.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 247 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-395-6125

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, catering. Hours: Weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. • Historic former hotel with a menu of small and large plates, all with big flavors: sweet potatoes, chicken-fried tofu, duck fat tater tots, candied bacon, that kind of thing. Gluten-free stuff. Rotating draft beers in full or half pours, good wines by the glass (and bottle) and regularly changing craft cocktails with housemade ingredients.

  • Southern Brewing Company

    sobrewco.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 231 Collins Industrial Blvd. Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-7183

    File Under: Breweries. Features: Beer, live music, outside seating, trivia. • Lots of outdoor space and a wide variety of beers, organized into easy-drinking, hoppy, sour and dark. Handcrafted vodka-based slushees (flavors change) and small-batch specialty brews but also standards that are always available. Food trucks (different ones listed on the website on the calendar) and lots of events, from trivia to wrestling.

  • Starland Lounge & Lanes

    starlandbar.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 145 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-8773 View Map

    File Under: Bars. Features: Outside seating, full bar. • This bar recently added duckpin bowling lanes to its substantial upstairs and has other games, too. Domestic and import bottles and cans, tons of craft beer, wine and bourbon.

  • Sundown Saloon

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 50 Gaines School Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-1177 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, outside seating, Wi-Fi. • A rare Eastside bar, this no-frills watering hole has DJs sometimes, pool always. 25 and up. A couple beers on draft and the usual domestics in bottle, wells behind the bar.

  • Tapped Athens

    tappedathens.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 297 Prince Ave., Ste. 19 Athens, GA 30601. 404-538-4369

    File Under: Something Different, Bars/Clubs. Features: Wine. Hours: Tues–Sat. • Wine bar with 24 selections on tap, served from an Enomatic in various sizes or buy a bottle. Regular tasting events. Biscuits on the first Saturday of the month; snackies to accompany wine.

  • Terrapin Beer Co.

    terrapinbeer.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 265 Newton Bridge Road Athens, GA 30607. 706-549-3377 View Map

    File Under: Breweries. Features: Beer, outside seating. • Local brewer has a huge space, outside and inside, with live music, at which to taste craft beer. Dogs are welcome! IPA fiends are into Hopsecutioner, but you might also find a watermelon gose or the Wake-n-Bake coffee oatmeal imperial stout. Food trucks are sometimes present. Order on the website for take-out with curbside pick-up.

  • Toppers International Showbar

    toppers-international-showbar.business.site

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 100 N. Jackson St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-0504 View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, exotic dancing. • Athens’ only strip club sometimes does a male revue. Full bar with prices for high rollers and budget drinkers alike. 

  • Trappeze Pub

    trappezepub.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 269 N. Hull St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-8997 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. Sunday brunch. • Big menu of food and beer with lots of vegetarian choices: loaded mac and cheese, southern fish and chips, tabbouleh salad, housemade pickles, a vegan Reuben, buffalo tofu taco, plus scores of unusual, well-described beers in the bottle and on tap. There's also wine and nice cocktails.

  • Tropical Bar

    instagram.com/tropicalbarathensga

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 251 W. Clayton St., Ste 116 Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-0406

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music. • Latin bar encouraging guests to dance, drink and have fun listening to merengue, bachata, salsa and more. Bottle service, neon lights.

  • Utage Athens Sushi Bar

    utagesushibar.restaurant

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 440 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-227-9339 View Map

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Lunch combos have more variety than at many other restaurants. Lots of specialty rolls (the sushi part of the menu is huge), but also good udon and ramen bowls, yakitori, tonkatsu, teriyaki, fried rice and more. Hot and cold sake, Japanese (and American) beers, wine, sake bombs and martinis.

  • VFW Post 2872

    facebook.com/vfwpost2872

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 835 Sunset Dr. Athens, GA 30606. 706-543-5940

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, karaoke, live music. • You don't have to be a member to come enjoy this cash-only bar, which is open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays (there's an ATM if you don't plan ahead). Dance floor, bottled and canned beer, wine and a full bar of liquor drinks.

  • Walker's Coffee & Pub

    facebook.com/walkerspub

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 128 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-1433 View Map

    File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Bars, Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken. Features: Full bar, outside seating, counter service, art, Wi-Fi. Hours: Open seven days. • Local coffee and light food until the early afternoon, bar by night. Six beers on draft and over 70 in bottles, including many microbrews.

  • The Warehouse

    thewarehouseathens.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 346 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Live Music. • Large bar/club that encourages lots of dancing. Metal, country, rap and more, with flashing lights and plenty of drinks. Also: cornhole, beer pong, occasional wrestling.

  • Wonderbar

    instagram.com/wonderbarwonderbar

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 240 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified. View Map

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, live music. • Video games, board games and rock, paper, scissors tournaments, plus snacks. Sweet specialty drinks like a Yoohoo Mudslide, and shots flavored like Sour Patch Kids.

  • Woodford

    instagram.com/woodford.athens

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 120 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, DJs, outside seating, trivia. • Craft and draft beer, specialty cocktails including Stiegl grapefruit soda mixed with vodka, TVs for sports, trivia. Dog friendly.

  • The World Famous

    facebook.com/theworldfamousathens

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 351 N. Hull St. Athens GA 30601. 706-543-4002 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, delivery, art, full bar, live music. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Half bar, half restaurant, with hearty, fun food (poutine, meatball banh mi, General Tso's tofu), lots of veggie choices and regular specials. Creative cocktails, well-priced beer (including lots of canned craft brews), wine, housemade nonalcoholic sodas and a great chalkboard that often demonstrates townies' secret love of UGA football.