20 Best Clubs in Atlanta: a Comprehensive Nightlife Guide

Clubs in Atlanta are as iconic as Outkast and a can of Coca Cola. Here are our 20 favorites to find the right spots for your next visit.

Atlanta clubs are as iconic as hip-hop and Coca-Cola. ATL giants like Gucci Mane and Ludacris built a reputation around bottle service and raucous nightclubs, proving that Atlantans are down for any good time.

A move to Atlanta, Georgia guarantees a full social calendar. Luckily, there’s an Atlanta nightclub to match every vibe — whether you’re celebrating a birthday or blowing off some steam after a long week.

Between classy cocktail bars with local jazz musicians and nightclubs blasting EDM well into the night, here are the best Atlanta clubs to see and be seen at.

The Best Nightlife in Atlanta

1. Tongue & Groove

You haven’t really gone out in Buckhead if you haven’t been to one of its best nightclubs: Tongue & Groove. This multi-level, high-energy dance club has kept Atlantans grooving for more than three decades. With over 245,000 hours of music played, Tongue & Groove is the Atlanta nightclub where you can catch the best local and international DJs, attend exclusive launches, and indulge in bottle service.

2. Johnny’s Hideaway

A trip to Johnny’s Hideaway makes you a bonafide ATLien. It’s an “only in Atlanta” experience, as their iconic dance hosts everyone from college kids to septuagenarians with a mix of oldies, disco, and top 40 hits. There’s almost always a line, cover, and a strictly enforced dress code, but the people-watching is worth the work.

3. MJQ Concourse

Over in the Old Fourth Ward, the MJQ gets its name from the founder’s favorite band: the Modern Jazz Quartet. Although jazz isn’t often played at MJQ, the club is home to the city’s underground live music and DJ scene. Expect the chaos of a secret basement dance party, especially if you’re a live music fan. The Drunken Unicorn, MJQ’s club-within-the-club, is the spot for intimate local shows.

4. District

Located between Buckhead and Midtown Atlanta, District in Armour Yards is an A-list weekend venue with a bottle service and a strict dress code to prove it. This is the spot if you want a full sensory experience, whether a DJ set by Steve Aoki or an MMA fight.

5. Havana Club

Another Buckhead nightlife staple, the Havana Club is a cigar and hookah lounge with three dance floors, hosting Latin music, Top 40 hits, and EDM. Expect a lot of smoke since it’s a hookah and cigar hangout. Parking is also limited and expensive, making a rideshare or braving the MARTA public transport system your best option. But don’t worry — it’s worth the extra steps.

6. The Basement

The Basement is as divey as the name suggests. Located in hip East Atlanta Village, this weekend live music venue is a great spot to start or finish your evening since it’s within walking distance to several infamous ATL music venues, nightclubs, and bars. Check out their “Down and Durty” Saturday nights for real “Dirty South” Atlanta vibes. Be forewarned: the bathroom is an experience within itself.

7. PBR Atlanta

You might need to hit a Western wear boutique before hitting PBR, one of Atlanta’s best country music venues. This one-stop country nightclub has it all — line dancing, outdoor patios, and a mechanical bull to keep you entertained if a DJ spinning country hits until 2 a.m. doesn’t. Expect plenty of country drinks, like bourbon and beer.

8. Blake’s on the Park

Blake’s on the Park is a right of passage for Atlanta’s LGBTQIA+ community. The Midtown nightlife staple hosts DJs, dancers, and drag shows just steps from 10th Street’s iconic rainbow crosswalks. If you’re looking for casual nightlife without the upscale bottle services and dress codes, the dance party vibe at Blake’s is as welcoming as its patrons.

9. Domaine

The legendary Opera nightclub in Midtown received a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2019 before reopening as Domaine. The two-story club is a great spot for DJ sets and live music and regularly hosts special events, like Bad Bunny’s afterparty and an annual Halloween party.

10. Midtown Beach Club

The Midtown Beach Club is a summer rooftop bar on top of Domaine. Open on Friday nights and all-day weekends for their infamous pool parties and DJ sets, it’s a great spot to lounge with sushi, Caribbean-inspired cocktails, and a skyline view. If you’re looking for the ultimate upgrade, a single VIP bungalow overlooks the entire pool.

11. Mary’s

Mary’s in East Atlanta Village is more than a staple for Atlanta’s Queer community. It’s regularly mentioned amongst the best gay bars in America by media outlets like Condé Nast Traveler, Out, and Logo Channel. And for good reason — the quirky gay bar regularly hosts RuPaul viewing parties, dance nights, and drag shows.

12. Koo Koo Room

It’s easy to walk past this under-the-radar lounge and dance club amongst all the other nightlife spots on Midtown’s Crescent Avenue. Once you’ve seen a DJ set at Domaine, make your way to Koo Koo Room to keep dancing until 3 a.m. You might even spot Charles Barkley, who is known to take the stage.

13. Rosé and Rye

Formally known as Whiskey Blue, Rosé and Rye is one of Atlanta’s most sought-after reservations. The upscale cocktail lounge on the roof of Hotel Colee is pure glamor for Buckhead’s who’s who. Guests arrive via a glass elevator that takes you 125 feet above the city, offering privileged skyline views with first-class charcuterie and signature cocktails.

14. Suite Food Lounge

Just off Downtown Atlanta’s Hotel District is Suite Food Lounge, a comedy club and restaurant. Beyond hosting some of the best comedy shows in Atlanta, the club also hosts happy hour karaoke nights, Taco Tuesdays, and weekend brunches. When you’re looking for fun without a dance floor, this is a great spot for any event.

15. Red Phone Booth

Located in the iconic Dailey’s building in Downtown Atlanta, Red Phone Booth takes its role as a speakeasy seriously. The members’ club offers rare craft cocktails and a cigar menu to give the 1920s speakeasy vibe. And, although you don’t have to be a member to enter, you  need to secure a special phone number and code to get through the trick phone booth.

16. Atkins Park Tavern

Although it’s not a club, Atkins Park Tavern gets a pass for being Atlanta’s oldest bar. Regular live music, trivia nights, and karaoke sing-alongs give this beer tavern a neighborly atmosphere. And are you really living in Atlanta without a trip North of the city for beers before getting on a shuttle to a Braves game?

17. Sanctuary

Sanctuary hosts regular bachata and salsa classes and dance parties if you’re looking for old-school Latin dance music. Don’t come expecting Bad Bunny and J Balvin — Sanctuary’s dance floor is dedicated to your tio’s jukebox.

18. Royal Peacock Lounge

Outkast immortalized the Old Fourth Ward’s infamous Royal Peacock Lounge in their music video for “Rosa Parks.” But this historic dance hall was famous before Big Boi and André 3000 put it on the map. The Royal Peacock Lounge has been around since the 1930s and today is renowned for being the best spot in Atlanta for reggae and dancehall.

19. Rooftop LOA

This Westside Atlanta members-only rooftop bar will give you sticker shock. But for serious digital nomads and ATL newbies eager to get in with the jet-set crowd, the Rooftop LOA is a quick way to get in the scene. Beyond the exclusive cabanas, pool with a skyline view, and wine tastings, the rooftop bar also hosts mixers for Atlanta’s emerging business community.

20. Clermont Lounge

Grab a meal at the food market in Ponce City Market and take a quick walk to the historic Clermont Lounge, a dive bar that’s been around since 1965. It feels like the AC went out the same year, but that’s part of the ambiance. Expect a packed bar, a busier dance floor, and a cash-only bar.

Ready to enjoy Atlanta’s nightlife scene?

No matter your vibe, there’s a club for everyone in Atlanta. Don’t be surprised if you start at a cocktail lounge before hitting a hip-hop show and end the night at a Waffle House.

If you’re thinking about moving to Atlanta to experience everything this city has to offer after dark, consider renting from Landing, which offers fully furnished apartments in Atlanta along with flexible leases that make it easy to move on your terms. That means the day you arrive, you’re ready to explore the vast and varied nightlife this city has to offer.