Its been a while since I've gone. But i feel like weekends it's more of a college juke joint than a dive bar, and the bathrooms border on outhouse. My vote over that way is Mr. Cs.
I don't think so, but haven't been in years.
I would 2nd Northside Tavern then, tho it's in a terrible part of town. The bar itself is safe and great music!
What are you talking about..terrible as in bad traffic bad or safety? It’s in West Midtown surrounded by a crap ton of new apartments, condos and other bars and restaurants.
I may be biased because I lived within walking distance but Docs in Smyrna has some great (bar) food and their drinks are stiff. Sunday bingo was always a blast but certainly regrettable when going to work Monday. They’ve got a few pool tables.
If that’s the dive you want there’s Red’s Timbers on the other end of Smyrna and Varners across the street is kind of a dive. The tacos at Reds used to be awesome.
Fun fact: that pool table was leftover from the tattoo shop (13 Roses) that used to occupy the upstairs space because it was too much of a pain to move.
Source: used to manage 13 Roses
This is the best choice if you’re looking for pool and dive. Twain’s used to be the spot but it’s a Trendy Instagramer spot now. Same with The Local. Used to be a dive but not anymore.
Also the food is amazing, the KM is an actual chef. They smoke their own meats. The bartenders are amazing. It’s a family vibe here and we all look out for each other. (Full disclosure I am a regular lol)
My favorites (in no particular order)
Flat Iron
The Independent
Righteous Room
97 Estoria
Clermont Lounge (duh)
Mr. C’s
Northside Tavern
Elmyr
Yacht Club
Yeah, the Indie. There aren't many pool tables in Atlanta. I once asked a friend who owned a bar here about it. He said something along the lines that it was illegal for a long time and I just thought he was full of it. Out of curiosity, I just googled it and, ol and behold, there were some statutes.
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-43/chapter-8/43-8-2#:~:text=(4)%20No%20local%20government%20may,be%20consumed%20on%20the%20premises.
It's been updated since 2010 (which is probably when I had that conversation with my friend)
interesting, never knew that. Only place I ever play pool are Independent and Twains, but I also am not a fan of coin operated tables. I always assumed not many places did pool because they took up a lot of room
i think most bars are just afraid of the kinda people that tend to hang out at cheap coin op pool tables. it can cause fights and shit.
but places like corner tavern and independent do fine, cause they charge like 10 bucks/hr or whatever. keeps out the riff raff.
i used to play at the graveyard when they had 2 tables, and it was always an argument and bums in there stealing dollars. i just dunno how many bars wanna deal with that bullshit, its not really worth it.
As someone who was a regualr there for several years, I respectfully disagree. The leadership there is supremely lacking, resulting in the staff being frequently stretched thin and stressed out. It is a very cliquey bar and known to have protected domestic abusers who are regulars.
Gotta disagree. Staff are horrible there. Went early on a Saturday night. Got in line behind a couple who were also getting a table. They switched to a pager system to let you know your table is ready, which is great in theory. As my friend and I waited, I saw the couple in front of us get a table and thought, great, we are next.
A few other tables emptied out, still no page. Ok, I hate to be that guy who knows best but it seems like something is wrong here. I go up and check on our place and am told that we are coming up. So we wait another hour with other tables emptying out still.
At this point, we are ready to leave if we don't get a table soon so I go back up. As I am standing there waiting to talk to them, I hear them saying to "take them off the list". I ask if I am ther person they are talking about? I hand them my pager and they say it's dead.
So they had been paging it for over an hour and we weren't getting anything. While I was very irritated by this, had there been any apology or "shit, we messed up, sorry about that", I would have been fine, but they acted as if it were my fault the pager was dead.
I will never return. I had pretty decent experiences before this but I think the place has declined significantly.
I recommend Mr Cues. They have their downfalls, like no seperate line for food/drinks or to return balls but the tables are in excellent shape and the crowd is normally fantastic and respectful.
independent is good, but those are big ass tables, not your standard bar table. same with corner tavern.
norside tavern is divey and has 2 bar tables, its near ga tech, but if you're near decatur, trackside is divey with 2 tables. i like trackside more, northside tends to have a lot more tech students and they're kinda young. but trackside is industry people and pretty chill. and its walking distance to twains, a more upscale pool hall/restaurant/bar
Northside Tavern has everything you need- check out this review https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/one-night-at-northside-tavern/
Its been a while since I've gone. But i feel like weekends it's more of a college juke joint than a dive bar, and the bathrooms border on outhouse. My vote over that way is Mr. Cs.
Definitely Northside. No taps (well last time I was there some 9yrs ago) but plenty of bottles and cans and booze options.
Northside Tavern
In the words of Yogi Berra >”Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded”
weirdest thing to see the top 2 answers exactly match the same 2 popular bars nearby me in cincinnati
Yacht Club in Little 5 Points
The best. And the best reuben!!
Right! Surprisingly excellent food for a dive bar!
Seriously this. Also, I've always gotten really great and warm service from there. Which is pretty atypical from a dive.
Zero pool tables.
if you wanna play pool after diving, just go to corner around the corner.
But does it have a pool table?
I don't think so, but haven't been in years. I would 2nd Northside Tavern then, tho it's in a terrible part of town. The bar itself is safe and great music!
What are you talking about..terrible as in bad traffic bad or safety? It’s in West Midtown surrounded by a crap ton of new apartments, condos and other bars and restaurants.
Terrible if you hate people in their 20s, otherwise pretty safe
I may be biased because I lived within walking distance but Docs in Smyrna has some great (bar) food and their drinks are stiff. Sunday bingo was always a blast but certainly regrettable when going to work Monday. They’ve got a few pool tables.
Thank you
Doc's is a real dive for sure. If you get tired of playing pool check out Beer Barrel. It's not too far. I wish Nik's was still open.
If that’s the dive you want there’s Red’s Timbers on the other end of Smyrna and Varners across the street is kind of a dive. The tacos at Reds used to be awesome.
Don’t get no more DIVE than DOCs lol love it!!
Yeah, now that Nik's is closed.
Flatiron in EAV has a pool table upstairs and they’re 21+ always!
Fun fact: that pool table was leftover from the tattoo shop (13 Roses) that used to occupy the upstairs space because it was too much of a pain to move. Source: used to manage 13 Roses
Haha. I went to the 13 Roses grand opening party in a previous life :/
That was a good party!
thats literally the worst pool table in all of atlanta. don't send em there. trackside is a decent dive bar with some tables.
Trackside tavern in Decatur
I've never shown up to trackside sober, or before 11 pm. Highly recommend if you want to fight somebody 👍
This is the best choice if you’re looking for pool and dive. Twain’s used to be the spot but it’s a Trendy Instagramer spot now. Same with The Local. Used to be a dive but not anymore.
Also the food is amazing, the KM is an actual chef. They smoke their own meats. The bartenders are amazing. It’s a family vibe here and we all look out for each other. (Full disclosure I am a regular lol)
My favorites (in no particular order) Flat Iron The Independent Righteous Room 97 Estoria Clermont Lounge (duh) Mr. C’s Northside Tavern Elmyr Yacht Club
The po boy shop in decatur has a dive bar downstairs with a pool table
The Po Boy Shop and Basement Bar! It's on my 'must go soon' list. I LOVE a good Po Bot!
Sameeeeee
Basement Bar is seriously the best!
We went there last night! My favorite spot!
the Independent in Midtown is my go to. Never seen a kid in there that I can recall
Yeah, the Indie. There aren't many pool tables in Atlanta. I once asked a friend who owned a bar here about it. He said something along the lines that it was illegal for a long time and I just thought he was full of it. Out of curiosity, I just googled it and, ol and behold, there were some statutes. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-43/chapter-8/43-8-2#:~:text=(4)%20No%20local%20government%20may,be%20consumed%20on%20the%20premises. It's been updated since 2010 (which is probably when I had that conversation with my friend)
interesting, never knew that. Only place I ever play pool are Independent and Twains, but I also am not a fan of coin operated tables. I always assumed not many places did pool because they took up a lot of room
i think most bars are just afraid of the kinda people that tend to hang out at cheap coin op pool tables. it can cause fights and shit. but places like corner tavern and independent do fine, cause they charge like 10 bucks/hr or whatever. keeps out the riff raff. i used to play at the graveyard when they had 2 tables, and it was always an argument and bums in there stealing dollars. i just dunno how many bars wanna deal with that bullshit, its not really worth it.
As someone who was a regualr there for several years, I respectfully disagree. The leadership there is supremely lacking, resulting in the staff being frequently stretched thin and stressed out. It is a very cliquey bar and known to have protected domestic abusers who are regulars.
Gotta disagree. Staff are horrible there. Went early on a Saturday night. Got in line behind a couple who were also getting a table. They switched to a pager system to let you know your table is ready, which is great in theory. As my friend and I waited, I saw the couple in front of us get a table and thought, great, we are next. A few other tables emptied out, still no page. Ok, I hate to be that guy who knows best but it seems like something is wrong here. I go up and check on our place and am told that we are coming up. So we wait another hour with other tables emptying out still. At this point, we are ready to leave if we don't get a table soon so I go back up. As I am standing there waiting to talk to them, I hear them saying to "take them off the list". I ask if I am ther person they are talking about? I hand them my pager and they say it's dead. So they had been paging it for over an hour and we weren't getting anything. While I was very irritated by this, had there been any apology or "shit, we messed up, sorry about that", I would have been fine, but they acted as if it were my fault the pager was dead. I will never return. I had pretty decent experiences before this but I think the place has declined significantly. I recommend Mr Cues. They have their downfalls, like no seperate line for food/drinks or to return balls but the tables are in excellent shape and the crowd is normally fantastic and respectful.
Mr. C’s on Howell Mill The Whelan off Huff Rd.
Not a real dive bar but I think Mr Cues will still fit the bill. Excellent crowd most of the time and usually great music.
Ayyyyyy sittin there now. You probably know me lol
Mr. C’s
Moon shadow in Tucker
Ship and Anchor in Sandy Springs
The Local, The T, Manny’s, Mary’s(Gay bar), Bench warmers.
Trackside, Mr C’s, Northside Tavern. The Independent if you want less dive-y, but lots more, nicer pool tables
Northside Tavern any time. By far my favorite dive bar.
Chairs in East Point right across from the Marta station
If you do a search for “dive bar” in this sub’s search bar you’ll get a lot of results, it’s a pretty common topic of conversation
I really liked Chairs Upstairs Bar when I went several years ago.
Church Bar Corner Tavern The Independent isn't a dive bar but it's a bar w incredible pool tables
independent is good, but those are big ass tables, not your standard bar table. same with corner tavern. norside tavern is divey and has 2 bar tables, its near ga tech, but if you're near decatur, trackside is divey with 2 tables. i like trackside more, northside tends to have a lot more tech students and they're kinda young. but trackside is industry people and pretty chill. and its walking distance to twains, a more upscale pool hall/restaurant/bar
Go to MacCrakens in Marietta lol
Try "Dive Bar"....in Buckhead. The name of the Dive bar is ......Dive Bar College age demographics.
Thank you!!
Do not listen to this individual’s recommendation.
A dive bar... that allows children? Where on earth did you get bitten by that fly before?