Atlanta lives and breathes music, and its restaurants are no exception (cue the memes about how every Atlanta restaurant turns into a club after 3 p.m.) Our list spans already-iconic music venues where food and cocktails are a bonus to the performers onstage; buzzy restaurants that double as destinations for exclusive rooftop DJ sets; and a smattering of trendy coffee-by-day, cocktail-by-night listening lounge concepts.
Whether you’re chasing a legendary live show or just want a great meal with an even better soundtrack, there’s something here for every taste.
Burle’s Bar
By day, the Victorian is a light-filled plant shop and design studio; by night, its upstairs transforms into Burle’s, a 1960s-inspired cocktail bar and lounge. There’s live jazz every Tuesday night on the spacious patio, just steps from other Beltline and Old Fourth Ward mainstays like New Realm Brewing. 505 N. Angier Ave. NE, Ste. 500, Atlanta, burlesbar.com
Blind Willie’s Blues Club
Also located on the Virginia-Highland bar strip just a few doors down from Dark Horse, Blind Willie’s has long been the best place in Atlanta to hear live blues—it even won the Blues Music Award for Blues Club of the Year in 1997. Today, different performers take the stage five nights a week for a small-but-raucous crowd. The cocktails may not be cutting-edge, but the music more than makes up for it. 828 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, blindwilliesblues.com
Buteco
A percussionist himself, it’s no surprise that São Paulo native and Buteco owner, Rafa Pereira, has built a space where music and food are both held in high regard. Here, coffee, tea, and a Brazilian street food program led by executive chef Camia Weems are made better by the Brazilian samba house band and a constantly-evolving lineup of bands and DJs. Buteco also serves as a sort of cultural common area, hosting rehearsals for The CommUNITY Choir and a well-attended Atlanta take on Carnaval. EAV, rejoice: A second Buteco location is now open inside the Southern Feedstore food hall. 1039 Grant St. SE, Ste. C-10, Atlanta, butecoatlanta.com
The Waiting Room
The first floor of this purple-painted building in Midtown houses Bon Ton, a cute Viet-Cajun spot for bò kho beef po’boys and catfish banh mi, and since 2022, the Waiting Room has occupied the cozy room upstairs. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, grab a cocktail, sink into the plush lounge seating, and take in the sounds of live jazz or Latin and house hits under a disco ball. 674 Myrtle St. NE, Atlanta, justkeepwaitingroom.com
Side Saddle Wine Saloon
In a yellow-brick building painted over with portraits of cowboys, this Boulevard Heights wine bar shares the irreverent aesthetic of its sister establishment FiNCA TO FILTER Coffee. Pair pet-nats, uncommon sparklers, and orange wine with live jazz every Thursday at 7. Venture in on Wednesdays, when women-made bottles are half-off. 680 Hamilton Ave. SE, Atlanta, sidesaddle.wine
Dark Horse Tavern
The hip Virginia-Highland neighborhood is equally beloved by its well-to-do young-parent residents and rowdy SEC post-grads who frequent it on weekends for its walkable nightlife. Dark Horse is the great equalizer among these mostly-too-fratty bars, a true neighborhood watering hole where you’ll find people from all walks of life heading downstairs for karaoke with the Dark Horse Band. Upstairs, English Nick of 97.1 DJs the main bar. Bobbi Breanne of BB Line Dance also offers free line dancing lessons on Wednesday evenings. 816 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, darkhorseatlanta.com
Palo Santo
Taking a photo on the orange-hued Palo Santo staircase is a rite of passage for the hip 20-something crowd in Atlanta, but the rooftop DJ sessions held Thursday through Sunday are arguably even more Instagram-worthy. Make an early evening reservation to give yourself time to enjoy the elevated Mexican fare downstairs first, or join the lively crowd of latecomers who come just for the music on weekends. 955 West Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, palosanto.restaurant
Rock Steady
The music gallery of this Afro-Caribbean restaurant in West Midtown welcomes DJs of a similar vibe, often playing Afrobeats, amapiano, and dancehall. Recent “Motion Mondays” have included a live band and dancing by the FyreNation Crew. Gallery and dining room reservations are handled separately—grab the former just for the music, or make a resy to stay downstairs and indulge in dishes like oxtail pasta and Haitian whole fried snapper. 907 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, rocksteadyatl.com
Block and Drum
Situated along the fast-growing Rail Trail—Chamblee’s own Beltline, if you will—Block and Drum is both a micro-distillery and music venue. Take a facility tour to create your own bottle infused with botanicals grown in the on-site hydroponic vertical farm. Wednesday through Sunday, enjoy DJ sets and intimate themed listening sessions in a sprawling indoor-outdoor space that’s warmed by heaters in winter and simply divine in the summer. 5105 Peachtree Blvd., Building B, Chamblee, blockanddrum.com
Eddie’s Attic
This legendary acoustic venue welcomes both aspiring and accomplished songwriters, with a competitive open mic and dizzying list of past performers: Sugarland, Brandi Carlile, The Civil Wars. Don’t count out the patio bar and restaurant, either, for a Philly cheesesteak, a house salad, or even a brownie sundae. 515 N. McDonough St., Decatur, eddiesattic.com
Wagyu House
As the name would suggest, the menu at sophisticated Wagyu House revolves around all-you-can-eat yakiniku and shabu-shabu sourced directly from Masami Ranch. On weekends, Wagyu House puts on “A5 socials” on the rooftop, scored by popular Atlanta DJs spinning Latin, R&B, hip-hop, and house. Tickets are often required in advance—stay up-to-date on the A5 Socials Instagram. 1042 Northside Dr. NW, Ste. 1300, Atlanta, wagyuhouse.group/project/wagyu-house-atlanta/
Eclipse di Luna
Tapas mainstay Eclipse di Luna offers nightly live entertainment at three of its metro locations. Over patatas bravas and a cocktail, take in the sounds of renowned Brazilian musician André Rievers, Spanish guitarist Loui Porras-Cota, or the C.O.T. Band. You can even take a free salsa lesson on Thursday nights at the Buckhead location. Multiple locations, eclipsediluna.com
Commune
The carefully-curated calendar at this Avondale Estates listening bar is probably Atlanta’s most diverse, covering acts including improvisational jazz trios and DJs who play everything from soul to shoegaze. Enjoy it all while sipping on award-winning wine from small producers and refined small bites—think oysters, picholine olives, or egg and anchovy tartines. 6 Olive St., Avondale Estates, communeatl.com
Northside Tavern
This year, Northside Tavern celebrates its 53rd year in business as Atlanta’s truest dive bar, so iconic it’s served as a filming location for Ozark and a Fast & Furious film. There’s no cover to hear weeknight music ranging from Americana to R&B, but weekend shows will run you $10. Don’t expect food…but come ready to drink. 1058 Howell Mill Rd. NW, northsidetavern.com
City Winery
WIth 12 locations nationwide, this concept pairs an accessible urban winery with full-service concert dining in a music hall. It’s an especially good choice for girls’ nights or dates, especially since you’ll regularly find events ranging from fun drag brunches to sexier R&B nights. Reserve one of the weekly winery tours to hear firsthand from the City Winery sommeliers—no need to head to Napa when this is right at Ponce. 650 North Ave. NE, Atlanta, citywinery.com/pages/locations/atlanta
STEREO
From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., STEREO serves up coffee and biscuits; after 6 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday, it transforms into a low-lit cocktail lounge and listening bar. Monthly calendars posted to the STEREO Instagram display robust lineups of DJs spanning Latin, disco, and Eastern European flavors, all complemented by elegant small plates. 2025’s favorites included tinned fish, mushroom tartare, and labneh. 900 DeKalb Ave. NE, Ste. F, Atlanta, stereoatl.com
The EARL
In East Atlanta Village, where iconic music venues are aplenty, the EARL (East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge) stands out for both its lineup and its food. Ticket prices for a nightly show rarely exceed $20, and the menu—whose standouts include fried shrimp po’boys, veggie tofu pitas, and chicharrónes—is a step above your average overpriced concert venue food. 488 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, badearl.com
TWO urban licks
TWO urban licks is known for its signature wood-fired cuisine and location on the Beltline, perfect for people-watching, and just across from Burle’s. Its current music lineup features Larry Griffith as the resident band performing Thursday through Saturday, with Jacob Oakley taking the stage on Sunday nights. 820 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE, Atlanta, twourbanlicks.com
The Velvet Note
Acoustic design engineer George Seldon crafted this Alpharetta jazz club’s listening room to provide the best audience experience possible. The end result: an intimate environment consistently named among the best jazz clubs in the state (and, according to The Velvet Note website, the only Atlanta jazz club to have never charged a food or drink minimum). TVN is open to everyone from renowned saxophonists to listeners who just want a really good crab cake. 4075 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta, thevelvetnote.com
Smith’s Olde Bar
Since opening in 1994, Smith’s has played host to prominent acts including David Bowie, Chris Stapleton, Janelle Monáe, and John Mayer. Today, the beloved strip-mall pub welcomes artists of all genres to perform ticketed events in its Atlanta room and upstairs Mike Reeves Music Room. For more casual nights, expect a live band on Mondays and a rotating lineup of DJs upstairs on Fridays and Saturdays. Most of the bar fare is named for musicians or movies—see the Old Dominion burger and Almost Famous chicken tenders. 1578 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, smithsoldebar.com
Kat’s Cafe
At Kat’s, there’s music for everyone, every day of the week. No matter your taste, you’ll probably find your new favorite local act at Wednesday and Thursday open mic nights, or when live bands take the stage on Saturday nights. Think you’ve got what it takes to keep the crowd entertained? Compete on Fridays for a cash prize—and put the winnings toward one of Kat’s gourmet pizzas or quesadillas. 970 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, katscafeatlanta.com
