The best clubs in Atlanta

2025 marks a turning point for MJQ, which has been a staple in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood off of Ponce, aka Ponce De Leon Avenue, for 25 years. MJQ moved to a new location (as of January 2025) in downtown’s Underground Atlanta. Owner Ryan Purcell reassures MJQ regulars that the new place will still have the same vibe and support the community it has always catered to. For those of you who are new here, that vibe is inclusive and unpretentious, so if you like to reserve bottles and table service, this is probably not your place. But if you like to dance to all genres of music, then this is a great spot.

Whisky Mistress may look small from the outside, but there’s plenty to enjoy inside. 90s hip-hop and R&B across the decades is a big mood, which tends to bring a grown and sexy crowd. Thursday through Sunday, bands and guest DJs bring live entertainment. There are plenty of spaces for everyone to find their vibe, whether it’s on the dance floor, in a V.I.P. room or a table to enjoy a nice cigar or hookah. Once you’ve had your fill of dancing, enjoy some fresh air on one of Whisky Mistress’ patios, where you can soak in views of the Buckhead skyline..

Mary’s regularly tops charts as one of the best LGBTQ+ bars in the country, even though it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what makes it so cool. It could be the vast karaoke selection that turns into dancing around midnight. Maybe it’s the regular drag shows or the takeout food that patrons bring in to eat inside Mary’s. Even if it’s those other things, it’s definitely the fun-loving regulars who’ve been supporting Mary’s in East Atlanta Village for two decades. 

Despite its name, the secret’s out about Johnny’s Hideaway. This spot has been around since 1979 and is beloved by the ATL crowd and out-of-towners alike. When you go will determine the crowd you party with— the 40+ crowd comes early and then makes way for the 20-30s crowd that takes over late at night. When you go, make sure you enjoy the club’s two unique spaces: The Sinatra room, named after Frank Sinatra, and the King’s Corner, a area dedicated to Elvis Presley.

This Buckhead club is the longest running Latin club in Atlanta. Upscale yet welcoming to all, Sanctuary is the place to be for hot Latin sounds. On Fridays, dance to the best in salsa, bachata, merengue, Latin pop rock and reggaeton. LGBTQ Saturdays feature guest DJs and a great vibe. No matter what kind of dancing skills you have, head to Sanctuary for an all-night baile. 

Moving through Havana Club is like moving through an international soundscape. From the main room where house music is the standard to the Latin lounge and on back towards the EDM-festival inside Havanahaus, you’ve got 15,000 square feet of partying. It’s not a cheap date spot—tables and bottle service never are—but you may notice an upcharge of $100 or more here. But if you want a scene where you’ll be seen and snapped by paparazzi, this is the place, so dress in your absolute best or at least present as much confidence as possible.

District always brings the party, where lights, lasers and spine-tingling beats get the crowds going and keep it going all night long. Big name DJs perform regularly here, and it's a totally immersive, sensory experience, whoever is performing. If you’re up for a splurge, there are two options at District: V.I.P. tables with bottle service and a general V.I.P. ticket, which gives you access to an upstairs viewing room and bar. An outdoor terrace hosts open-air events or lets you catch your breath every now and again. 

M Bar makes great use of less space in order to create an atmosphere of exclusivity or, at the very least, discernment among the evening entertainment set. There’s a balance of casual upper-classism here, where you don’t necessarily need a millionaire’s savings to present yourself as valuing quality company, music, ambiance and attitude. It’s a place where you can sit down on the plush silver velvet banquette, which lines half of the interior, and smoke hookah with friends or hang on the other side of the room and enjoy dance-worthy love songs while propped up along the bar. It’s a place where excellence is the norm and no one inside feels excluded.

Though the name suggests a restaurant, there’s much more to Suite than the menu. The massive, multi-floor building boasts thousands of square feet on the main floor for general mingling, but it’s the metallic-gold VIP section and indoor/outdoor SkyDeck (which extends through retractable garage windows to an open-air platform with a killer view of downtown) that gives you that upgraded feeling. Get upstairs and claim one of the white leather couches or challenge a friend to a flashy game of billiards on the sparkling blue pool tables. You’ll always find a crowd here—the prime location in the convention area near Centennial Park means it’s always packed with in- and out-of-towners on weekends, but even on weekdays, there are unique events like crab legs and karaoke happy hour to occupy your time.

The geometric shapes of the golden chandeliers, recurring celebrity hosts like Big Tigger, Jermaine Dupri and others, regular appearances by the hottest recording artists in hip-hop and pop music (think Teyana Taylor, 50 Cent andYG) and a deep West Midtown location have given this off-the-beaten-path party complex a major reputation. That’s particularly impressive when you remember Revel is closer to the industrial backstreets of Marietta Boulevard than Peachtree Street’s city lights.