Apache Café

64 Third St NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 404-876-5436

Description: MIDTOWN. Devotees of live music, particularly jazz and reggae, find much to like about this cool, funky Midtowner. Apache has the look and feel of the avant-garde music clubs you'd find hidden away on West Village side-streets. In fact, it's not uncommon for the venue to host some of the neighborhood's more cutting edge events like think-tanks, debates, poetry slams, film screenings and even performance art. Due homage is paid to the local visual arts scene, and many local artists are allowed to display their work along the weathered brick walls.
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Beluga Martini Bar

3115 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 404-869-1090

Description: BUCKHEAD. This laid-back venue, with its relaxed sophistication and comfortable furnishings, attracts a regular clientele, who come for delicious martinis and smooth jazz music. A professional crowd frequents the intimate place, stopping in after work or gathering in the evening. Lounging on upholstered sofas, nursing cold drinks, they simply soak in the ambience and the sweet smokiness of cigars. Live piano music serenades visitors, and you'll also find champagne and ­ of course ­ caviar.
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Blind Willie's

828 N Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 404-873-2583

Description: VIRGINIA HIGHLAND. This club is named for Georgia's own "Blind" Willie McTell, a legendary songwriter born in Thomson who is credited with inking tunes such as "Statesboro Blues" and "Broke Down Engine Blues." A neon alligator in the window beckons you to catch the best blues acts around. Longtime regulars Sandra Hall and the Shadows and House Rocker Johnson perform here weekly, and other well-known local and national acts are prone to plug in their amps as well. Among the historic blues performers to have performed here are Taj Mahal, Rufus Thomas and Charles Brown. The place is filled Monday through Saturday, so arrive early. Reservations are not accepted.
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Café 290

290 Hilderbrand Dr NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404-256-3942

Description: SANDY SPRINGS. One of the top jazz clubs in Atlanta, Cafe 290 features live music (jazz or blues) nightly. A full menu including seafood, steaks, pasta, and vegetarian specialties is available. A separate section houses a sports bar.
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Churchill Grounds

660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 404-876-3030

Description: MIDTOWN. Live jazz ­ a truly American genre ­ gets its due respect at this cozy lounge, located near the Fox Theatre. The venue regularly books top performers and also grants fledgling talents the opportunity to test their wings. Fans can't say enough about the intimate venue, where music is top-notch and patrons are graciously attentive. Boosting the night's pleasure are terrific cocktails and wines, premium cigars, and an elegant, light menu of desserts, coffees, appetizers, and Asian-styled dishes.
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Dailey's Downstairs

17 Andrew Young International Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-681-3303

Description: DOWNTOWN. Set in the lower part of a former warehouse, this eminently appealing place has been pleasing patrons since 1981. Its dim, well-loved interior boasts leather furniture and a substantial bar, where regulars hang out after the work day's done. During the day, a menu of light fare is available, and appetizers are standard at night. Old-school drinks (especially martinis) are a source of great delight to patrons, and beer, wine, and liqueurs can also be had. Plus, there's live music ­ mostly jazz ­ offered nightly. A great, laid-back destination.
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Dante's Down the Hatch

3380 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326 404-266-1600

Description: BUCKHEAD. Experience something completely unexpected at Dante's. Inside the large building, a replica 18th-century ship, complete with rigging, rests in a reservoir of water (inhabited by live crocodiles!). Thirteen levels accommodate diners, who indulge in cheese or meat fondue while admiring antique fittings and furnishings around them. Visitors to the ship can enjoy soothing live jazz six nights a week, and a vocalist performs Mondays. A great wine list is an added perk. Guests are permitted to come for the music without having dinner. Reservations for dinner or drinks recommended.
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Dark Horse Tavern & 10 High Club

816 N Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 404-873-3607

Description: VIRGINIA HIGHLAND. Atlanta hipsters converge on this Virginia Highlands nightspot each week and for good reason. Upstairs, you'll find a great pub-style watering hole that's always packed with stylish 20- and 30-somethings. In the cellar, 10 High hosts some of Atlanta's top up-and-coming bands ­ acts specializing in everything from good old fashioned rock-n-roll to hard and heavy punk. Great pub grub is served upstairs, and the place offers an enviable selection of domestic and international brews.
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Eddie's Attic

515 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030-3309 404-377-4976

Description: DECATUR. Hosting an ensemble of regional and national acoustic acts, Eddie's Act is an ideal place to chill out over a few brews and good live music. A favorite of Decatur's youngish professionals, Eddie's has showcased the likes of Ani Difranco, Shawn Mullins, and Dave Sutherland. In the warmer months, Eddie's deck is a great place to get a little fresh air. Those wanting to take a break from the music can head across the hall to the pool room. Cover charges vary depending on who's playing.
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Front Page News

1104 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-3612 404-897-3500

Description: MIDTOWN. If "Big Easy-style" sounds like a good way to spend a Sunday morning, you'll want to discover the how-tos at this New Orleans-themed restaurant. After a late night out, locals take advantage of FPN's Cajun menu, which offers both buffet and a la carte options. Brunch dishes like fried chicken and biscuits, NY strip and eggs, and crab cakes benedict join the Creole fare to put a hurting on your appetite, and a Bloody Mary bar lets you concoct your own recipe from 100 different ingredients. A great patio and live jazz only add further appeal. Smoking allowed indoors after 9pm.
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Fuzzy's Place

2015 N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-1808 404-321-6166

Description: NORTH DRUID HILLS ROAD. On Atlanta's northside, few places can compete with Fuzzy's as far as live music goes. An Atlanta staple for more than two decades, this cozy bar features live local and national blues acts in a Big Easy-style environment that includes rustic wood paneling and all your standard beer company odds and ends. Most nights, Fuzzy's televisions are tuned to whatever big game or popular show is on ­ majority rules, you know? Best of all, you can always count on the place slinging some of the best-priced beer in town. Chef Joe Dale, a local legend, serves up some of the meanest Cajun food north of Louisiana too, including blackened tilapia, crayfish etouffee, and jambalaya.
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Leopard Lounge

84 12th St, Atlanta, GA 30309 404-875-7562

Description: MIDTOWN. A cool vibe runs throughout this swanky lounge, part of which is swathed in leopard prints as the name promises. The mid-century modern decor is an apt environment for patrons who cultivate a retro attitude of their own. Martinis are de rigeur, although a variety of cocktails is available, including your favorite. On the lower floor, you'll find DJs offering dance music to groups of young professionals, who gyrate their way into the night. An outdoor patio and three bars ensure that you're never at a loss for leisure pursuits, and comfortable furniture inside provides the opportunity to kick back and relax. If you get hungry, there's gourmet pizza to eat. Great atmosphere in a turn-of-the-century home.
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Northside Tavern

1058 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-874-8745

Description: WESTSIDE. A fun Westside beer joint, this one is a little out of the way, but that doesn't deter the regulars who hang out there. Decidedly casual, anything goes as far as attire. But if you are downtown sightseeing or having a meal, it's an entertaining place to head afterwards. The schedule is full of live shows, which range from great to less-than-great. Pool tables and homestyle grub round out this laid-back nightspot's offerings.
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Sambuca

3102 Piedmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-5299

Description: BUCKHEAD. This combination restaurant and jazz club is a study of curves and textures and offers an excellent menu of eclectic American cuisine, along with a nightly schedule of jazz of all genres. Artists from Atlanta and all over the world play at this cafe, regaling patrons with soothing vocals and finger-snapping rhythms. Sambuca also attracts scores of professionals to the bar area and the patio. They often stop in on the way home for a refreshing drink and a little music to help decompress after a hectic workday. Cigars are also available.
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Smith's Olde Bar

1578 Piedmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30324 404-875-1522

Description: MIDTOWN. You'll love this SOB ­ that's Smith's Olde Bar, of course. Though DJ dance parties are common, you'll also frequently find live music presented on the circular stage. Special songwriters' nights often showcase up-and-coming talents on the cabaret-style stage. If you aren't in the mood to dance or if the live show isn't your style, head downstairs for free jazz, or get into a game of pool. The relaxed vibe and broad array of entertainment options make this venue a favorite.
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Star Community Bar

437 Moreland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 404-681-9018

Description: LITTLE FIVE POINTS. From the hokey Elvis shrine across from the main stage to the retro-style Little Vinyl Lounge, this Little Five Points classic is 100% rock-n-roll. Fun bands, loud music, and cheap beer are hot commodities at the Star, and it's not uncommon to find a few yuppies interspersed among the more rustic regulars. If you feel like taking a break from the deafening Southern rock or blues acts onstage, head downstairs to the seedy LVL, a self-described "bucket of sin with a stain-resistant skin," where the scene is laid back and the jukebox is the stuff of legends.
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Tabernacle

152 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-659-9022

Description: DOWNTOWN. This massive, ornate concert venue has been consistently named one of the top places to see a show in Atlanta. Even Rolling Stone magazine has sung the praises of the facility, which is built on a slope so that every view is a great one. Filled with local art, the walls create an inspiring backdrop to see top recording artists like The Smashing Pumpkins, Collective Soul, Tracy Chapman or Al Green.
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The Loft

1374 W Peachtree St, EarthLink Live Music Complex, Atlanta, GA 30309 404-885-1365

Description: MIDTOWN. Very retro and very cool, Midtown's Loft has emerged as a truly great place to catch live music. Per its name, the venue occupies a second-story space that is wide-open and sleekly decorated with mod furniture. Activity around the four full-service bars helps keep the stylish 20-somethings occupied during pauses in the music ... And speaking of music, the Loft books a wide array of it, from Digable Planets to international acts like The Subways. Popular regionalites also get stage time from week to week, and many shows tend to sell out before the doors ever open.
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The Masquerade

695 North Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308 404-577-8178

Description: PONCEY-HIGHLAND. Edgy atmosphere and a norm-testing attitude perfectly define The Masquerade. Housed in a renovated turn-of-the-century mill, the club plays host to New Age, pop-funk, and explosive metal bands that keep patrons coming back for more, often three or four times a week. If live music isn't your flavor, come every Thursday for DJs and "Old Wave and Bootylicious" music. The club also features the occasional CD release party. Cash only at the box office.
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The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View

210 Peachtree St NW, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-589-7506

Description: DOWNTOWN. This lounge takes nightlife to new heights. Thanks to an elevation of almost 1,000 feet, views of Atlanta's dramatic downtown are unparalleled. A jazz trio adds upbeat ambience as patrons sip martinis and cosmopolitans. The bar and lookout deck are particularly popular around dusk, when the city begins to light up and the view is most riveting. The adjacent restaurant offers a range of meals and appetizers. Although the bar stays open later, the observation deck closes at 11pm daily.
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