9 Best Bars in Midtown and Westside, Atlanta

Weekly drag shows, a diverse crowd, and plenty of people-watching all help keep this place near the southwest corner of Piedmont Park popular.

A fixture on the gay scene since 1978, Bulldogs is the place to hang out with friends or dance to hip-hop, house, or R&B.

You may have heard of the infamous Clermont Lounge, a strip club unlike any other, but the women who rule the roost at this local landmark are older and sassier. On Saturday nights the dance floor opens up and the DJ plays old-school disco, funk, pop, and R&B. The well drinks are strong, and the clientele is cool—all making for a very entertaining night out in Atlanta.

These 73 seats in the back of the Vortex restaurant and bar are Atlanta's most popular destination for local and national touring comedians.

Billing itself as the city's "most diverse ladies' bar," this lesbian club brings the party with hip-hop, DJs, and karaoke.

Smith's Olde Bar schedules different kinds of talent, both local and regional, in its acoustically fine performance space. Food is available in the downstairs restaurant. Covers vary depending on the act, but are usually $5 to $15.

Atlanta's first gay sports bar has pool and darts as well as more than 25 TVs. A menu of bar food is also available—perfect for the big game.