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Comparable Schools'
Nightlife Grades:
Quick StatsUseful Resources for Nightlife
- Facebook
- www.athensmusic.net
- www.barsmart.com
- www.flagpole.com
- www.redandblack.com
Student Favorites
- Boar’s Head
- Buddha Bar
- City Bar
- El Centro
- Georgia Theater
- Sandbar
Primary Areas with NightlifeOther Places to Check Out
- El Centro
- General Beauregard
- The Globe
- Toppers International Showbar
Favorite Drinking Games
- Beer pong
- Card games (A$$hole)
- Power Hour
- Quarters
Cheapest Place to Get a Drink
Molly O’Shea’s
The Firehouse
Washington Street Pub
College Prowler Take
The nightlife in Athens is wonderful. The bars have loud music, drink specials, and lots of people. It’s like spring break every weekend, but with more clothes. There is always something going on downtown. There are great concerts and shows, as well. Students flock downtown almost every night of the week, particularly on Thursday through Saturday nights. There are specials every night of the week at different places, and these are usually written on chalkboards outside each bar. You will run into all kinds of people at bars and clubs, and it’s always easier to meet people with a little alcohol running through your system, so chances are, you will probably make friends every time you go. Last call is around 2 a.m., but people linger for another hour or so outside before they stumble home. Restaurants such as the Grill and Little Italy have great late-night drunk food. The nightlife is so good that more and more apartments are being built in proximity to the downtown area, so students can walk and not worry about having a driver or getting a taxi. If you do need a taxi, you can probably just flag one down on the street. It usually costs around $3 to $5 to get home. Parking can be a little tricky, but usually there are spaces in the decks available. There are bike cops out and about looking for minors in possession, so be careful not to put yourself in a bad position. Students Speak Out
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Anonymous says:  |
The bars in Athens are so much...
The bars in Athens are so much fun. There’s no cover charge anywhere, so it’s fun to bar hop all night. You’ll see people you know every time you’re downtown, so it’s always fun. |
Anonymous says: |
What’s so great about downtown...
What’s so great about downtown Athens is that it’s so cheap to get so drunk. There are no cover charges, great drink specials, and cabs that are like $3, so you can get hammered for under $20, and go to as many different bars as you want. |
Anonymous says: |
I love going out to the bars. I...
I love going out to the bars. I could barely wait to turn 21 so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting caught with a fake ID. Now that I am legal, I go downtown several times a week. It’s a great way to hang out and relieve some stress. |
Anonymous says: |
The bars in Athens rival those of...
The bars in Athens rival those of any major city in which I have ever lived. And, when I say major city, I mean cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston, Orlando, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Athens has a better bar scene than all of them. The only cities where it is better are heavy hitters like London, Amsterdam, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. I know that it’s hard to believe, but visit Athens just once with a person who can take you to the right places, and you will know exactly what I am talking about. |
Anonymous says: |
Athens is known for its music...
Athens is known for its music scene. It’s been the birthplace of such acts as the B-52s, Widespread Panic, and REM. The past few years, Athens saw such acts as Ludacris, Pat McGee, John Mayer, Better than Ezra, REM, Blues Traveler, Dispatch, and tons more. |
FactsClub Crawler
The nightclubs in Athens are fantastic. There are many concerts at the downtown clubs, as well as all-night dancing. They are usually pretty crowded any night of the week. Most of the bars close at 2 a.m. The following are the best nightclubs in Athens, and are usually filled with college students, and people who wish they were still college students. Many Greek organizations hold socials in downtown clubs as well. *Wild Wing restaurant also hosts some bands throughout the year. See the Off-Campus Dining section for information.
Bar Prowler
Bars of all types are really popular in Athens. Downtown is always crowded, and it’s always an interesting time. There is a particular special for every night of the week, too. Many bars are pretty easy to get into with a fake ID, but a few are definitely not. For the most part, the following bars are very much alike: there’s dance and hip-hop music blaring in the background, there are weekly specials, some people are dancing, others are hanging out. Most have some tables outside, as well as inside, and there are usually TVs in the corners with avid sports fans glued to them. They all check IDs at the door, and most even scan them. Most students don’t stay at any single bar all night. There is a lot of bar hopping because there are hardly any cover charges in Athens.
Organization Parties
Many clubs and Greek organizations will host events downtown. These events can range from disco dances to classy formal events. Because there are so many restaurants dispersed among the bars, it is very convenient to do dinner and drinks with groups.
Club Listings
Insomnia is a popular place for dancing. They play a lot of techno and dance music, and you can get in if you’re 18. There are long lines to get in. Every week, there are different theme nights: including Flash back, hip hop night, and Drinkin’ with Lincoln Night with one cent drinks all night. Cover: Ranges, usually around $10 Insomnia 131 E Broad St. (706) 316-1000
The GT is a large theatre that is great for bands and other shows. Athens’ own The Damn Show, a local comedy act, often performs at GT. There is a large stage in front with standing room extending all the way back to the club entrance. You have to be 18 to get in, 21 to drink. Cover: Range from $5–$25, depending on concert
This is a great club for concerts; it has standing room only. They are tough on fake IDs, but you only need to be 18+ to get in. Bars run along all sides of the dance floor. Tickets are usually $5–$10. Doors usually open at 10 p.m.
Bar Listings
Last Call is one of the largest of all the bars in Athens. There are weekly live music performances. There are also several pool tables, as well as darts and billiards. Cover: None Last Call 420 E. Clayton St. Athens (706) 353-8869
Flanigan’s is known for its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Flanigan’s also has a wide variety of drinks, including many beers on tap. Flanigan’s Friday happy hour is very popular with students. Cover: None Flanagan’s Bar & Grill 301 E. Clayton St. Athens (706) 208-9711
The Firehouse is one of the most popular bars in Athens. There are lots of drink specials, including “power hour:”one-dollar well drinks from 9 p.m.–10 p.m. every Friday. There is a big open space in the middle of the bar, instead of tables, so there are usually a lot of people dancing here. Cover: None The Firehouse 321 E. Clayton St. Athens (706) 227-2007
Washington Street is a great place to watch the Twilight bike race, or just to hang out anytime. The $1 PBR’s on Thursday at last call are very popular, and the bar plays a variety of music that everyone seems to know, and often people will be singing aloud together by the end of the night. Cover: None Washington Street Tavern 318 E. Washington St. Athens (706) 613-7817
Sandbar Athens 220 College Ave. Athens (706) 548-1988
Molly O’Shea’s resembles the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub. Molly’s offers a variety of drinks and beers, and is also known for its food, especially wings. Tuesday nights are ladies night with 50 cent well drinks. Thursday nights, you can get a free T-shirt with the purchase of a car- or Jaeger-bomb. Cover: Only on St. Patrick’s day Molly O’Shea’s 430 E. Clayton St. Athens (706) 227-2127
Full bar, couches to lounge on, outdoor patio. Buddha Bar 431 E. Broad St. Athens (706) 208-7017
Bourbon Street is a larger bar with a New Orleans theme that seems to be really popular with the ladies. It is always pretty crowded, and is fairly large compared to other bars. Cover: None Bourbon Street 333 E Broad St. Athens (706) 369-1313
This bar has a great outdoor deck area that is always crowded because they cook cheeseburgers and fries outside, and people like to watch other drunk people walking around downtown. There is a Ping- Pong table downstairs and a big-screen HDTV. Cover: None Boar's Head 260 E. Washington St. Athens (706) 369-3040
Pool tables and a full bar El Centro 175 N. Lumpkin St. Athens (706) 548-5700
Classic City Saloon has a unique western theme, and a full bar for you to enjoy. Classic City Saloon offers two floors of great music, sometimes scandalous dancing, and of course, drinking. Cover: None Classic City Saloon 335 E. Clayton St. Athens (706) 227-6030
City Bar is a classic bar with a slightly more sophisticated feeling. It is very popular with students, and is a popular place with Athens adults as well. There is a more intimate seating arrangement in City Bar than in other bars, and the décor is slightly more sophisticated, complimented by really high ceilings. Cover: None City Bar 220 College Ave. Athens (706) 546-7612
What to Do if You're Not 21
House parties are usually very crowded, and the keg will often be floated before you get there, so arrive early. Most parties offer at least one keg, Jello shots, and some sort of “hunch punch”——that is, generally, 180-proof grain alcohol and Kool-aide mix. The easiest way to find out what house parties are going on on any given night is to check Facebook.
The Dawgs After Dark program offers games, movies, guest speakers, and arcade games for students who are under 21, or who choose not to go downtown.
There is always a festival or craft market going on in Athens. In the spring, there is an internationally recognized bike race called the Twilight Criterium. During this time, the open container law is suspended, allowing locals to drink alcohol in the streets while watching professional cyclists zoom by. AthFest, one of the largest local festivals, is an annual music and arts festival held downtown in June. The event mostly consists of a series of outdoor concerts and a local artist market.
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