Whether you're ready to test your pipes in karaoke, or sit back and watch the pros perform during one of the weekend drag shows, Burkhart's (www.burkharts.com) leads the pack as the best overall bar for Georgia Voice readers. The joint also has one of the largest, yet coziest patios in Atlanta nightlife, a surprisingly tasty steak dinner, a venerable poker table – and free popcorn!
Atlanta Eagle (www.atlantaeagle.com) finished a strong second, while Mary's (www.marysatlanta.com) rounded out the top three.
Ga. Voice readers poured a lot of love on quite a few bartenders, but Chad McDaniel of Oscar's (www.oscarsatlanta.com) and Tony Jackson of Atlanta Eagle (www.atlantaeagle.com) emerged as the most charming and heavy-handed of the bunch. Chad's martini mixing and encyclopedic knowledge of show tunes, and Tony's bare-chested bartending helped the two surge past a crowded field of beloved pourers.
In a five-way tie for third were Dustyn of Burkhart's (www.burkharts.com), Alfons at Heretic (www.hereticatlanta.com), Michael at The Model T (www.modeltatlanta.com) and Matt and Bernadette at Mary's (www.marysatlanta.com).
You can take the lesbian out of the country, but every once in a while a girl wants to kick her heels and do-si-do, which is why Country Night @ The Heretic (www.hereticatlanta.com/thursday) sashayed its way to this year's best lesbian theme night. The girls gather on Cheshire Bridge every Thursday and select Saturdays, when they nearly burn the barn down with their hotness.
The monthly Swank (www.facebook.com/bellissima.atlanta) parties at 10th & Piedmont was runner-up.
After a quarter century of serving up boys and booze, Burkhart's (www.burkharts.com) remains the favorite spot for gay men looking to party in Atlanta. With two levels of tipsy boys, drag shows such as Tossed Salad with Brigitte Bidet, and the Saturday night Synergy show with Monica Van Pelt and Shawanna Brooks, it's no wonder that Burkhart's maintains its reign.
Second place went to Mary's (www.marysatlanta.com), and Atlanta Eagle (www.atlantaeagle.com) took third.
Once looked at with a leery eye due to its burly men and legendary backroom, Atlanta Eagle (www.atlantaeagle.com) continues its emergence as the go-to dance floor to sweat away the week's problems. With a DJ line-up that includes Chris Kind and Ron Pullman, the beats at the Eagle will have your spirits in full flight.
The Heretic (www.hereticatlanta.com) and Jungle (www.jungleatl.com) took second and third place, respectively.
The no-good do-gooders known as The Armorettes (www.armorettes.com) continue to be Atlanta's most endearing drag troupe. For three-and-a-half decades, the ladies have been using off-color camp drag to raise money for HIV/AIDS organizations via their annual Easter Drag Races and their weekly show at The Hideaway.
The always-entertaining The Other Show (www.facebook.com/TheOtherShow) at Jungle finished an admirable second, and the queens of Tossed Salad (www.burkharts.com) at Burkhart's clawed their way to third.
The dynasty of My Sister's Room (www.facebook.com/msratl) as the top place to meet women has grown as the lesbian bar moved from Decatur, to East Atlanta, to its upcoming location in the heart Midtown. From the King of Thrones drag king shows to the Traxx Girls dance parties, no venue in Atlanta offers the variety of beautiful and available women.
Also be sure to check out second place finisher Henry's (www.henrysatl.com), or the Women's Outdoor Network Social Group (httpwww.meetup.com/wonatlanta), which finished third.
When you're not ready to call it a night until the sun comes up, there's no better place to keep the party going than Xion (www.cariocaproductions.com), winner of this year's best afterhours. A powerhouse roster of local, national and international DJs stop by the booth on Cheshire Bridge to keep the energy high in the wee hours of the morning.
Besides Waffle House, the other best bet for late night fun is to try to get laid at runner-up Flex (www.flexspas.com/#!atlanta) or third place finisher Manifest4U (http://www.manifest4u.org).