Where to Go for Concerts and Shows
Last Updated August 15, 2025
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From hip dive bars to intimate venues, Atlanta’s diverse music scene flows through each neighborhood. Whether you’re looking to enjoy local artists at a grungy dive bar or dance to your favorite artists in a larger venue, there is something for every concertgoer in Atlanta.
Hip-Hop
As the hip-hop music capital of the South, Atlanta has a pedigree for banging out hip-hop and trap artists who have redefined the genre beyond the Atlanta scene and into one of the most prolific and followed sounds in the world. From the likes of OutKast, T.I., Ludacris, Killer Mike, Goodie Mob, Childish Gambino, Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy, 6lack, Gucci Mane, Future, Migos, 2 Chainz and more, there is no denying that the ATL has something to say. No wonder so many up-and-coming hip-hop artists flock to Atlanta to make it big. There’s truly something unique about ATL. Check out the list below to find bold beats and fine rhymes at these Atlanta clubs.
MJQ Concourse
Equal parts hole-in-the-wall and ATL institution, MJQ Concourse doles out the culture with pristine hip-hop vibes with a feel for the trap scene. Check out their new location at Underground Atlanta and experience a dance club that boasts a wide range of local talent and DJs playing a range of genres from hip-hop classics to electro mixes.
Where: 50 Lower Alabama St.
Apache Cafe
Since 2001, Apache Cafe has been a mainstay in the Atlanta music scene as a haven for neo-soul vibes and hip-hop culture. Serving as a backdrop for open mic nights, unsigned artists have a spotlight to flex their lyrics to industry execs. While you enjoy the weekly lineup of nightly events, you can also indulge in a menu of bites, including dishes like chicken and waffles, chilaquiles and jerk chicken wings.
Where: 393 Marietta St. NW
Little Spirit
Want some Wu-Tang-inspired sips with your hip-hop beats? Little Spirit has you covered, fam. Enter the 36 Chambers of stellar cocktails and rap tunes playlist to boost your enjoyment at Little Spirit in Inman Park. Try the HuGOAT Spritz if you’re into the flavors of cava, blanc vermouth, lychee, elderflower, cucumber, soda and bitters.
Where: 299 N. Highland Ave. NE.
Escobar Restaurant and Tapas
What can be more hip-hop than a rapper owning his very own restaurant to celebrate the culture and music of his peers? 2 Chainz’s Escobar Restaurant and Tapas delivers on combining signature bites with trap beats and hookah in a venue full of up-and-coming talent ready to be buried in a Gucci store. Plus, there’s a DJ booth made out of a gold Mercedes-Benz. Just sayin’. Whether you’re going before or after attending a concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or just looking to catch a vibe, you’re in for a good time.
Where: 327 Peters St. SW.
CRU Peters Street
The phrase “It’s lit” definitely must have had hookah spot CRU Peters Street in mind. Make your way through the green neon glow of the flavored smoke-filled Downtown space and prepare to catch a vibe with drinks and DJs spinning trap-heavy tunes. Check out the many specials, including free hookah on Mondays for game night.
Where: 301 Peters St. SW.
Dance
With a nearly unlimited supply of places to pop, lock and drop it, everyone knows it’s going down in ATL. From bass-heavy EDM clubs and salsa houses to underground mosh pits, these are the ATL hot spots where you can shake it to your favorite beats.
Believe Music Hall
The minds behind eye-popping EDM wonderland, Imagine Music Festival, bring the same high-energy atmosphere year-round to the three-story, 15,000-square-foot cathedral that is Believe Music Hall. Cue bass-heavy beats, fog machines, lasers and confetti galore.
Where: 181 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
Johnny’s Hideaway
With a reputation as cougar central and a nightclub for “Big Kids,” Johnny’s Hideaway is where your mom and dad go to have a good time and forget that they’re actually grandparents. Groove to fun tunes, including disco throwbacks and grub on a selection of wing flavors.
Where: 3771 Roswell Road NE
Tongue & Groove
On the scene for more than two decades, Tongue & Groove is an iconic ATL nightlife hotspot, attracting a younger crowd of partygoers with its sleek interiors and musical variety from hip-hop to Latin to EDM. Located in the heart of Buckhead, Tongue & Groove combines entertainment and nightlife into an unforgettable experience. With themed nights like Latin Wednesdays or Ladies Night on Fridays and notable DJs like DJ EU spinning, you’re bound to have a time.
Where: 565 Main St. NE.
Buckhead Saloon
While the name may give visions of honky-tonk heaven, Buckhead Saloon ain’t no wild west bar. A diverse crowd opens the doors to a high-energy dance party.
Where: 3227 Roswell Road NE.
Havana Club
Havana Club is another ATL nightlife OG, bringing a diverse crowd into its neon womb, where the beats range from Top 40 and old school hip-hop to reggaeton and dubstep.
Where: 3112 Piedmont Rd. NE.
District Atlanta
The new kid on the block of Atlanta’s thriving nightlife scene, District is a color-filled bastion of EDM, dubstep and trip-hop sounds that wash over a sea of sweaty, party-craving millennials cooled by billowing smoke machines. It’s a party like no other.
Where: 269 Armour Drive NE.
Jazz, Rock and Country
Home to Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country, the ATL is no stranger to smooth sounds. Sit back and relax and listen to that sax at these smooth vibe hot spots.
The Lumen Lounge
In the Ritz-Carlton, The Lumen Lounge is a lobby bar with a modern vibe and contemporary elegance. Enjoy signature cocktails and relax to live jazz, classical guitar and Peruvian flute from artists Cooper Tisdale, Matthew Miller, Johnna Jeong, Jean Pierre Verbist, Mathis and Mauricio Amaya.
Where: 181 Peachtree St. NE.
Blind Willie’s
While Blind Willie’s is best known as a blues club, it also delivers a heavy dose of jazz and roots music. Jazz lovers will appreciate the authentic feel, bar food (the gumbo is fantastic) and amazing music.
Where: 828 N. Highland Ave. NE.
Kat’s Cafe
Where the “cultured and sophisticated mingle, wine and dine,” Kat’s Cafe hosts regular live music as well as stand-up comedy, poetry/spoken word, art shows and book signings.
Where: 970 Piedmont Ave. NE.
Northside Tavern
One-of-a-kind Northside Tavern has been voted one of the top 10 dive bars in the country and delivers some of the best jazz and blues around. Hear the sounds of Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck and more Atlanta locals.
Where: 1508 Howell Mill Road NW.
Red Light Cafe
The ATL’s favorite listening room for jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, roots rock and everything in between — Red Light Cafe throws comedy and burlesque into the mix. It offers an intimate setting to see a live show while nibbling on warm Brie with fruit and bread, spinach and artichoke dip, and sweet endings.
Where: 553-1 Amsterdam Ave. NE.
St. James Live
A Southside gem for those who love great jazz, St. James Live is a hub of live music, a variety of acts on the weekends and Smooth Jazz Sundays. Dine on lamb chops, pan-seared white fish, wings, fish tacos and cheesecake while you enjoy the riffs.
Where: 3220 Butner Road
Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint
Who doesn’t love a juke joint? Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint delivers outstanding jazz and books some of the best R&B and blues performers in Atlanta. Enjoy a plate of Southern comfort food (you can’t pass up the award-winning fried chicken) while local and well-known talents take the stage.
Where: 200 Peachtree St.
The EARL
In East Atlanta Village, The EARL features a wide variety of music, including jazz, rock and more. Nothing beats good music with a side of one of the menu favorites, including catfish tacos and Texas Bacon Steak Melt.
Where: 488 Flat Shoals Ave. SE.
Center Stage
Built to honor Atlanta’s growing performing arts community, Center Stage Theatre is home to a wide range of performances and shows in genres from jazz and hip-hop to rock and pop. You might catch one of your favorite artists or discover someone new and local at Vinyl, a more intimate theatre at Center Stage.
Where: 1374 West Peachtree St.
Terminal West
Rock and roll with both indie and well-known bands or groove to the sounds of country and jazz, Terminal West has a calendar full of shows you can choose from. Located inside the King Plow Arts Center, this intimate venue provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a taste of Atlanta’s arts scene before exploring all that the Westside has to offer.
Where: 887 West Marietta St NW
After you’ve enjoyed taking in Atlanta’s concert scene, be sure to check out this Ultimate Dining Guide for Atlanta Concert Goers.
Originally Published October 13, 2020
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