Atlanta nightlife is hard to beat when you consider other cities in the Southeast. Georgia’s largest city has nightclubs, bars, taverns, restaurants, escape rooms and more.

The vibrant scene makes it easy to find things to do in Atlanta at night. This article is going to show you what can adults do in Atlanta at night.

Here Are Best Things To Do In Atlanta At Night

There are plenty of Atlanta nightspots to hit. One of the city’s growing areas is Old Fourth Ward, which was once a partially industrial neighborhood marked by blight and pockets of business.

You can actually do a lot in Atlanta as an adult. Here’s a breakdown of our Atlanta As an Adult Guide:

Table of Contents: Atlanta Adult Guide

• Hot Spots Right Now
• Best Places Outdoors
• Places To Eat At Night
• Hot Atlanta Night Spots

Now, developments like Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market have made the Old Fourth Ward a place to be — but there are some other hot spots. Let’s get it:

Atlanta Hot Spots Right Now

At night, you can really see the city’s skyline atop the Westin Hotel in the Sun Dial Restaurant. If you stay out too late, enjoy one of the many Waffle House restaurants that dot the landscape at nearly every interstate exit.

Neon Brush: Sip & Paint Workshop in the Dark

Westside Cultural Art Center 760 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Only in Atlanta can you find a painting workshop using fluorescent paint in which an artist will guide you through the whole process. You’ll love this with flying colors! Age 21+ with valid ID. Book now.

Beat the Bomb Atlanta

1483 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Escape rooms are the cool thing to do du jour in Atlanta. Beat the Bomb Atlanta is an escape room that adults can have a lot of fun in.

Here’s what one reviewer says about Beat the Bomb Atlanta: “This place was so fun! It was my first time going and I must say I was impressed with how fun the games/rooms were and they had a bar! I personally liked it better than escape room and I would definitely go back! I went with 5 others and we had a blast! 6 is the most people you can have in a room otherwise you will have to be split into teams! Such a fun experience! If you’re debating, definitely book.”

Trap Music Museum

630 Travis St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

The Trap Museum, brought to us by local entrepreneur and rap legend T.I., offers a startling display of treasures related to Southern hip-hop. It’s also a bar/restaurant as well.

Here’s what one reviewer says about the Trap Music Museum. “The escape room was so much fun. I’m 61 and went because I thought my sons age 23 would enjoy, which they did. We also loved the museum. If I had to complain, it would be that parking is too high, but the experience made me forget about it.”

Atlanta Botanical Garden

1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 |  (404) 876-5859

One of the most naturally beautiful spaces in the city, the Atlanta Botanical Garden features 30 acres of plants, statues & fountains with with a conservatory.  Come at night and the Botanical Gardens come alive. High society events like concerts, parties and more take place right here, giving the building a fun, aristocratic flair for the old and new moneyed alike. 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307 |  (404) 929-6300

If you or a family member is a science geek, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Druid Hills has it all: dinosaurs, skeletal models and a comprehensive exhibit spread our over a three-story, sky-lit great hall. Talk about fun things to do: Every third Friday, there’s a dance party you don’t want to miss. 767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307.

Georgia Aquarium

225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 | (404) 581-4000

Come to downtown Atlanta to see more than 120,000 animals of the sea. The Georgia Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums, with tons of seasonal and permanent exhibits, interactive galleries & fun activities for kids and adults alike. 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313.

Ponce City Market

675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

One of the greatest food halls in America, Ponce City Market is a feast for the senses for food lovers. Numerous shops catering to coffee, candy, wines, beer, and more are all here. Go to the rooftop to take in more of the city’s skyline while enjoying the taps at the two restaurants situated up there.

Candlelight Hip-Hop On Strings

Ever heard Dirt Off Ya Shoulder with a violin? Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Atlanta. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Hip Hop on Strings at The Chapel on Sycamore under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Bowlero Atlantic Station

261 19th St NW Suite 1150, Atlanta, GA 30363 | (470) 520-7550

Located in the heart of the city, Bowlero Atlantic Station offers a great way for you to get your bowl game on and enjoy great drinks and food.

Here’s what one reviewer says about Bowlero, “Bowlero at Atlantic Station is brand new and modern, customer service really good. I would love to see more healthy vegeterian options in the menu.”

Best Places Outdoors

Now it’s time to free yourself of the constraints of the workweek and its structure. Here’s where you can hang out outdoors.

Atlanta Braves Game

There are few outdoor activities on a good night that can outdo a rockin’ Atlanta Braves game. Chop it up at The Battery Atlanta with all kinds of fun, food and festivities. But a Braves ticket.

Want to watch the game at home at no cost? You can watch the Braves game right now, sign up for FuboTV and watch for free.

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

No matter your age, the wild kingdom never gets old. It’s the only place in Atlanta where you can find lions, tigers and bears and they not be on the football field. Get tickets.

Lee + White Food Hall

The food hall at Lee + White in the West End is open and serving all the deliciousness you’d expect. Along with taking a nice walk in the night air, you can enjoy Boxcar, Best End Brewing, Wild Heaven Brewery, Dough Boy Pizzeria, Vietvana and more.

The Beltline After Dark

The Atlanta Beltline on the Eastside Trail comes alive at night, but not on the trail itself. You can find various restaurants that are bustling with people, things to do and things to eat.

Read our Atlanta Adventure Guide on Cool Things To Do Outdoors.

Where To Eat In Atlanta At Night

If you’ve missed the lunch specials and are down for some dinner, nighttime Atlanta has some solid food options. Here are some of the best places for a late-night meal or a bite in the early evening. Check out these cool Atlanta restaurants.

2 Urban Licks

820 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

This Midtown Atlanta restaurant has live music on most nights and has a dark and cozy atmosphere that makes it one of the most chic spots in the city. Check out the menu.

The Consulate

10 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

Interior designer Douglas Hines and his wife Mei Lin, a chef with global influences, teamed up to open The Consulate in 2016 in Midtown. Before that, the Atlanta power couple opened Honey Bubble Tea in Poncey-Highland.

If you want to experience different cultures through food, this couple has you covered. They plan to open as many as eight restaurants across the city.

Hawkers Asian Street Fare

661 Auburn Avenue NE Suite 180 Atlanta, Georgia 30312 | (470) 809-1586

Hawkers is a great place to stop in at night to enjoy some authentic Asian street fare. Located on the Beltline’s Eastside Trail in Old Fourth Ward, Hawkers is the perfect place to grab a brew and people watch.

Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours

1133 Huff Rd NW #D, Atlanta, GA 30318

This relatively new eatery has quickly stolen the hearts of soul food lovers in the city. Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours is run by Executive Chef and Owner Deborah VanTrece has become a culinary force in Atlanta. She also runs her own catering company Catering by VanTrece. Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours has become known as an eatery that offers creative versions of Southern classics such as Jack Daniels Pecan Honey Chicken Wings and Sweet Tea Baby Back Ribs. Their Blue Plate Specials are great.

Hot Atlanta Night Spots

After dinner, you may be looking for a nightcap or some pick-me-up before you turn it in. Atlanta has a number of nightspots that you’ll enjoy either on the weekends or on weeknights.

Apache Cafe

If you want to enjoy one of the city’s musical gems, Apache Cafe is the place to go. Aside from being the venue where India Irie was discovered, patrons will enjoy the daily happy hour, food and drinks. With a weekly schedule of events that features Pangea’s Afrosocial, spoken word, karaoke, art, live music and more, this place is a must-visit.

Kat’s Cafe

If you’re looking for a lively night of creative arts, Kate’s Cafe in Midtown Atlanta may be just the thing. Neatly tucked away amid some residential homes at 970 Piedmont Ave NE, a short distance from 10th Street, Kat’s Cafe live music bar and restaurant is definitely one of those cool things to do in Atlanta on any day of the week.

Find an Atlanta Skating Rink

Relatively few in Atlanta’s heavily transit population know how deep the city’s skating history runs. Skating used to be the #1 pastime among Atlanta’s youth. So you may be wondering where are all the best Atlanta skating rinks? Read up on the best skating rinks around Atlanta.

SkyView Atlanta

Yep, ATL has a ferris wheel. The 20-story Skyview Atlanta ferris wheel has gondolas that are air-conditioned and roomy. If you want to get into truly fun things to do in Atlanta, this is one of them. Take a ride to see a bird’s eye view of downtown and Centennial Park. 168 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

Go to an Atlanta Nightclub

Atlanta’s club scene is full of a lively kaleidoscope of lounges, millennium-magnet clubs, bars, taverns and old-school hangouts. The best Atlanta nightclubs all cater to strong local communities, newcomers or visitors. Read up on our Atlanta Weekend Guide.

Atlanta is known for its “grown and sexy” crowd, and at night is when they come out and play.

Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our  news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

First, to find all the good things happening in the city this week, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. CNN Center often has something cool going on! Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:

• For a month’s view: The Official Atlanta Events Calendar
• For a more immediate look, check Things to do in Atlanta This Week

Up next: Best date night restaurants in Atlanta

Best Date Night Restaurants In Atlanta

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