Our night was saved by Louis! Before - The bartender upstairs (the gentleman with the long hair) fully made us drinks with no alcohol. We were stone sober (coming from a dinner) and watched him pour heavy drinks for his friends, and he truly made our drinks with barely a splash of alcohol before upcharging us. I was visiting and didn't want to get into it, but he did this many times when I lived in Atlanta previously. BUT - we went downstairs and the bartender Louis completely turned our night around. He was so attentive and kind, and truly put a smile on our faces. I hate to subtract a star for the bartender upstairs, but he's been allowed to act this way for too long and I truly hope the establishment does something about it. But shoutout to the amazing downstairs bartenders who made our night. So much kindness and joy. read more

Mary's is more than a bar -- it's a queer refuge. Adults across all ages, orientations, and presentations come together to enjoy affordable, well-crafted cocktails from the bartenders. It's one of the few nightlife destinations that feels safe and really captures every letter of the LGBT+. The kitschy decor, pop bangers, and endless reel of vintage video clips puts you somewhere timeless. Whether you're chatting at the bar, throwing dollars at drag queens, or smoking on the porch, it's worth the trip (just remember how to parallel park). read more

Easy going and fun! Friendly bartenders! Will return when we have guests! Great!! Might be a good place for my birthday celebration!!

Don't go here. Horrible. Last call, so I go to the patio. I walk in cuz the bar is open, and then both bartenders claim to say they can't serve me cuz I didn't pay $5 when they were doing last call.... I watch them serve ALL my friends drinks without wristbands. Not sure if it's because I'm black, but I've never been denied a drink like that in the village, and my friends literally all got drinks after me. Surprisingly upsetting experience and I'll NEVER go there again. Im literally their demographic, which is why this really upsets me. Black drummer chick who just played a sold out show next door ...got denied to BUY DRINKS at their bar because "I didn't have a wristband' when they were closing and still serving... No one else in my crew had a wristband after last call, and they all got drinks....Maybe the Pink Cowboy Hat guy is racist?? Not sure. Fuck Marys, fuck those bartenders. DO NOT GO TO THIS BAR awful feeling, worst experience in the village. read more

Don't go here. Horrible. Last call, so I go to the patio. I walk in cuz the bar is open, and then both bartenders claim to say they can't serve me cuz I didn't pay $5 when they were doing last call.... I watch them serve ALL my friends drinks without wristbands. Not sure if it's because I'm black, but I've never been denied a drink like that in the village, and my friends literally all got drinks after me. Surprisingly upsetting experience and I'll NEVER go there again. Im literally their demographic, which is why this really upsets me. Black drummer chick who just played a sold out show next door ...got denied to BUY DRINKS at their bar because "I didn't have a wristband' when they were closing and still serving... No one else in my crew had a wristband after last call, and they all got drinks....Maybe the Pink Cowboy Hat guy is racist?? Not sure. Fuck Marys, fuck those bartenders. DO NOT GO TO THIS BAR awful feeling, worst experience in the village. read more

Dj is too greedy. If you don't tip good he don't play you songs. He should play regardless cause you paid the cover. Tips will be tips if you was happy with his services. read more

Came here for karaoke and it was awesome, friendly locals came and said hi, asked where we were from and were engaging. Nothing like pretentious bars that I'm used to in South Florida....Would definitely come back 100 percent next time we are in the area. read more

Mary's is, without a doubt, in my personal opinion, THE Atlanta queer bar. As a local transfemme, Mary's is the one place I know I can go out to, enjoy myself, and not receive any judgement. The staff are nothing short of amazing, almost all of the bartenders know my name, know that I'm sober, and go out of their way to provide me with fun, non-alcoholic options or just a Sprite. And I'm not even that much of a regular! The variety in their regular weekday schedule of events like drag shows, karaoke, and more is nothing short of amazing, and gives everyone in the community something to do or see. Ultimately, Mary's is home away from home for myself and my friends, and I'd not have it any other way. read more

People take themselves too seriously. For those who don't, there's Mary's. Hole in the wall establishment with a local and loyal clientele. It's a bar with generous drinks and honest pours. The people are friendly and I felt incredibly welcome. Definitely go and check this out if you're nearby. Saturday karaoke was fun and the host was a crowd pleaser. read more

Mary's - a wall full of pictures of women - Gay Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I came here on a Friday night with my brother. We got here a little early before the crowd got busy after 10:00 p.m. I absolutely love this place! Great decor, nice bartenders (drinks were not that expensive), and AWESOME selection of music. Danced all night and before we knew, it was 3:00 a.m. and we totally shut the bar down! This is my go to spot for nightlife in Atlanta whenever I visit from Ohio. read more

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Out of all of Atlanta's queer spaces, Mary's is the best space for creative and alternative types. It is an unpretentious dive bar with great drag and delightfully messy karaoke. Expect to get read to filth, let loose and bum a cig. read more

Not only is this a wonderful safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community but it's also one of the most supportive places I have ever hung out. They have a full bar, sure, but they also have a wonderful Mocktail menu for those of us who aren't drinking. Lindsey, has created some beautiful flavors which is great for if you're staying sober to DD or just don't want to drink. Maryoake on Wednesdays is a blast and there are always fun drag shows and other events on the weekends. I have seen so many amazing drag performers get their start at GLITZ and it's so wonderful to see them grow into headliners read more

Ah, the 90s. It was a golden era of Finally Showing [Me] Love to Homeless Gypsy Women named La Da Dee, La Da Da (no loot to be had) who spun around on New Jack Swings. The Real World was made up of seven strangers who were just living together (and fighting over real world stuff). Fashion was oversized and brightly colored. Your soon-to-be favorite stars were MMCing it up in Orlando. Cities were cities and MTV was viable. There was more to it but for the purposes of this review, that's all you need to know. As soon as I walked in, I was, like, 'Whoa.' It was a trip back in time 20 years and I was here for it. For Mary's being a gay bar, the crowd seemed to be 50/50 male/female, straight/gay and everyone seemed in good spirits. People were there to laugh, drink, dance, and have a good time. The vibe was really good. I don't know what made it a gay bar per se and not just a dance bar but maybe their programming skews more, well, Mary on other days (we came on a Friday night). From posters of Rick James to videos of Soul Train lines to Neneh freaking Cherry Buffalo Stancing her way from monitor to monitor, I was reminded of sneaking in to NYC clubs and getting an education to the bright lights and big city of the 90s urban scene. Mary's is a great time. It's narrow. Because it's so narrow, it's pretty cramped and crowded. You might feel the need to backhand the is-probably-a-tween who ASKS WHO PRINCE IS!!!* I wouldn't come here for a quiet night but if you're in the mood to drink a little, dance a little, care not who's watching (unless you're upstairs on the catwalk and giving a show), and spend some time in headspace that makes you forget about the craziness happening in real time... you could do a lot worse. True to the theme, though, there was a good amount of Whitney, Mariah, Toni Braxton, and Janet played over and over so I guess I answered my own question of what made Mary's so Mary. But there was also a LOT of 90s Hip-Hop, House and dance played so... I dunno... Vogue (vogue vogue vogue)? *She's lucky that Jesus took the wheel. read more

If you're the type of gay that needs to spend crazy money on drinks and mingle with the most shallow of people then this is the place for you. The drinks are crazy expensive but the people are even crazier. read more

Mary's is sooo much fun. What I really enjoy about Mary's is that you don't get the feeling you're not welcome, everyone is so cool and easy to chit chat with! I went there with some friends not too long ago and we did (very drunken) karaoke. Well, my friend really wanted to sing a Britney Spears song, and I cannot sing a Brit song to save my life as I have no idea how the beats go, nonetheless the words. So he and my other friend went up to the mic and they totally blanked. They looked like two scared rabbits in a headlight. So me, being an awesome friend, started trying to read the words into the mic to get them singing, and they finally warmed up and did pretty well. It's definitely a fun place to go and drink, if you can get there early and get a seat. Otherwise it packs out pretty quick! read more

Mary's - a lighted sign above a window - Gay Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Not my favorite bar in town. Too many pretentious folks--and too busy on the weekends to move around. Way overrated. Just go to Midtown instead. read more

We went on a karaoke night or something so it was very crowded. I didn't like the layout of the bar because it was so narrow and long. So it's hard to get to the bar past all of the people singing. It was pretty smokey and dirty as well. The only place that was a bit better was the outside patio where we could get more fresh air. The drink was ok though. I had a sweet drink and it wasn't too sweet or too strong so it was ok. read more

How have I not reviewed Mary's yet?! This is my neighborhood bar and such a fun place to hang out. I have been many times and have had a consistent experience each time- met nice people, bought cheap (and strong) drinks, and listened to fun music. I have been a couple times when there has been a drag show going on but the place is fun enough to where I don't seek out those nights. I just go when I feel like it. My last time at Mary's was in Dec when we went for a night cap on my partner's bday. The bar was decorated top to bottom (no pun intended) with Christmas lights and other kitschy delights. It was fab. I love that Mary's has a back deck, too. In warm months, this is the spot for socializing and making new friends. Everybody tends to gather back there when they need a break from dancing. Although Mary's is a gay bar it is all welcoming so check it out even if you're not. Cheers! read more

YAS queen. Love it. Dig it. Hate when ur friend is embarrassing and pukes in the trash can. But all in all the vibe Plus. Can we talk about karaoke? Tuesday nights. Be there or be square! And wear a wig. I did and everyone was so nice helping me keep it on. read more

When I was younger, I had a lot of gay friends and hung out in a lot of gay bars. Now don't go judging me and my fauxmosexual lifestyle. It's not like I was turning tricks Joe Buck-style; I just was really into theater and dancing to the occasional Bronski Beat record. And, yes, I still like to sing a showtune at karaoke every now and then. Still, none of my gay friends or THEIR gay friends ever mistook me as a Member of their Oh-So Fabulous Tribe as none of them would ever be caught dead in whatever pair of shoes I'd be wearing at the time. Which is kind of insulting now that I think about it. One person, though, who swore to my gayness was my mother. She'd prod me to come out to her by not-so-subtly asking about my "friends who are boys" or where I'm getting my hair done that week and all because in 34 years on Earth, I never brought home a girl to meet her. It never occurred to my parents that that might have more to do with my inability to get a girl to actually come to MY house, let alone theirs, so I'd spend a disconcerting amount of time trying to "in" myself to my wrongfully understanding parents. (And they choose THIS as the one thing they're liberal about.) For years my parents were struck with this strange myopic blindspot where they confused my lameness with homosexuality, which is kind of insulting now that I think about it. We're even, Gay Community. So what does any of this have to do with Mary's? I say all of this to provide context for my review of this out and proud club of the ghey. I review Mary's not as some bleeding heart libby lib who accepts everyone with relativistic fervor. I review Mary's not as some dude who has newly discovered the novelty of hanging out with guys who are more interested in him than his girl. I review Mary's instead with the weariness of an aged queen who just happens to dig having sex with chicks instead of dudes. And so THAT'S where this is coming from, Girlfriend. Saying all that, I like Mary's. Now it's been a while since I've been, being one half of an old married couple now, but my memories here are fond. I've mostly been here for karaoke which is not by design even though everyone knows what a karaoke whore I am. It just happens that the few times I've been drinking in EAV, Mary's happened to be hosting Mary-oke. But I usually have a fun time having at it. Granted, the karaoke may not be the well-oiled machine I'm accustomed to (sigh, it's saying phrases like this in reference to gay bars that makes me kind of understand my parents' confusion), but the karaoke is still adequate. And nothing entertains more than gay dudes on stage. Other than that, the crowd is pretty well mixed. The drinks are priced higher than I like, but that's because I booze at places where the drinks are cheap and the women are cheaper. If I tried to work it right, I could conceivably be bought drinks, but again, my shoes are ATROCIOUS, so no drinks for me. Sigh. I ought to return to see if Mary's still earns these 5 stars, but a not so small part of me doesn't. On the off chance I'm disappointed, I'll be sad. And even though I don't live that far away, I don't think my liver is cut out for a night of drunken gay karaoke anymore. I don't even know if that somewhat hidden upstairs bathroom is still there anymore. So be forewarned that my 5 star review may exist solely in my memory. Oh, but what memories they are. read more

OHHH YES! The many nights I've spent at Mary's I can tell you these guys KNOW how to party. The bartenders can pour a drink (finally!) and even though me and my friend are always one of the few girls there the boys treat us as if we were their own (take that Blake's on the PARK!). I love the patio its perfect after you've been dancing for an hour straight! I don't know when or how often they offer the Jello shots but please! keep em comin'!. sometimes they'll have them sometimes they don't. The DJ booth is awesome and so are the DJ's. I also love the videos they usually play on their flat screen TVs sometimes gory scary movies or Madonna videos. Mary's is a place were if you just want to dance and have a couple of cocktails and be surrounded by GORGEOUS men read more

Fantastic place. Great people and great atmosphere. More only complaint is I had to witness Donald Trump become president elect while visiting for the first time read more

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Of all people to be prejudiced, the gay black karaoke host at Mary's is prejudiced. After someone's rousing performance of "Here's your one chance Fancy don't let me down," he loudly announced that he only allows two country artists to enter the rotation - Reba Mcentire and Dolly Parton. He meant it, as I signed up to belt Alabama's "I'm in a Hurry," and he skipped over me. At least he is open about his myopic musical taste, I guess. Despite this, I enjoyed my night at Mary's per the burning blinking blow molds of nativity scenes, Santa Clauses and reindeer. Plus, all the karaoke performers are shockingly talented. I will gather my honky tonk belongings and continue attending karaoke at Southern Comfort, where the audience is more attentive and supportive, and the hosts get excited over long-forgotten country artists like the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama and K.T. Oslin. Whereas Mary's doesn't allow beautiful country music to "soil" its microphone, SoCo doesn't allow judgment and exclusion to even enter its doors. I LOVE YOU, SOUTHERN COMFORT!!!!! read more

I love Mary's! Great music, cheap drinks, fun & friendly crowd. The dance floor is a bit small...but it'll do. I love how the have these little spots against the wall where you can put your drinks or lean your arm on. There's also a small upstairs area that looks over the bar with some seats. Really fun place! Jason, the most amazing bartender, is what you call a great bartender! I really love what he did....he made our drink and tasted it to make sure it was good to serve. Definitely go check him in action if you're in the village! read more

Hands down, one of the best gay bars in Atlanta, PERIOD. The atmosphere is chic and a throwback to the 50's. The people are awesome, and not your typical run of the mill "gay". This ain't your Red Chair crowd here, these people are real, and really awesome. A lot of locals, which is nice, and lots of people to have fun with, and drink with. The bartenders ROCK, and will totally take care of you. Karaoke on some nights, which is always a good time. Come out, and then come out to Mary's! See you there! read more

I've only been here once, but since it was such a memorable night (St. Patrick's Day '06) I wanted to give Mary's some love. Mary's came highly recommended by some ATL friends, and it did not disappoint. Although it took a while for things to get going (memories of my friends and I awkwardly standing behind an older gal with a huge bag of diabetic cat food sitting on the bar), once we chatted up the bartenders and started slinging 'em back, we turned around and there was a crazy dance party taking place - a little something for everyone. Kudos to the bartenders for making us our specialized drinks of the night (dirty blond slut = jager+pineapple juice+peach schnapps), and for holding onto my lost cell phone for the whole day. When I came to get my phone the following night, it was karaoke time, and I heard the most kick-ass version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" ever. Every city should have a Mary's. read more

Went to Mary's with my boyfriend and three of my lesbian friends. They'd been before and said it was really fun on Saturday nights, with lots of music and dancing, and that everyone is welcome. Cool. When we got there, they were doing karaoke, which can be entertaining, except there was really no where to sit or stand and watch. We made our way to the back porch instead, and found a place to sit. This is where a bunch of dirty (and I mean dirty in the "needs a shower" kind of way) hippie types were getting quite rowdy. The following things happened: 1. a dreadlocked, unshaven dude proceeded to tell us all about how he was a great rapper but couldn't get a record deal because he was WHITE!! (and he kept yelling that); 2. same dude exposed himself to us and his friends, I guess as a not-funny joke; 3. the people in that group kept making out with each other while others were gone. This confused us, because there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to who made out with whom; 4. dirty dreadlocked dude came and rubbed up against my boyfriend, prompting him to burn his clothes when we got home; and 5. another guy pulled down his pants, although thankfully he didn't expose himself. I think some other stuff happened but I blocked it out. I may need therapy. Not a good first experience at a gay bar. Once I recover, I may try again. read more

I hate to even give them 1 star. We went there tonight in a bus with 25 people. We came early so there was no crowd to deal with. The bartender started yelling at us as soon as we walked in. Some had brought a drink from the bus but quickly got rid of it. We didn't know,it wasn't allowed. The bartenders proceeded to treat us like crap. They didn't want us there. How bad could we be since we were made up of a Doctors, Lawyers and business owners? It was a terrible experience and we will NEVER go back. Take your bar and shove it. read more

Since I first reviewed Mary's I have been back countless times. I can't stress how much I love this place and the people who work there. It's a home away from home (oh god I'm an alcoholic). But seriously there's no judgments here. The DJ's are awesome, the Bartenders are great, and the events are Hot! From the chill Thursday crowd, to the randy, rowdy Friday night parties, to Tuesday and Saturday karaoke, every night is a fun night at Mary's. Love. read more

This was my first time at Mary's and it was awesome! My partner and I were only in town for a night and decided to go. While it wasn't really popping off, it was a Wednesday, the venue is super cute, vibe was chill, the music videos were great, the drinks were cheap and the bartender was fantastic! Bernadette was our bartender and she was so super nice. She even gave us info on what to go check out next since I wanted to see as much of Atlanta as possible. Bernadette introduced us to our first pocket rocket which provided a plethora of information of gay bars all over Atlanta. Later in the evening we met Bill who I believe owns Mary's and holy hell was he funny. Great atmosphere, great music, great people... what more do you need!!?!? We can't wait to make another trip back to go to Mary's!!! read more

Went here with a group of friends. The scene was ok, not too popping but it was still fun. Drinks were cheap which is always nice. The one big issue I had was with a bartender named Eric. He was incredibly rude! I was so taken back by his impatientness. I came to this bar a while ago so I'm not sure if he still works there. Anyways, I didn't know what I wanted so I was thinking of something and he grunts, rolls his eyes, and leaves me... it's not like it was busy either. I told him that I was ready and he completely ignored me for the rest of the night. I'm not sure why.. maybe he was having a bad day or maybe he just sucks at human interaction. I will not be returning solely because of the customer service I received from this very unprofessional bartender. read more

Voted best gay bar in the nation? Nope. I went to Mary's two times and each time I felt like it was missing a lot to be considered for such a title. I mean considering all aspects of it. It is in a horrible location. East Atlanta is sweet but that is not the gay epicenter. They don't have a drag show, the space is limited, and the bartenders are not very nice. I guess the scene is different than what I am used to because it is in a very hipster neighborhood. I've been to so many different gar bars across the nation and this one is not the best. A lot of times it is so packed that people have to take the party outside on the parking lot. Ummm....really? if I wanted to do that I could have just gone to Ansley Mall and stood outside Strabucks and LA Fitness. just saying! Not my scene. If someone asks me if I want to go there I usually say nope. Cab ride is to expensive and I can have the same amount of fun in midtown at Blake's or Burkharts. If Mary's was in Midtown and it had space to actually hangout then it would be a different story. The music was great. I thought it was a breath of fresh air from the other bars around town. I mean this place has potential and I am really curious what the criteria was to be considered for "best gay bar" because I promise you this is definitely not. read more

Whelp, I just experienced my second night of pure debauchery at Mary's this past Friday. The first time I went a few months ago was with a group of folks for my friend's birthday, and I had a freakin' blast. The second time this past weekend was an even bigger blast...I think. At any rate, as a straight female, I can say that Mary's has one of the most welcoming crowds around. It attracts a cool, down-to-earth group of Atlanta's best and most entertaining people. You'll see a good amount of both boys and girls (but for gay men, I would say it's a nice little pond of available hotties of every shape, size and style). The bartenders are so adorable and sweet. But you'd better know what you want cause on a Friday or Saturday night, Mary's is busy, and they don't have time for dilly dallying (shall I remind some of you to get your mind out of the gutter? Ya sicko.). Mary's is not a big place, so don't expect a bunch of elbow room. But you have enough room to dance; chill at the bar (one downstairs and one upstairs, which is cash only); or have a conversation with your posse in the corner couch area upstairs. Mary's plays awesome music and throws up the corresponding videos on a handful of flatscreens around the club. I LOVE their music selection. As soon as you get tired and think you might sit down or get a refill at the bar, you get caught up in another awesome song. Don't get me wrong, though, Mary's mixes some mean drinks and they are fairly inexpensive, so you'll definitely want to keep your cup full. After all, you can't dance on an empty stomach, fool!! A final warning before I end this thing, if you aren't cool with being around smoking, this is not the place for you. It's a party pad in every sense of the term. That's a good thing in my mind. read more

Mary's is a great little bar. It's eclectic, friendly and diverse. You can be gay or straight, young or old, hip or square and be thoroughly welcomed. Yes it's small... which adds to it's charm. Yes, there's kareoke, but only once a week. Yes it's smokey.... which is really it's only fault in my mind. If the management had made it a non-smoking bar, I'd probably have never gone anywhere else. All in all, this is what gay bars should be. read more

Yeah, I know...the straight married guy reviewing a gay bar has got to raise more than one or two eyebrows. However...Mary's is a fantastic spot to get a drink (or five) in the Village whether gay or straight: strong drinks, friendly scene, and always something fun to watch. I love the crazy variety of stuff they show on the televisions. They ran a great collection of old commercials and some truly cheesy 80's music videos the last time I was there. I don't have the guts to do karaoke at Mary's, there are some truly talented people in that place. I'm more of the singing in the shower type... read more

RA RA RA-AH-AHH RA RA RA-Ooh-LA LA Mary's is one of the many awesome bars in East Atlanta Village. I've been in love with the nativity scene, and the crowd ;) for quite some time. I always meet the nicest people here. And the nicest people always shake dat ass to "I'm Coming Out" which really just takes the cake, if you ask me. I mostly plan to post my inspirational Marys visits here in this review. Let the rainbow sign lead the way, to the dive bar, don't stray! read more

Update - we returned last night (4/28) for a Drag Race viewing party. I called to ask if they were showing RPDR and whoever I spoke to answered in the affirmative. There were different bartenders this trip (it has been over two years) and we were served promptly, repeatedly, and in a friendly manner. read more

Beyond it being super smokey (I mean, what do you expect in Georgia?) The music was the on'est of on point the night we went. Apparently, Friday night is one of all all the best 80s and 90s music. Lots of sweaty dancing an fun was had that night. Yes its small, so, you'll need to be completely comfortable bumping folks and such, but this is a great place among the many bars and restaurants in EAV to come and drink and party. I'm not such an old fogey after all. read more

I like the place, but it doesn't have good ventilation. The cigarette smoke can get thick on the weekends. The bar is packed late Fri/Sat with lots of local guys/girls singing karaoke. The clientele tends to be a mixture of gays and straights. The women tend to stumble all over the place as they try to dance, so leave your nice shoes at home. The male bartenders have great personalities. The female bartenders can get b*tchy at times. I'm not a smoker and don't care to smell like it. Also, they play music videos that do not correlate with the music being played by the DJ. read more

Yay Mary's! It's always a fun time at Mary's. Whether you go with a big group or small, the music is great and the atmosphere is fun. The locals and regulars are so nice. For those who don't like the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, there's a nice little nook upstairs to watch the fun down below! read more

Mary's - a neon sign for mary's pizza - Gay Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia