I'm neither here nor there with this place. The food in the past was pretty good, but the last two visits have dissuaded me from getting food again. Cold sides and my burger was a wet mess. The apps are usually a safe bet though. The atmosphere and service are pretty good and a good place to hang out and have a drink. Really enjoy the outdoor space on a nice day. read more

The Whelan is a neighborhood pub. They offer the typical bar food like burgers and wings etc. They also put their own swing on things. Like the surf and turf burger and the andouille sausage Burger. They have several beers on tap and a cocktail menu. Whelan also have a few pull tables, dart boards along with an array of board games. They also have trivia nights every Thursday at 8:30pm. Now let's get to the food. Today I ordered the Surf and Turf burger with a side salad and the Fish and Chips everything was fantastic. The service was pretty quick seeing that it's wasn't a very busy day. So if your in the neighborhood and feel like a game.of pool, darts or just seating around playing a board game with some friends Whelan is a good spot to visit. read more

Food is okay, atmosphere is alright, service was horrible. Female bartender was extremely rude. Live very close and probably won't be coming back again for a long while. read more

On March 29, 2026, I experienced one of the most disrespectful and humiliating encounters I have ever had at Whelan, a place I have loyally supported for over 7 years. I began patronizing The Whelan while living in West Midtown and, despite now residing 45 minutes away, I continue to make the effort to support this establishment. Over the years, I have invested a significant amount of money here and have also introduced numerous industry executives and professionals to The Whelan, often using it as a meeting place due to its once high standard of service and atmosphere. Unfortunately, that standard has drastically declined. Upon arrival, I was repeatedly ignored by a bartender identified as JB, who walked past me multiple times before finally taking my order. I ordered two shots of Lunazul tequila and proactively asked to close my tab due to my phone battery being low. My first tab totaled $31.17, which already included an 18% gratuity yet I still added an additional $3.00 tip on top which was 10% of my first bill. I then ordered a PBR ($5.08), closed that tab, and later ordered another 2 shots ($10.39) in which each smaller tab included 18% gratuity/tip. At this point, I noticed a clear inconsistency in drink portions, each shot became noticeably smaller. At the same time, I observed another bartender, Taylor, serve her friends shots that were filled to the rim, nearly overflowing. Attempting to avoid confrontation, I decided to close my tab with JB and order directly from Taylor instead. However, Taylor blatantly ignored me multiple times, choosing instead to engage with other customers at the bar. This behavior is not new from Taylor, she has displayed dismissive and rude conduct toward me on several prior occasions in which several business colleagues have noticed and mentioned. After being ignored by both bartenders, I addressed JB again and calmly mentioned the noticeable decrease in shot portions. His response was shocking and completely unprofessional. He openly stated , within earshot of other patrons : that if I had "tipped more," he would have given me the "initial shot requirement." This statement is extremely concerning, as it implies that drink quality and portioning are being intentionally altered based on subjective tipping expectations. The situation escalated further when JB loudly and publicly stated that I was "begging for another shot." This remark was not only false, but deeply insulting, humiliating, and defamatory to my character. Being that I willing paid for every beverage I ordered so his comment was outlandish. (Please see the attached photo) As a professional in the music industry and a business owner who has built a very financially lucrative career, I found this statement particularly offensive. I have never begged for anything in my life, and to be publicly portrayed in that manner by staff at an establishment I have supported for years was unacceptable. Despite this experience, I chose not to immediately escalate this situation publicly through my social media platforms or professional network out of respect for Whelan's reputation. However, this level of disrespect, combined with repeated patterns of poor service from both JB and Taylor, cannot be ignored. It is also important to highlight that Jenny, another staff member, consistently provides exceptional service, professionalism, and a welcoming environment. Because of ongoing issues with evening staff, I have intentionally adjusted my schedule to visit during her shifts in which should not be necessary for a loyal customer. The Whelan was once a standout establishment. Unfortunately, based on multiple experiences, the presence and conduct of certain staff members have significantly diminished that reputation. I sincerely hope management takes this seriously, conducts a full review, and restores the level of professionalism and customer respect that long-time patrons like myself have come to expect. I will also be forwarding this to corporate, the owner and whomever I need to at this point. read more

I came here to grab their malva pudding for my student culture meeting. My students and I are going to South Africa this summer and one of their holiday traditions is eating malva pudding. My students loved this dessert and so did I! The reviews on yelp did not disappoint! Taylor was very helpful in working with me to figure out how many servings I should get and how to prepare for my meeting the next day. She said the cook even added an extra piece ! Hopefully I can organize something here for my parents before our departure! read more

The Whelan - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Good place to hang out. Blake is a amazing bartender and waitress. Come check it out. Had fun on Halloween food is amazing! read more

The Whelan - I was there in Halloween so much fun! Great local restaurant/bar wish there was more places like this... Blake is an amazing - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Just come for the drinks. The drink prices aren't too bad and the atmosphere isn't bad either. A good spot to hang with friends. Also they have karaoke sometimes and there is a few pool tables. Food is not worth it. I got their ham sandwich with cheese... not great. Tasted and looked like school food. But the service here is nice. Just wish the food was better. read more

The Whelan - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Good food & great vibes. The ambiance is amazing staff is great food is good. You can't beat that read more

The Whelan - The Whelan Salad - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Can't say enough good things about this place! Came on Sunday for their brunch and was extremely satisfied as always. The chicken and waffles were delicious - the chicken was very flavorful, and the waffle had just the right amount of crunch (and the side of fresh fruit was great too!). Service was very quick, and there were plenty of TVs and Pool Tables to keep you busy. I can't wait to come back on my next visit! read more

The Whelan - Chicken and Waffles - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

For the location (being down the street from my friends' apartment), this spot was perfect. Totally walking distance. Good drinks, including their own locally brewed drinks, fresh fries and good wings. When I'm back in the area, and want some food (for happy hour or off the late-night) The Whelan would be a great spot to hit. read more

It a cool spot to pull up to late night. The drinks were good. We stopped by after leaving an event to play some pool. We had a great time. The service was good. read more

The Whelan - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Was looking for another restaurant downtown ATL, found it and it was closed. So, since we had street parking we decided to venture the strip and found a small pub with a nice crowd (for a Sunday) Whelan's. They are serving endless mimosa from 11-3pm for $15 and the locals we're taking advantage. We order the chilli tai wings, these were really delicious tender, juicy and flavorful also a Caesar Salad and a Whalen Salad with steak. Jenny our waitress was amazing 5ft 4 in of personality. Oh, did I mention that we had mimosas also. The ambiance is much like an Irish pub, loud (endless mimosas) but welcoming and friendly. Oh one note there is a 18% gradtudity on each order... nevertheless happy we stumbled into this establishment. read more

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Quaint bar with local vibes. Service started a little shaky. Not sure if it was because I arrived late to join a party of 8 but once someone from the party advised the bar tender I was with them I was served as though they already knew me. I only ate the calamari but it was definitely worth mentioning for bar food as I would give it a 4 out if 5. read more

Ok whoever gave this place 1 star was 100% wrong. The service was fast and friendly. And this big south african glizzy was awesome!! You can't believe all these reviews. The place was hopping on a Thursday night. read more

The Whelan - South African Sausage - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This was my first time trying The Whelan. I placed an order for pick up and the employee said the food would be ready in 20 minutes. I ordered 6 hot wings, side of fries, and lamb chops. The lamb chops came with mashed sweet potatoes and wild rice. I thought that was kind of odd that it came with 2 starches. When I arrived to pick up my food was packed and ready to go. I got home to eat and the food was just ok. The fries got cold really quickly. The lamb chops were cooked medium, which I am ok with. The mashed sweet potatoes had a lot of strings in it. And the wild rice was pretty bland. read more

The Whelan - Lamb Chops - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

It almost feels like I stepped back into time, especially after the hussle and bustle day I just had. It was refreshing to come into such a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. As I looked around I saw lots of evidence that good times lives here. I'm not big on burgers, but I have to say this one was a great burger. I ordered Burben BBQ Burger. Nice and juicy. The fries were cooked to perfection. MOLLIE, was a great server. I can't wait to come here again. read more

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Great Buffalo wings! Im so sad, i forgot to take a picture, they were so good it slipped my mind but they're delicious and great size. And the waitress did a great job. Mrs. Jenny helped us while we were here and gets an A+ for service and hospitality! read more

The Whelan - Checking out The Whelan today. - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Came here yesterday afternoon with some friends to get drinks and play darts. It was a chill place. We came around 3pm on a Saturday and the darts were open. We got some drinks and hung out for a while. It started to fill up as the day went on. They have pool tables and board games as well. read more

This restaurant had great reviews but the service I've been receiving lately is absolutely terrible. I am a resident and lately the waitresses have not been the best. I bought my family in and they took their time getting us drinks, etc. I then ordered to go and the power went out (which was totally not their fault) but my food wasn't done in the time frame that was given. Then as of tonight (6/25/19) I came in and the waitress (Caitlyn) said that she couldn't give me the in house discount. And kept making it seem like it was only 10% like it wasn't a big deal. I always order to go because I have a little one and there is always folks smoking at the bar. With agaverno being close by I ordered dessert because they don't sell dessert and they forgot to add a spoon. I asked if she had any plastic silverware and she proceeded to tell me that she couldn't let me eat because of the plastic costing the owner money !?? So with me totally confused I asked what she was talking about and she started talking in circles really weird. All I asked for was a spoon set so I could have with my ice cream. Just really upset especially since the food is actually good. I won't be coming back. My husband said they even treated him and his uncle poorly when they came in last week. I think i should probably mention to my apartment complex. read more

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Food made me Extremely sick!! Please pay attention to the wings!! Most are too large or deformed and unable to be eaten. Inquired about that and they let me know there was NOTHING they could do! Please use a different food distributor. Bartenders get an automatic 18% gratuity on every bill which makes staff very inattentive. Especially the tall young lady - always an attitude when asking her for anything. Would not recommend - please spend your $ elsewhere. read more

I've visited this place quite a lot when I go to visit friends in Atlanta. The bartenders are always friendly, there's decent music playing and with TVs showing news and sports. Heck I even got around to trying some of the food, the wings were decent - juicy and hot. I do feel like the drinks sometimes aren't potent but that could just be me, I definitely recommend read more

We stop by this place looking for a place to grab a bite. Called them to see if they could accommodate our party of eight. They could and we had a wonderful time. The food and drinks were awesome. Of course, if we are ever back in town we will make sure to visit them again. Service was outstanding! Everyone enjoyed their meal. Wings Amazing, Chicken and Waffles are amazing, burgers are amazing! Can't miss with this place! Bottomless Mimosa was on point. That's why I forgot to take pictures. read more

At this point, I've begun to consider myself somewhat of a domestic culinary archaeologist. I search out new or interesting bars and restaurants, and try some of the most popular dishes. Last Sunday at The Whelan was no different. For some reason yelp was including the descriptor "eclectic" in regards to this bustling sports bar with modern country club vibes sitting at the edge of what seemed to be a developing West Midtown meets slightly industrial and growing Grove Park. I prefer to sit at the bar so I can get a full array of what kind of bottles an establishment keeps on hand, and true to sports bar fashion, several of the old reliable brands we all know and love were in plain sight (e.g. Dickel, Jack Daniels, etc.). The bartender was very friendly and the service was pretty spot on. I definitely felt like I was checked on a healthy number of times between each drink and never really experienced that alcoholic neglect feeling when the bartender or server come back more and more infrequently and you almost have to wonder if they forgot about you or if their throwing back Vegas Bombs and making TikTok vids with their buddies in the kitchen to pass the time. If I could make a suggestion on which drink to order based on my experience - THE PB&J ! A PBR and your choice shot of Jameson or some other J beginning liquor (that I can't quite recall at the moment) for only like $7! Most places in ATL wont even sell you a beer for that price. I don't remember if that was the Sunday deal or an always running special, but totally worth it! And then I ordered some shot that was called like the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot or something (man I am really screwing up this review not being able to remember the names ). Jesus Christ! It kind of taste like if Horchata and a cinnamon roll were to make an alcoholic child condensed into a shot glass . A-MAZE-ING! Legit, AMAZING! Do not skip out on the snot lol you lll know which one I'm talking about when you see the drinks menu! Of course, last but not least - THE FOOD . This is the easy part . I open the menu - BOOM - staring me smack dab in the face is Family Style Curry Recipe. First words I read are "back home South African red curry." I stopped reading and said "excuse me, What's South African curry? As a matter of fact! Nvm! I'll take that!" Dish comes out? F I R E !! Like, legit... I should've taken one of those like after pics with the bowl all empty but stained from the curry and my face is covered in sauce and my shirt ruined because I'm a messy eater lol but seriously, that dish was suuuper good. Would easily recommend this to place to someone else looking for some solid drinks and great food on a Sunday funday. Thanks for the food! read more

The Whelan - Family Recipe Chicken Curry - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Great Irish pub to grab a beer and some food. The staff are always busy and very nice. I had their surf and turf burger and it was cooked just how I asked. The french fries are soft and crunchy steak cut. They are really good. The service is pretty quick. They've even got dart boards and pool tables. I like coming here. read more

The Whelan - Surf & Turf burger with fries - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Came here for a quick lunch and was greeted by the friendly and knowledgeable Gini - had a BLT and their signature fries with an expertly poured Guinness. Watched local crowd come and go having a relaxing bite before jumping back out into life. Great part of town, not too crowded yet but it's coming with the townhomes and condos and single family homes popping up. Great to see a neighborhood bar do well. Thanks Gini and the unknown chef! I hope to be back! read more

My husband and I come here all the time! Bartenders JB and Jenny are the best! This place has THE BEST hand cut fries! And yummy selections on the menu that do not disappoint Ambiance is awesome and location is perfect! Plenty of free parking read more

Such a fun dive bar with karaoke, darts, pool tables, and good food. Super friendly and fun staff! They're always super helpful and on-top of things, even on busy nights. Well rounded crowd of people that are all looking for a fun late-night spot to go enjoy cocktails at the bar, late night bite, or some perfect "dive bar" style fun. Come dressed up (my friends and I went after a dressy event) or dressed casual, everyone is just there to have fun. My friends and I were recently there after a charity event and left a box of sweatshirts from the charity. Someone turned them in and Justin was nice enough to hold on to them until I could pick them up. read more

nice lowkey pub with great food and great drinks . they have drink specials daily which drew me in . Highly recommend if you want a nice dive bar experience in the heart of the city but not city prices . They do add 18% gratuity to every check but you get a good bang for your buck so who cares ! read more

The Whelan - Double-Fried Wings thai chilli - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I've been a recent local for this bar. Service is awesome, it's a dive bar people the employees will favor people who are at the bar to drink... so cheers Fav menu item: Caesar wrap! Honorable mention: black bean burger, the South African spices really come to play and is phenomenal from someone who isn't a vegetarian. Check out the daily specials that rotate everyday on the chalkboard read more

Great food! Strong drinks! Fun karaoke and DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. I absolutely love this place. It's perfect for late night and a fun time. read more

The Whelan - Surf and Turf Burger with fries and truffle mayo - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

If a 1/2 star option existed I would have selected that! We ordered 2 fish and chips and an order of Mac & cheese from Uber eats. The only real positive is that the food arrived very quickly and very hot. The fish was heavily incased in way over cooked hard as rock flavorless batter. Once we actually got inside to the fish itself it was dry and there was hardly any. Basically it was 2 over cooked slabs of rock hard batter with a tiny bit of bland dry fish inside. The fries were soaked with grease to the point of dripping. The Mac and cheese wasn't too bad though also dry. We will not be ordering from them again. :( Pity since they are 0.5 miles from my house. Oh well. read more

Ok, hear me out. This is not a destination for a wild food experience. Food is overall subpar. This is truly a bar bar. Pool tables, amazing beer selection, rad people working here, but the eat before coming here unless you just want onion rings and fries. Ambiance is pure Irish pub. read more

We were out for a walk and stopped mainly to have drinks. I liked that we didn't have to go inside to get seated outside. They were busy, but the service was great - fast and friendly. We ordered wings - some with buffalo sauce and some with sweet chili. They were good. We had a side of fries. The side was like a meal. We were glad because they were yummy fresh cut fries. We also had the black bean hummus which was a huge serving with pita bread, celery, carrots. Generous portions of good food at a good price. I want to go back to try the curry chicken salad which I heard was fantastic. read more

My favorite bar in west midtown! The Whelan has a neighborhood feel and amazing service as well. We order the calamari to split, along with the steak and frites! Great prices for what you receive. The patio is dog friendly and the server brings water to your puppers. When we don't have the pup, we go inside to eat and then play darts. There is plenty more on the menu and I highly recommend you check this bar out! read more

This place is really cool. Nice vibes and pretty good South African food and wine. I've been twice, enjoyed myself both times and will definitely be back. I love to shoot pool and this place has a nice romantic vibe around the table. The staff is great here and they make the experience cohesive. I did get some really fatty over charred lamb from here and I would like them to do better in that but the second order of them came out fine. The favorite is the sunset shrimp and they are wonderful.. so spicy so if you can't take the heat then don't order them from the kitchen, haha! #thankyouthursday read more

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This place is great! The staff here is super friendly! They all make an effort to learn your name and greet you personally. It's a lot like that really old show Cheers. Lol! Decent beer selection, daily specials, occasionally you'll encounter reps in the liquor and beer industry that'll come and buy everyone a round of whatever they're selling. I've encountered reps from Jameson, fireball, a few beer companies. There's a couple pool tables and dart boards, Saturday Night is karaoke night which is a lot of fun to watch. Food here is great! I really like the Peri-Peri Chicken sandwich! If you're from the UK or DC, heck even Canada then you'll know this as Nando's Chicken! Their veggie burger is real tasty too! If Angie is working, get on Tinder, find her profile and send her a super like! read more

There's something about finding a quaint place and feeling like you've made a brand new discovery. This restaurant/pub is off the beaten path but is well worth a visit. The moment I walked in the joint, I was attracted to its old-fashioned vibe and modern charm all at the same time. The Whelan feels like the old neighborhood hangout spot where everybody probably does know your name. It's larger than it appears from the street and there's also a patio area for drinking and eating. It's not overly decorated and have the feel of a dive bar but it's not a dive bar. It has a large full service bar, booths, draft beers, wines and sodas. The lunch menu wasn't overly populated with items, so you don't have to spend much time trying to decided what to eat. I had the South African red curry and vegetables with jasmine rice and fried plantains, for $15. The portion size was enough to share between two people and the overall the flavor and was pretty good. However, it was spicy, as in hot. I had sweat beads dropping off my head, looking like I was sitting in the shower. I guess the hotness thing will depend on your own level of tolerance for spicy food. Overall, this place seems a little pricey for its location but don't let that stop you from checking it out. I'll probably stop in again later and try something different from the menu and check out the evening vibe. Until you hear from me again, celebrate and try everything! read more

The Whelan - South African red curry and vegetables with jasmine rice and fried plantains. - Pubs Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I am a fan. I live close to here and will be back often. Love the interior its actually a lot bigger than it looks from the outside-- they also have a great patio! Our waiter, Andrew was awesome and easily accommodated my many requests that day. the Menu is mostly appetizers, burgers, salads. I had some of their whelan hot wings and peri peri wings-- the hot was good but a little boring but the peri peri was amazing. I dipped it in the hot sauce to make it spicier. On the side we had fries and mac and cheese-- both were very good but that mac and cheese is out of this world. It's a little pricey for me which is unfortunate because I would come here a few times a week if it was more affordable. our total was about 65$ for a few drinks, 18 wings and 2 sides. Each side is 4$ and we got 6 wings for about 7$ an order. Many talked about there being a south african flair (I LOVE south african food) but other than the peri peri I didn't see it. Cant wait to try those burgers! Definitely recommend this place. read more

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Terrible service. Bartenders do not seem to care about guests at all. No good drink cocktails and staff seems to have an attitude for paying guests. Would rather go next door for food and drinks read more

Love this neighborhood spot! food is always good and the staff is awesome!!!!! Great hangout spot to play pool, darts or just hanging with locals for a drink. read more