By Chris Watkins and Discover Atlanta Editorial Team
Published May 7, 2024
Atlanta bars and restaurants have evolved over the years, determined to emphasize the overall dining experience and not just the food. That’s what makes these some of the most fun bars in Atlanta. They put the fun into waiting byoffering competitive games and activities ranging from mini-golf and bowling to Ping-Pong and shuffleboard to keep you thoroughly entertained before, during and after dinner.So if you find yourself waiting for a table at one of the spots listed below, don’t pull out your phone to play a game or check your e-mail. Get into the game and have some fun at the best game bars in Atlanta!
Flight Club
At Flight Club, they call it Social Darts — definitely not your father’s darts game. Flight Club offers six games for up to 12 people to play simultaneously. There are three throw lines (rookie, regular and pro).
Where: 1055 Howell Mill Rd
Fowling Warehouse
This is a gaming location that combines football with bowling. When you party here, you’ll be known as a fowler. In addition to the game and lots of TVs, enjoy food and drink.
Where: 1356 English St NW
Joystick Gamebar
(Photo by Joystick Gamebar)
Mortal Kombat, Ms. PacMan, Street Fighter II, Gauntlet, Centipede, beer. Need we say more? OK, how about arcade games for 25 cents and pinball for 50 cents. Foosball is only 75 cents.
Where: Downtown; 427 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30312
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
(Photo by Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall)
This Atlanta BeltLine restaurant and bar markets itself as an “adult summer camp,” and it couldn’t be more right. With a menu of camping-inspired eats and copious amounts of beer, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall brings real fun with a wide variety of games like corn hole, shuffleboard and Ping-Pong to keep you and your friends entertained.
Where: Eastside;684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE
The Optimist
Glorious eats from the coast await at this Westside seafood house. The Optimist brings the party with kickin’ co*cktails and mini-golf fun in the courtyard. Aim for the sound of the ball dropping into the cup.
Where:Westside;914 Howell Mill Road
Ormsby’s
(Photo by Ormsby’s)
Beers and awesome bar food? Check. An underground “Fight Club” — style bocce ball court? Double check. Ormsby’s is the place to be on the Westside. Grab a burger or dog at this basem*nt beer haven and descend even further for a game of bocce or billiards.
Where:Westside; 1170 Howell Mill Road
The Painted Duck
(Photo by The Painted Duck)
From the team behind Buckhead bowling destination, The Painted Pin, comes a whole new foray into the game-staraunt scene. The Painted Duck brings interactive games like horseshoes, air hockey, and shuffleboard to the Westside, but its claim to fame is duckpin bowling. A variation of traditional bowling, duckpin miniaturizes the bowling ball and pins for an even more competitive experience.
Where: Westside; 976 Brady Avenue NW
- The Coolest Hidden Bars of Atlanta
The Painted Pin
(Photo by The Painted Pin)
The best way to describe The Painted Pin is as an adult playground. The Buckhead entertainment complex features chef-driven pub fare perfect to build your appetite for competition in games like bowling, bocce ball, shuffleboard, darts and even Skee-ball — all while downing beers and craft co*cktails with your friends or for a group date night. Whether it’s here or on the Westside at Painted Duck trying out duckpin bowling,be sure to bring your A game.
Where:Buckhead;976 Brady Ave. NW
Painted Pickle
Pickleball has been taking the world by storm so why not show off your skills at Painted Pickle. The “compeatery” has pickleball, ping-pong, darts and more games, along with a variety of co*cktails and food, including a sushi bar. Come at night for cosmic pickleball where the ball and court glow in the dark happening every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Where:Armour Yards; 279 Ottley Dr NE
Punch Bowl Social
Punch Bowl Social (Photo by Amber Boutwell)
Many may think that The Battery is all about baseball, but Punch Bowl Social has literally changed the game. The massive emporium at the home of Braves is stocked full of glorious eats, craft co*cktails, and games on games on games. With everything from bowling and a vintage arcade to karaoke and virtual reality, you can’t help but get in the game at Punch Bowl.
Where: The Battery; 875 Battery Ave SE Ste 720
Puttshack
Puttshack is an entertainment venue, which boasts that it takes miniature golf to a whole new level through technology. After an fun-filled game of minigolf, treat yourself to the food and drink there. Puttshack is located in the Interlock so there’s plenty to walk around and explore before or after you play.
Where: The Interlock; 1115 Howell Mill Rd
Revery: VR Bar
(Photo by Revery: VR Bar Facebook)
The vibes are virtual at Revery: VR Bar, Atlanta’s first virtual reality bar. The Midtown escape is the ultimate sensory experience dropping you into an all-encompassing world to shoot, solve puzzles, and live out your pro sports fantasies all from behind a set of high tech goggles. The world is changing.
Where: Midtown; 728 Monroe Drive NE, Suite C
The Roof at Ponce City Market
Eat and shop at Ponce City Market, then go up to the roof where you’ll find Skyline Park with eats, drinks and carnival games. Try your luck at boardwalk-type games such as miniature golf, Skee-ball, horse derby race and break-a-plate. Hop a ride on a three-story slide or the Heege Tower.
Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
Topgolf Westside
(Photo courtesy of Topgolf)
Unleash your inner Arnold Palmer and toss back a few boozy John Daly’s at Topgolf. We can all get down with a menu of insane bar bites, curated co*cktails and competitive golf games that show how bad you really are at golf.
Where: Westside; 1600 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. NW
Your 3rd Spot
At Your 3rd Spot, there are 60 games including arcade games and table games like shuffleboard, air hockey and foosball. Find low-tech games such as giant Jenga and giant Connect 4 or pinball, cornhole and darts.
Where: 400 Chattahoochee Row NW
Check out more games and explore Atlanta bars and restaurantsfor even more great dining experiences.
Chris Watkins is an Atlanta-based writer and photographer and serves as the voice of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (@DiscoverAtlanta) on social media. You can follow him on Instagram @christopherbw.
