Manuel's Tavern

(404) 525-3447

602 N Highland Ave
Atlanta, GA 30307 33.7709 -84.3527

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Neighborhoods: Poncey Highlands, Eastside, Eastside

MANUELSTAVERN.COM

Hours:

Monday To Saturday From 11:00 AM To 02:00 AM Sunday From 11:00 AM To 12:00 AM

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Bars & Clubs, Restaurants, Comedy Clubs, Taverns

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Bar Menu

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot

Cuisine:

Hamburgers

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Manuel's Tavern

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Manuel's is a collection of oddly laid-out rooms that are unevenly shaped, plastered with vintage paneling and stained with history. Large booths and wooden tables give the unpredictable crowd plenty of room to spread out. Televisions broadcast CNN and sports--especially Braves games--as journalists and politicians wind down next to each other off the record. Atlanta Journal and Constitution editors and arc welders alike argue public policy and point spreads or play video golf and pinball. – – The Draw – Everyone--construction workers and cops, literati and…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
A special brunch menu is served Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Also, there's a weekly team trivia session every Sunday 7pm-9:30pm.
The Extras:
Manuel's currently hosts Atlanta's longest-running improvisational comedy troupe, Laughing Matters, once a month. Call (404) 874-4050 for more info.
What to Drink:
Manuel's own brew, 602, is a gold lager served exclusively in the state of Georgia by Better Brands.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “They had the cheapest drink prices in town, the best service, the best ambiance, the best everything.”
  2. “Great corner tavern atmosphere with top beer to match.”
drinks
69.43999767303467% positive
  1. “Great food at a great price, great beer selection, great place to have a get together.”
  2. “Manuel's charms as a character-filled neighborhood hangout are a bit oversold for my taste, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good place to meet for drinks and workable bar food.”
  3. “Nostalgia, mediocre food, surly bartenders, just love the place, and it's probably the second best bar in Atlanta.”
  4. “The food is great for a bar, and the beer selection is satisfactory.”
  5. “Great corner tavern atmosphere with top beer to match.”
  6. “This is the BEST neighborhood bar in Atlanta!”
  7. “This bar, at one point in the past, was excellent.”
  8. “This was supposed to be a bar where you enjoy nice conversation.”
  9. “What more do you expect from a bar full of democrats than to be ridiculed and to have your property defaced?”
  10. “can understand if I was a bad tipper, but I would generally tip 8$-10$ on a 20$ bar bill!”
  11. “The food is good bar food.”
  12. “They had the cheapest drink prices in town, the best service, the best ambiance, the best everything.”
food quality
82.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Tossed in sauce, dunked into some incredible, chunky blue cheese and prepare to lick your fingers!”
  2. “Wings are decent but not spectacular, and the burgers are good.”
  3. “The food is consistently good (not fantastic, but good), the service is excellent, the staff is friendly and you are as likely to get into a conversation with a Congressman as you are a garbage man.”
  4. “Manuel's charms as a character-filled neighborhood hangout are a bit oversold for my taste, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good place to meet for drinks and workable bar food.”
  5. “Nostalgia, mediocre food, surly bartenders, just love the place, and it's probably the second best bar in Atlanta.”
  6. “Order a meatloaf sandwich and a pitcher and settle in to watch the Braves game.”
  7. “never knew a chicken wing could taste so good!”
  8. “Great food at a great price, great beer selection, great place to have a get together.”
  9. “Besides the wings, Manuel's barstaff is extremely friendly and efficient.”
  10. “Good food, including the most delicious onion rings this side of the Mississippi.”
  11. “The food is good bar food.”
  12. “The food is great for a bar, and the beer selection is satisfactory.”
  13. “the food isnt half bad but its not great either.”
  14. “The onion rings are a decent bet, and the burgers are one of the menu's high points.”
  15. “The food, the booze, and the service is fantastic.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The onion rings are a decent bet, and the burgers are one of the menu's high points.”
  2. “The food is great for a bar, and the beer selection is satisfactory.”
  3. “Great food at a great price, great beer selection, great place to have a get together.”
overall
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Still a great place, though my 5 stars is partly rooted in nostalgia.”
  2. “Great food at a great price, great beer selection, great place to have a get together.”
  3. “Manuel's charms as a character-filled neighborhood hangout are a bit oversold for my taste, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good place to meet for drinks and workable bar food.”
service
81.4799976348877% positive
  1. “Never in the 15+ years that I have been going there have I left and said, "WOW that was great service!”
  2. “The food, the booze, and the service is fantastic.”
  3. “The food is consistently good (not fantastic, but good), the service is excellent, the staff is friendly and you are as likely to get into a conversation with a Congressman as you are a garbage man.”
  4. “Plenty of interesting people & conversation.”
  5. “His love of people made this place unique-an absolutely wonderful establishment-that endures to this day.”
  6. “First of all, Manuels has always had TV's & bad service.”
  7. “Besides the wings, Manuel's barstaff is extremely friendly and efficient.”
  8. “They had the cheapest drink prices in town, the best service, the best ambiance, the best everything.”
  9. “Nostalgia, mediocre food, surly bartenders, just love the place, and it's probably the second best bar in Atlanta.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Great food at a great price, great beer selection, great place to have a get together.”
  2. “Manuel himself was a huge supporter of the Atlanta democratic party.”
  3. “They had the cheapest drink prices in town, the best service, the best ambiance, the best everything.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/03/09

Great Bar

by AtlBornNRaised

This bar is a true fixture in Atlanta, and I've been going for years. The food is great for a bar, and the beer selection is satisfactory. Too bad all the yuppies have invaded it and you have to smoke in the back now. Still a great place, though my 5 stars is partly rooted in nostalgia. Oh, and that McCain supporter is a loser. Who watches a political debate at a bar anyway? Especially that has been known for years to be a journalist and democrat haven, and named after democrat politician Manuel Maloof (RIP).

  • Pros: Great food, drink
  • Cons: Yuppie Invasion
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/29/08

See Comments

by DAAAA

First of all, Manuels has always had TV's & bad service. Never in the 15+ years that I have been going there have I left and said, "WOW that was great service!" For the McCain supporter, Manuels is notorius for being a "left wing" bar. Manuel himself was a huge supporter of the Atlanta democratic party. What more do you expect from a bar full of democrats than to be ridiculed and to have your property defaced?.

  • Pros: Lots of places to sit
  • Cons: Lots of places to sit
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/17/08

Service is going DOWN THE TUBE!

by nowhammies

This bar, at one point in the past, was excellent. They had the cheapest drink prices in town, the best service, the best ambiance, the best everything. Now, I do not know what has happened. They put televisions in the back room, which is weird because one of the drawing points to Manuels was their lack of televisions. This was supposed to be a bar where you enjoy nice conversation. Ever since they had the "debate night" deals going on this place has attracted unwanted patrons! These people will visit once a month and the servers will flock to them! I have been going to this place at least once every 2 weeks for the past 2 years. Sometimes I would visit up to 3 times a week. The last three times I have been to this place I had to wait at least 10 minutes to get my usual PBR pitcher, to start. Tonight I had to walk out because I was IGNORED for 10 minutes. No one said a word, or even acknowledged the fact that we were there. There were 3 of us by the way. I can understand if I was a bad tipper, but I would generally tip 8$-10$ on a 20$ bar bill! Which is upwards of 33%. I never came in with a large crowd making ridiculous demands. I just wanted a few PBR pitchers and maybe some Terrapin, or another type of pitcher, that is all. It is sad for me to say that I won't go back. I think Midtown bars, or maybe just those bars off of North Highland have just all gone to shlt. I am writing this because I want to say thank you for killing Manuels you stupid fwcking yups, and you piece of shlt suburbanites! You have done your worst and made this bar intolerable. This place was awesome, but in such a short time it is dead! Hopefully, Manuels will realize they are driving the people that ACTUALLY LIVE IN MIDTOWN away! I even feel sorry for the John McCain guy (his review is below mine), and I hate John McCain. I hope he finds a place where he can go and enjoy a nice PBR.

  • Pros: This place was once awesome
  • Cons: Their service is slowly getting awful!
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/17/08

Pathetic

by josepulido

I went to this bar Manuel?s Tavern to watch the debate and was being harassed in the parking lot for my McCain sticker. Inside I did open my mouth and let it be known that I supported McCain and I received dirty looks?. Well I left because it reeked of Dog Manure and Lard. I was only there for about 6 six minutes and my McCain sticker was stolen from my car? Manuel?s Tavern is the dirtiest WHITE TRASH MOST PATHETIC bar I have ever been to?.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/07/07

AN ATLANTA TRADITION

by davidhgay

Manuel's Tavern has been an ATLANTA tradition for so many years you cannot count them. The Burgers are exceptional and the Political Insight is intriguing. Most of the Intown Politicos are THERE! We don't get to Manuel's Tavern very often but any time we can schedule a visit, we do. The tradition and the "old Atlanta" feelings are incredible. Try Manuel's Tavern just once and you will get a feel of what makes Atlanta politics work. Insight to what makes ATLANTA the GREAT CITY that it is.. GREAT BAR and meeting place.

  • Pros: GREAT ATMOSPHERE.... More than just a BAR!

The Details on Manuel's Tavern

Place Categories:

  • good bar food
  • best bars
  • great place
  • bad service
  • nice conversation
  • mediocre food
  • pretty good everything
  • efficient barstaff
  • decent wings
  • best ambiance
  • great staple
  • best neighborhood bar
  • nice pbr
  • bad tipper
  • great city
  • friendly staff
  • fantastic booze
  • great meeting
  • good chicken wing
  • decent bet
  • absolutely wonderful establishmentthat endures
  • incredible tradition
  • huge supporter
  • mediocre surly bartenders
  • order pitcher

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