Eastside Lounge

05/08/08

Nice hybrid bar, good mainly for overflow nights...

by Drkfther66

Eastside Lounge is a fantastic place, but honestly seems to be a closer bar...I've never started the night off there. Good drinks, the waitstaff is very cool, but it can be difficult to get a drink when it's crowded. However, this really isn't the staff's fault, it's more an unfortunate result of too many people crammed into the small space between the bar and the wall. I don't know if it was a wider space if it would have the same appeal though.

The DJ's are consistently good, people are generally friendly, perhaps just a tick more "upscale" than the Earl crowd across the street, but not any pretention. Occasionally the lost slumming-it types come in, but they aren't too common and overall don't affect the atmosphere.

Overall, Eastside deserves your business. I've never had a bad time there, and usually end up running into a wide cross-section of folks that make life much more interesting.

• Pros: Excellent atmosphere, interesting people, lack of pretention, great overall vibe.
• Cons: Too crowded at the bar sometimes, but just a result of the building itself.

09/30/05

East Atlanta mainstay changes its name but not its function as the neighborhood's only upscale lounge.

by Erin Behan

The Scene
Eastside's polished look contrasts with its more bohemian East Atlanta neighbors. Dark walls and carpeting ease the sharpness of the slick downstairs bar. Upstairs, warm red tones dominate the walls and furniture. The adjacent DJ booth and dim lighting encourages dancing on the upper level, while the main floor fills up with young singles and cute couples. You'll find Midtowners lounging in abundance, with local folks supporting the indie film nights. While Eastside offers several draught and bottled beers, cocktails better reflect the cool nature of the place.

The Draw
Young hipsters congregate here for an upscale drinking atmosphere without the attitudes of similar uptown bars. Though not as crowded as in its Fountainhead days, Eastside Lounge still delivers well-mixed drinks and offers diverse weekly nights. Monday's Brit pop and Tuesday's punk rock (mixing all things punk and new wave) break up the standard weekend DJ format.