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Categories: Music Venues, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Little Five PointsMon. 8:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Tue. 9:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Wed-Sat. 8:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
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Welcome to Atlanta, darling. My very first bar in Georgia and I discover plus's: Elvis shrine, $2.50 PBR's, amazing music with no cover - thanks Kid's Stuff and Judi Chicago for bringing it!- glow sticks and balloon drops! )
and
minus's: people can still smoke in bars down here (uh oh throat, hair and clothes!!)
but no matter- I met wonderful people, discovered dancing is OK down south and will certainly return!
A ton of fun! Went for a friends birthday and danced until 3 am. Prices are typical of a bar, but Tuesday nights (80s night), is a great night to go.
Have a ton of fun and met a lot of new people. Definitely check it out!
Pros: Good music, great crowd, cheap drinks
Cons: the WORST bathrooms of any place you will ever pay to be admitted into, the photo booth pictures came out crappy (bad fixer?)
Five stars for star bar!
love it. the best place to have a completely unserious time. went last tues night i had the best time ever! there's young, there's old, some creepy but that's okay cause we were all united through the same goal ...gettin down.
They also have shows at star bar and if you can catch someone you know or think you might like definitely check them out. I've seen some good acts here. It's real small and the atmosphere is great.
Definitely famous for its tuesday nights, but I have had a good time here regardless of the theme. Went here one night when there were like 5 people and still had a blast. Positive vibes all around!
Any bar that has an Elvis shrine is A-OK in my book.
Some good bands come through, while some bad bands are fun to watch go down in flames!
If you can get the dart board downstairs on a really hot or really cold day, it is a great cave to wait out the weather.
Also, the (relatively) new owners are awesome and are keeping the Star Bar true to it's roots. Thanks guys!
I love Star Bar. Depending on the night you'll get different vibes/feels. So check out their board right by the door as you're walking by and plot your night's accordingly. I can't apologize to folks who didn't like it if they didn't do their research.
I'm in my 30's so my favorite night is definitely Tuesday when DJ Romeo Cologne (a.k.a. The Clermont on Saturday-enough said) spins funkadelica awesomeness.
I've seen a few bands too and it was a good vibe. The bartenders got me feeling good too so that's always a plus.
Ok, so some might say I'm stuck in a rut, but I can't get enough of Tuesday late night at the Star Bar. Quasi, the first DJ of the night, drove up to Lake Allatoona to DJ my brother's rehearsal dinner because my mother said please. The next DJ up Romeo Cologne has been a staple in my life since Funkadelica at The Georgia Theatre in Athens back in 1994. You can't beat the mix of people on Tuesday night. Of course my mother says that I'll never find Mr. Right at 2:30am on a Tuesday, but I plan to prove her wrong. And there's plenty of Mr. Tonight's to keep ya busy.
If you like old school funk, I would suggest very little clothing, closed-toe shoes and a nap, because things don't get started till midnight.
"Great Great Bar and bands!"
It's the best little bar in Atlanta. The crowd is little five points locals and the bar has everything you'd ever want. The bands are wild and crazy... all at the same time.
Try catching one of their special events, like talent show night. You'll have a party and witness strange things. The last time I was there, a mini-bike act filled up the place with smoke... good thing the fire departmen didn't show up.
The downstairs bar is not to be missed... relax and enjoy!
This review is for Tuesday nights with DJ Romeo Cologne.
I love funk, and I love to shake my ample ass. I love new funk (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) and old funk (James Brown, Curtis Mayfield). So, Tuesday nights at The Star Bar sounds like a great choice, right?
Hmmm, not so much.
First, the event shouldn't be called "DJ Romeo Cologne's
Funk Disco Party" (I pulled that from Star Bar's website). It should be called DJ Quasi's (I think that's his name) Funk Hip Hop Top 40 Party with Special Guest Romeo Cologne." Romeo didn't hit the CD changer until 1:15 AM(last call is at 2:30). Is it really his night if the "opener" spins for 3 hours and he does less than two? I've NEVER been to a concert where the opener performed longer than the headliner.
The second problem is Quasi's song selection. Ya see, I went to The Star Bar for funk. I walked in the bar around 11:15. He played decent music for about 30 minutes. Then it went to shit. Can someone tell me what is funky about Madonna's "Hey Mr. DJ"? No shit, he really played that song. He was also playing recent hip hop and other assorted bullshit. I was waiting for him to play Ice Ice Baby. This went on till Romeo took over.
Romeo started with Disco Lady(Johnnie Taylor), followed it up with Shining Star (Earth, Wind, and Fire), and some decent funk I wasn't familiar with. I left after his third song.
Ok, here's the money shot:
Now, if I wanted to hear Hey Mr. DJ or Who Let the Dogs Out (no, he didn't play that song) I could have found a club in the burbs. So if you are looking for real funk, avoid Tuesdays at The Star Bar (or don't show up till 1:30).
If you live close and want to dance, it's not a bad option. Just don't expect to hear much funk.
And to think I was really looking forward to spending some time at The Star Bar (I had my first Funk Disco Party about 10 years ago, and it was a blast).
Who knows, maybe Romeo will take it back over and it'll be good again.
Oh yeah! Someone drop me a line and let me know if Saturday nights at The Cleremont Lounge are the same setup. I want to go, but not if I have to hear fucking Madonna.
Shake your boootay, shake shake shake your booooo ooo oooo tay!!! That's what we do whenever we've come here. Tuesday nights are the BEST!!! D.J Romeo Cologne knows how to spin those oldies and when I say oldies I mean Jackson Five and so forth..."I can feel it, I can feel it" It doesn't matter who you are, young, old, prep or punk...you will be here and you will be dancing.
The music is great, the crowd smells of variety and fun, and the drinks are cheap. No seriously, they have a drink called "The Cheap Shit". lol $2 draft. :oD $7 cover on Tuesdays and if you check out their website they have live bands listed on other nights as well.
I love this place! I'm never disappointed and I can always count on them if I skipped a run that day because you'll get plenty of excercise movin' your legs, shaking your hips, and poppin your a**.... I mean bootay. lol
Dive bars are sadly growing scarce in our quickly homogenizing city. Stein Club and the Beer Mug both faced down bulldozers and lost. Fuzzy's, The Phoenix, Backstreet (and if you discount Backstreet's status as a dive, then you've obviously never been there at 5am) gone, gone and gone. That's why we should thank our lucky, Little 5 hearts for The Star Bar. I'll admit: I don't go here much any more. The Tuesday Night Dance Party has started the same time for the past 12+ years, but seemingly gets later and later as these bones age. Open Mic Comedy Mondays and PunkRotnkee's Karaoke were fun until my Tuesday mornings became significantly less so. But occasionally The Star Bar will have a show I will want to see or the stars, the calendar, and a holiday will align that will allow me to come play. In those cases, it's still the same old Star Bar I first saw those many, grimy moons ago.
As you enter, two bars are to the left and to the right. You'll get the same service from each so just pick one. If the line is too deep, the Vinyl Lounge downstairs has a full bar as well. The crowd varies depending on the night, the event and the band(s) booked. There may be a few regulars. Granted, I'm not the only one who's aged and it's become something of a punkabilly rest home of sorts, but don't let them intimidate you. In living out their Bukowski fantasies, they're much more interested in meeting their Makers Mark than in meeting you. That said, the drinks are relatively cheap, especially if you stick with the house special, PBR. The photo booth works and, unlike The Local's, it's in color. Depending on at which point during the night pictures are taken, color may be a good or a bad thing.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the Elvis shrine. It's towards the left as you enter, in the old vault. Light a few candles. Pick a song from the jukebox (believe me, you may not hear it right away, but it works.) Slip a coin in the slot and make a wish. Gaze upon the golden toilet bowl. Once you've done all that, let the spirit of Elvisness wash over you. One visit to the Elvis shrine will stay with you long after you, and Elvis, have left the building.
This place has been around for as long as I can remember. Back before it was cool to look like white trash and drink PBR, folks with no choice but to do so would usually be found here.
A decent place to catch bands that skew towards roots and wild rockabilly. And then there's the Elvis shrine with a picture of "MMMMOOMMUHHH."
Quintessential
A great place to catch a show, and as was mentioned, you can always head downstairs if the music upstairs sucks.
Word of warning: there something marked "CHEAP STUFF" on tap. Don't drink it. Ever. It was probably once PBR, but I think somewhere along the way, Star Bar protocol required adding a 10% strychnine solution.
I would say that we need more places like Star Bar in Atlanta, but then that would be impossible. It can't be duplicated, replicated, imitated, or even explicated....
If you've never been, start with a Tuesday night and get your funk on...or just cruise their schedule on the web and pick a band out that sounds interesting. Hell, pick out one that sounds horrible and you'll still have an entertaining time.
Cheap beer, good times, and it makes no apologies for being a smoky dive that showcases unique live acts. Long live Star Bar.
Star Bar is like a little slice of Texas shithole dolloped right on the creamy center of Little 5 Points. Of course, that's the whole reason people go there: it should pretty much be your capital if you're into rockabilly/surf/swing/cowpunk/dives. They have a tiny dirty little stage where bands of such a nature play 6 days a week, through a very mediocre sound system. Again: this is what people go for. PBR and the potential fist fight and Johnny Cash on the jukebox and lots of grime.
They even have a little altar to Elvis, fixed with tons of memorabilia, where you can pop your head in and pay tribute. That's not a joke.
Star Bar definitely isn't my cup of tea. Mainly because sometimes I drink a cup of tea. Tea drinkers aren't allowed in Star Bar. You need at least two tattoos and an exwife. Or long hair (metal style, not pretty boy) and a leather vest.
All that said, they have one of the best karaoke nights in Atlanta, simply because all the people who usually hang out there actually try to stand up drunk on stage and warble Judas Priest. It's frighteningly hilarious.
I decided to come out of my OTP shell last night and venture into the part of town known as Little Five Points to hang out at the Star Bar. Of course like most OTP dwellers, I felt a little uncomfortable initially in the area, because I have not yet become accustomed to all of the biker gangs who seem like tattooed vigilantes, sworn to uphold their own version of "street law." Kinda reminds me of that movie 'Sin City.'
The interior of the Star Bar looks like it has been there for ages, but I later came to realize that the bar actually replaced the bank that once existed in the same building. That would probably explain why there was a vault inside the place with a thick iron door. Instead of the money that was once inside the vault, there was an Elvis Shrine which perfectly accomplished the probable hidden agenda of creeping me out.
The rest of the interior is fairly small. The two bar areas inside the building are adjacent from one another on the left and right sides of the room if your facing the tiny stage.
The staff at the star bar are indeed some of the most interesting individuals I have encountered. One of the guys looked like Jim Morrison in the later years of the Doors when he had a full beard and beer gut. The other bartender was also sporting a full mountain man beard, but the hat he was wearing implied that he was going for the coal miner/banjo player look.
There were some pretty good bands showcasing there talent last night. The stage that the bands perform on is very small, so don't expect to see any of the guitarists get into his power stance at any point during the performance.
Overall, the Star Bar had a unique atmosphere that provided me with a decent amount of entertainment for the night. It is on the outskirts of a shady part of town, but for some reason I felt pretty safe there. Maybe it was the vigilante biker gangs outside, who were scouting the streets like a predator, and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to bring their own brand of "street justice" to any criminals that may dwell in the shadows.
It's so funny to see what different people have to say about Star Bar. I think the experience here varies so much, that you have to read what everyone has to say about it. Here's my story:
I went with Steph S. to go check out the new concert series "Big Trouble in L5P," and 2 out of the 3 bands that played were great. More of a Kinks-meets-Ramones-meets-Rooneyish kind of sound, with a little extra dash of Brit Rock. I liked the bands, the bar was grungy and dark (but fairly cheap - 4 rounds @ 2 people = $21) and the crowd that came out that night was a collaboration of friends and supporters of the concert series and the bands, so they weren't too scary.
The stage is small, yes, the girls that were there were rowdy and pulled us right into the "groupie" mix, the bands that played said that Star Bar treated them as well if not better than other area venues, and we had no issues making friends with security (Joe) and sneaking backstage to hang out in a smoky storage room with the musicians.
I liked it, it was appropriate place to hang on a Thursday - trust me, it didn't occur to me I had to be at work Friday morning until Friday morning. The black hole that is Star Bar consumed all of my weekday worries.
Good old star bar. I miss you so much. I used to live in Atlanta and it was a sure bet I was either at The Star Bar or The Gravity Pub. The Star Bar is a great dive bar. It's a great mix of people, music, and alcohol. The bartenders were always friendly and made a strong drink. The drink pices are pretty reasonable. They had kick ass bands and djs. And you either came out smelling like a brewery, cigarettes or both. How could you not love it? It reminds me a little of Johnny's here in LA minus the live music. If you ever go to Atlanta go here. It's a definite treat for the senses.
Great neighborhood bar. Different nights bring different types of music but none of them are Top 40, played-out music types. Some nights are live rock bands, others are funk DJ nights, and one night a week is an open-mic night.
The place is a dive, the dress is casual. You will see a wide variety of people here... 20 yr olds to 60 yr olds... everyone having a good time.
PBR is flowing in this place but, you can still get a good beer.
A real rock'n'roll bar for real rock'n'rollers. Enough said.
Yeah, the Star Bar is an interesting place, filled with even more interesting folks! I've been there more times than I can remember, but there was this one night that was pretty interesting that I will tell you about right....now.
So, it's Valentine's Day a few years ago and I am very much by choice alone (I ditched my obnoxious date after dinner.) My friend Julie called and asked me if I wanted to go to their annual Anti-Valentine's Day party.
So we headed up there and danced until it got to a point where I had had enough of this old man following me around the floor, grinding his junk into my back (sometimes I thank God that I am ridiculously short.)
We went downstairs to the other bar to escape and had a nice time chatting with some new friends about who knows what.
We knew it was getting late when the tone upstairs had changed from dance party to very drunk folks singing sad Patsy Cline karaoke. So we decided it was time to stagger out. But hey, we had a great time.
the second greatest bar in America.
Starbar has what you need. Eclectic music and people in a rock city neighborhood mixed with 3/4 alcohol. Everyone I've met at the Starbar is at the very least interesting and the friends I've brought with me have always had a good time. Although it is the only bar I've ever left at the end of the night where the cab driver asked me not to smoke in the car, when I wasn't smoking.
This review is specifically for DJ ROMEO COLOGNE and the Tuesday funk night. I could honestly care less about any other night at Star Bar.
With a name like that, you KNOW he's funky. This man is brilliant on the turn tables. I dance the entire time, (taking breaks for drinks of course) and with enthusiasm. There's Stevie, Jackson 5....maybe disco shit thrown in....by the end of the night I am covered in sweat. And when you need a break from the dancefloor there's another bar downstairs with different music and an outdoor patio for smoke breaks.
I have woken up many times the next morning with mystery bruises and sore muscles. I miss this night more than anything else in ATL. And I'm never going to find an apt replacement.
The Star Bar is straight up 5 star Atlanta rocknroll!
This place is definately legendary. Check it out.
I'm all about live music, some good alcohol, and a good crowd of people. I found Star Bar to be a total dive. I really don't understand all the great reviews, but to each their own! My experience here has been, you go to the bar and order a 420 and a vodka cranberry...in return you get a pbr and a whisky sour. The bartender just kinda looks at you and you don't question him, pay your tab and move on. It's dirty. You leave smelling not just like cigarettes (it's expected when you go out to see a show, esp. somewhere like this), but like this dirty dusty smell. There's a definite shower before bed upon returning home from here. The place overall is just dirty. I'd prefer never to come back here and it would take a damn good band to get me to return.
if you are wandering in Little 5 Points aimlessly, and need a drink or want to hear not so mainstream music, usually a local act, go to STAR COMMUNITY BAR. I've seen GUITAR WOLF, WOGGLES, KINGSIZED, NEON CHRIST and countless of other bands, though mainly local ones, it's a great place to check out what ATL has to offer.
If you're all about 99X rock star mentality, you're better off going across the street to Junkman's daughter for another NIN t-shirt. If you prefer the strip down version of it, come pay a visit.
Now git me a PBR.
Star Bar.
Tuesday Nights.
Amazing.
Loud..
Crazy...
SO MUCH FUN!
Weak ass drinks in a plastic cup... enough said... the scene is indie punk rock.. cover charge was 10.00 for everyone.. was it worth it? Not to me. The venue is tiny, full of people who still want to be indie kid cool.. but you know they hold a full time job for the man... and Friday night they grab their printed t's . checkered Vans, and pretend to be teenagers without a care in the world.. for a 10 buck cover charge. The drinks were sadly made, I can make better drinks.. the bartender was this emasculated thin geek with dark rim glasses.. who didn't look like he wanted to bar tend, but probably worked there to be a cool kid and listen to indie rock bands who wear band outfits as their gig costume.. this place is so not for me... but hey different strokes for different folks.
Four of my all-time favorite bar photos were taken in the Star Bar photo booth. The night we went was, dare I say it, cock night, meaning the gents were free and the ladies coughed up a $5 cover charge. An older punk band was on stage which lit my fire cuz I'm that kind of girl, but since I was there with more conservative work friends, I rocked out while they hailed a cab and dragged me off to our next destination. Definitely looking forward to returning here on my next visit to Atlanta!
If you want to get funky and shake your booty but don't want to dress up and don't want to spend much money, this is the place to go. Especially on Tuesday nights when it's funk night. The DJ brings out the 70's and 80's grooves you may have forgotten about. Who doesn't like a little MJ throwback? It doesn't get going until about 11pm. Don't expect a singles scene. The crowd is not for beautiful people only. Bring your own toilet paper and/or travel size seat covers. The bathrooms are pretty yucky (think MJQ.)
I came here with a friend to see a show. Apparently Tuesday nights are like boogie nights, but I came on a Wednesday. The 3 bands that we saw were all pretty good, and the crowd was very chill and relaxed which was exactly what I wanted/needed during a crazy-ass week. There is one bar to the left and one bar to the right as you enter, and you will never have to wait forever for a drink. Oh, and the drinks are cheap and good! The guy who owns the Star Bar is a really sweet guy, and this is a neighborhood bar with lots of regulars. This is the perfect place to go if you just want to chill, have a few drinks, see a few great bands, and have a great time with different people!
Awesome local talent. Good drinks, great area. Recommended!!
Please allow me to preface this review by admitting that I tried desperately to change my 9am Wednesday class just for Tuesday nights at Star Bar. Unsuccessful, sigh. But that hasn't stopped me! This bar is too much fun! The local musicians are wonderfully talented, and the crowd is crazy and friendly. Little Five Points is a refreshing change from the Buckhead scene. I've been on the weekends though and the atmosphere is less magical. Try Tuesday, I can say with confidence Star Bar is totally worth the Wednesday morning hang over :o)
Alright, I admit, I truly judge a nightclub/bar by how good of a time I had. I went to Star Bar last night to listen to some live music with a few of my friends and I had a really great time. Yes, it is a dive - and has that sort of smug, we ARE cooler than YOU will ever be vibe, but I did not care one bit. I don't drink so this review is not alcohol fueled, I drank water all night and the bartenders were very gracious and flirted just the right amount without being creepy. (I love that!) Anyway, I think it's a great venue for live music and a really fun place to go hang out.
I really miss the Star Bar and its photo booth. I saw many, many shows here during my Atlanta days. Hands down best Star Bar moment ever - Neko Case lifting up her shirt on stage because she had "just seen a cop walk by the front door." Love it.
I would just like to say that Star Bar is the best club in Atlanta! Hands down!
I find it plain even though it has strange/interesting acts and you can expect to see something crazy. I've had plenty of fun times here but it was more the beer and the people i came with. In general too smokey, noisy, busy, and everything else soso. Some people love it though, so try it out.
This place is legendary on Tuesday nights with DJ Romeo Cologne. The other nights of the week feature indy bands. It's a great place with a lot of character, but really needs to step it up and fix the beer cooler (PBR is bad enough, at least serve it cold), the AC, and the toilets. The place seems to be on auto pilot at this point. The cover on Tuesdays keeps going up as well, they know they can get it. The surly staff doesn't speak any longer, they sort of just grunt a lot.
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Neighborhood: Atlantic Station
Wednesdays are $3 Slider…
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Category: Arts & Entertainment
Atlanta, GA
Category: Art Galleries
Neighborhood: Midtown
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Little Five Points
Category: Music Venues
Atlanta, GA
Category: Music Venues
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