Manuel's Tavern

Atlanta's iconic neighborhood bar since 1956
Noteworthy for: In addition to its historic role in the Atlanta nightlife scene, Manuel's serves up craft beers and decent grub.

Talk of the town: Manuel's is the place where former President Jimmy Carter announced his plans to run for governor of Georgia in 1970.
Manuel's, right down to its famous Coca-Cola mural, is the quintessential Atlanta bar. Divey but sufficiently comfortable, Manuel's has attracted a diverse crowd that has included politicians and plumbers, businessmen and construction workers. It is still owned by the family who opened the bar in 1956, and many of the bartenders have been on staff for decades.

Its hundred-year-old bar and photograph-laden walls welcome a host of regulars but is also wonderfully friendly for new visitors. Manuel's has long been associated with local politics, as it's a place where people gather and discuss, and its original owner, Manuel Maloof, was a three-time CEO of DeKalb County and is frequently referred to as the godfather of Georgia Democratic politics.