East Side Lounge

I was in search of a liberal atlanta spot that lacked  the so very common pretentiousness that I find in Georgia. East Atlanta isn't really my kind of thing, but I like when kids just don't care. I was instructed to go here. The bouncer was really nice, so that warmed me up to the place. Bartender was really cool (the black guy). Drinks were reasonably priced. I believe the Yuengling I ordered put me back only around $3.50. So far everything seemed great so I sat down at the bar with my brother and began getting my drink on.

I made my usual look around to see who was eye raping me and I spotted a young gal. I do my thing and she moves on over. After a quick convo it's apparently time to insert some nose candy. Not judging her at all, I turn it down and told her to come back when she's done. She didn't. Okay that's fine, you win some you lose some.

After sitting there for a good 10 minutes I again do my patented look around and again find another making the o' so familiar eye contact. I wave her over and I strike up a rather great convo, i'm just that good at conversing. Fifteen minutes in the subject once again takes a dark turn as she requests going to the bathroom to fiddle with baking soda riddled coca plants. I knew refusing would mean the untimely end, but was I going to jeopardize myself for a relatively attractive girl? No. I walked her to the bathroom and gave her a hug, it was time for me to escape the fate that waited for me at the other end of the unlockable bathroom door.

Walking out the exit door I see the first one and she had become bitter towards me. So it is. I don't blame anyone, I blame myself. When in Rome do as the Romans do. I didn't. That's very unamerican of me, but alas I'm no American.

Cheap drinks, nice staff, decent patrons, pro drugs, small dance floor, enough seating if it's not packed. You'll have fun if you can adapt to your environment better than I could.

I'm still in search of a place in Atlanta where I can be me and not be judged, why is that so hard??

"Been fooled again, the search continues"

Cheers

Bad that I Google'd ESL so that I could accurately try to piece together the times that I've been here?

Shameless, this girl.

East Side Lounge is a cool spot in East Atlanta Village. Unlike the pictures on the website represent, my memory tells me that ESL is a bit more divey than you would expect from it's sleek architecture. For instance, you can smoke inside.

This is a GREAT place to go dancing in East Atlanta. (Although I don't think you can go wrong with dancing at Graveyard, or Mary's, etc..) What's cool about ESL is that the entire downstairs is wall-to-wall bar on one side, with a lit staircase leading up to where a DJ typically spins. It's fun to dance up there, because you have a view of the bar & lounge down below.

I like this trend with the bars in EAV. The atmosphere makes it feel like one big house party, on 104 Party Ave. (rearrage the letters in "Ave." to spell "EAV") Yup, went there.

I tend to forget about how much I like this place. Just another stop on a smokey and sloppy adventure in East Atlanta.

Granted, I was pretty tipsy by the time my friend and I made it here, but I loved it!  We stayed upstairs mainly to dance and I cannot rave enough about the great music played (Jackson to M. Gaye to current Southern hip/hop).  The crowd was wonderful, and everyone was there to simply have a good time.  The drinks were strong and cheap, and the staff was very nice.  I think cover was only $3 too.

Only downside I could see was the line for the bathroom was ridiculously slow- dear coke users- please be a bit more courtesy to those who actually have to use the toilet in such a small venue.