Dark Horse Tavern

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816 N Highland Ave Ne (at 2 blocks north of Ponce de Leon Ave)
Atlanta, GA 30306

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(404) 873-3607
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Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Dark Horse Tavern - Atlanta, GA
Reviews
( 5 )
( 8 )
( 8 )
( 4 )
( 7 )

Best

I just moved to the ATL and have been trying different spots around the city, and the Dark Horse has the best tenders in town. I don't know how they do it, considering the amount ...

Worst

bad service, not too crowded when i was there (1/2 full) and i still waited 10 for a drink. place is okay, just no class or style. suited better for athens (u of g) than atlanta...

Editorial review from Citysearch 11/19/2012

Food keeps getting better! The menu is versatile and they have great affordable drinks! Specialty menus on Monday, Tues, and Wed nights. $5 Martinis??? YES! more
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Dark Horse 9/30/2011

I love the Dark Horse for its staff and its drinks, food, etc. But, they have a SEVERE roach problem--roaches crawl across the bar during the day--the folks tending bar have to kill them for you, and they can't kill them all. This has been a problem every time I come in. I don't think you can call this kind of thing sanitary. Also, I can't imagine that any Health Inspector would truly give them a good rating with this kind of bug infestation. I like this place, but I will stop going to the bar if this continues. I can't imagine that it is that difficult OR that expensive to have someone out to spray regularly. more
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Go on the weekdays! 7/1/2010

Do yourself a favor, check out this weekend spot on the weekdays. You'll be pleasantly surprised. With a revamped menu, a surprisingly affordable drink/beer/wine list and a fun staff to boot, The Dark Horse is a must. If you haven't been to the 10High Club (the live venue in the basement) you're not a true Atlantan. Housing Metalsome Karoake for some years and The Yacht Rock Revue now for the last couple, this is too much fun! Yeah, it's really crowded on Friday and Saturday, but during the week can win you over with its charm. Check out the build your own burger section on the menu. It literally provides you with hundreds of combinations. I had a business meeting in here once for lunch also and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, they're open for lunch. Weird. Pros: Best Prices in Va-Hi. Friendly Staff. Good Bar Food. Cons: Can get crowded and loud on weekends. more
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so so food 6/24/2010

i usually prefer bars that have good tasting finger food because i like to have something to munch on to soak up the alcohol. the service was really slow and the food was either or oily. it might work in a pinch but is not worth the money. the beers were served ice cold though, and that seems to be good enough for all the other patrons. more
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Va-High Go-To for Those on the Prowl 3/16/2010

Parked on a huge corner lot along North Highland is a huge multi-leveled bar paved with small white tile, a vast wooden and brass bar, and plenty of tables. On the weekends, Dark Horse is on nearly everyone's bar hopping itinerary. During peak bar hours, it is quite likely you'll be sandwiched between a gussied-up ex co-ed and a polo shirt-and-croakies-wearing ex-frat star. That's not to say that hipsters and rockers don't enjoy this joint too, but chances are they are on their way downstairs to the delightfully-dirty 10 high music club (sadly turning perpetually into metal karaoke hall). Bartenders and barbacks can be short or rude at times - though one must understand the pressure of pleasing thousands of relentless orders from typically besotted guests. Expect ahead of time to swill your cocktails from a dixie cup, be bumped into, and wait a while for a beverage and you'll be enjoying the pickup game in no time Pros: If you are down to mingle, its nearly unbeatable Cons: if you aren't, you'll be miserable more
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Best bartenders and a fun time!!! 8/10/2009

I just moved to the ATL and have been trying different spots around the city, and the Dark Horse has the best tenders in town. I don't know how they do it, considering the amount of business they do on the weekends. They are polite, fast, and funny. Some of the best staff I have seen in a long time (which is a lot coming from an ex bartender). I have been there three or four times now and yet to have a bad experience. I also went their for trivia. It wasn't terribly busy but both bartenders introduced themselves and made me feel welcome, which I appreciated because I am new to the city (they even threw me an answer or two). Trivia was fun but the AC was way to cold. If you go on the weekend be prepared for a crowd. Thanks guys had a great time and will be back!! Pros: Bar staff and good prices. Cons: Sometimes to cold around the bar. more
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Darkhorse: Best Va-Hi Bar but COLD! 7/30/2009

Dark horse is by far my favorite Virginia-Highlands bar. I have been going there for years. The bar staff is very attentive and friendly, and they'll mix you up a meanie. It gets super wicked crowded around 11 pm and the crowd usually doesn't die down until really late when all of the regulars are hammered and asked to leave politely. There is a great mixture of people there all the time. The food is da bomb and there is a sweet sweet video game machine at the corner of the bar. If you're really nice, sometimes the bartenders will actually turn the jukebox up loud enough so you can hear the songs that you just paid $1 to hear in your drunken state of geniusness. Ok, the only negative thing I have to say about this place is that it gets silly cold around the bar sometimes when the staff decides to pump in fresh air from Siberia in the form of 25 mph winds. Ok, that's it. Hope you all enjoy my review. Great place to go any day of the week - including Sundays! Pros: Outstanding Bartenders, Great Food, Attractive People Cons: It is freezing cold at the bar more
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Terrible Experience 4/12/2009

After 1 round of drinks the bartender cut us off. My girlfriend asked why and he said because our tip was not greater than 20%. She asked to speak to the manager and he called the bouncers and had us escorted out. This is not the first time we've had trouble with their bartenders. I also help organize the Big 10 pub crawl each year, and it will not be stopping at Dark Horse! Cons: Bartenders more
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bland hummus...but great place to hangout 8/18/2008

I LOVE going to the dark horse, however i usually only have a couple of drinks. This past weekend me and my friend decided to eat a few appetizers there as well...considering there was a 45 minute wait at the vortex--which is where we like to go before we head to the darkhorse. So I ordered the hummus, and honestly it was just ok, kinda bland. more
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Packed Out Bar 4/18/2008

This bar is alway packed. It has the meat market feel but everyone knows that before they enter. Beer prices are a little steep but the service is pretty good considering that they probably have 300 people in the bar on Friday and Saturday nights. The crowd is filled with mostly ""young professionals."" My girlfriends and I like to hang out for drinks and then head downstairs for live-band-karaoke (but there is a cover down there.) Pros: Good to meet people, Highlands area, Quick to get drinks Cons: Bathroom lines can get long more
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Good Food, Hot Staff, New Look 11/3/2007

I have been out of town for a few years and upon my return I thought I would try some of my old haunts. To my dismay most were the same old places, but Dark Horse had a fresh new look , I later found out they are in the middle of a big renovation with big changes coming in the next few months. Along with the new renovations are alot of new staff (friendly and cute), good food and as in the past and the buzz of the place, it still seems the place to go. Good job to the staff, keep up the good work. Pros: Friendly staff, Great prices, Great music Cons: ITs a popular place, so it can get crowded more
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1995 Called And It Wants It's Buckhead Bar Back 2/20/2007

This place is like Buckhead was 10 years ago. The service is surprisingly fast and efficient these days, if not always super-friendly, the food is good and the juke box is normally ok. If you sit near the back or out on the deck, your chances of a good experience improve dramatically. Pros: Quality food, fun people-watching Cons: Loud, fraternity style meat market more
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Great bartenders! 12/29/2006

I always enjoy my experience at the Dark Horse. I usually stand by the dry bar with a girlfriend and strike up conversations with people--very easy to do here. I'm not trying to hook up, but if you are, this is the place to come--it's full of guys. The bartenders are always friendly, and remember what I like to drink. It's crowded on the weekends, which isn't a bad thing when it comes to bars. The 10-High downstairs is basically a dark, dank basement with musicians and drinks, but it's fun! Pros: great bartenders! Cons: meat market more
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Great New Menu 11/14/2006

I went in to have the typical bar food and WOW!!!! what a surprise, they have a new menu and what a Great menu it is. The server gave Great!!! srevice and was very friendly (Julie), the manager came to our table and for a bar I was surprised. I have not been there for a while and what a nice change KUDO's to the management and staff. The only down side was the music was loud (it was 10 pm though) but the manager did turn it down. Pros: Good food and great drink prices Cons: crowded late night more
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Singles scene 11/13/2006

Darkhorse has one of the better singles scenes in Atlanta. The only downside is how crowded the place gets, making it difficult to get around and easy to get bumped. more
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You can find better bars in the Highlands 9/26/2006

I've been here several times over the years and there are definitely better bars in the Highlands. As one reviewer stated 3 years ago, the crowd is ""yuppie"". The last time I went I got the opportunity to meet a young woman who instead of asking me politely to move so she could get by me, tried to push her way by me. Pretty classy. But it does describe a lot of the crowd here on a Friday...pretty full of themselves for no reason. So if you like those types of people, I'd recommend this place. Not quite sure why its saying my overall user rating is saying ""recommend"" though as I rated this place below average. Maybe someone at Citysearch will fix that. Pros: lots of people Cons: lots of people that I dont want to meet more
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SERVICE IS HORRIBLE! 8/22/2006

Me and a girlfriend stopped by to get a beer and somethimg to eat. It was late on a Tuesday night, there were about 5 other people there, sat at a table for atleast 20 mins and rec'd no service. So we went to the bar and ordered. The bartender told us that serving food was not her priority ( we were ordering nachos for crying out loud.) Well, then after we got our food I told her tipping was not mine!!! more
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Out of Control Waitress 3/3/2005

This bar employs rude waitresses who bump in to patrons, yell at them to watch out, and then have their bouncers kick them out. My good friend (a girl) was a victim of this out of control waitress. My friend was not intoxicated. This happened purely because the waitress was having a bad night. We will never return to this crowded, smokey, rude bar. more
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Nothing but trouble 2/17/2005

This place is fun, but if I have ever gotten into trouble, or trouble found me, I was usually here at this place. Prepare to get wasted. You have not choice. Pros: ladies, rockin music Cons: headache, crowded more
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Cookie cutter bar 2/25/2004

It looks just like every other bar. If you enjoy being packed in like a sardine and ordering drinks that have to be handed to you over people sitting around a bar that don't seem to leave EVER, maybe you'll like Dark Horse. It's just a crowded stupid bar with nothing noteworthy. No dancefloor, no place to sit....I'm not sure what you're supposed to do there. Stand around? The only girls I met there were the type who thought they were too good for Buckhead, but were ironically exactly the type that gave Buckhead the bad rap it has now. If you would like to know where frat boys/sorority girls go after college, go find them at the Dark Horse. Pros: No cover, Free street parking Cons: , Boring patrons, Boring bar more
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Menu for Dark Horse Tavern


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Phone numbers, pick-ups and pass-outs: Everyone seems to have a story about the Dark Horse. Often the last stop on a North Highland bar crawl, it's the avenue's most unabashed...

  • 5/26/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon - Fri, 11am - 3am; Sat, noon - 3am
  • Payments: Master Card, Discover, American Express, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Northeast, St. Charles/ Greenwood
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