Friends On Ponce

What can I say. it was a mixed crowd with bad drinks. It took almost a half an hour for me to get a shot of Patron. The bartender seemed oblivious to my side of the bar. It wasn’t packed but I can sorta understand he may have been overwhelmed due to the fact that he was the only bartender. There’s pool tables, poker and even a patio. This place is off the beaten trial, but I must say, I enjoyed myself.

I visited Friends On Ponce last Saturday, and had an interesting experience. The place had a nice and friendly crowd, but the smell of smoke was too overpowering! As soon as I walked in I knew that I had to leave, because smoke just plumed out the door. It was terrible!
It’s not hard to have a good ventilation system. While I wish that Atlanta had a city-​wide smoking ban, businesses could do more to filter smoke that that everyone can enjoy a venue. Friends didn’t have this kind of infrastructure, so I didn’t stick around long enough to enjoy it.

Dont go on Sunday nights when the older bartender is working cause he chewed me out over not tipping for a $ 3 drink. Then refused to serve me yelling out F*ck people that dont tip. I havent been back since.

If you’re new in Atlanta and you are single the Friends On Ponce is for you. Friendly and sexy bartenders, nice people and great drinks this is al about this place. Me and my friends love this place

Reading the other reviews it must have been an off night when I went. I spent the first ten minutes trying to get a drink at the bar. The bartender was toiling around doing menial tasks other than making drinks avoiding eye contact. When I finally got his attention he acted like I was inconveniencing him by asking him to let me pay for a beer that was in a can and only involved twisting off the top. This was my experience all night. I will say this was a poker night and I’m straight but I don’t think that effected the service but if it did then I am sorry that you might not like your poker regulars. I was new and honestly tip my bartenders well since I’m in the industry. I’d be fired for acting like that to customers.

Fantastic, dirt cheap prices coupled with the friendliest crowd!!! Felt both safe and entertained. I barely got through the door before my hand was escorted onto the dance floor

Four of my friends and I went to friends by accident! Lol! It was great! Cheap drinks and friendly’s! Didn’t know it was a gay bar, but ehh didn’t matter! Go check it out, it a dive bar in my opinion.

Laid back, and fairly chill as far as the gay-​places go.
I don’t partake in many gay establishments due to my lack of proximity to such fine locations, but I don’t hesitate to visit when decent drinks are in order. Decent atmosphere, and a little less acute than say Mary’s, Blakes, or the Eagle. This is more of a neighborhood place with a lower key feel. I would return if I had some more friends who weren’t so ashamed of their sexuality. Who gives a shit.

Its Thanksgiving wknd and I am to meet a group of «friends» here for some drinks and pool! I’d been here long ago when it was Rico’s!
Friends has a tiny lot behind the upstairs entrance + you can park in the adjacent lot nextdoor. Its a chilly and sunny afternoon about 2. Pool was free and I was told drinks were cheap, but a tad bit weak…
The staff was fairly friendly and so were most patrons. the only real downfall was the odor of smoke!!! I actually did not see anyone smoking or smell it upon arrival but did note it after I walked out for the evening, as I was on premises for about 5 hours or so… Ugh it was all IN my clothes! I pride myself on smelling fresh always:-)
I did have a nice time, I did not have any appetizers, just two drinks, shot pool which was free for the gathering I was attending. I recommend if you’re wearing a sweater or outer garment, leave it in the car so it doesn’t catch the aroma in the air…

I love this bar, you can find me here most Saturday nights, hanging with my gay posse and fellow fruit flies. Yep, if you weren’t aware already, Friends on Ponce is a great big gay bar and I love it.
I love my great gay bar!!!
They have a great jukebox, a dance floor, patio seating, keno, friendly staff and hugs for everyone.

Hilarity ensues: I am ze DUTCHESS of Friends!
Where everybody wants to know your name, in an A/​S/​L sort of way.
Because of such Friend-​ly visitors, this dive is… dare I say it?
More entertaining for people-​watching than the Clermont? I know. I did it. But when someone is traversing the bar in a glitter wheelchair, you have to show some respect.
And I do. With friendly randoms, a bit of dancing under the disco lights, and making your rounds about the wrap-​around bar, you’ll end up spending a bit of time here!
Someone might tell you their life story, and you might learn something new. And more likely than not, it is something you could have waited for an entire lifetime, but hey, that’s what we’re here for, folks.
You’ll be able to find parking in several lots around this bar. In front of the Bookhouse pub next door, a block down at the Local, street parking, and more. Beware, on certain nights when MJQ or Drunken Unicorn (just underneath Friends) there is likely to be very little parking.
You will be in luck with taxi-​service, as this area of Ponce is highly populated.
A word to the wise, though– don’t pack yourself and two others into the bathroom at Friends. It’s a good way to get kicked out, even if you were just taking care of your plumbing. OOH WEE did my friends get a verbal smack-​down. There’s no telling what they THOUGHT we were doing in there together, besides chit chatting and reapplying lipstick, but they weren’t having it.
I respect that, especially if they were just trying to monitor sketchy activity.

Friends on Ponce is always a good time. The drinks are cheap and strong. Sure it’s a little dive-​y but it’s clean. The bartenders are as friendly and helpful as you could want them to be. The crowd varies wildly in age but everyone seems to be having a good time for the most part.
It’s definitely one of my favorite neighborhood bars, and it’s not even in my neighborhood. I stop by on my way to the masquerade a lot during the summertime, which is right around the corner. Definitely stop by if you find yourself rolling down ponce. Also, do yourself a favor and have a few of the cherries. I respect a place that would get this wild with a garnish.

Friend’s is a lovely little gem in town.
First, what it isn’t:
— a restaurant: They do not have a kitchen, so don’t come hungry. You make popcorn to snack on while you drink.
— trendy: that’s pretty much it.
Now, what Friend’s is:
A great place to begin (or end) your night. Friend’s isn’t really a destination, but it’s a great pit stop on a night where you’re in it for the long haul. Their drinks are reasonably priced. You can play pool and there is a jukebox. They have a screened in porch area which is very lovely on a spring Midtown evening. There’s always an interesting and eclectic mix of people there, so never a dull moment.
Here’s a tip, try the Maraschino cherries soaked in grain alcohol. They REALLY add some fun to your night, but go easy, they’re potent!
This place is a must-​try. It’s especially convenient if you’re going to see a show at MJQ. Even if you aren’t, it’s worth a stop.

We tried this place out of desperation after the hipster douchebags over at Bookhouse kicked us out after we spent an hour drinking and waiting in vain for a f*cking place to sit.
Friends was like night and day… its a bit more dive-​y than Bookhouse, but the staff are so very nice and accomodating! It was my wife’s birthday and there were 15 of us. We walked into Friends and there was plenty of room for us! The bouncer and bartender were very happy to see us, and they even let us bring in food, since they don’t really have a kitchen of their own (or if they do, it wasnt running that evening). I walked to murder kroger across the street for snacks and birthday cake which I immediately offered to share with them. :)
The description of the venue says ‘gay bar’ but I would call it ‘gay-​bar-​light’. It was a pretty evenly diverse crowd there with regards to age, race and sexual orientation. One of the friends in our group warned us the place was pretty seedy (before we arrived) but when we got there we didn’t think it was seedy at all, and he was plesantly surprised at how much better the place was then the last time he was there.
The drinks are quite cheap too!!!
Now we plan to go back on a Wednesday night for trivia. :)

Nice place to hang for a drink, friendly staff, nice atmosphere, though we stayed for one quick drink, we didn’t wanted to get back to our hotel too late and dashed to the corner waiting for the bus.

I love this neighborhood dive. At first look, this place isn’t the most attractive, especially not for a younger crowd when there’s other pubs and bars around the corner. However, as soon as you walk in you’re greeted by great music, disco balls, and a very cool atmosphere. It attracts an older crowd, but everyone is nice and wants to have a great time.
Shoutouts to Ms. Regina, who I believe is the owner/​manager of the bar. She always greets you with a smile and makes sure you’re enjoying your night.
Beware/​you MUST try the Friends’ Cherry Bombs. They sit quietly at the corner of the bar in a huge clear dispenser. They may look like harmless cherries you’d put in a Shirley Temple. but damn, these won’t compliment your night… they’ll START them. Believe that!

Drag queens, nipple pasties, and drunks dancing, oh my!
That pretty much sums up my night at Friends on Ponce last night (yes, that would be a Sunday for those keeping score at home). Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I agreed to go last night, but it was a surprise in a good way. I love a good dive bar, so throw in a good dj, a gender bending tribute to Johnny Cash, and a burlesque performer and I’m sold.
Though the highlight of the evening was definitely the very hammered 40something doing his best impression of Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. He also kissed the DJ and complimented my shoes. I’m still trying to figure out the latter out considering I was wearing pink Chucks.
While the Johnny Cash tribute was a special performance, I’d like to come back and see what it’s like on average night. The people watching alone is worth it.

Terry rules so hard!!! ask him to make you a Marcellus, you will not regret it (until maybe the next morning).

This is my favorite bar in Atlanta. Not pretentious, a mixed crowd of old and young, good pool, cheap drinks, and an outdoor area.

I was in Atlanta for New Years and ended up coming to this place 3 times over a 4 day period. I accidentally came in here while we were waiting to go somewhere else. The bartenders were really cool and people were really friendly. I met some interesting characters for sure. They have good drink specials and the décor is kooky. They have a good jukebox too. Give it a try if you’re in the neighborhood!