One of Esquire’s ‘Best Gay Bars’ has an unmarked entrance behind an Atlanta Chipotle

Atlanta is rich with pride.

LGBTQ+ culture thrives in the city year-round, with annual events like Black Gay Pride and Atlanta Pride, installations like the iconic Rainbow Crosswalk, and diverse neighborhoods filled with bars and restaurants from Mary’s to Blake’s On The Park. It’s a place where you can show your pride at any time.

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And Esquire has taken notice; they compiled a list of the most fun and inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly bars in the U.S., including one in Atlanta. Curated with the help of contributors from across the country, Atlanta’s MJQ Concourse made the “32 Best Gay Bars in America” list.

Located off Ponce de Leon, down a driveway entrance ramp, MJQ is the ultimate local’s late-night dance spot. You probably won’t start your night at the no-frills establishment, but if you end up there, you’re doing something right. They’ve got all kinds of DJs who play house music, hip hop, and even disco hits — and the music is loud enough that you’ll be dancing within seconds of walking in the door. It’s a great spot to meet people or bring friends from out of town who want to see what Atlanta has to offer in terms of nightlife.

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“Giving new meaning to underground club, this long-running nightly dance party/music venue is not only somewhat secretive, it occurs in a pair of entirely subterranean spaces. The entrance is through an unmarked shed behind a Chipotle, and features a blended but unexpected gay/not crowd in which same-sex grinding is de rigueur,” Esquire wrote.

MJQ has been an Atlanta staple since its inception in the early ‘90s. Since then, it’s evolved with the city, becoming an institution known as much for its edgy dance party vibe as it is for helping launch Atlanta’s underground nightlife scene.

The club is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night.

MJQ Concourse

Location: East Atlanta - 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE; Website: mjqofficial.com