U Bar could appear on three different BlkTravel lists and make sense every time. That's not confusion. That's Atlanta. Northside wins #1 because it's almost the definition of a destination bar. U Bar takes #2 because it shows travelers a completely different version of Atlanta bar culture. It's Blacker. Louder. More social. More likely to turn into a party. Most importantly, it takes travelers into a part of Atlanta conventional nightlife guides routinely undersell. The Southside belongs in the conversation.

U Bar is exactly why BlkTravel ranks experiences instead of labels. Come earlier and it's easy to understand as a neighborhood bar and restaurant. People are eating, drinking, watching sports and meeting friends. Come later and that explanation starts falling apart. The music gets louder. Hookahs come out. The crowd changes. Mandingo the mechanical bull becomes part of the entertainment. And suddenly the bar feels considerably closer to a club. That's U Bar.

Its Camp Creek location matters too. This is the Southwest Atlanta social scene, far removed from the polished visitor version of Atlanta concentrated around Buckhead, Midtown and Downtown. You don't need a section to participate in the night, either. Get some food. Find a seat. Order drinks. Watch the room change. BlkTravel would choose U Bar for: Black nightlife, drinks with friends, sports, hip-hop and R&B, hookah, groups, casual turn-ups and travelers who want to experience the Southside.