Fellaship could easily compete for #1 depending on what kind of night you're looking for. Where TEN wins with intimacy and live-music lounge energy, Fellaship delivers a more luxurious, full-evening experience. You can eat, drink, socialize, enjoy entertainment and settle into the atmosphere without immediately needing to figure out where you're going next.

It also represents something important to the BlkTravel rankings: Black-centered and upscale are not opposing categories. We don't have to choose between cultural familiarity and refinement. Fellaship offers both, and that makes it one of Atlanta's strongest lounge recommendations.

TEN gets our slight edge for the pure lounge experience. Fellaship comes right behind it with arguably the more complete night out.There are places that feel upscale because they're expensive, and then there are places that actually understand the experience that should come with the price. Fellaship aims for the latter.

This is grown Atlanta with some intention behind it. The room feels polished, the cocktails and food make it possible to build an entire evening around one destination, and the cigar component gives Fellaship a personality that separates it from the city's endless collection of restaurant-lounge hybrids.

But what really earns its position this high on our list is who the sophistication is speaking to. Black travelers are used to upscale spaces where we're welcome but clearly weren't the audience anyone had in mind when the concept was created. Fellaship flips that dynamic. The elegance, music, crowd and cultural cues feel familiar without sacrificing the premium experience.