By Taylor Dahl

Forbes recently ranked Atlanta its Best City for Singles, based on its “coolness, cost of living alone, culture, job growth, online dating, nightlife and number of singles.” If you’re on the prowl, or just looking for something different to do at night, check out these exciting options for nightcrawlers of every stripe.

Tragically hip

Suffering from the midweek blues? Head over to Halo, a modern looking club with chic cocktails and a laid-back crowd. Lola Bellini Bar and Restaurant has two outdoor patios: one for feasting on Italian-style food and one for lounging and drinking. Castleberry Hill’s M Bar has a cozy interior and live jazz on select nights. Krog Bar in Inman Park is a quaint space with a hefty wine and tapas menu. Beluga Martini Bar offers a variety of martini concoctions and live entertainment Monday-Thursday at 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Discover the next Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong at Churchill Grounds, an intimate jazz club next to the Fox. On the other side of the theater is Bazaar, a chic, Euro-trendy lounge.

  • Halo (Midtown): 817 W. Peachtree St. NW; 404-962-7333; halolounge.com
  • Lola Bellini Bar and Restaurant (Midtown): Terminus 100, 3280 Peachtree Road NE; 404-892-9292; h2sr.com
  • M Bar (Castlebury Hill): 257 Peters St.; 404-523-1555; mbaratlanta.com
  • Krog Bar (Inman Park): 112 Krog St.; 404-524-1618; krogbar.com
  • Beluga Martini Bar (Buckhead): 3115 Piedmont Rd; 404-869-1090; belugamartinibar.com
  • Churchill Grounds (Midtown): 660 Peachtree St. NE; 404-876-3030; churchillgrounds.com
  • Bazaar (Midtown): 654 Peachtree St.; 404-885-7505; bazzaaratlanta.com

Hip-hop royalty

Jermaine Dupri’s Studio 72 features an 850-gallon aquarium and VIP sections with hot tubs, waterfalls and complimentary cigars. Dupri hosts on Saturday nights, so come dressed to impress. Club Crucial has three full bars, pool tables, an exclusive VIP room and a dance floor where you can groove to hip-hop beats. Rub elbows with celebrities like owner T.I. and his friends Usher and Ludacris on “Celebrity Saturdays” or get $3 drinks on “Thirsty Thursdays.”

Dancing queens

Cosmopolitan Lava is upscale and luxurious and the place to go for drinks, if money is no object. This posh club has three dance floors, five bars and a tropical deck overlooking the Atlanta skyline. Opera is the epitome of chic and well worth the line to get in. Famous DJs spin hot tracks while celebrities canoodle in the VIP section. Take your cocktails to the cabana for a great view of the Midtown skyline, or survey the scene from the mezzanine level. Dance, dance, dance at Leopard Lounge. The soft lighting and couches are comfy places to rest your heels and unwind when you need a break. Want to get away from the fashionistas? Let your hair down at MJQ Concourse. This unpretentious club has two full bars, a live music venue and a crowd that’s all about dancing and music. Who says you have to ever hang up your dancing shoes? Women and men who are old enough to know better, but too young to resist, flock to Johnny’s Hideaway to dance to big band and retro sounds.

The out-of-towners

Don’t overlook Atlanta’s swanky hotel bars — here you’ll find some of the most elegant, chic nightclubs in town. Mint Julep Martinis and the Georgia Peach are signature drinks at the Ellis Hotel’s e Street Lounge. Come to the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead’s lounge for the celebrity spotting and stay for the cocktails and live jazz. Pulse Bar at the Marriott is a cool cocktail lounge with views of the hotel’s atrium. The W’s Whiskey Park is glamorous and trendy, with signature cocktails and a rock ’n’ roll vibe. The

Pub lovers

Charlie Mopps Public House, “the house that beer built,” has 300 beers, with 90 on tap, and occasional live music. If you’re more of a scotch and cigar type, Highland Cigar Co. is the place for you. Highland carries international cigars and their own private label line. Beer connoisseurs will enjoy TAP, a gastro-pub with sophisticated takes on traditional pub favorites and an extensive beer and wine menu. Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant is an authentic Irish pub with several themed rooms and a rooftop patio. Tin Roof Cantina is gameday central for college football fans. It has three outdoor seating areas, darts, pool tables, beer pong, video games and live music on select nights. Sports bar STATS has five bars, 70 high-definition TVs and “beer” tables, complete with their own taps.

Culture vultures

Variety Playhouse is an intimate theater and nightclub that sits near the intersection of Euclid and Moreland avenues. This month, the artists like Hanson, Joan Osborne, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Girl Talk and the Hotel Café Tour will be gracing the stage. Enjoy witty improvisational comedy at Dad’s Garage Theatre Company. Shows run Thursday-Saturday, and students get half-off admission on Thursday nights. At midnight on Oct. 25, Dad’s presents its popular “Puppet Slam,” an experimental, improvisational adult-themed show that’s a cult favorite. Eddie’s Attic is a local acoustic pub that has launched the career of musicians such as John Mayer, Sugarland and Shawn Mullins.

  • Variety Playhouse (Little Five Points): 1099 Euclid Ave.; 404-524-7354; variety-playhouse.com
  • Dad’s Garage Theatre Company (Inman Park): 280 Elizabeth St., Suite C-101; 404-523-3141; dadsgarage.com
  • Eddie’s Attic (Decatur): 515-B North McDonough St.; 404-377-4976; eddiesattic.com