Great vibes here. The blues show was awesome and drinks pretty good too. Will be returning.

Was here on New Year's Eve and Sandra Hall and the band made it unforgettable. From slow dancing to electric blues, this was an amazing treat. Lucky we chose this place as our destination. I'm coming back for more! Only downside was that there's nothing vegetarian and the gumbo wasn't that good. read more

Quintisential bar. What do I mean by that. Great music. Bartenders that really smile. People poeple people. You just gatta come here on a weeknight to experience what all us working schmoes are missing. What can I say? Love this place. The only reason the last star is missing is that we have not had the food. This place is the hang spot. read more

Blind Willie's is not only one of the best local blues bars but a national land mark for the best blues music on the planet I have seen lots of Blues acts there so close to the artists that I thought I was playing with them. I always meet the coolest folks who know folks! Great selection of beverages and awesome sound acoustics. If you get a chance to see a live blues show at Blind Willies's you will remember for a long time to come! read more

Blind Willie's - Glen Edelson at Blind Willie's - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

It's all about the music really, the staff is friendly and the service good. It's the smoke. I cannot stand it, so I can't go there again. Sucks read more

I had a great time at Blind Willie's. It's nestled in Virginia Highlands in close proximity to several very douche-bag infested bars... but Blind Willie's was not douchey at all! The atmosphere was very laid back but there was a good sized crowd on a Friday night. I was lucky enough to see Ms. Sandra Hall, the Empress of the Blues. She was pretty much outstanding! She put on a great show, engaged the audience, and sang the blues like nobody's business. I would definitely recommend going on a night when she is performing. I am sure all of the other musicians are great too. Something has kept them in business for 27 years! The drinks were not the best in the city but they were priced right and the bartenders were friendly. There is also table service if you get there early enough to get a table. I felt like I was in New Orleans when I was here and it's nice to go to a bar in Atlanta that kind of takes you on a vacation, so to speak. I am looking forward to going back soon! read more

Blind Willie's - Ms. Sandra Hall, the empress of the blues. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Out from California to visit my grand daughter and had to go to a Blues club. I picked a good one! Had great conversations with the bartender and door man about the Blues. Last nights singer Brandon Reeves was great on guitar and vocals Purchased two t-shirts and hope to get back for another night before heading home. Keep the Blues alive! read more

Would have given the place a 5 but the cigarette smoke is a bit much. Great experience. The blues and jazz is here is authentic. We lucked out as the night we arrived there was local talent from Atlanta. Sandra Hall and The Shadows were playing. Sandra hall is a charismatic lady and very flirtatious with the audience. One lucky (white) guy was motored boated and I'm sure this was the experience of his life. Sandra's voice is robust and full and filled the entire room. Her presence and pain/pleasure in her voiced speaks to her performance ability and life experience. Every night of the week is a great night to attend as there are many performances throughout the week. We will be back. read more

Blind Willie's - Daughter and father. Sandra Hall. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

What a treat. I am so glad we decided to hit the east side of town that night. We loved it and will be back.

A must go-to place whenever I am in Atlanta. Been coming to Blind Willies for about 10 years. Genuine Blues with reasonable drink prices, a friendly staff and crowd. While I appreciate the food isn't the greatest ... for fries and small items it's fine. Wouldn't plan for a dinner though. Come here for the music, the drinks and the company. It's a great experience! read more

Blind Willie's is a must do Blues/Jazz spot in the Atlanta area. The Wednesday night jam sessions are unforgettable, and the dancers keep the energy moving all night. The bar is well kept and the drinks are incredibly reasonable! We had 6 drinks and sweet potato fries and only came out $33 lighter. Bring a dance partner and an appetite, and you'll be sure to enjoy this local hangout! read more

The atmosphere here was great. Loved the band for the night we went. We ate dinner before the show I got the hot wings and the buffalo flavor was on point. This is a from Louisiana critique that kept us from NC icing five stars. My boyfriend got the jambalaya. It was good, but not jambalaya. More of an étouffée, definitely was not bad but don't get into expecting jambalaya. read more

Pretty cool spot. Good staff. The band was ok. It's just a free and fun atmosphere I guess.

Blind Willies is cool-small quaint place to listen to jazz. We took my step daughter there for a fun night out. Food was good but much needed appetizers and vegetarian options other than sweet potato fries. They were awesome by the way! Almost every item on menu has meat . Drinks were okay but they were out of my top two choices for some reason. Parking in the back is very limited so go early like we did. Got the last spot!! read more

The house band called The Shadows is fantastic! They have backed Francine Reed and many other vocalists as well. The guitarist is a virtuoso and the sax player who doubles on vocals and harmonica, really know how to lay down some blues. The food is good, the beer is cold and the prices are reasonable. Small venue is a great place to listen to some great music and enjoy your evening. read more

A dive bar yes, old black man singing as I walked in and very drunk people on the dance floor trying to keep rhythm with the music...ha ha ha ...what an awesome experience. I will definitely go back. And the drinks were good as well. read more

I gots the ATL Blues baby! Forty days, and forty nights! Ain't nobodies business I say, it ain't nobodies business, but my own. Big boss man keepin me down. Ain't got no job, ain't got no home. I gots the ATL Blues baby, give that dog a bone. (Guitar solo so good the blind can see!) My amateur attempt at Blues writing aside, I'm here to report, the Blues are alive and well here in the deep South! We saw a band called the Shadows last night, and you can take it to the bank... you're going to get your $12 worth! 5 hours straight these cats wailed on into the night! Did they tire? Did they break? Hells no! The only thing they got... was 'better'! The audience fueled by that demon alcohol, crescendos into an orgy of dancing just as my faith in the human race gets restored! This gin joint keeps it's promise! Live music every day but Sunday! I'll be back, and I'll be back often! read more

I love this place, the only bad thing is the smoking. If you luck out and get a non-smoking crowd it is an awesome place to have a couple of drinks and enjoy some live music. I've been several times now and am never disappointed with the music or the staff. If they would eliminate smoking the other 95% of the audience would really appreciate it and we would go more often. read more

Live local blues-jazz music, cheap drinks, decent food all the while in a chill atmosphere.... this place is a total gem!! I was taken here on a Friday night and thankfully it was not crowded. There was a mixed crowd, a small cover (that is worth it), and a small area to dance (very entertaining towards the middle of the night when people are starting to feel the alcohol). I suggest getting there early to grab a seat, it can be limited and crammed the later it gets. Anyone who appreciates music the way I do, will definitely appreciate this place... all these reviews are spot on to what kind of enjoyment this place can bring on any night of the week (except Sundays of course)! read more

Chick Willis is a great "bluesman" as I was reminded on Saturday 1/22/11. It's always a fun and good time when Mr Willis performs. And, it's an even better time when he plays with his own band. We all know times are rough and music venues are cutting back in every way they can and also trying to keep their house band working. Sorry to say it is an in justice when a "bluesman" of Chick Willis caliber cannot play with his own band and he does have one. The Shadows have been the "house-band' for HouseRocker Johnson at Blind Willies for so long, they feel they can back any performer sufficiently and have proven that they cannot. For one thing, they played at two volumes for the two sets I was there- which was too loud and waay too loud. So, that's two volumes most of the night, which made it damn near impossible to speak in my "inside voice." For another thing they are too busy showing off, there was practically no room for the headliner to stretch out to do his thing - what he really does best, what the people really came to hear. They played all over his lyrics and never really broke it down, if you know what I mean. Or, did I miss that? A really good back-up band or house band knows how to sparkle just enough to make the stars look great! I always forget that smoking is allowed at Blind Willies. I was recovering from a bad case of cabin fever that night so I was hoarse and nursing a wicked cough. My goodness, I thought I was gonna cough up a lung. I guess it's a good thing pipes and cigars aren't allowed there. I would have given them a 4 had it not been for the smoking. Chick Willis is a great performer and he knows how to capture a crowd and keep them captivated. Blind Willie's is an Atlanta treasure. It seems all they really need is a Class A house-band. read more

Great blues, good drinks, good food. How can you go wrong with this place?? FYI-- I tried coming here with my parents before I was 21 to listen to some music, but they wouldn't let me in. Had the same experience a different time at Moe's and Joe's down the street as well. It's a shame that those under 21 can't enjoy some good blues! If you have kids and want to expose them to some good blues, I suggest you go to Fat Matt's on Piedmont or Maddy's on Scott Blvd (Decatur). They have good blues and BBQ. However, if you are over 21, can't go wrong with Blind Willies! read more

This place is a gem in the Highlands. Walking around outside you may feel like you are in yuppie-ville but once you step into Blind Willie's the crowd changes into a more diverse (age, culture, style) crowd that can appreciate good live music. I went on a Saturday night date and it was crowded but, we only had to wait 10 minutes before snagging a table. The drinks were cheap and the live music was good. The place was clean and everyone was friendly. The band that was playing hailed from New Orleans and you could feel the soul in their voices. For a low key, intimate night, check it out. read more

Fun little dive in Virginia High Points. Great house band with a cool guest. Awesome server! read more

Blind Willie's - The band! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I've always had such a good time at this bar. Think chill atmosphere, live bluesy-jazz in the background (and no, not the sad, mellow kind) cool, mid-twenties to thirtys crowd and dancing ladies up front. The dancing ladies are usually me and my girlfriends...but I definitely encourage more to join ;) You're either swing dancing, twirling on your toes or shaking it down in a sandwich. Not too much room up there to be kicking back your heals but just enough to get cozy with your partner and shimmy down. The drinks are cheap and so is the couple dollars of cover, the people are friendly and the jazz is always really great. One of my Highlands FAVsss. read more

This place does NOT close at 12:30 a.m. on Fridays. It does have incredible live music, a friendly staff, great drinks and a retro, classy vibe. Don't let the $12 cover charge (or the incorrect yelp hours) discourage you; it's worth the trip. Step back in time, and enjoy a comforting bar with too much soul to control. Blind Willie's is the place to be. read more

This place is perfection. Well, if it had a dance floor it would be perfect because the house band, The Shadows, is awesome - even before the waitress began supplying us with an uninterrupted series of drinks. Great ambiance and small venue. Get there before 9 to get a good seat. I plan to make this a regular stop every time I visit Atlanta. P.S. Okay, nevermind trying to be a regular there. We went two weeks later and the band played the exact same songs in the exact order as last time. Had me friend not brought his brother it woul have felt like deja vu. read more

Pretentious, fake, and frothy. These are NOT the words to describe Blind Willies. This place is a straight-up, blues bar dive. It's just what it should be. I caught part of the first set by Trampled Under Foot from Kansas City - a solid trio. There were a surprising number of people for a Thursday night and the music was also on point. There was a cover charge. We easily found free street parking, but I think we got lucky. The music is loud (as it should be), but not ear-piercing or headache-inducing. For you out-of-staters like me, smoking is still permitted in bars here. Although I'm happy Georgia just lifted the ban on Sunday alcohol sales so I'm not a total prude, they really need to clamp down on the smoking. Cigarette smoke contains significant levels of radioactive material. Don't believe me? I understand. I thought it was BS until I did some research. Whatever the case, there was plenty of cigarette smoke at Blind Willies. I kept the drink order simple with just a Bourbon neat. They have a small menu of food that I didn't try because we were going to Holeman and Finch later. read more

This place is famous for blues. It opened in 1986, and has been the center of the blues scene in Atlanta ever since. They have live music six nights a week (often 7 nights as they open most Sundays in the summer); the music usually starts up at 9:30pm. Cover charge can be as low as $3. Their website has a calendar with the charge for each night. Full bar, table service, food served, and smoking allowed (It's a blues joint, people - that's the way it should be! And I don't smoke). The tables are packed in to leave a bit of room for dancing. Weeknights are chill, weekends are slamming. Service is inconsistent in my experience. It's an institution. Real blues is played here, and the crowd is really diverse, both ethnically and age-wise. I love Blind Willie's. read more

Great new experience!! We went last night to watch The Shadows play their set. Our waitress, Anne, was one of the top 10 waitresses I've ever had!! She answered every question in full, tended to our every need (party of 7), and nevertheless made sure we were having a great time. Not sure if it was just a rare occasion for there to only be one waitress there at night, but she handled it with grace! Menu is great and affordable, and all the drinks were spot on- kudos to the bartender too! We had a mix of wings and chicken fingers, all which were very good and came at a timely fashion. However, we did order our food before the band played (and a bigger crowd showed up,) so this might have worked in our favor. As mentioned in previous reviews, this place does allow inside smoking, and while as a respiratory therapist, it didn't make me thrilled at all, I had such a great time, I can't think of rating anything less than 5 stars. read more

If you like smoky bars with close up personal entertainment, this is your kind of place. Emily the waitress is absolutely fantastic. For me, don't allow smoing and I would be there once a month ... read more

I've only been to Blind Willie's once, but it was a great evening. I went with a small group of friends. We got a table in the back and ordered a round of beers. The performers that night (I can't remember their names) included a large black woman with a voice deep alto voice who performed from the comfort of a wooden stool, and a short energetic black man who looked like Al Sharpton but sounded like James Brown would have if he ever went gospel. People sat at small tables scattered in front of the stage, but before long tables were being pushed aside to make room for dancing. The cover that night was $10. It was worth every penny. read more

Things you can't go wrong with--live music, a great crowd and strong drinks. All the while these strong drinks and loud blues are inducing some non-dancers and dancers alike to get up and groove. With all of these things happening, all signs point to a great night. In order to escape some of the typical Highlands bars Blind Willie's has become my go-to-place. Blind Willie's has the usual band who never disappoints, but often time brings in other blues favorites. Depending on who is playing and what night it is, you may want to get there early because seating is limited and can be a little squished. However, there isn't a bad seat in the house. I think any music fan can appreciate some good blues music, so this is a great local place to bring in any out-of-towners! So go in, park yourself at a table, and enjoy one of the best spots in Va-Hi. read more

Had a great time on a Saturday night. The cover was $12 for a guest singer whose name I can't recall but apparently is a GA Music Hall of Famer. The place was perfect for a blues bar, and the only negative was how packed it was. This is mainly because I wanted to dance, but kept getting side-eye from folks that I was close too. This one lady even tapped me and my date, told us that she didn't want to "grind" with us. -__- It's a blues bar, not a gala where you can reasonably expect not to be touched. We brushed against her like twice. Sooo, couldn't dance like I wanted until some people left; we stole a table and got the space we needed to do our thing. The band played excellently and the guest singer had us in good humor. Drinks weren't that strong though, and I didn't eat so can't comment on the food. Will be back mostly for music and that dive feel, probably drink elsewhere first and arrive early enough to grab a seat! read more

I almost gave this place 5 stars but the $15 cover really made it impossible for me. This place was fun but not "$15 per person with nothing in return" fun. I am told that the cover is not normally that high but you can check on their website at their calendar to see what the cover will be each night. They had live music the night we went and the place was packed (standing room only). The music was great, the people were happy, and the whole place had a great vibe. Even the waitress who had to constantly ask us to move so that she could get by (sorry!) constantly had a smile on her face and was super sweet. Would go back again and dance to the band for sure. read more

Blind Willie's is an old school bar where the focus is on the music on stage versus the shenanigans that happen at other bars in the Highlands. You're almost guaranteed to see great music on any night. There are lots of tables spread out around the stage and a small bar in the back. One thing I love about this bar is the table service. No need to run back and forth to the bar while you're trying to listen to some excellent jazz, blues, or rock. Fair covers, great music, and good beer prices make this a winner in my book. Shout our to Too Slim who played on the night I was there and really rocked it! read more

Looking for a laid-back crowd with some live, local blues and strong drinks? Blind Willies it is! This joint is totally my kind of scene - small bar, little dance floor, good beer, live jams. Sadly, I came on a Monday night, and that meant it was nearly dead, and cabbies don't usually know where it is if they're picking you up in Buckhead - but if I LIVED in ATL, this is the kind of place I would regularly frequent. read more

Amazing food and music. My husband and I had a blast listening to a local band while enjoying this beers and chicken tenders. Can't beat the price! read more

My husband and I went on a Saturday night, and I must say the place was a real treat! Great blues, crowd and gumbo! Very casual and relaxing atmosphere with friendly staff. I would definitely go back again for jazz and blues!! read more

Blind Willie's - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

See all

No matter if its a visiting act or the house band you cant go wrong in this little blues joint. There is a reason its one of the best in the country. Simple, straight forward, gritty and honest...just like the blues thats played here. House Rocker and the Shadows are amazing. Ive seen Buddy Guy, BB King and Kenny Wayne Shepherd multiple times and I can say I enjoy watching Luther Johnson nearly as much...maybe as much because its so up close and in your face. Keep making those guitars sing boys! read more

Horrible service, if you're going in a big group for the first time fresh off an airplane well then I suggest you go elsewhere! We were charged $15 a Person and it we didn't even get offered water! We left and all the bouncer had to say was "well what do you want me to tell you" HORRIBLE!!!!!! I gave it ONE star just to be able to post my review but they don't even deserve that. read more