Athens, GA - The Globe

The Globe on a hot, steamy night in Athens, GA.

The Globe: The quintessential college town bar

What did we have: Paulaner Hefeweizen and Belhaven Scottish Ale

What's fun: A comfy, cozy, friendly bar with great location, with good beer, wine and food.


If you're looking for a location to shoot a film with a storyline about a college town bar where faculty and graduate students gather to share a cold beer and talk department politics, the Globe would be the place.  Think Good Will Hunting and you can imagine the atmosphere you'll find there.  It's the perfect bar for a cold beer on a hot summer night in Athens, Georgia.  The Globe has been a mainstay in downtown Athens since 1989.  Selected as one of  best bars in the country by Esquire magazine, the Globe has been a favorite of ours since we relocated to Athens 18 years ago.  Located on the corner of two busy streets in Athens, and just a couple of  blocks away from Trappeze (another great bar reviewed earlier), it's the ideal place for a quick stop when you're bar hopping, or to settle in for a pleasant evening with good friends, food and fun.  It has a comfortable feel like an British pub.  Since often groups of friends and colleagues gather at the Globe, there are long tables and cozy seating areas with sofas and rocking chairs, As I said, it's a very comfortable bar. There is an upstairs seating area for those who choose to sit apart from the crowds.  It is usually busy during the academic year, but slows down in the summer when the student population shrinks. The offerings include 12 beers on tap, most are mainstays, with only a couple that rotate in and out. Wine is available by the glass or the bottle and there is a nice selection of both domestic and imported.  They also offer a full bar, with excellent Bloody Mary's and Mojitos on special most of the time.  I think their Margaritas are the best in town.

A Belhaven Ale and Paulaner Hefeweizen. 

What did we have: I mentioned it was a hot steamy night, and I couldn't imagine anything more tasty than a Paulaner Hefeweizen.  Always refreshing when served with an orange slice.  My husband ordered one of his favorites, a Belhaven Scottish Ale. Both those beers are standards, as are Guiness, Harp, Warsteiner, Smithwick's, Terrapin Golden, Fuller's ESB, Palm and Chimay White.  They carry 62 beers in bottles. Everything from Pabst Blue Ribbon for $1.75 to Chimay Blue for $9.  We did not eat at the Globe on this visit, but have done so many times in the past.  I always enjoy the Tandori grilled chicken salad and my husband likes the bratwurst.  The Globe is known for their tasty burgers.  On Friday evenings they often offer a nice spread of complimentary bread and cheese. You have to come early before the crowds arrive and quickly devour all the free food.  The dessert choices are limited, but they do have a notable Red Velvet Cake, which is actually chocolate flavored, and very tasty.

The bar at the Globe is a friendly place to hang out .

What's fun:  At the Globe it's all about the comfortable feeling you get when you walk in the door.  Everyone feels welcomed and the mix of people include the local characters, academics, business folk, students and visitors.  It is most fun when you come with a crowd or meet up with friends.  It's a rare occasion when we walk in the Globe and don't see someone we know.  If you're visiting Athens and want to know more about the town, stop in at the and strike up a conversation with a local.  You should be able to find out anything you want to know. You can stay for an hour or stay all night, I promise you'll enjoy your time at the Globe.
(Please note that the website for the Globe is currently down.  When it's up again, I'll provide a link.)

The wine list at the Globe is a good one.