The World Famous

At the historic Hot Corner in downtown Athens, The World Famous is a bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue that has been a longtime local favorite. Go to see the showstopper rotating lineup of local comedians and musicians, but stay for the world-famous Chicken and Waffle Club, a crispy piece of fried chicken sandwiched between two waffles doused in hot sauce. With reasonably priced cocktails, great food, and lively nightlife, expect to have the complete Athens experience at The World Famous.

This brick-walled dive in downtown Athens boasts a regular lineup of local indie musicians, and people of many different strokes frequent at all hours of the day and night, as it's open from noon to midnight seven days a week. The World Famous is also "famous" for its food and beverage selection, including cocktails in Mason jars, affordable beer, lunch favorites such as the chicken-and-waffle club sandwich, and late-night snack offerings (get the pretzel bites with local honey-mustard sauce). facebook.com/theworldfamousathens, 351 N Hull St, Athens, GA 30601

Late Night at The World Famous: Being a college town, there’s no shortage of late night eats in Athens, but for something chef-driven and much more delicious than those stale hot dog stands, head to The World Famous, where a globally inspired menu is made up exclusively of dishes meant to be eaten with your hands. Be sure to try the spicy fried chicken club sandwich (it’s served on a waffle bun!) and the flavor-packed steamed pork buns. Live music is the cherry on top.

The other Athens restaurants listed in Thrillist.com’s “20 Best” include The Place, El Barrio, The Expat, The Table Bistro, Home Made Catering, South Kitchen & Bar, The National, Last Resort Grill, Mama’s Boy, Pulaski Heights BBQ, Georgia Theatre Rooftop Bar, Five & Ten, Trappeze Pub, The Grit, The World Famous, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Seabear Oyster Bar, Cali N Tito’s, and Pauley’s Original Crepe Bar.

There are still downtown favourites like Manhattan Cafe and The World Famous serving honest mixed drinks in the historically Black business district known as Hot Corner – which is anchored by the Morton Theatre, where Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington once played. Around the corner, Creature Comforts Brewery, opened in a former tyre store, attracts a growing number of craft connoisseurs.

Located at 351 N Hull St., this restaurant is "famous" for its food and beverage selection, along with the lineup of music. "This brick-walled dive in downtown Athens boasts a regular lineup of local indie musicians, and people of many different strokes frequent at all hours of the day and night, as it's open from noon to midnight seven days a week," the article stated.

Dream Boat: “WF is an insanely fun room- an intimate venue that sounds fantastic and treats all the bands like rockstars. The bar serves drinks with fresh juices and delectible schwarma and fries. It is home to very special events sometimes curated by Dottie Alexander and James Huggins, part time Dream Boaters and full time fun freaks.

As you’re walking down Hull Street, you may happen upon an intriguing and welcoming big red sign, saying “This is it!. ” Trust your instincts and walk right in because The World Famous truly is “it”. I’ve said time and time again that there is no cuisine better than well-made bar food and The World Famous validates my hypothesis.

This intimate venue is a great place to listen to local music, sample creative cocktails and share plates of food from around the world. Everyone loves the Bento Box and Poutine. This article was first published in The Red & Black's spring 2022 Eat & Drink special publication.