Athens GA Bars Open Sunday (2026) (2026)
Sunday in Athens does not have to wind down early. Whether you are catching a late brunch cocktail, watching the afternoon pass over a craft beer, or settling in for live music before the week restarts, the bar scene from College Ave to Prince Ave stays lively. These are the Athens bars most worth knowing for a Sunday out.
Last updated: April 25, 2026
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South Kitchen + Bar is a contemporary American restaurant and bar on East Washington Street in downtown Athens, Georgia. The menu features Southern fare served in a handsome space with stained glass windows, tile floors, and marble columns. With over 1,600 Google ratings, it is one of the most consistently reviewed bars in Athens.
Hendershot's is a coffee bar and live music venue on Prince Ave in Athens, Georgia, housed in a converted gas station near the Normaltown corridor. It serves a casual Southern menu alongside craft coffee and full bar service throughout the day. The venue is a fixture on the Athens independent music circuit and draws regulars on Sundays for both its drinks and programming.
Seabear Oyster Bar is a seafood restaurant and bar on Prince Ave in the Five Points area of Athens, Georgia. The menu centers on oysters and eclectic seafood dishes paired with a well-curated cocktail list. A popular happy hour draws a consistent crowd, and the upscale-casual setting suits Sunday outings that run from late afternoon into the evening.
Walkers Coffee Shop and Pub is a coffee shop and tavern on College Ave in downtown Athens, Georgia, located steps from UGA's North Campus and the Arch. Daytime service covers coffee, pastries, and sandwiches before the space transitions into a pub atmosphere in the evening. The central College Ave address makes it one of the more accessible Sunday stops for anyone near campus.
Pauley's is a creperie and bar on East Clayton Street in the heart of downtown Athens, Georgia. The menu covers a broad range of sweet and savory crepes alongside sandwiches, wine, and craft beers in a casual cafe-bar setting. The East Clayton Street location puts it close to the College Ave and Broad Street intersection, convenient for a Sunday afternoon visit.
Wonderbar Athens is a video game lounge and bar on East Washington Street in downtown Athens, Georgia. Guests can play arcade games while ordering from a full bar, making it a low-key option for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The combination of games and drinks draws a mix of UGA students and longtime locals.
Manhattan Cafe is a cocktail bar on North Hull Street in Athens, Georgia, a short walk from the downtown core. The bar focuses on craft cocktails in a quieter, more intimate setting than the busier Washington Street and College Ave corridors. It suits Sunday visitors looking for a neighborhood-style cocktail experience.
Flicker Theatre and Bar is a bar and performance space on West Washington Street in downtown Athens, Georgia. The venue hosts live music, independent film screenings, and rotating art shows alongside a full bar program. It has served as a hub for Athens' independent arts community for years and maintains a loyal following on weekends.
The Old Pal is a cocktail bar on Prince Ave in Athens, Georgia, situated along the stretch connecting Five Points to the Normaltown neighborhood. The bar serves craft cocktails in a relaxed setting that leans toward the local residential crowd rather than the downtown bar strip. It operates as a quieter Sunday option west of the main downtown corridor.
The Local Take
Athens runs on two distinct bar geographies, and both stay active on Sundays. Downtown, the cluster around East Washington Street and College Ave gives you the densest concentration of options. South Kitchen draws a consistent crowd for Southern food and cocktails, Walkers transitions cleanly from a daytime coffee stop to a pub, and Wonderbar offers something you will not find at most bars on the street. Head west on Washington and you get Flicker Theatre, which splits its identity between a neighborhood bar and an arts venue in a way that works particularly well on low-key Sundays. Prince Ave runs a different current entirely. Hendershot's converted gas station anchors the Normaltown end of the strip with live music and a full bar, Seabear brings a seafood-and-cocktails format closer to Five Points, and The Old Pal fills the quieter cocktail niche for locals who live along that corridor. For a college town, Athens has a Sunday bar scene with enough range to cover anyone from a UGA student looking for a casual afternoon to a local who wants a proper cocktail in a quiet room.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What bars in Athens GA are open on Sunday?
Most of Athens' downtown bars operate seven days a week. South Kitchen + Bar, Hendershot's, Seabear Oyster Bar, Walkers Coffee Shop and Pub, and Wonderbar are among the reliably open options on Sundays. Hours can shift around UGA's academic calendar or seasonally, so calling ahead is always a safe move.
Are there bars open Sunday afternoon in Athens GA?
Yes, several Athens bars open in the early afternoon on Sundays. Walkers Coffee Shop and Pub on College Ave and Hendershot's on Prince Ave both run daytime service. Pauley's on East Clayton Street and Flicker Theatre and Bar on West Washington also tend to open earlier on Sundays.
Which Athens bars are closest to UGA's campus on Sundays?
Walkers Coffee Shop and Pub on College Ave sits closest to UGA's main campus, just off North Campus near the Arch. South Kitchen + Bar on East Washington Street is also within comfortable walking distance. Both are open Sundays and attract a mix of students and Athens locals.
Do any Athens bars have Sunday happy hour?
Seabear Oyster Bar on Prince Ave is well known for its popular happy hour, which draws a crowd and often extends into weekend service. Manhattan Cafe and The Old Pal both offer cocktail programs that reward repeat visits for specials. Check current hours and promotions directly with each venue, as offerings change.
What is a good Athens bar for a relaxed Sunday with live music?
Hendershot's on Prince Ave is the most consistent Sunday option for live music in Athens, with programming that often runs through the weekend. Flicker Theatre and Bar on West Washington hosts a mix of live acts, independent films, and art events that make for a low-key Sunday evening. Both keep full bar service running alongside their events.
Are there bars on Prince Ave open on Sundays in Athens?
Prince Ave has several strong Sunday bar options spread across the Normaltown and Five Points corridors. Hendershot's at 237 Prince Ave and Seabear Oyster Bar at 297 Prince Ave are two of the most popular. The Old Pal at 1320 Prince Ave serves the western end of the strip closer to Normaltown.