Hi-Lo Lounge

The best vegan food in Athens! Friendly, helpful staff. Loads of options. The falafel wrap is amazing, (it reminds me in the very best way of The Grit's falafel wrap). The fries are DELICIOUS. The vegan hot dog is spot on. Definitely a go to in Athens!

This place feels like home and we are grateful for Hi-Lo. Incredibly delicious veg and vegan options. Get the Reuben! Get the veg chili cheese coney! The fries? GET REAL SO GOOD. Don't forget to check the drink specials and soup/grilled cheese on the board! It's always a good day if Kelly is working! Listen, kind people with conscience and backbone work here. One of the last places left that feels like "old" Athens in the best way. Thank you, Hi-Lo, for being a home away from home for so many. And thank y'all for always doing what's right. This place is run by good people and it's apparent in their staffing, ethos, and quality of food/bev offerings. LONG LIVE HI-LO!

Everyone who works here is amazing and the food and drinks are fantastic! If you want to see what Athens is truly like, go here! Hi-Lo is more than just a bar, but a place for community. I love how welcoming to everyone they are and they don't just stand by when the world is scary. I love how they support local organizations, like the Athens Immigrants rights coalition. When criminals, like Ice, are abducting people off the street, it's great to know there are safe spaces, like Hi-Lo. Love you Hi-Lo!!!!!

Had the best vegan Reuben I've ever had. The 1,000 island sauce was awesome! They also have a decent beer selection on draft (Low Key IPA by Two Tides brewing pictured).

We loved this place! Casual atmosphere and our kids were comfortable wait here too at 6pm on a Saturday night. Good beers and delicious food with vegan options. The vegan Reuben was great! Yummy fries!

I love the food. I love the customer service. But, why the sign that says ice isn't welcome? I come to a restaurant to relax, unwind, and to not think about politics. If you say one group isn't welcome, just cause a few bad apples, then also say no doctors (since if you watch the news you hear plenty of horror stories about them). Say no employees of any multi billion dollar companies (since we all know how shady their dealings are outsourcing overseas for cheap/slave labour, and by being employed with them, you are basically saying you are okay with the business and it's practices). Say no to police (cause of their few bad apples) Say no to drug addicts and criminals (no brainer?) Say no to people who drink at your bar and drive afterwards. Where do you draw the line? I won't be back.

Fantastic serving staff, really great food and a great vibe! 100% recommend! There is something on the menu for anyone, and I haven’t had a Coney in 20 years, but their vegan option put me on the boardwalk! Our main server on Friday the 15th was so professional, so knowledgeable, and so friendly that I wish I could remember her name so I could laude her properly! We will be back the next time we’re in Athens!

Such a fun dive bar with a surprising number of vegan and vegetarian options. The drink menu is extensive and the food options are creative and tasty. We went with the vegan cheese coney and the drunken noodle bowl with tofu. We also had the “ish” mocktail and a glass of the vinho verde. Everything was very tasty! It’s not a 5 star restaurant, but the food was great, prices were good, and the service was fast. I’ll definitely return next time I’m in the area.

Great local gathering place with good food and full bar. Late evenings and Sundays very popular

Great little divey place for Cincinnati-style chili and sandwiches & beer choices are good. Locals know it well -it's been serving the neighborhoods around Normaltown for decades-and it looks the part., Food: 5 stars for their Cincinnati-style chili on French fries , by the bowl, or with hotdogs. Sandwiches are always good size and tasty. We like their Reuben and Rachel as well as the various BLT's. Food is a strong point. Service : Staff are very pleasant and the service is quick. Facility: 2- star (Sorry-but it's true) Old interior, but they have attempted to keep it serviceable. The bathrooms are a good reason to use hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands, IMHO. Lots of various beer cans for decor. Location: Very conveniently located on main thoroughfare just outside Athens in Normaltown between the hardware store and the Mexican restaurant. A few parking spaces on the street, more in the rear.

Full of hippies, however their food is pretty good. If you're a Trump fan, avoid Hi-Lo Lounge...

We were in Athens for the first time and joined some local friends at Hi-Lo Lounge! It was a really cool place with a more unique menu than I was expecting. My fiancé and I both got local Creature Comforts beer, which is always superb. I got the grain bowl with chicken and my fiancé got the drunken noodles. I liked my grain bowl, huge portion and really tasty chicken. It felt a bit more just like a Chipotle bowl than a "grain bowl" per se, but still tasty. We shared some fries with green goddess sauce which were amazing. Service took a little bit, but it was very friendly. This feels like a solid neighborhood spot with lots of fun tap beers, a variety of food options, and a friendly atmosphere. Would recommend!

Honest Review. There's some creepy old men in there. Kitchen had closed early for cleaning. Left because HUNGRY. Walked a bit - found safety in an Italian Sando from Firehouse Subs. It was fire. Five Stars to Firehouse

We stumbled across Hi-Lo Lounge completely accidentally, but we enjoyed it so much I'm going to keep it in my bookmarks for the next time we're in the neighborhood! Tip: This place is very Vegan-friendly; lots of tasty options on their menu :-) The food and service are both excellent!  I strongly recommend either the French Dip or the Ruben sandwiches - both are outstanding.

If you're looking for a gritty joint with a ton of local feel, this is it! Service at the bar was great, beer was cold, and food was ok. It has a lot of character and very little bs, which - personally - I prefer. To sum it up, more than a bar, Hi-Lo is a vibe.

Best spot in Athens to grab a drink! A great beer selection on draft and in cans, and a tasty cocktail menu to boot.

One of the most underrated places in Athens. I went there on a weeknight for dinner and a drink. I arrived early to get some homework done, and it was a shockingly great place to get work done. I could see myself going back to study some afternoon. I ordered an old fashioned and the falafel sandwich. It was delicious. I can't wait to try it again!!!

Love this local neighborhood spot! Visited with friend Brian in July who's lived here 15+ years & knows everybody that works at Hi-Lo. We ponied up to the bar, packed at 6:30 pm. I sat next to a local dude, with his laptop perched on the bar. Up above, a TV aired The Andy Griffith Show, with the sound turned off. Classic - we made up the dialogue as we ate & drank... Carrie our bartender was awesome. I inquired about what I thought was a Peach Milkshake, when in fact it was a Peach Milkshake IPA BEER. She gave me a taste: it smelled heavenly & tasted yummy - lots of peach flavor...but still "beer" & this chick ain't a beer fan :D. No worries b/c they offered many other adult beverages: a chalkboard posting a variety of ginger-themed drinks and a signature cocktail, the Whippet. Grapefruit juice, vodka, lavender syrup & some other sassy ingredients combined to invigorate this tourist who had just walked around downtown in the heat/humidity for two hours. Tuesday night's Soup: Kale/White Bean, & Featured Sandwich: Gruyere Grilled Cheese. Yummers! One of our other bar mates raved about his veggie hot dog with coleslaw. They serve about six different hot dogs and you can choose a veggie or Hebrew National for your dog. I ordered their Cheese Coney Dog, topped with homemade chili, cheese & onions. Delicious - & I don't typically eat hot dogs. Brian said the soup was healthy and offset the two beers he ingested. We almost made it to 8:30 Trivia but were too tired to stick around. Next time! Comfy atmosphere + good food + incredible beer, cocktails AND wine selection = Absolute Athens Experience!

Great bar in Normaltown with amazing vegan options! The vegan ruben is to die for and the service is great. If you want to watch any of the UGA games without the fuss of going downtown it's a good spot to chill.

The kind of place that doesn't need Yelp reviews because it's regulars take care of business. The falafel sandwich was one of the best I've ever had. Green goddess sauce paired perfectly with the dill in the pickle. And the falafel itself did not taste overly oily or fried. Pita was fresh and held everything together!! I could probably go back today and get another sandwich it was that good! Bar staff was friendly and accommodating

We love this place! Excellent food, with a ton of vegan options. We actually come here for the food more than the bar.

Best falafel in town. Kale salad is perfect. Great vegan options and amazing beer menu. We are fans.

Somebody told us about this place and knew we needed to try it. Got there right when they opened on Saturday at noon. Already had people at the bar. This is bar that serves good food. You order at the counter and grab a number for your table. I got the Ruben with fries, and my wife got the chili, slaw, and cheese dog with fries. My Ruben was excellent with a lot of kraut and thousand island dressing which I like. The chili on her dog was Cincinnati style which has cinnamon and clove spices which she is not a big fan of. I happen to like this style of chili. We both had fries and they were great. Crispy with a good taste. Really enjoyed the place and our food. Look forward to trying some of their beers and cocktails.

I'm new to Athens, but I think I've already found a bar to call home. Hi-Lo's atmosphere is very chill and welcoming, the falafel plate was delicious, the drinks were amazing, and the service was fast and super friendly. I will definitely be back!

Hole in the wall but great food. Except the house salad $7 was officially the worst salad; pure lettuce. That's it. You order at the register, grab a table & they bring your food. That simple. Went for brunch and it was packed though! It was noisy which made for a fun ambiance. It's basically a big restaurant with a huge faded couch in the middle of a bar. Nothing impressive but the regular food was great, all be it pricey and portions were smaller than normal.

What great vegan sandwiches they have! We enjoy them every summer when we visit relatives in Athens. The TLT (tempeh lettuce and tomato), the veg burger, the vegan reuben, and the vegan po boy (fried mushroom sandwich) are all delicious. Our many non-vegan relatives loved it all, too. Lucky Athens.

Amazing vegetarian options, yummy food, quick service, and friendly employees. Check it out!

Great place to stop for a craft beer or cocktail! Love this place, great local spot! Try the Reuben!

A fun and funky bar and grill in Normaltown, Athens. They had a great beer selection, a varied menu and lots of fun games available for play. We weren't here to play though, we were here to eat and drink and that we did! We ordered the fried cheese appetizer, some fish and chips, a corndog and a couple of local brews. Everything was super tasty and I would love to go back and try more of the menu!

This is my favorite vegan meal in Athens. The oyster mushroom po' boy is what dreams are made of and I'm not being that dramatic. Pair it with the kale side salad for a bright flavor to balance the loaded sandwich. It's perfect every time. You just have to try it. Trust me. Have a small snack before you go because it's not a quick eats place but it's worth it.

Always love the menu! Vegan corndog is amazing and Fritz made a perfect Bordiga Appertivo Spritz

Wow. This place has one of the best vegan sandwiches in the country. I travel the country heavily eating vegan (check put my other superb reviews) and am a Professional Yelp Reviewer so "I Am The Law". I am the vegan police you have heard about except I punish vegan friendly places that make crap food. Hi lo has an Oyster Mushroom Po Boy sandwich that is stunning. Executed simply, it is a toasted roll with lettuce, tartar sauce, and seasoned battered and fried oyster mushrooms. This only loses to a sandwich in Portland and that says a lot. Athens georgia is literally in the middle of nowhere and they whipped out this long dong and beat me with it in the mouth. They also have a vegan corn dog which is literal trash food and absolutely incredible. And cheap. $3 while if it were in LA it would be $15. Congratulation Hi Lo, all you have to do now is never screw it up.

Their COVID standards are top notch. Masks on except when you are seated and lots of sanitizing going on. I can't say enough positive things about this place. I came for the first time three weeks ago. I've now been back over 5 times. Their food is SO GOOD. Get the fries! If you're a vegan try the falafel sandwich or oyster mushroom po boy!! Their drinks are top notch as well as their staff. Those negative reviews seem to be from super entitled people.

Divey vibes and good food. The oyster mushroom po'boy is great and they have some of the best fries ever. Drink prices are cheap and the selection is great. One of my faves- wish it were in Atlanta!

Came with a group of five. There were 2 vegans among us so one ordered the falafel and the other a tofurkey sandwich. Although the falafel was delicious, the tofurkey fell extremely short of expectations. In her words and my personal taste as well, it was like chewing on a sponge with some seasoning on it. The rest of us ordered hot dogs (one naked, 2 coneys) and found them to be good but nothing particularly special -- but for the cost and service it was well worth it, and I was just craving a good hot dog! The fries that can be added on for only $2 more were absolutely delicious though. Overall worth the trip and a re-visit!

Thank you for taking measures to keep your customers, staff and community safe! The staff at HiLo are wonderful. The cocktails are delicious. The pub feel makes it seem like home. The food is always amazing. We love the French dip. Support local businesses!

Stopped in for brunch. It was fantastic. Yummy drink specials. Laid back atmosphere. We will be back

Met a friend for Sunday brunch at Hi-Lo after a night out in Athens. We arrived at around noon, and the place was packed. There were people drinking, eating, chatting. A fun and loud atmosphere with a DJ with plenty of seating options (booths, couches, outdoor). It seems like a great place to just grab a drink and chill during the evening. The service for brunch is set up like Jason's Deli, Tin Drum, etc. You order at the front and receive a numbered sign to place on your table for a server to bring the food. Everything else is self-service. I ordered a B.E.A.C.H sandwich, and the Special Cornmeal Pancakes for the day (German Apple; $4). I did not expect the place to have such great food! The sandwich was delicious, a bit too small, but at only $6, it's expected. Standard with bacon, egg, avocado, and cheese. The German Apple Cornmeal Pancake, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon and filled with soft cooked apples, was a perfect sweet finish to the meal! Seriously... If you want to try different types of food, I would highly recommend getting the B.E.A.C.H and a cornmeal pancake. If you're vegan and vegetarian, most of the brunch menu is accommodating. The place was kind of loud, so it was difficult to talk to my friend across the table, but no complaints. It's a lounge with a DJ or live music. What do you expect? There was also a box of trivia cards on our table. I'm not sure if they have games at every table, but it was fun to play during our wait. Hi-Lo is definitely worth a visit if you're in Athens, whether it's for a drink or a bite to eat!

Another place that was packed with a ton of people. Not located in the downtown area. We had to drive and then look for parking in a residential area. Not that hard. Place was super loud on a Thursday night. We met some friends that just happened to be in Athens the same time we were, crazy!!!!! I was very excited when I found out that they serve veggie dogs with veggie chili. Killer!!! I ate the whole thing along with my stout beer. *drool* The people of Athens have a good thing going for them. I'll call this place a hit.

You know, I have to give this 5 stars, too! There's a real reason that this place has stellar reviews- they are great to their customers and know what they're good at. Yes, this can seem a bit grungy at first glance. With the word "lounge" in the title, I hope you weren't expecting a salad fork. However, the assumptions that come along with a "lounge" restaurant are not accurate either. This place has decisions food at affordable prices. TONS of veggie options. Great breakfast choices. The avocado breakfast Sammy was good and the sandwiches looked delish. I would love to try a salad here next time. Great beer selection and when I asked about a pumpkin one, they happily looked for me. Yum! Awesome servers and so much fun with friends playing the complementary board games they have.

A group of friends and I sat at Hi-Lo for brunch and lunch on one Sunday. We drank our fill in delicious beers and cocktails and ate some delicious dishes. Myself and 3 other friends were vegan and were delighted to have some tasty options. The vegan hash was quite good and the polenta was a nice addition. Once we had brunch we decided to just hang out, drink, and wait for the lunch menu to come in to effect. Once lunch came around I ordered a vegan chili coney, vegan caramel corn, and my boyfriend ordered the fries with veggie dogs, jalapenos and onions. All of it was great bar food. Other vegans at the table were delighted to find out that they could do a vegan corn dog.

One of the best bars in Athens, especially for those seeking a more chill, relaxed, and adult-but-kid-friendly atmosphere than is typically found downtown. The list of beers on tap is always interesting, but prices are good. The food selection is excellent, and very veggie/vegan friendly. The only downside is that it's closed on Monday, but that's just a chance to check out one of the other near by spots. The hours currently state that Hi-Lo is closed from 3-4pm on Sundays, but that's not accurate: the kitchen is closed, but the bar is open and often populated with people playing games, watching tv, relaxing on the couches, or studying.

I really enjoy being at this bar. They have a great selection of bottled beers and lots of awesome local beers on tap. They also keep Original Sin cider on tap and have a great cocktail menu. My favorite cocktail is the Clementine. Hi-Lo serves food as well and has an old school pub feel in that people line up at the bar to order drinks and food instead of just squeezing in where they can and wagging money until a bartender notices them (you can do that too though). One of the owners is vegetarian, so there is a vegetarian or vegan option for just about every item on the menu. The Oyster mushroom Po'Boy is probably my favorite vegan menu item - that thing is a giant beast of a sandwich that I've never been able to eat with my hands. Oh yeah, it tastes great too. My favorite meat entree is that damn 3-way chili! I kinda hate how much I love it because I haven't tried much else on the menu! It's basically spaghetti topped with Cincinnati chili and a MOUNTAIN of cheese. I never though I'd say that I "love" chili that's got cinnamon and chocolate in it, but I do. I love that chili. I refuse to beg for a recipe because I don't trust myself to make it as good as Katie does. My god. That chili. My 2nd favorite meat entree is the salchipapas, which is a sliced hot dog deep fried with french fries, served with chopped onions and either cilantro or parsley (can't remember at the moment). It's basically this drunk girl's dream. Also good - a damn corn dog. Hand dipped, $3, can't beat that. This place was long overdue in Normaltown, which really needed a place to get real food late at night. You can tell the place was wanted as well - it's practically always full of humans on most nights, sometimes it can be a pain to be in there if space gets too tight. Hi-Lo earned and deserves all of it's success and I love going there. Karaoke is always fun, and the Oscar party was a blast and should be a yearly event - there was trivia and tuxedos! I had an awesome time getting drunk at the bar alone and heckling the tv while getting every question wrong. No joke, I have a blast here.

An extremely good restaurant/bar. Great food and lighting and people. It's cozy and comfortable but really nice, too. Family friendly - there are often townie kids running around, which maybe isn't what everyone looks for in a bar, but I really love it. I have a hard time believing Hi-Lo hasn't always existed. How did we survive?

We visited the Hi-Low Lounge while on our business trip. What a great little place! The service was friendly, accommodating, and attentive. The food tasted great! There were a lot of vegan options. I also enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere. This is a great place to hang, collaborate, and spend time with friends.

The best for drinks or food. Weekend Brunch or dinner. Chinga el Muro is a great drink if you like tequila

I ordered the Old Fashioned, another friend ordered a Cosmo, and another ordered White Russian. We all tried each other's and they were spot on. I was excited that they serve Cincinnati Chili. It was just like up north . It's a great place to meet up with friends or a date night.

I repeatedly come back to this place. I'm a meat eater, but I always order their vegan or vegetarian food because it tastes better than the meat dishes! Their garlic fries are awesome. There's always some special on tap or drinks. Trivia on Tuesdays is always fun!

The Reuben is amazing! I have had pretty much everything on the menu and never a bad meal.. they always have a good rotation of draft beer on tap..

This is my favorite bar/eatery in the Normaltown area of Athens. They serve Phickles in their Bloody marys and also on their CHOWHOUND Hotdog! Get the Parmesan truffle fries! They also have a collection of board games and karaoke some nights. Good selection of vegan foods too and burgers! Yummy burgers!

The food is well priced and decent. The beer is over priced for the poor selection and the drinks are poorly made. The bartender/manager with long red beard is the rudest individual. Doesn't care about any customers. The only reason to come here is a hot dog, otherwise it sucks and the service is awful

I enjoy stopping by here for a beer when in town visiting my mom. It was super crowded at brunch the Sunday I went last. Also pretty hipster and man they love to smoke on that little patio. Nice staff but sometimes feel if you're not a regular you have to wait a while to get served from the bar staff. However they eventually get to you.

Hi-Lo is a solid lounge with great food, great environment, and great spirits! Go to Hi-Lo for great times! And oh yeah, tell 'em big texas sent you :)

Good local beer selection. A variety of hotdog selections and the garlic fries are the best. The reason they get 3 stars is due to their customer service. The bartender there was unpleasant and short when asked about the beer selection.

Massively huge selection of beverages to choose from. Great food. We had an issue with our order, and they went above and beyond to take care of it, even though it wasn't a big deal.

Hands down my favorite bar from my recent Athens trip. They have awesome food!! The veggie dogs are AMAZING! They also have a great selection of beer and spirits. The staff was great and the atmosphere was just as awesome. I will for sure being going back to Hi-Lo on my next trip to Athens.

Excellent brunch, great vegetarian options