15 Best Bars in Atlanta
Atlanta has so many ingredients that make it a perfect drinking city: relentless thirst-inducing heat and humidity, diversity, urban sprawl, and a fun-loving set of locals. In the past few years, craft cocktail bars in Atlanta proper and the surrounding suburbs have attracted national attention, but quirky standbys and eccentric dives (one in particular known for its, um, strip shows) define Atlanta’s drinking culture. From the time you arrive at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Terminal C, Concourse E, that is), here’s where to quench your thirst throughout Atlanta.
Dave CrawfordbarSister Louisa's Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium
$Named after a fictional nun who got kicked out of her convent after falling in love with the janitor, this oversize bar is as eccentric as the character who inspired it. Sticky vinyl booths and sofas, quirky artwork (like portraits of Jesus overlaid with neon commentary), and scattered yet somewhat abrasive lighting make this dive feel like your oddball cousin's apartment. Equal parts sacrilegious and kitsch, Church is Atlanta's best dive to totally unwind, judgement-free.
Henri HollisrestaurantHoleman and Finch Public House
$$Tall booths create a cozy vibe at this gastropub, which prides itself on helping guests escape the realities of the outside world with great food, great drinks, and a sleek ambience. Trendy cocktails incorporate interesting homemade syrups in flavors like cactus and blackberry, and the bartenders, all cocktail nerds, are ready to engage in deep conversations about the merits of certain whiskies. The best menu items are Southern-style shareable bites, like pimento cheese, fried oysters and pickles, and meat and cheese platters.
barMary's
$Mary's isn't trying to be cool—it just is. The lively, slightly offbeat LGBT bar, which opened in 1998, attracts all types of people, many of whom are ready to dance or belt out '90s pop hits, karaoke-style. Mary's charm doesn't lie in its plastic cups or collage-style papered walls; rather, it's the regulars, many of whom have been calling this bar home for the better part of two decades.
Dave CrawfordrestaurantRation and Dram
$$Ration and Dram feels like the type of bar that was built to become a neighborhood hangout. It's cozy and clean, with a spacious wooden patio and neutral wooden tables, crown chairs, and sparse decor. Regulars and neighbors are at the heart of this craft cocktail and beer bar. Some people show up to watch Braves games on TV; others wander in hoping to see familiar faces. Drinks include well-made craft cocktails, wines, and beers.
Andrew Thomas LeerestaurantLadybird Grove and Mess Hall
$$Located next to the Atlanta BeltLine, Ladybird's heavily wooded cabin and expansive patio could be confused for a glamping site instead of a restaurant and bar. Groups lounge on picnic benches or recline on beach chairs under yellow umbrellas during the daytime, or beneath a canopy of twinkle lights at night. Indoors, just enough taxidermy, nature-inspired murals, and exposed Edison bulbs offer the type of urban-outdoorsy decor that city-dwellers love.
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Clermont Lounge
$Skeezy would be a generous term to describe this cash-only dive where absolutely no photos are allowed, but that's part of its enduring charm. Each night, women of all ages, ethnicities, and body types get up on the U-shaped bar to dance, take some clothes off, and then take them all off, all without a hint of shyness about approaching PBR drinkers for paid lap dances. As for drinks, your best bet here is cheap canned beer.
Erik MeadowsbarThe Porter Beer Bar
$$If you love beer, you'll feel right at home amid the neat rows and stocks of bottles at the Porter Beer Bar. Dozens of taps behind the main bar rotate through a lineup of local and imported kegs. You've likely never encountered these bottled or draft beers, many of which are made locally with unusual hops or ingredients. But ask questions and don't be afraid to solicit recommendations from the bartenders, who aren't afraid to geek out beer—after all, that's why they're here.
Chris LittlebarCity Pharmacy
$$Located in an antique 1920s building that once housed a drugstore, City Pharmacy is a trendy restaurant that's fast becoming a beloved Atlanta destination. The cocktail menu here is partitioned into shaken, stirred, fountain, and parlour drinks, with each category featuring slightly updated renditions of classics as well as distinct in-house creations. The Cherry Bourbon Phosphate is fun for those embracing the soda-fountain theme, and mixed-to-order sodas as well as ice cream floats can also be spiked on request.
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Johnny's Hideaway
$$Dating back to 1979, Johnny's is a nightclub for those who have outgrown nightclubs but still want to let loose. A Frank Sinatra–themed room and an area paying tribute to Elvis Presley establish a nostalgic feel, and nightly DJs spin tunes from all different musical eras. The bar itself isn't fancy—a disco ball looms over a dance floor and albums and framed photos of music legends adorn the walls—but that doesn't stop the crowd from dressing up.
Jonathan PhillipsbarThe S.O.S. Tiki Bar
$$S.O.S. Tiki Bar's dark banquettes and dim lamps don't necessarily scream "beach," but that first sip of punch from a hot-pink plastic cup or glass goblet adorned with flaming fruit transports you to more tropical turf. Tiny hula statues and colorful plants add to the tropical ambience, but it's the drinks—all colors of the rainbow and served in photo-worthy glassware—that really bring home the theme. Although S.O.S. serves beer and wine, you're really here for the fruit- and rum-based drinks.
Andrew Thomas LeerestaurantKimball House
$$Located in a former train depot, Kimball House embodies Southern decadence and elegance in a tastefully understated way. Small taxidermy on bookshelves complements glossy black banquettes and Art Deco–style hanging fixtures. An annual James Beard nominee since it opened in 2013, Kimball House is very much on the radar of food and drink enthusiasts passing through Atlanta. Regulars also flock here for the whiskies, the freshly shucked oysters, and, on special occasions, the absinthe.
James CamprestaurantOne Flew South
$$$Airport bars are typically good for two things: Killing time before your flight takes off and letting alcohol ease your travel anxiety. One Flew South is the rare exception. Despite the fact that it's located across from a food court, the bar offers elegant cocktails, international wines by the glass, and sushi you shouldn't be dubious about eating. In addition, there are Japanese-inspired appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and heartier entrees like a salmon hot pot. They're all eons better than any in-flight meal.
restaurantArgosy
$$East Atlanta has its fill of gastropubs, but Argosy stands out with its 7,500 square feet of ship-like wooden space, communal tables, private booths, and sizable patio—all perfect for sipping craft beers with friends. You're here for beer—the seasonals, new releases, and local brews you likely won't taste anywhere else. Share your taste preferences with bartenders and don't be shy about trying various small pours until you land on the perfect pint.
Courtesy JoystickbarJoystick Gamebar
$The clanging of Dolly Parton-themed pinball and the beeping of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game welcome visitors into this bar, which is known for its nostalgia-inducing atmosphere. Dozens of games are available to play, with most costing just 25 cents per round. House cocktails are more sophisticated than you'd might expect from an arcade bar, with house-made chai soda starring in a whiskey concoction and a fizzy mezcal-and-liqueur drink echoing the fun mood.
Don Riddle/Courtesy Bar MargotrestaurantBar Margot
$$$Located inside the Four Seasons Atlanta and adorned with blue tufted armchairs and round red-accented booths, Bar Margot is slightly peculiar yet stylishly appointed—the perfect embodiment of Margot Tenenbaum, the fictional Wes Anderson character who inspired its name. House cocktails are sophisticated yet playful; the Split Personality, for instance, allows you to select a spirit to mix with bitters and vermouth. Other cheekily named cocktails—also odes to Wes Anderson—are complex yet not overly fussy.
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