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Andrew Thomas Lee

13 Essential Atlanta Bars for Cocktails

These bars continue to churn out some of Atlanta’s best cocktails

by Beth McKibben Updated
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by Beth McKibben Updated
Andrew Thomas Lee

Unlike the cocktail heatmap, which lists the newest hip drinking establishments around town, this map lists the essential Atlanta bars continuing to dominate the city’s thriving cocktail scene. Each establishment mentioned — be it a bar at a restaurant or a standalone spot — brings something unique to Atlanta’s drinking culture, with some places listed below considered the cornerstones of ATL’s now booming cocktail scene.

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Aziza

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Tal Baum struck gold on Atlanta’s westside when she opened her “modern Israeli” restaurant Aziza in 2019, and that includes with the cocktails served from the bar. Expect drinks like the herbaceous Schug Shake made with tequila, lime, and chartreuse or the Levant Negroni, a drink mixing arak and Moroccan eau de vie mahia together with contratto bitters and blanc vermouth.

1170 Howell Mill Road Suite P10b, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 968-9437
(404) 968-9437

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Parlor

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This pre-Prohibition-style cocktail den in historic Castleberry Hill is named for and fashioned after the room found in most 19th-century homes, where people gathered following dinner to chat and sip digestifs. Cocktails on the menu here lean classic and toward spirits like mezcal, cognac, rum, and brandy. Expect a playlist spanning several genres, including soul, R&B, Afrobeats, hip hop, and house music, with DJs and dancing later in the evening.

249-A Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(678) 515-3423
(678) 515-3423

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Bar Margot

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Immerse yourself in a Wes Anderson film at Bar Margot in Midtown. Named for the iconic Margot character in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums”, the cocktail bar shares the same cool, retro aesthetic. Try the Lady Victoria made with vodka, lemon, cocchi americano, and rosemary while soaking in the moody vibe here. Keep an eye out for celebrities, too. They often call the Four Seasons Hotel home while in town shooting a movie or TV series.

75 14th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 881-5913
(404) 881-5913

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Talat Market

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Led by bar manager Adrian Fessenden-Kroll, the cocktails from the bar at this Summerhill Thai restaurant continue to shine bright. Leaning classic and enhanced by the use of Thai and southeast Asian ingredients, look for cocktails like the Talat G&T with hints of lemongrass or the Green Leaf made with mezcal, hibiscus, clairin, absinthe, and lime. For the martini lover, Talat Market offers the cocktail served with gin, vodka, or pisco. Blanc vermouth, dry madeira, pandan, artichoke, and orange bitters are then added to the drink, making this a brilliant twist on the classic. Ask about the daiquiri of the day, too.

112 Ormond St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 257-6255
(404) 257-6255

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The Lawrence

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This Midtown bar offers New York City cocktail culture coupled with Southern hospitality. Fronted by a team trained under co-owner and barman Eric Simpkins (who himself got his start at NYC’s Pegu Club under Audrey Saunders,) the Lawrence serves up modern takes on the classics and innovative originals built with base spirits such as sherry, Madeira, aquavit, and agricole rhum.

905 Juniper St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 961-7177
(404) 961-7177

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Biltong Bar

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The cocktails at the Ponce City Market bar rely heavily on rum, scotch, rye whiskey, and bourbon as base spirits accented with French vermouth, a variety of amari, and sherry. These drinks complement the meaty menu, too, which includes a selection of beef jerky (biltong), a chakalaka South African roll with spicy beer mustard, and crave-worthy parmesan, butter, and herb popcorn.

Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ne152, Atlanta, GA 30308
(678) 515-0620
(678) 515-0620

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Ticonderoga Club

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Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market is co-owned by three forefolk of Atlanta’s cocktail movement: Greg Best, Paul Calvert, and Regan Smith. Cocktails rotate regularly here, but T-Club’s mint julep riff, the Ticonderoga Cup, and an Irish Coffee are typically always on the menu, alongside drinks like the Cheshire Bridge with armagnac and herbal liqueur or the Borrowed Time mixed with small batch bourbon, dark rum, and sorghum syrup.

Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St NE W, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 458-4534
(404) 458-4534

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Little Spirit

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Little Spirit in Inman Quarter is adorned with pieces by local artist Erica Arndts depicting musicians like Tupac, the Notorious B.I.G., and David Bowie as Renaissance-era patron saints who watch over the cocktail bar. The drinks menu rotates frequently here to focus on seasonal and classic cocktails. Food at Little Spirit leans into bar bites like pimento cheese and chorizo with Ritz crackers, hot dogs, and a grilled cheese on Texas toast.

299 North Highland Avenue Northeast r3, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 600-5895
(404) 600-5895

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Octopus Bar

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This East Atlanta bar, owned by chef Nhan Le (Fishmonger, So Ba), is a popular late-night hangout for industry workers in search of a great post-shift meal and equally great cocktails in a punk rock atmosphere.

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 627-9911
(404) 627-9911

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Dead End Drinks

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Labeled a neighborhood establishment, Dead End Drinks (formerly named Ration and Dram) is run by Holeman & Finch alum Andy Minchow and has been drawing the cocktail faithful since it opened in 2014. This bar takes the word “craft” seriously, serving up cocktails containing genever (Dutch malted gin,) agricole rhum, brandy, and pisco, along with classics like the Old Fashioned and Martini. Visit for the rainy day drink specials, too.

130 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(678) 974-8380
(678) 974-8380

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The S.O.S. Tiki Bar

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A tropical oasis in the heart of Decatur, S.O.S. is a modern take on classic bars like Trader Vic’s. Tiki staples such as the mai tai, zombie, and painkiller are all on the menu here, as are a few S.O.S. originals and a vast selection of rums.

340 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-9308
(404) 377-9308

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Leon's Full Service

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One of the first craft cocktail bars in Decatur (and sibling to Brick Store Pub,) Leon’s has seen a few of Atlanta’s finest behind its bar at one time or another. Does Miles Macquarrie (Kimball House) ring a bell? The bar program continues to focus on classic cocktails as well as its extensive local beer list thanks to its Brick Store ties in Decatur.

131 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 687-0500
(404) 687-0500

Also featured in:

Kimball House

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No Atlanta “best-of” bar list these days would be complete without Kimball House. Located in a renovated train depot in Decatur, the bar has been nationally recognized for its elegant twists on the classic drinks, Champagne and absinthe services, and seasonal cocktails full of ingredients straight from the restaurant’s garden. Oh, and its oyster selection is the best in town.

303 E Howard Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 378-3502
(404) 378-3502

Also featured in:

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Aziza

1170 Howell Mill Road Suite P10b, Atlanta, GA 30318

Tal Baum struck gold on Atlanta’s westside when she opened her “modern Israeli” restaurant Aziza in 2019, and that includes with the cocktails served from the bar. Expect drinks like the herbaceous Schug Shake made with tequila, lime, and chartreuse or the Levant Negroni, a drink mixing arak and Moroccan eau de vie mahia together with contratto bitters and blanc vermouth.

1170 Howell Mill Road Suite P10b, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 968-9437
(404) 968-9437

Parlor

249-A Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313

This pre-Prohibition-style cocktail den in historic Castleberry Hill is named for and fashioned after the room found in most 19th-century homes, where people gathered following dinner to chat and sip digestifs. Cocktails on the menu here lean classic and toward spirits like mezcal, cognac, rum, and brandy. Expect a playlist spanning several genres, including soul, R&B, Afrobeats, hip hop, and house music, with DJs and dancing later in the evening.

249-A Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(678) 515-3423
(678) 515-3423

Bar Margot

75 14th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Immerse yourself in a Wes Anderson film at Bar Margot in Midtown. Named for the iconic Margot character in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums”, the cocktail bar shares the same cool, retro aesthetic. Try the Lady Victoria made with vodka, lemon, cocchi americano, and rosemary while soaking in the moody vibe here. Keep an eye out for celebrities, too. They often call the Four Seasons Hotel home while in town shooting a movie or TV series.

75 14th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 881-5913
(404) 881-5913

Talat Market

112 Ormond St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Led by bar manager Adrian Fessenden-Kroll, the cocktails from the bar at this Summerhill Thai restaurant continue to shine bright. Leaning classic and enhanced by the use of Thai and southeast Asian ingredients, look for cocktails like the Talat G&T with hints of lemongrass or the Green Leaf made with mezcal, hibiscus, clairin, absinthe, and lime. For the martini lover, Talat Market offers the cocktail served with gin, vodka, or pisco. Blanc vermouth, dry madeira, pandan, artichoke, and orange bitters are then added to the drink, making this a brilliant twist on the classic. Ask about the daiquiri of the day, too.

112 Ormond St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 257-6255
(404) 257-6255

The Lawrence

905 Juniper St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

This Midtown bar offers New York City cocktail culture coupled with Southern hospitality. Fronted by a team trained under co-owner and barman Eric Simpkins (who himself got his start at NYC’s Pegu Club under Audrey Saunders,) the Lawrence serves up modern takes on the classics and innovative originals built with base spirits such as sherry, Madeira, aquavit, and agricole rhum.

905 Juniper St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 961-7177
(404) 961-7177

Biltong Bar

Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ne152, Atlanta, GA 30308

The cocktails at the Ponce City Market bar rely heavily on rum, scotch, rye whiskey, and bourbon as base spirits accented with French vermouth, a variety of amari, and sherry. These drinks complement the meaty menu, too, which includes a selection of beef jerky (biltong), a chakalaka South African roll with spicy beer mustard, and crave-worthy parmesan, butter, and herb popcorn.

Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ne152, Atlanta, GA 30308
(678) 515-0620
(678) 515-0620

Ticonderoga Club

Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St NE W, Atlanta, GA 30307

Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market is co-owned by three forefolk of Atlanta’s cocktail movement: Greg Best, Paul Calvert, and Regan Smith. Cocktails rotate regularly here, but T-Club’s mint julep riff, the Ticonderoga Cup, and an Irish Coffee are typically always on the menu, alongside drinks like the Cheshire Bridge with armagnac and herbal liqueur or the Borrowed Time mixed with small batch bourbon, dark rum, and sorghum syrup.

Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St NE W, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 458-4534
(404) 458-4534

Little Spirit

299 North Highland Avenue Northeast r3, Atlanta, GA 30307

Little Spirit in Inman Quarter is adorned with pieces by local artist Erica Arndts depicting musicians like Tupac, the Notorious B.I.G., and David Bowie as Renaissance-era patron saints who watch over the cocktail bar. The drinks menu rotates frequently here to focus on seasonal and classic cocktails. Food at Little Spirit leans into bar bites like pimento cheese and chorizo with Ritz crackers, hot dogs, and a grilled cheese on Texas toast.

299 North Highland Avenue Northeast r3, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 600-5895
(404) 600-5895

Octopus Bar

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

This East Atlanta bar, owned by chef Nhan Le (Fishmonger, So Ba), is a popular late-night hangout for industry workers in search of a great post-shift meal and equally great cocktails in a punk rock atmosphere.

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 627-9911
(404) 627-9911

Dead End Drinks

130 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Labeled a neighborhood establishment, Dead End Drinks (formerly named Ration and Dram) is run by Holeman & Finch alum Andy Minchow and has been drawing the cocktail faithful since it opened in 2014. This bar takes the word “craft” seriously, serving up cocktails containing genever (Dutch malted gin,) agricole rhum, brandy, and pisco, along with classics like the Old Fashioned and Martini. Visit for the rainy day drink specials, too.

130 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(678) 974-8380
(678) 974-8380

The S.O.S. Tiki Bar

340 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030

A tropical oasis in the heart of Decatur, S.O.S. is a modern take on classic bars like Trader Vic’s. Tiki staples such as the mai tai, zombie, and painkiller are all on the menu here, as are a few S.O.S. originals and a vast selection of rums.

340 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-9308
(404) 377-9308

Leon's Full Service

131 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

One of the first craft cocktail bars in Decatur (and sibling to Brick Store Pub,) Leon’s has seen a few of Atlanta’s finest behind its bar at one time or another. Does Miles Macquarrie (Kimball House) ring a bell? The bar program continues to focus on classic cocktails as well as its extensive local beer list thanks to its Brick Store ties in Decatur.

131 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 687-0500
(404) 687-0500

Kimball House

303 E Howard Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

No Atlanta “best-of” bar list these days would be complete without Kimball House. Located in a renovated train depot in Decatur, the bar has been nationally recognized for its elegant twists on the classic drinks, Champagne and absinthe services, and seasonal cocktails full of ingredients straight from the restaurant’s garden. Oh, and its oyster selection is the best in town.

303 E Howard Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 378-3502
(404) 378-3502

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