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Three cocktails from Paper Crane Lounge at Staplehouse
Paper Crane Lounge
Ryan Fleisher

The Essential Atlanta Cocktail Bars

These essential bars continue to dominate Atlanta’s cocktail scene

by Beth McKibben Updated
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Paper Crane Lounge
| Ryan Fleisher
by Beth McKibben Updated

Unlike the cocktail heatmap, which lists the latest hip drinking establishments around town, this map lists the essential Atlanta bars continuing to dominate the city’s thriving cocktail scene. Each bar mentioned here brings something unique to Atlanta’s drinking culture, with some considered the cornerstones of ATL’s now booming cocktail scene.

Don’t see a favorite cocktail bar listed? Reach out to Eater Atlanta via the tipline.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.
If you book a reservation through an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Himitsu

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Himitsu is Umi Sushi’s semi-private, Japanese cocktail lounge with a drinks menu created by world-renowned bartender Shingo Gokan. A reservation is necessary to get into this bar, but once inside the scene is dimly-lit and sexy. Cocktails are made with everything from Asian whiskeys and baller cognacs to floral gins. Co-owner Farshid Arshid once described the vibe of the bar as “a place where James Bond and Sammy Davis Jr. would meet for a martini.”

Two Buckhead Plaza, 3050 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

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Biltong Bar

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The cocktails here rely heavily on rum, scotch, rye whiskey, and bourbon as base spirits accented with French vermouth, amari, and sherry. But these drinks complement the meaty menu, which includes a selection of beef jerky, tandoori chicken wings, and a hot chicken sandwich. Every Tuesday evening, Biltong-Buckhead transforms into a tiki bar featuring food like pork short ribs, banh mi sliders, and crab rangoon paired with Mai Tais and fog cutters.

306 Buckhead Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
(678) 927-9272
(678) 927-9272

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Empire State South

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With an extensive wine list curated by sommelier Steven Grubbs and cocktails by beverage director Kellie Thorn, chef Hugh Acheson’s Midtown restaurant has a lot to offer the Atlanta drinker. This well-rounded bar program lists everything from Champagne and hard-to-find cognacs to whiskey and gin cocktails made with exacting precision.

999 Peachtree St NW #140, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 541-1105
(404) 541-1105

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The Lawrence

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This bar offers New York City cocktail culture coupled with Southern hospitality in the heart of Midtown. Fronted by a team trained under owner and master 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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Leon's Full Service

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One of the first craft cocktail-focused 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.

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

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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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8ARM

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This Virginia-Highland establishment quickly became an essential cocktail spot in Atlanta when it opened in 2016. The walk-up, covered bar is housed in a converted shipping container and features dayglo lighting and a mural full of palm fronds. New wave bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and The Cure (pre-Wish album) play overhead. The cocktail menu here is filled with both treasured and obscure classic cocktails.

710 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(470) 875-5856
(470) 875-5856

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Lobby Bar at Hotel Clermont

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The Hotel Clermont’s slick cocktail bar just off of the lobby offers a solid list of classics like martinis and Manhattans on its menu as well as original cocktail concoctions. The moody Lobby Bar and its adjacent parlors also serve food, including a burger and oysters.

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(470) 485-0485
(470) 485-0485

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Bon Ton Atlanta

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Bon Ton is hard to miss on Myrtle Street. The lavender painted building located across from Mary Mac’s Tea Room is the first indication there’s something a bit mischievous about this Midtown restaurant and its bar. Make it a point to order a cocktail here. Bon Ton’s version of the New Orleans rum-based hurricane is as strong as those found on Bourbon Street. The Crescent City’s earliest cocktail, the sazerac, is on tap. There’s even a section dedicated to frozen drinks, including a Vietnamese meets Irish coffee mash-up.

674 Myrtle St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 996-6177
(404) 996-6177

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:

Ration and Dram

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Labeled a neighborhood establishment, Ration and Dram is run by Holeman & Finch alum Andy Minchow and has been drawing the cocktail faithful since it opened in 2014. This Kirkwood bar takes the word “craft” seriously, serving up cocktails containing genever (Dutch malted gin,) agricole rhum, brandy, and pisco. Visit for the rainy-day drink specials or boozy brunch cocktails on the weekends.

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

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Ticonderoga Club

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To be a member of this Krog Street Market cocktail club, one simply has to walk in, grab a seat, and order a drink. Ticonderoga Club is 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 always on the menu.

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

Also featured in:

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 cognac, rum, and brandy.  

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

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Octopus Bar

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This East Atlanta bar, owned by chef Nhan Le (8Arm, 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. Open 10:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

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

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Himitsu

Two Buckhead Plaza, 3050 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Himitsu is Umi Sushi’s semi-private, Japanese cocktail lounge with a drinks menu created by world-renowned bartender Shingo Gokan. A reservation is necessary to get into this bar, but once inside the scene is dimly-lit and sexy. Cocktails are made with everything from Asian whiskeys and baller cognacs to floral gins. Co-owner Farshid Arshid once described the vibe of the bar as “a place where James Bond and Sammy Davis Jr. would meet for a martini.”

Two Buckhead Plaza, 3050 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Biltong Bar

306 Buckhead Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

The cocktails here rely heavily on rum, scotch, rye whiskey, and bourbon as base spirits accented with French vermouth, amari, and sherry. But these drinks complement the meaty menu, which includes a selection of beef jerky, tandoori chicken wings, and a hot chicken sandwich. Every Tuesday evening, Biltong-Buckhead transforms into a tiki bar featuring food like pork short ribs, banh mi sliders, and crab rangoon paired with Mai Tais and fog cutters.

306 Buckhead Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
(678) 927-9272
(678) 927-9272

Empire State South

999 Peachtree St NW #140, Atlanta, GA 30309

With an extensive wine list curated by sommelier Steven Grubbs and cocktails by beverage director Kellie Thorn, chef Hugh Acheson’s Midtown restaurant has a lot to offer the Atlanta drinker. This well-rounded bar program lists everything from Champagne and hard-to-find cognacs to whiskey and gin cocktails made with exacting precision.

999 Peachtree St NW #140, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 541-1105
(404) 541-1105

The Lawrence

905 Juniper St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

This bar offers New York City cocktail culture coupled with Southern hospitality in the heart of Midtown. Fronted by a team trained under owner and master 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

Leon's Full Service

131 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

One of the first craft cocktail-focused 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.

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

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

8ARM

710 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

This Virginia-Highland establishment quickly became an essential cocktail spot in Atlanta when it opened in 2016. The walk-up, covered bar is housed in a converted shipping container and features dayglo lighting and a mural full of palm fronds. New wave bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and The Cure (pre-Wish album) play overhead. The cocktail menu here is filled with both treasured and obscure classic cocktails.

710 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(470) 875-5856
(470) 875-5856

Lobby Bar at Hotel Clermont

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

The Hotel Clermont’s slick cocktail bar just off of the lobby offers a solid list of classics like martinis and Manhattans on its menu as well as original cocktail concoctions. The moody Lobby Bar and its adjacent parlors also serve food, including a burger and oysters.

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(470) 485-0485
(470) 485-0485

Bon Ton Atlanta

674 Myrtle St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Bon Ton is hard to miss on Myrtle Street. The lavender painted building located across from Mary Mac’s Tea Room is the first indication there’s something a bit mischievous about this Midtown restaurant and its bar. Make it a point to order a cocktail here. Bon Ton’s version of the New Orleans rum-based hurricane is as strong as those found on Bourbon Street. The Crescent City’s earliest cocktail, the sazerac, is on tap. There’s even a section dedicated to frozen drinks, including a Vietnamese meets Irish coffee mash-up.

674 Myrtle St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 996-6177
(404) 996-6177

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

Ration and Dram

130 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Labeled a neighborhood establishment, Ration and Dram is run by Holeman & Finch alum Andy Minchow and has been drawing the cocktail faithful since it opened in 2014. This Kirkwood bar takes the word “craft” seriously, serving up cocktails containing genever (Dutch malted gin,) agricole rhum, brandy, and pisco. Visit for the rainy-day drink specials or boozy brunch cocktails on the weekends.

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

Ticonderoga Club

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

To be a member of this Krog Street Market cocktail club, one simply has to walk in, grab a seat, and order a drink. Ticonderoga Club is 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 always on the menu.

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

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 cognac, rum, and brandy.  

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

Octopus Bar

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

This East Atlanta bar, owned by chef Nhan Le (8Arm, 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. Open 10:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

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

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