New to the Atlanta hotel scene, Drawbar cocktail bar and lounge inside the Bellyard is becoming a popular spot to grab drinks along busy Howell Mill Road. The bar resides on the third floor and features an outdoor terrace and serves food from chef Christina Wai. As for drinks here, look for a menu filled with classics, alongside original concoctions, wines by the glass, beer, and nearly 250 spirits.

With views of the Porsche Experience track below and planes landing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport beyond it, outdoor dining on the rooftop patio at the Kimpton Overland Hotel features Mediterranean fare paired with classic cocktails. 

For one of the best views Atlanta has to offer, head straight to the top of the Glenn Hotel and into SkyLounge bar and its patio. The 360-degree bar is enclosed in glass, so even on the chilliest of evenings, one can still enjoy a cocktail. The bar offers a limited food menu, too. For dinner, check out Glenn’s Kitchen located just off the hotel lobby.

A truly unique experience in Atlanta, the iconic Sun Dial restaurant atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza gives diners a birds-eye view of the city skyline from 723 feet above the street. For those seeking drinks before or after dinner, grab a seat at the bar here or in one of the lounging areas.

Visitors can sip on Prohibition-style cocktails at the dramatic circular bar inside Hotel Indigo-Downtown. Cocktail names pay homage to the late John Portman, the architect responsible for much of the Atlanta skyline. Local booze purveyors like O4W Distillery and 18.21 Bitters make appearances on the menu here, along with local beers. Enjoy bar bites with that round of drinks, including a Georgia meat and cheese board and a wide array of grain bowls.

Located in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Downtown, the Lumen Lounge fills the space with comfort and ease. Live jazz provides a quiet background for the cocktail menu brimming with classic drinks. A well-crafted Manhattan surpasses flashier cocktails on the menu here. Order a charcuterie plate featuring meats from Atlanta’s the Spotted Trotter and Georgia’s Calyroad Creamery cheese.

Located on the roof of the AC Midtown and the Moxy hotels, High Note does not take itself too seriously, with drink names like Patio Pounder and Zoomed In and Zoned Out. But that doesn’t mean the cocktails here aren’t serious, while still keeping drinks fun with unexpected flavors.

The Four Seasons Hotel’s Bar Margot is a solid choice to immerse oneself in a Wes Anderson film. Named for the iconic Margot character in Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums”, the cocktail bar shares her 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 hotel home while in town shooting a movie or TV series.

Located in the lobby of Midtown’s swanky Loews Hotel, the bar at Saltwood is lively and often filled with guests and neighborhood residents alike. Make sure to check out the salad bar at Saltwood during lunch for one of the best deals in town.

Looking for an excuse to pull out the Sunday best? Head to the St. Regis Bar in Buckhead. Gin martinis and champagne are the order here. Settle in amongst the dark wood and leather to sip and enjoy. The St. Regis Bar is also perfect for a pre- or post-meal libation if dining at the hotel’s restaurant, Atlas.

This is where to head for a bit of quiet and classic hotel bar ambiance while sipping on cocktails like a gimlet, coconut pecan old fashioned, or a martini. Mr. B also serves local beers and wines by the glass, as well as bar bites, including a rosemary ham sando, a burger and fries, and tomato risotto arancini.

The Marriott-backed Hotel Colee in Buckhead includes rooftop patio and bar Whiskey Blue. The bar includes a 66-foot mural from Atlanta artist Chris Veal, rows of leather sofas flanking the windows, and a violet backlit indoor bar. Out on the patio, there’s a full bar and a large seating area with views of the city skyline.

While French-American restaurant Tiny Lou’s gets a lot of the attention, and the rooftop bar sometimes sees lines stretching well past the elevators on weekends, the Lobby Bar at the historic Hotel Clermont is low-key and just right for an evening of drinks with friends. Sleek, moody, and dark, the cocktail menu here leans classic and bourbon-focused, with cocktails like martinis and Manhattans, alongside the bar’s original concoctions.