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

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. 

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.

Located on the first floor of this circa 1906 building, now home to the Candler Hotel, the elegant bar at By George serves classic and original cocktails on the menu, many incorporating French spirits like cognac, armagnac, eau de vies, and calvados. Or grab a seat and sip on a glass of burgundy, chenin blanc, or champagne.

Located on the ninth floor terrace, Aerial Kitchen and Bar serves dishes, raw bar selections, and cocktails inspired by the foods and flavors of South America and Mexico. Aerial’s design is meant to resemble a garden with outdoor lounge seating, an open-air bar, and poolside cabana service for guests of this Midtown hotel.

Bar Margot is a solid choice in which 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 on the bottom level of the Hilton Downtown, this classic Atlanta restaurant and bar offers a menu filled with tiki cocktails, including the Mai Tai, Trader Vic’s Grog, the Zombie, and the frozen Peachtree Punch — an original to the Atlanta location. The bar also serves spins on daiquiris and standard margaritas, both frozen or on the rocks.

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.

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.

Dine outside at Willow Bar on the ground floor and sip on spritzy cocktails in a secret garden. Want drinks with a view? Head up to the ninth floor to St. Julep for highballs, G&Ts, and aperitif cocktails, and even boozy soft serve ice cream. For a bit of sophistication, linger at the bar in the hotel restaurant the Betty and order new and classic takes on steakhouse dishes paired with whiskey, bourbon, and gin cocktails.

This charming lobby bar at the Thompson Hotel in Buckhead features both classic and custom cocktails on its menu which tends to lean hard into the seasons. Take a seat at the petite bar here or in the lounge area for quiet conversation over drinks. Headed next door to the hotel’s Italian-American restaurant Dirty Rascal for dinner? The restaurant offers an equally impressive cocktail line-up at its bar, including a martini served classic, dirty, or steakhouse style.

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.