Backed by Anita and Howard Hsu, the owners behind Sweet Auburn BBQ, Gezzo’s takes over the former Juniper Cafe space and is an extension of the siblings’ McDonough and Locust Grove West Coast burrito joints of the same name. Order everything from Baja chicken egg rolls and tempura fish tacos to coconut curry rice bowls with blackened shrimp. Expect tropical drinks from beverage director Shauna Whitson and her team, like a peach paloma and habanero margarita, an orange creamsicle mojito, and a classic Mai Tai. For folks looking for nonalcoholic options, order one of the fresh agua frescas. And make sure to pop over to the La Michoacana window on the patio for Mexican-style ice cream or a spicy mangonada.

Drew and Brittany Fancher, the owners of mobile bar business the Aero Bar Atlanta, opened this cocktail bar and lounge at the Works in June. And it offers not one, but two spots to imbibe. Expect a mix of original and classic cocktails, including takes on the Hemingway daiquiri, the Sazerac, and Tuxedo and cocktails like the Sweet Symphony with gin, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur, watermelon oleo-saccharum, and lime yuzu FeverTree tonic. Snack on charcuterie and cheese boards, ceviche, and lobster frites in the main bar and lounge at Forum or book time in the intimate, reservation-only cocktail bar located at the end of a narrow hallway.

The wild success this Atlanta seafood restaurant now enjoys started in Poncey-Highland last year, followed by a second, larger location at the Pratt Pullman District in Kirkwood six months later. Now, a third location is open on Howell Mill Road, having taken over the former La Fonda space. Backed by restaurateurs Skip Engelbrecht and Nhan Le (So Ba, Octopus Bar) and chef Bradford Forsblom, expect a similar menu of fish dishes, ceviches, and sandwiches at the Howell Mill Fishmonger as in Kirkwood. This includes cocktails from Caleb Grubb like the saffron-laced painkiller, a take on an espresso martini made with coffee fruit vodka, and the Kamakazen mixed with Japanese whisky, yuzu dry curaçao, and sake. Poncey-Highland location is BYOB. Howell Mill and Kirkwood locations feature full bars.

Carmel is the latest restaurant from restaurateur Tal Baum (Aziza, Atrium, Bellina Alimentari,) with food taking inspiration from the coastal communities of California, the Yucatan Peninsula, and Baum’s upbringing near Mount Carmel, Israel. (Think ceviche and tuna tartare, lobster cannelloni, Bacalaito crab fritters, and snapper a la talla roasted in the restaurant’s wood-burning oven.) The bar, overseen by longtime Oliva Restaurant Group beverage director Demario Wallace and Baylee Hopings, continues the coastal theme in the cocktails using base spirts of rum, mezcal, and pisco. Try the coctel jequetepeque made with cachaca, soursop, dry sherry, honey, and Rockey’s liqueur or the Nahua daiquiri, a blended rum cocktail with yellow pepper and lime. With the summer heat in full gear now, order the Welchman Hall spritz mixed with spicy mezcal, grapefruit and lime juices, dry sherry, and aperitivo topped with bubbles. While having a cocktail with dinner in the dining room is great, the airy bar in front or at a table on the street-side patio are the best places to enjoy cocktails at Carmel. Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Reservations highly encouraged.

This Midtown cocktail lair is likely Atlanta’s grooviest drinking destination. It simply oozes sexy 1970s lounge vibes. Backed by Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins, the Waiting Room takes over the former Top Flr space above their restaurant Bon Ton, sporting banquettes covered in red and pink shag, cozy little nooks for canoodling, and DayGlo mood lighting. There’s even a piano wrapped like a disco ball gracing the stage where DJs and live music kick off at 10 p.m. Look for funky riffs on classic cocktails using ingredients like blue curacao, basil-infused eau de vie, and creme de menthe heavily featured on the menu paired with snacks such as boiled peanuts, barbecue adobe cocktail meatballs, and daily oysters on the half shell. Groups can also order large format cocktails offered in decanters holding multiple servings, including the Rock and Roll mixed with Japanese whisky, bourbon, and Dos Equis Especial and a martini riff in the Train Round the Bend mixed with gin, manzanilla sherry, and blue curacao. Reservations encouraged.

This dark (emphasis on dark) and cozy cocktail lounge resides above Ladybird on the Eastside Beltline, and like its sister establishment carries a national parks theme in both its design and in its drinks. Expect cocktails inspired by a variety of recognizable American landmarks and natural wonders, like an herbaceous take on the gimlet called the El Capitan, dedicated to the vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, made with sage and cardamon-infused gin. There’s the Kalalau, a nod to the Kalalau trail along Nā Pali Coast on Kauai. This savory spin on the piña colada sees an herby blend of five spices infusing cachaca, which is then mixed with falernum and spearmint and aloe liqueur. The Thunderbolt on the menu is based on a Charles H. Baker cocktail and is akin to a peach julep, complete with pebbled ice. Sporting a record collection of over 300 vinyls, ranging from Aretha Franklin and Elvis to Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones, you’ll likely need a reservation to get in here for now. Upon arrival, just head to the host stand in the back of Ladybird to check in and someone will lead you up to Ranger Station via a hidden staircase. Reservations highly encouraged.

That’s right, Atlanta, Ticonderoga Club is back open at Krog Street Market after closing in December to repair major damage caused by a burst water pipe which wiped out its entire kitchen. While certainly not new to Atlanta’s cocktail scene, the months-long closure of this award-winning watering hole left many regulars dreaming of drinks like T Club’s take on a classic julep, the Ticonderoga Cup, and the Cheshire Bridge with armagnac and herbal liqueur. Not to mention all of the tasty tavern bites created by chef and co-owner David Bies. Word has it the cocktail menu at Ticonderoga Club is set to expand even further over the coming months, too, digging into the drink recipe archives from co-owners and longtime Atlanta bartenders Greg Best, Paul Calvert, and Regan Smith. Reservations for dining room and bar encouraged. Canteen seating first come, first served.

Low lit and at just 40 seats, this unpretentious cocktail lounge from barman Tim Faulkner (Octopus Bar) and chef Hudson Rouse is a double whammy of righteous food and righteous drinks under one roof. Open Thursday through Monday at One Moreland, pair an amaretto sour, Tuxedo, Corn n’ Oil, or any number of classic cocktails from Faulkner with delectable roast beef sandwiches topped with horsey sauce, a prime rib platter, or Southern snack tray filled with deviled eggs, pickled vegetables, and pimento cheese from Rouse. Order a square of Tarzan’s Delight for dessert — Rouse’s take on his grandmother’s chocolate mousse ice box pie. Wine lovers should head in on Wednesday evenings to check out pop-up Long Snake, the forthcoming wine bar from former 8ARM beverage director Josh Fryer.

Chef Fares Kargar opened the long-awaited Alpharetta location of Delbar in May, and it’s just as popular here as it is in Inman Park. Taking over the former Traditions Indian Cuisine space on Old Milton Parkway, Delbar is a culinary love letter to family gatherings in Kargar’s native Iran and the women who taught him to appreciate and value cooking traditional Middle Eastern dishes, including his beloved grandmother. Cocktails lean into Persian ingredients and flavors, with many ingredients and spices imported from Iran and other countries throughout the region. (Think barberries, cardamom, Persian dried lime, and sour cherries). In addition to cocktails, expect several beers on draft, a selection of natural wines by the glass and bottle, sharbats (cordial), and non-alcoholic drinks made using fresh fruits and flowers. Reservations highly encouraged.