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Leon's Full Service.
Leon's Full Service.
Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee/Bearings Guide

Ten Bars Likely to Be Overrun with Chefs

by Sonia Chopra
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Leon's Full Service.
| Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee/Bearings Guide
by Sonia Chopra

There are plenty of Atlanta bars and restaurants to choose, so how's a thirsty civilian to decide where to spend a night out on the town? Certainly, many factors should be taken into consideration, like proximity to other watering holes or level of pretentiousness, but maybe it's time to try a new approach. Maybe this weekend, the bars you end up frequenting should also be the bars at which people like Kevin Gillespie or Paul Calvert are seated when they aren't working. If so, you're in luck, because here's a guide to the ten bars most likely to be overrun with chefs and bartenders in the city.


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Leon's Full Service

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Everyone from Paul Calvert to Greg Best thinks that Leon's Full Service is the place to go for a drink. Order off the menu or ask bartender Miles Macquarrie to pick something himself— there's no way to make the wrong choice.

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

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Holeman & Finch Public House

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Greg Best's cocktail creations at Holeman & Finch are another popular option. Chef Linda Harrell recommends the off-menu Southern Cola, made with Mexican coke.

2277 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 948-1175
(404) 948-1175

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Octopus Bar

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People in the know head to Octopus Bar for late-night dining and drinks. The restaurant doesn't open until 10:30 p.m., making it a post-shift favorite.

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

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Victory Sandwich Bar

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Alex Brounstein of Grindhouse Killer Burgers and Villains says "I'm good friends with Ian and Caleb from Victory Sandwich Bar, so that's where I spend most of my drinking hours. They have good cheap beer, and they serve great cocktails. My go-to is a Bulleit Horse's neck (Bulleit Bourbon, Ginger Beer, Dash of Bitters). Simple and delicious."

280 Elizabeth St, Ste A-III, Atlanta, GA 30307
(770) 676-7287
(770) 676-7287

H. Harper Station

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Kevin Gillespie and Zeb Stevenson both like to spend their nights at H. Harper Station. Stevenson says he gets the Devil in a Woodpile cocktail.

904 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, GA 30316
(678) 732-0415
(678) 732-0415

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The Sound Table

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Hector Santiago and other chefs love to spend their weekends at the Sound Table, which sometimes resembles a bar and sometimes a club, making it the best of both worlds.

483 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 835-2534
(404) 835-2534

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Elliott Street Deli & Pub

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Looking for a divey atmosphere? Angus Brown of Octopus Bar and DBA Barbecue's Matt Coggin suggest bourbon-based drinks at Elliott Street.

51 Elliott St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 523-2174
(404) 523-2174

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Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium

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Church is one of Mike LaSage of P'cheen and Bone Lick BBQ's favorite bars, possibly because of the location (he lives in Old Fourth Ward) but also because of the vibe. And how can you go wrong with ping pong?

466 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 522-8275
(404) 522-8275

Also featured in:

Bocado

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Need a night out but can't stay at the bars too late? Try Bocado, recommended as a great dinner drink spot by Leslie Santiago of Pura Vida.

887 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 815-1399
(404) 815-1399

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The Book House Pub

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Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina and Kysha Cyrus of Joystick Gamebar like the Book House Pub. Cyrus likes to check out Tiki Tuesday when her schedule allows.

736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 254-1176
(404) 254-1176

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Leon's Full Service

131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030

Everyone from Paul Calvert to Greg Best thinks that Leon's Full Service is the place to go for a drink. Order off the menu or ask bartender Miles Macquarrie to pick something himself— there's no way to make the wrong choice.

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

Holeman & Finch Public House

2277 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Greg Best's cocktail creations at Holeman & Finch are another popular option. Chef Linda Harrell recommends the off-menu Southern Cola, made with Mexican coke.

2277 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 948-1175
(404) 948-1175

Octopus Bar

560 Gresham Ave, Atlanta, GA 30316

People in the know head to Octopus Bar for late-night dining and drinks. The restaurant doesn't open until 10:30 p.m., making it a post-shift favorite.

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

Victory Sandwich Bar

280 Elizabeth St, Ste A-III, Atlanta, GA 30307

Alex Brounstein of Grindhouse Killer Burgers and Villains says "I'm good friends with Ian and Caleb from Victory Sandwich Bar, so that's where I spend most of my drinking hours. They have good cheap beer, and they serve great cocktails. My go-to is a Bulleit Horse's neck (Bulleit Bourbon, Ginger Beer, Dash of Bitters). Simple and delicious."

280 Elizabeth St, Ste A-III, Atlanta, GA 30307
(770) 676-7287
(770) 676-7287

H. Harper Station

904 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, GA 30316

Kevin Gillespie and Zeb Stevenson both like to spend their nights at H. Harper Station. Stevenson says he gets the Devil in a Woodpile cocktail.

904 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, GA 30316
(678) 732-0415
(678) 732-0415

The Sound Table

483 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Hector Santiago and other chefs love to spend their weekends at the Sound Table, which sometimes resembles a bar and sometimes a club, making it the best of both worlds.

483 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 835-2534
(404) 835-2534

Elliott Street Deli & Pub

51 Elliott St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Looking for a divey atmosphere? Angus Brown of Octopus Bar and DBA Barbecue's Matt Coggin suggest bourbon-based drinks at Elliott Street.

51 Elliott St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 523-2174
(404) 523-2174

Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium

466 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Church is one of Mike LaSage of P'cheen and Bone Lick BBQ's favorite bars, possibly because of the location (he lives in Old Fourth Ward) but also because of the vibe. And how can you go wrong with ping pong?

466 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 522-8275
(404) 522-8275

Bocado

887 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318

Need a night out but can't stay at the bars too late? Try Bocado, recommended as a great dinner drink spot by Leslie Santiago of Pura Vida.

887 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 815-1399
(404) 815-1399

The Book House Pub

736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina and Kysha Cyrus of Joystick Gamebar like the Book House Pub. Cyrus likes to check out Tiki Tuesday when her schedule allows.

736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 254-1176
(404) 254-1176

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