Cocktail barCocktail bar and oyster bar$$$decaturMon-Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00, Sun 17:00-00:00
Kimball House in Decatur, Atlanta runs the city's most-awarded cocktail and oyster bar inside a converted 19th-century train station. Booking recommended.
Signature drink: Absinthe drip service
Food: Oysters, raw bar
Tip: Sunday Happy Hour 17:00-18:30 runs cheaper oysters and cocktails. The bar takes walk-ins late on weekends.
Cocktail barCocktail bar$$$inman-parkFri-Tue 17:00-22:00
Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market in Atlanta opened 2015 from a team including Greg Best. Located in Inman Park. Order the cuban-style cocktails.
Signature drink: Cuban-style cocktails
Food: Bar snacks and small plates
Tip: No reservations; bar seats are first-come. The naval-officers-club aesthetic carries through to the punch service.
Cocktail barTiki bar$$$decaturWed-Sat 18:00-00:00
S.O.S. Tiki Bar in Decatur, Atlanta runs classic tiki cocktails in a thatched Polynesian-themed room since 2013. The mai tai is the canonical first order.
Signature drink: Mai tai
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Cash and card. The patio is open in summer. Reservations not taken; queue forms by 21:00 weekends.
Cocktail barBrewpub$$$little-five-pointsTue-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
The Wrecking Bar in Little Five Points, Atlanta runs a brewpub in a Victorian mansion basement. The house saison and IPAs anchor the rotating taps.
Signature drink: House saison
Food: Brewpub menu
Tip: The patio is the move in summer. Brewery tours run Saturday afternoons; the upstairs ballroom hosts private events.
Cocktail barRooftop cocktail bar$$$old-fourth-wardMon-Wed 15:00-22:00, Thu-Fri 15:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
12 Cocktail Bar on The Roof at Ponce City Market in Atlanta runs a sophisticated speakeasy-style room with expertly crafted cocktails and elevated small.
Signature drink: Seasonal craft cocktails
Food: Elevated small plates
Tip: Reservations or walk-ins Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday. The rooftop terrace runs the seasonal pours in spring and fall.
Cocktail barDive bar$$$old-fourth-wardMon-Wed 20:00-03:00, Thu-Sat 15:00-03:00
Clermont Lounge in Atlanta's Hotel Clermont basement runs the city's longest-running dive bar since 1965. Located in Old Fourth Ward. Order the beer and shot.
Signature drink: Beer and shot
Food: Snacks only
Tip: Cash only at the bar. The Clermont Hotel above has a rooftop bar with a much different vibe; same building.