There are plenty of great places to enjoy an outstanding cocktail all over Atlanta—but sometimes, you'd rather stay in your own neighborhood. To make the most of close-to-home (or close-to-work, or close-to-dinner) drinking, here's our list of the best spots for an amazing drink, neighborhood by neighborhood.
Buckhead
Located beneath jazz bar Churchill's, this cool little speakeasy is a chic alternative to some of the neighborhood's frattier bars—you have to be 25 or older to drink there. Dress nicely, and you'll be rewarded with outstanding drinks, including plenty of large-format options to share.
Decatur
Cocktails and oysters go hand in hand at this farm-to-table spot, known for its outstanding raw bar. Try the namesake cocktail, with gin, Cocchi Americano, vermouth and orange bitters, or bring a posse to share the bottled old-fashioned for four with cola bitters.
Downtown
You'll get the true Prohibition experience at this speakeasy, where you have to enter a secret number into a red phone booth to enter. (Leave the shorts and ball caps at home: it's only given if you're dressed nicely.) Once the hard part is over, you'll be able to enjoy cocktail menu, a selection of 180+ whiskeys, and a cigar bar.
East Lake
For a self-described "casual neighborhood bar," Poor Hendrix has a way with cocktails, mixing up classics from daiquiris to fizzy Negroni sbagliatos. There's also a top-notch menu of small plates, like baguette and radishes with smoked trout butter.
Inman Park
This hideaway in the back of Krog Street Market is a full-service restaurant, but it's become particularly renowned for its drinks. Try the signature Ticonderoga Cup, a combination of aged rum, cognac, sherry, lemon, pineapple, and mint that goes down a little too easy.
Little Five Points
Located beneath Star Community Bar, this little lounge is the anti-pretentious cocktail bar, with classy drinks for comparatively low prices. Be sure to check out the jukebox, which, as the name implies, is stocked only with vinyl records.
Midtown
This British-inspired "elevated pub" is a relative newcomer, but it's already earned strong reviews for its unpretentious vibe, big cocktail menu, and tasty small plates. Try one of the house gin and tonics, which will spoil you for all other G&Ts.
Old Fourth Ward
The focus at this European-influenced cocktail bar is bitters and amari (Italian herbal liqueurs). But before you turn up your nose, give their delicious, well-balanced drinks a try—many are lighter and brighter than you might expect. The intimate 35-seat space is perfect for date nights, too.
Poncey-Highland
A longtime favorite for its wood-fired food, industrial-chic space, and on-site bocce, Two Urban Licks also turns out some pretty impressive cocktails. Try the Fly Me to the Moon, featuring cranberry-orange vodka, cranberry syrup, and pink peppercorns, or the Guinness bloody mary at brunch.
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