Tag: cocktails

Martinis certainly seem to be having a Renaissance around Atlanta. For some, like Branham Bolt, bartender at Chops in Buckhead, martinis are always top of mind. “Martinis are probably the number one thing people order at the bar,” he says.

Come October, Vesper owner Damien McGee is expanding into the 1,000-square-foot space next door with a sister spot called Spectre. Named after the fictional criminal organization that serves as the villain in the James Bond movies, Spectre will be darker, moodier, and more elegant than Vesper, McGee says.

The drinks at omakase restaurants aren’t as off-menu as the meals—generally, you can select your cocktail from a list. That list, however, is composed of creatively crafted beverages designed to play nicely with the dishes placed before you. Here, three omakase restaurants in Atlanta with notable cocktail programs.

In December, JoJo's will debut a major expansion, adding a dance floor, DJ booth, and additional bars and seating, essentially doubling in capacity. With the expansion comes a brand-new cocktail list developed by director of operations Benton Bourgeois and bar manager Qwesha Byrd.

Mario Ali, owner of Belli Pizzeria in Colony Square’s Politan Row, opened Cafe Belli in Hapeville in March. There, he’s been serving Ferrero Rocher and lavender matcha lattes, along with espresso, cappuccino, and cold brew made with Italian coffee beans. Last weekend, he expanded the cafe offerings to feature a bar program in the evenings.

The 1970s are back, and not just the rampant inflation. (Hey-o!) Also, crucially: the vibes. And the booze. In 2021, Colony Square welcomed the groovy disco-era cocktail lounge JoJo’s Beloved, and this year it’s joined in Midtown by the Waiting Room. The latter is from the folks behind the restaurant Bon Ton; in fact, it’s above Bon Ton, a second-floor redoubt in the eye-catching pink building on Myrtle Street. Decorated in red and pink shag, and boasting DJs and live music—even a piano—the Waiting Room was designed to have a warm, grown-up feel.

Chef Jason Liang, the culinary mastermind behind Brush Sushi, Cuddlefish, Momonoki, and Momo Café, is adding another Asian-inspired restaurant to his ever-growing list. Lucky Star will open in January or February 2024 with two distinct spaces: a casual café and bar in the Star Metals lobby and a reservation-only back-room bar serving elevated cocktails designed by Kirk Gibson (the Giving Kitchen).

Chef Duane Nutter and restaurateur Reggie Washington will bring their Mobile, Alabama, restaurant Southern National to Summerhill on June 29. This time, the duo—who originated One Flew South in Hartsfield-Jackson airport—will bring with them a pair of seasoned, award-winning mixologists as partners. Ticonderoga Club’s Greg Best and Paul Calvert are designing the new Southern National beverage program, focusing on a sophisticated, refined experience that emphasizes Champagne, Old World-style red wines, and riffs on classic cocktails.

Take me to a minuscule bar with clever low-budget decor, shove a one-page menu under my nose that doesn’t look like typical pub fare, and I am sure to fall in love before even tasting anything. Whoopsie’s, recently opened in Reynoldstown, checks all the boxes, playful and serious in equal proportion: a sparse 40 seats, lots of thrift-store finds and reclaimed furniture, lights turned way down low.

Owners Adam Rosenfelt and Maureen Meulen recently announced plans for AlcoHall, an aptly named, first-to-Atlanta drinkery. Initially, it will house seven stalls, each pouring a distinct type of alcohol, from Japanese whisky to South African wine.