The roaring 20’s are upon us again, and while this Century’s decade is not bringing flapper dresses and Prohibition, speakeasies have re-gained popularity in recent years. Atlanta has no shortage of these gems, often hidden underground, in back rooms, secret hallways, or simply behind discreetly hidden behind a door you might otherwise pass right by without looking twice. We could not possibly list them all, but here are a few of our favorites (and all the info you need to gain access!)
City Winery | Ponce City Market
The expansive restaurant/winery/concert hall opened this past summer, and just announced what’s probably Atlanta’s newest, speakeasy-style cocktail bar for folks looking to hide out for an intimate evening, all week from 6 p.m. to midnight. The “luxe industrial” design borrows from PCM’s guts and bones, with good decorative use being put to vintage electrical boards and switches leftover from when it was an old Sears & Roebuck. At the bar there’ll be cocktails such as the Masataka Swizzle (Nikka Taketsuru 12-year Japanese whisky, amaretto, lime juice, demerara syrup, and mint), and the El Conquistador, which blends Mezcal Amaras Espadin, sherry, spiced pear liqueur, and lemon.
How to get in: You’ll need to follow them on social media where, every week, they’ll release a name. Once you’ve received it, head out to PCM; there’s an unmarked door on the left side of the art supply shop Binders, where you’ll find a door guy waiting for you to tell him that name you heard.
The Bureau | Peachtree Hills
It’s not necessary to know anybody famous — or be in the mafia — to get into one of ATL’s best steakhouse’s secret den. The dark-bricked hideaway has large paintings between wraparound booths with arched entrances, and the mirror-backed, glowing marble bar is perfect for leaning against — which helps as leaning and drinking do kinda go together. While you’re there, you can order anything off of KR’s menu, from lobster Calabrese risotto to a 26oz porterhouse for two.
How to get in: It’s reserved for private events Monday through Thursday, but open to anybody Friday and Saturday nights. Just tell the host at KR Steakbar you wanna go to The Bureau, and they’ll lead you in — through the kitchen. Or walk the red-lit corridor.
The Blind Pig Parlour | Buckhead
Smokebelly went belly-up, but The Blind Pig stayed up while the space on the other side transitioned from BBQ to Mexican (it’s now Chido + Padre’s). Not much else changed. They’ve still got the ornate rugs, dark-painted brick walls and wood furnishings, and all the other trimmings you’d expect from their secret-society-inspired hangout. Drinking is definitely throwback-fancy — ask for a Roosevelt (espresso liqueur, small-batch bourbon, velvet falernum, chocolate bitters, lemon and egg white), or the timeless gin and Green Chartreuse Last Word. And don’t miss their occasional comedy sessions featuring local and traveling acts and live music.
How to get in: They’ve calmed down on the password stuff; just arrive Friday or Saturday after 8 p.m. and before 2 a.m., and look for the black unmarked a door with the small pig attached to the wall above it.
For More Information about 1065 Midtown, contact Contact Erik Dowdy at erik.dowdy@evatlanta.com
