Kiddo’s is introducing femme fatale energy to Banshee’s patio bar, transforming the Green Room into a moody, late-night cocktail spot every Monday starting March 3rd. Run by Haley Herebia and Zoe Sanchez, the women behind Girl Bar (a pop-up that launched last spring at Tight Squeeze behind Establishment in Midtown), the rotating menu kicks off with a Southern Comfort theme — think Coca-Cola short ribs, a trussed-up sloppy Joe, and a berry shortcake on the food side. Cocktails go bold, from a Fernet-spiked Five Finger Death Punch to a Screwdriver martini inspired by Kill Bill’s Elle Driver. Brittnee Hall and Suzanne Baker, both former Girl Bar collaborators, will be doing the food and desserts, respectively. With a back entrance speakeasy vibe, an ever-changing drink menu, and a mission to highlight women in food and beverage, Kiddo’s seems like it will be the Monday night move — especially when so many Atlanta bars and restaurants are closed on the first day of the week.

Tiger Sun, the latest concept from Electric Hospitality (the team behind Muchacho, Ladybird, and Ranger Station), has a fast-paced, “omakase”-style cocktail journey aboard a refurbished vintage tour bus parked in the lot behind Muchacho in Reynoldstown. The intimate setting is cozy, maybe a little too cozy, with room for 18 guests in a 320-square-foot space. At only two seatings per night Wednesday through Sunday, each 80-minute experience features two separate menus (guests choose their “fortune” at the beginning — which determines if they’ll get the “Wax On” or “Wax Off” menu). Both include four cocktails paired with bite-sized snacks, currently inspired by the Karate Kid, which means the cocktails use lots of Asian ingredients. Examples include the Banzai!, a lychee, yuzu, gin drink, or Fish and Karate, featuring cream cheese-washed gin, cucumber vermouth, and mezcal. Priced at $75 per person, the experience is certainly unique, but the heavy incense smoke in such a small, enclosed space can feel overwhelming. Tiger Sun’s theme and menu will change in the spring.

Gene’s gives off heavy Louisiana vibes from the second you walk in the door thanks to neon signs, red lighting, disco balls, kitschy decor, and random little knick-knacks, which all contribute to the chill party atmosphere. You could order at the deli-style counter and find a table, but we like the idea of heading straight to the bar, where you have a seat, hang out, and order whatever you want without having to grab a number or wait in line. It’s the season (or the year?) of the martini, and here it’s also made with Murrell’s Row – classic, simple, and garnished with a smoked olive skewer. The Tulsi Tonic is delicious, as well, but the real reason to come to Gene’s is for the frozen drinks. You’ve got a banana daiquiri, a margarita, a hurricane, and a bushwacker to choose from, or go zero proof with the Genesicle, which has orange, vanilla, and creamy coconut. You can also get Eno Amaro shots on tap. 

La Metro brings the energy of a loud, buzzy Spanish mercado to Ponce City Market, serving pintxos, tapas, drinks, and more seven days a week. The cocktail menu, created by Jose Pereiro (AKA the Cocktail Shaker), pays homage to Spain’s legendary bar culture with drinks like the Golden Martini — inspired by Madrid’s renowned 1862 Dry Bar — along with classics like the Adonis (medium sherry, sweet red vermouth, and bitters), a Malaga Spritz, a refreshing gin & tonic, and sangria made with macabeo (a white wine grape variety commonly cultivated in Spain’s Rioja region), fresh fruits, brandied fruits, and spices. Occasional flamenco performances add to the experience, transporting diners to Spain. 

MidCity has operated in some capacity for over a decade, and while it isn’t a new bar per se, it does have a brand new cocktail program developed by Jose Pereiro, a food and beverage photographer and beverage specialist, better known as “the Cocktail Shaker” on social media and to friends in the industry. Hidden in plain sight, the bar and listening lounge has recently hosted mixology innovators and guest bartenders like Mexico City’s Eric van Beek of Handshake Bar and has a fully revamped menu from late summer that will carry over into fall. Signature cocktails are all named for their most prominent ingredient (for example, carrot cake, banana, corn, watermelon, and cucumber are all names of drinks on the menu), and the classics include really good interpretations of drinks like the spicy margarita, negroni bianco, and old-fashioned.

Yes, one Michelin-starred Lazy Betty has a great tasting menu, but the bar is where the cool kids hang out. The seasonal cocktail menu by beverage director Conrad Helms keeps you on your toes, along with a tight wine list and non-alcoholic options. The Attack of the Clones white negroni is a sipper — it evolves and unfolds as the ice melts. It’s made with Mississippi-made Wonderbird Gin No. 61 (fermented using Mississippi jasmine rice, which lends wonderful texture to the drink), yellow chartreuse, amaros, and orange bitters. Sit with this one, and pair with the sunchoke fry bread topped with caviar. The restaurant has limited open bar seating and does not require reservations if you’re just popping in for a drink. — Henna Bakshi

Brasserie Margot, the newest addition to the Four Seasons Atlanta, is a literal dream brought to life. Like its sibling, Bar Margot, the brasserie takes its name from Margot Tenenbaum, with a design inspired by a figment of her imagination. The cocktail list is tight — just six for now — but the standout is definitely the Clay Pot Aged Negroni, a mezcal-based take on the classic. Aged in unglazed terra cotta pots, the process enhances its earthy notes while mellowing the drink’s sweetness. While a typical Negroni has gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, this one takes it to the next level with yellow chartreuse, Suze, amontillado sherry, and dill. The dinner menu offers rich, indulgent dishes like cote de boeuf and lobster thermidor, or diners can opt for the ultimate girl dinner: steak tartare, a crisp green salad with lemon vinaigrette, house frites, and maybe some caviar. The tableside flambéed Crepes Suzette are a must.

Inside the newly opened Granada Hotel in Midtown, May Peel is the place to go for late-night Spanish-inspired bites, like drunken goat croquettes and a ham and Manchego cheese board. The dark, cozy bar welcomes you with throwback tracks from Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill, and other R&B legends. The spirits menu is just as enticing as the food, with cocktails divided into two categories: New & Neat and Tried & True. The Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Martini is made with local Murrell’s Row Gin Gin, plus some fun additions like saffron and paprika oil. Standouts include the Suissesse (minty, creamy, refreshing, presented in a highball-style glass) and the Thinking Machine (a pucker-inducing bright green pisco and midori cocktail topped with a strawberry foam).  

Wellness community Serenbe, a 45-minute drive south of metro Atlanta, has a new cocktail bar and restaurant named Austin’s that pays homage to 1920s Paris and London. The beverage team uses botanicals from local farms, including their own, to create unique cocktails with floral and herbal flavors. Take the Equestrian, which is made with whiskey, Cocchi Rosa, Drambuie (a liqueur made from Scotch, honey, herbs and spices), Benedictine, bitters, and garnished with a lemon peel, or the Southern Beauty made with sake, St. Germain, creme de violette, peach bitters, lemon, and grapefruit. Absinthe, midori, and saline solutions are spotted on the menu, as well. Zero-proof drinks are available, along with a selection of beer and wine.