The Best Bars for a Date in Atlanta

S.O.S. Tiki Bar in Decatur goes all in on the theme, with palm trees, flamingos and frozen drinks served in coconuts and pineapples. The rum list runs deep, and luaus and rum-themed parties show up on the calendar. The bar is open Wednesday through Saturday from 6pm to midnight.

Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park keeps a first date relaxed with Spanish tapas and a wine list of nearly 400 bottles. The food leans clean and rustic, with Mediterranean, Spanish and South American influences, so you can share a few plates without turning the night into a formal dinner.

Take the date above Ponce City Market at 9 Mile Station, a rooftop bar and kitchen in Old Fourth Ward with skyline views. Craft cocktails come with seasonal plates, while weekday happy hour runs from 5pm to 7pm and weekend brunch from 11am to 4pm. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, Friday from 5pm to midnight, Saturday from 11am to midnight and Sunday from 11am to 9pm.

Little Spirit in Inman Park has a dark, moody room hung with paintings of music legends like Tupac and Bowie. It works especially well as a stop before or after dinner. We'd start with the S'more Than a Feeling or Pear Necessities, then add a hot dog, grilled cheese or the chorizo-and-pimento-cheese Lunchaballer if you want food. The bar is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 2am, with food until 1:30am and happy hour on hot dogs and martinis until 8pm.

Time a drink with the sunset at Drawbar, the rooftop bar inside the Bellyard Hotel in West Midtown, where an all-weather terrace looks over the skyline. The bar serves handcrafted cocktails and stays open Monday through Thursday from 3pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 1am and Sunday from 11am to 11pm. Happy hour runs from 4pm to 6pm Sunday through Friday.

Bar Margot inside the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta gives you a polished Midtown setting without requiring a full dinner. Start with one of the signature cocktails, such as the Gin Margot or Lazy Suze-n, then add anything from a smash burger and Georgia shrimp and grits to a late-night hanger steak. A DJ plays Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm to midnight.

Postino in Buckhead is built for lingering over wine, bruschetta and charcuterie, with indoor and outdoor seating plus smaller nooks if you want a more intimate table. The all-day menu includes shareable Snacky Things, while music and warm lighting make it easy to turn one glass into a longer first date.

Kimball House turns a former Decatur rail station into a special-night oyster and cocktail bar. Fresh oysters are the obvious place to start, and the drinks get plenty of praise too. Hours run Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 11pm; the bar is closed Mondays.

Chairs in East Point keeps things playful with pool tables, foosball, arcade games and puzzles, plus beer and food to go with them. Drag bingo takes over on Mondays.

Jojo's Beloved Cocktail Lounge brings an all-vinyl soundtrack to Politan Row at Colony Square, with a disco-and-glam room of cathedral-height ceilings, an oval bar, plush purple stools, perimeter booths and low lighting. The menu is cocktails only, with two beers, while the food hall next door covers anything more substantial. Jojo's is open Monday through Thursday from 5pm to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am, and closed Sundays.