Georgia World Congress Center – Bar Crawl

After a day spent wandering around the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, one way to decompress is with a good old-fashioned bar crawl. Whether you go it alone or with a group of fun-loving colleagues, a bar crawl around Downtown Atlanta will surely be one of the highlights of your trip.

As you’d probably expect, Atlanta is home to a thriving bar scene. This is especially the case in Downtown Atlanta where the Georgia World Congress Center is located. Within walking distance of the convention center is a variety of watering holes ranging from rowdy sports bars to swanky hotel cocktail lounges.

Instead of spending the night at just one or two of the bars near the Georgia World Congress Center, you might as well hit up a few more while you’re at it. It’s not like a trip to Atlanta is an everyday occurrence, after all. That’s precisely why we’ve gone and put together this bar crawl itinerary that will take you on a fun, boozy journey around the Downtown Atlanta area.

 

STATS Brewpub

The first stop on your bar crawl adventure is STATS Brewpub, a sizeable sports bar located just over a half-mile from the Georgia World Congress Center. To get to STATS Brewpub from the Georgia World Congress Center, head west down Andrew Young International Boulevard towards Centennial Olympic Park. Once you reach Marietta Street, turn left and walk down a couple of blocks. STATS Brewpub will be on your left.

After all that walking, reward yourself with a nice ice-cold beer. STATS Brewpub has got dozens to choose from, both on tap and bottled. They also added a brewery to commemorate their 10th anniversary and now serve six of their own home-brewed beers, such as the STATS Red Zone Amber Ale and STATS Bushwood IPA.

Another cool thing about STATS Brewpub is that they’re one of the only bars in the country to feature beer tap systems on select tables. These systems allow patrons to pour their own beer freely without needing to flag down a server or bartender.

If you’re not a big beer drinker, STATS Brewpub has plenty of other alcoholic offerings for you to enjoy, including wines and creative specialty cocktails with whimsical sports-related names like “Double Play” and “Shots on Goal.” They’ve also got a menu with plenty of sports bar standards, such as ribs, wings, chili, and burgers.

 

SkyLounge

Next up on our list is SkyLounge, a chic rooftop bar located atop the luxurious Glenn Hotel. SkyLounge is quite different than STATS Brewpub in terms of atmosphere, but it’s just as great of a place to go grab a drink. To get to SkyLounge from STATS Brewpub, head south down Marietta Street. The walk should take no more than 10 minutes.

Once you arrive at the Glenn Hotel, take an elevator up to the 70th floor. Yes, you heard that right; SkyLounge is 70 floors up. That means while you’re sipping on an expertly crafted cocktail, you’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking views of Atlanta all lit up at night. It’s no wonder why SkyLounge was listed in Forbes Travel Guide as one of “Five Rooftop Bars to Visit in Atlanta” and as one of the “Top 23 Best Rooftop Lounges in the World” by ABC.com.

Unlike STATS Brewpub, however, SkyLounge is not a full-service restaurant, so don’t expect to find a big menu there. No, it’s their boozy beverages that are the star of the show, and rightfully so.

SkyLounge’s award-winning mixologist serves up handcrafted libations that go far beyond your everyday mixed drink. One of their most popular cocktail creations is The Elmore, which consists of St-Germain liqueur, Bombay Sapphire gin, and tangy grapefruit juice.

 

Park Bar

Park Bar, the third stop on your bar crawl, is only a short walk from SkyLounge. After making your way back down to street level, head straight down Ted Turner Drive and make a left onto Walton Street. Walk a little bit farther and Park Bar will be to your left, right across the street from Centennial Olympic Park.

One thing that sets Park Bar apart from STATS Brewpub and SkyLounge is their impressive selection of fine bourbons. They’ve got everything from familiar favorites like Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey to limited editions, such as the Four Roses Al Young 50th Anniversary. If you’re a bourbon lover, Park Bar is bound to be one of your favorite stops of the night.

Like STATS Brewpub, Park Bar has a decidedly sports bar vibe. They’ve got brick walls adorned with photos of famous athletes and musicians, a handful of fun arcade machines, and of course, plenty of big-screen TVs for watching whatever major sporting event happens to be taking place.
The food at Park Bar is like what you would find at a sports bar too, but often with a twist. For example, The Cumberland, their version of a bacon cheeseburger, isn’t just topped with plain ol’ Cheddar cheese and a couple slices of bacon. Instead they smother a certified Angus beef patty with their house-made bourbon bacon jam and melty Brie cheese.

Don’t like any of their specialty burgers? Go ahead and build your own by selecting from an extensive list of patties, cheeses, and toppings. You can also try one of the many other dishes on their menu, such as braised boneless short ribs, grilled mahi-mahi, and a variety of appetizers perfect for sharing.

 

Red Phone Booth

Red Phone Booth is a swanky speakeasy concept that sure knows how to make a first impression. Why is that, you ask? Well, for starters, their front door is literally a red phone booth like one you would find on the streets of London. You’ll find it on Andrew Young International Boulevard, less than a half-mile walk from Park Bar.

To get in you must dial a secret code into the booth’s phone like something straight out of a prohibition-era fantasy. If you’re not in the know and don’t have the code, just ask the concierge at any Downtown Atlanta hotel. There’s a good chance they know it and will be more than willing to help you out. It’s also worth mentioning that they’ve got a formal dress code, so be sure to come dressed to impress.

Upon entering Red Phone Booth, you’ll be greeted with a waft of smoke accumulated from patrons puffing away on cigars. They’ve got a huge collection of over 100 to choose from, so if you’re a cigar connoisseur of sorts, be prepared to take your pick. Pair it with one of their stiff whiskey drinks and you’ll be feeling like a gangster straight out of the 1920s.

The décor at Red Phone Booth elevates the speakeasy experience further. Inside you’ll find meticulously restored brick floors dating back to the late ‘20s, a bar with an ornate honey onyx countertop, a lavish fireplace, custom Italian leather couches, and a hand-painted ceiling.
If you haven’t had much to eat yet, now’s probably a good time since Red Phone Booth offers a variety of tempting small plates. These include seafood dishes, such as carpaccio, along with Neapolitan pizza, house-made desserts, and more.

 

Lumen

Hopefully all that cigar smoke and whiskey hasn’t gone to your head since you’ve still got one more stop left on your bar crawl. Luckily this last watering hole, Lumen, is only right down the street from Red Phone Booth in the lavish lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta.

To get to The Ritz-Carlton, make a left after leaving Red Phone Booth, and then turn left again on Peachtree Street. Make another left on Ellis Street and voila! You’re already there.

Like Red Phone Booth, Lumen is all about over-the-top elegance, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy a nice nightcap before heading back to your hotel. Speaking of nightcaps, they’ve got plenty to choose from, including specialty cocktails, wines, bourbons, Scotch, cognacs, and more.

If you’re starting to feel particularly tipsy, you could always order one of their fun mocktails instead. They’ve got two to choose from: Ginger Fizz and Passion Lemonade. The Ginger Fizz is made with fresh ginger, house-made honey syrup, pineapple juice, and fresh lime and lemon juice, while the Passion Lemonade features passionfruit, honey syrup, lime juice, and lemon juice.

They serve food at Lumen too, but at this point in the night, you’re probably in the mood for something sweet. You can satisfy your sugar cravings with one of their three indulgent dessert offerings. If you’re a chocaholic, go with the flourless chocolate cake paired with an exotic fruit sorbet. Unless you’re tempted by the vanilla crème brûlée or bread pudding, that is.

 

So there you have it: the recipe for the perfect night out in Downtown Atlanta. Hopefully you’ll have time to visit and experience all five bars on our eclectic list, but if not, there’s always next time. And trust us; you’ll definitely want to come back to Atlanta again soon.

Now finish up the dregs of your last drink, hop in a cab, and head straight back to your hotel. You’re definitely going to need to sleep this one off.