Atlanta’s best speakeasies are hiding in plain sight. Here’s where to find them—and exactly how to get inside.
Some of Atlanta’s most memorable bars aren’t the ones with neon signs out front. They’re tucked behind coffee shops, hidden inside food halls, concealed above restaurants, or accessed through doors you’d never think to open. While the city’s speakeasy scene takes its cues from the clandestine drinking dens of the Prohibition era, today’s versions are less about evading the law and more about the thrill of the find.
For the record, none of these bars is technically illegal. But all of them require something beyond just showing up: a code, a hidden door, or, at a minimum, a little bit of insider knowledge you won’t find on page one of Google. If you’re looking to venture beyond the standard bar crawl, these Atlanta speakeasies are well worth seeking out—and now that you’ve found this list, getting in is the easy part.
A quick note before you go
Atlanta’s speakeasy scene moves fast. Hours change, reservation policies shift, menus evolve, and some venues regularly update their entry rituals. Before heading out, check each spot’s website or Instagram for the latest details, and always make a reservation when one is offered. Several of these spots fill up weeks in advance.
Red Phone Booth
Red Phone Booth is easily Atlanta’s most quintessential speakeasy: obtain the password, dial it inside a British-style red phone booth, and step back in time. Beyond the secret entrance, the space leans heavily into Prohibition-era glamour with exposed brick walls, tufted leather booths, vintage decor, and one of the city’s most extensive collections of whiskey, bourbon, and rare spirits.
A robust cigar program and cocktail menu built around classic recipes (this is the place to try a Sazerac) complete the experience. There’s a second location in Buckhead for those on the north side, but the original Downtown outpost remains the standard-bearer.
Address: Downtown and Buckhead
Hours: 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Friday; 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday; 5 p.m.-midnight Sunday.
How to find it: Request the code in advance at redphonebooth.com/get-the-code. When you arrive, dial the code into the phone booth at the entrance. The Buckhead location follows the same pattern.
La Cueva
It doesn’t get more secretive than a bar hidden inside a cave—even a fake one. Tucked down an elevator passage on the second floor of Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall, this slot canyon-inspired speakeasy’s entrance is transportive: from the unassuming door to the low-lit winding hallway that leads to the glowing bar.
Inside, you’ll find velvet banquettes tucked into alcoves carved from “rock,” a mezcal- and pisco-focused bar program, and a menu of Latin-inspired fare (birria tortellini and tuna tostada) to round it all out.
Address: Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
Hours: Opens daily at 5 p.m. Closes at 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays.
How to find it: Head to the second floor of PCM’s Central Food Hall. Follow the elevator corridor to Commodore Barbershop, then look for the door marked with a small carved martini glass logo. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.
JoJo’s Beloved Cocktail Lounge
Tucked behind the Colony Square Politan Row food hall, JoJo’s Beloved channels Studio 54 energy in a surprisingly intimate space. Cathedral ceilings and an all-vinyl soundtrack set the scene for vintage-coded cocktails, like the gin-based Bee’s Gees with ruby port and Galliano or the tropical Funky Cold Madeira with spiced rum, banana liqueur, lime, Madeira, and banana oleo.
Reservations are required most nights, and book out quickly; walk-ins are sometimes possible on weeknights. A recent expansion added an illuminated dance floor for those who want to make a full night of it.
Address: Politan Row at Colony Square, 1197 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. 150, Atlanta, GA
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Last seating is at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at 11:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
How to find it: Look for the neon yellow sign at the back of Politan Row food hall by the bathrooms. Head down the hallway until you see the host stand on your left.
Himitsu
With a name that literally means “secret” in Japanese, Himitsu lives up to its mysterious moniker. You might just walk right past this unmarked door next to sushi hotspot Umi, but you’ll be glad you didn’t. Access to this reservations-only spot requires emailing in advance for a code, and once inside, a strict no-photos policy keeps the atmosphere appropriately covert. The cocktail program is refined and minimalist, and small plates from Umi’s kitchen keep conversation fueled late into the night. Dress accordingly.
Address: 3050 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA
Hours: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
How to find it: Email hello@puraibeto.com to request access and receive your entry code. The entrance itself is inside Umi—just give your code to the hostess. If you’re dining in, you can also ask your server about entry directly.
Redacted Basement Drink Parlor
Equal parts speakeasy and conspiracy theory rabbit hole, Redacted leans hard into its theme of secrecy. Head down into the basement to find bare concrete floors and mid-century modern olive green booths that would look at home in a Soviet-era bunker. The cocktail list reads like a classified document, with drinks named after things the government would prefer you not discuss. Food is limited to charcuterie, which is exactly right for the vibe.
Address: 63B Georgia Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA
Hours: Opens daily at 5 p.m. Closes around midnight Tuesday through Thursday, and around 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays.
How to find it: Head to Reed Street in Grant Park and look for a small black door with a printed label that reads “Redacted Basement Drink Parlor.”
12 Cocktail Bar
Most people who make it to the roof of Ponce City Market are there for the carnival games and skyline views. The ones who know better find their way to 12 Cocktail Bar, the speakeasy tucked on the 12th floor of the historic tower.
The intimate, retro-elegant space pairs rare spirits with a level of exclusivity you might not expect above Atlanta’s top tourist attraction. Like the rest of the food hall, the bar leans into international flavors—look for a lemongrass-infused twist on a Manhattan or a tomatillo mezcal margarita. Don’t miss $5 mini martinis during weekday happy hour.
Address: The Roof at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 5-11 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. Closed Sundays.
How to find it: Head to the NE Lower Level elevator lobby inside Ponce City Market. Staff will direct you up to the 12th floor. Walk-ins only; no reservations taken.
The James Room
By day, The James Room looks like any other BeltLine coffee shop. But slide open the bookcase at the back of the Old Fourth Ward cafe, and you’ll find yourself suddenly in a dim, leather-lined cocktail lounge with a DJ-curated playlist and an eclectic cocktail menu that runs the gamut from classic dirty martinis to the gin and creme de cassis Late Night in Paris. A robust selection of small plates and charcuterie keeps everyone satisfied.
Address: 661 Auburn Ave. NE, Ste. 280, Atlanta, GA
Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesday; 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays.
How to find it: Walk through the cafe to the back wall and push open the bookcase-disguised door. Enter from the Eastside BeltLine trail behind Studioplex if you’re coming on foot.
Ranger Station
Atlanta’s worst-kept speakeasy secret is tucked just above one of the city’s busiest BeltLine hangouts. Just one floor above Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, Ranger Station swaps barbecue for a hunting lodge hideaway, complete with wood paneling, worn leather seating, and shelves of curiosities.
Cocktails are organized by intensity, ranging from light and refreshing “Easy” selections to spirit-forward “Strenuous” pours, making it easy to find your preferred adventure. A full food menu is available for hikers who arrive hungry—don’t skip the s’mores.
Address: 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
Hours: Open at 5 p.m. daily. Closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
How to find it: Head up the unmarked stairwell at the back of Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. Reservations encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
The Waiting Room
Climb the stairs just inside Bon Ton’s front door, and you’ll land in a disco fever dream. This sultry, ‘70s-inspired lounge goes hard with dangling disco balls, fuzzy pink banquettes, and sculptural hand-shaped chairs. Live music, typically jazz, provides some ear candy.
Drinks follow the design lead with a vinyl-era-inspired collection of retro riffs, like the Train Round the Bend (Roku gin, Manzanilla sherry, blue curacao, and basil eau de vie) or Sweet Jane (Haku vodka, passion fruit, vanilla, lime, and sparkling rosé). The Waiting Room leans more toward the sensual than the secretive, but the entrance—stashed inside a working restaurant—still requires a bit of insider knowledge to find.
Address: 674 Myrtle St. NE, Atlanta, GA
Hours: 7 p.m.-midnight Tuesday and Thursday; 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.
How to find it: Enter through Bon Ton and take the stairs just past the host stand to the second floor. First-come, first-served.
Maya Speak Tiki
True to its name, Maya Speak Tiki embraces all things wonderfully tacky with a side of mystique. Glowing in cool oceanic hues, the low-lit space above Agave Bandido in Dunwoody leans into a Treasure Island-type ambiance with grotto-like, rock-hewn walls, a tiki bar strung with fishing nets and rattan light fixtures, and drinks served from a smoking treasure chest.
Cocktails lean toward tiki traditional—rum- and tequila-based tinctures are served in colorful cups with fruity garnishes—while updated sips like the espresso martini-inspired Sacred Rain or the charcoal-infused Not the End of the World show off the mixologists’ skill.
Address: Above Agave Bandido, 120 High Street, Ste. 200, Dunwoody, GA
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Wednesday and Thursday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
How to find it: Look for the carved wooden door to the right of the bar inside Agave Bandido. Head up a flight of stairs, then enter another carved wooden door at the top. Ask the restaurant staff if you have trouble finding the entrance.
Eleanor’s
Named after the woman the Muss & Turner’s team credits as the heart of their operation, Eleanor’s is as warm and unpretentious as its namesake. Pull open the freezer door just off the M&T dining room, and you’ll find leather booths, low light, and the full restaurant menu served with a dose of VIP flair.
Cocktails are the move. The Brown Thrasher—bourbon, smoked apple shrub, maple, and lemon—is a well-balanced, smoky sip with a local edge. The Death Becomes Her follows suit with clove-infused rum, dried cranberries, and a cinnamon finish. Pair these with the El’s Wings (ras el hanout, tzatziki) while you’re at it.
Address: Muss & Turner’s, 1675 Cumberland Pkwy. SE, Smyrna, GA
Hours: Open daily from 11:30 a.m.; last call approximately one hour after the kitchen closes.
How to find it: Head into Muss & Turner’s Smyrna location. Look for the freezer door just off the dining room and pull it open. You’ll know you’re in the right place.
