A good wine bar serves a wide spectrum of customers, from neophytes who can't tell the difference between a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc to experts who wants to try a glass of a new release before buying a few cases for their cellars. At these top 10 wine bars in Atlanta, presented in alphabetical order, you'll find a good selection of wines as well as knowledgeable staff and, where available, some well-paired food.
A good wine bar serves a wide spectrum of customers, from neophytes who can't tell the difference between a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc to experts who w... more
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1
Canvas: Art. Bar. Lounge.
Lofts at Castleberry Hill, 170 Northside Dr. SW, Ste. 96, Atlanta, GA 30313 / 404-522-5615
Another jewel in Castleberry’s crown is this wine bar/small plates venue on the ground floor of the Lofts at Castleberry Hill. Connected to VinoLibro, which blends books and wine, this edition reaches into the world of art, and each month features the work of a given artist. Sophisticated, urbane and contemporary in décor, with its floor-to-ceiling fenestration swathed in gauzy glamour, Canvas invites relaxation, small-plates dining, cocktail-imbibing and wine exploration. It currently has no published wine list, but instead arranges its offerings just above eye level at the bar for patrons to view. Glassware is good. Chef Wesley Davenport does an eclectic small-plates menu that taps into various culinary traditions, from the South to the Caribbean. We recommend the pair of jerked chicken skewers with a lovely fresh side of grilled veggies, enough for two to share or to satisfy one as a small entrée. Perfect with a glass of Prosecco. Desserts and dessert wine selections are in the works.
2
The Chocolate Bar
The Artisan, 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Ste. G, Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-378-0630
Owner Karen Britain has assembled a nifty team of seasoned but young professionals to open this clever little spot in downtown Decatur. Aaron Russell and his sidekick Nick Rutherford put in some long hours with Guenter Seeger of now-closed Seeger's. Russell was his chief assistant, while Rutherford handled pastry. The menu of savory small plates and chocolate-focused desserts give a whole new spin to the wine bar concept. The menu changes nearly daily, but Seeger-like ideas are referenced throughout, one specifically: the poached Georgia Peach à la Seeger, with geranium soup, vanilla sorbet and aloe vera froth. The caramel ganache is a study in chocolate, with a chocolate sorbet perched atop a chocolate sponge cake. Patrons tend to come in either before dinner or after, and many are walk-ins from the surrounding mid-rise dwellings, making it a singularly neighborhood spot. The wine list isn't either deep or wide, and precious space---this is a small operation after all---is wasted on some grocery store-type offerings, with the occasional surprise. Good beers, a collection of trendy-sounding martinis and other cocktails, and retail fine chocolate round out the offerings.
3
Cuerno
905 Juniper St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 / 678-904-4584
Ricardo Ullio's Spanish restaurant positions its iconic metal multi-textured bull in an aggressive stance at the front door. But the neighbors don't seem to mind, as they file in for dinner filling the place by early evening. Ullio and his chef, Ken Bouché, have done wonders interpreting Spanish food, and even brought to Atlanta a Spanish chef as a consultant. Lots of things work right, from the olives to the special of chorizo-stuffed piquillo peppers in a creamy sauce---very in the spirit. Serrano ham aficionados note: This place has pata negra. The special ham is very expensive, so a portion costs $20 here, but the creamy white fat-enrobed meat is so satisfying, with its distinctive nuttiness, who cares? Fabada, that good Asturian bean dish, is well represented, with plump fava beans stewed to creaminess and morcilla (Spanish blood sausage) as part of the correct seasoning mix. It's a little juicier than one typically sees there, but that's a quibble. Confit of suckling pig is a main dish, and while it isn't exactly like suckling pig in Spain, it gets awfully close with its crisp skin and sweet, tender meat. Start your libations with a fino sherry, served chilled and in a proper copita-style glass. The all-Spanish wine list offers many topnotch values by the glass and bottle. Valet parking is across the street on Ninth Street in a parking garage.
4
d'Vine Wine Bar & Shop
Shops of Dunwoody, 5486 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, GA 30338 / 770-350-9463
Stylish and intimate, this wine bar with tapas allows guests to taste even half-size pours of wines, as well as to purchase wines in flights and by the bottle to take home. The corkage fee for consuming bottles in-house is just $15, and lots are well-priced values. Renée Alexander does light tapas, the most expensive of which is the pair of delectable loose-shaped crab cakes for $13. Pure lump crab meat these babies are. Half glasses are available for half the price, and there's a lengthy list of well-priced half bottles, as well. Dishes vary from simple meze and cheese platters to steak on a skewer. The best cheese selection is the line-up from Sweet Grass Dairy in south Georgia. Desserts, not traditionally part of the tapas format, also make this menu.
5
Eclipse di Luna Park Place
Park Place Shopping Ctr., 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30346 / 678-205-5862
Under the command of chef Ofer Ayal, a native of Israel, the cooking at this location of Eclipse di Luna interprets the flavors and dining style of Spain and Latin America in tapas and paella. Dining solo, consider the mussels (which arrive in a generous portion); the costillas (ribs) in balsamic vinegar sauce; the grilled bacon-wrapped chorizo with dates and blue cheese on skewers; and a tasty tres leches cake. The Spanish used on the menu is a grab bag of regionalisms (pollo rostisado---Mexico---and callos instead of vieiras for Galician scallops), but that reflects the Spanish-Latino nature of the offerings. Coming for dessert and a glass of wine is another option, and if you wish to hear music, claim your table early on a weekend night (no later than 6:30 p.m.) or you'll be out of luck. The wine list offers some unusual choices, such as Spanish sherries, although they're not served at the proper cool temperature nor in the proper glassware. Demand a Cognac snifter and have it chilled to savor the enticing aromas of these fine wines, as the tiny copita typically used is utterly useless.
6
Eno
Cornerstone Village, 800 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308 / 404-685-3191
Fine contemporary art appoints this sleek, splendidly designed wine bar and dining room, and in the private dining room, a medieval tapestry graces the view. Dominating the bar, a large silver bowl chills a half-dozen Champagnes and sparkling wines to be served by the glass. Eno is equal parts wine bar and restaurant, and may be enjoyed on either level. Seasonally driven, the menu derives from classic Mediterranean models. Executive chef Eli Kirshtein has crafted a menu of ingenious small plates such as gently poached Georgia white shrimp with white asparagus. The soft-shell crab---a seasonal regional delicacy---is tempura-fried and perched on a bed of barley risotto that, by itself, could make an interesting dish for a vegetarian. With such delectables, one may order a taste-size pour of wine and just keep sipping one's way around the menu with various wines. Among desserts, the panna cotta crowns the top of the heap. Stop by the attached wine and cheese retail shop to pick up a bottle of whatever may have pleased you during your meal, and some excellent cheese to go with it. The adventurous wine list ranges widely from Italian to American to French selections and makes stops all over the Southern hemisphere. A selection of fine grappas for after dinner continues the many refinements to be enjoyed at Eno.
7
Krog Bar
Stove Works, 112 Krog St. NE, Ste. 27, Atlanta, GA 30307 / 404-524-1618
A tiny space became available on the grounds of Stove Works, where Kevin Rathbun operates his wildly popular Rathbun's restaurant, and he snapped it up, installing one of the city's most progressive and adventurous wine bars. All dishes are cold, as the place is too small for cooking, and come from the Mediterranean tradition. The patio is popular even in cold weather, as it's warmed with tall, fuel-driven torches. Arrivals start as early as 4 p.m. to explore the new wines on this Italian-Spanish list driven by discovery mode. The place closes after the last guest has departed. Large tables encourage sharing conversation and dishes from a menu that changes daily. The creamy pâté packed into a small rectangular crock is topped with a cava gelée. The crusty bread that comes with dishes is the prefect foil. Paper-thin carpaccio with Parmesan and olive oil is another winner. Rathbun specializes in the thinly-sliced Serrano ham from Spain, among other delicacies that may be served cold. Cheeses are stellar.
8
Palate Café & Wine Bar
The Seen Art Gallery, 321 W. Hill St., Ste. 7B, Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-373-4702
Located in part of the historic Scottish Rite Children's Hospital building, Palate shares space with an art gallery, and operates as an art gallery itself. It's the perfect spot for some dessert, perhaps a game of cards or conversation over a glass of wine with a date while snuggled on a sofa. Besides attracting guy-gal matches, Palate is a single-sex (female) comfort zone, where romantic pairs feel comfortable enough to be cozy. The decent but not stellar wine list is tiered for easy cost analysis. Chefs come and go, but the menu has expanded to include full-dinner choices, such as pasta and meatloaf. Homemade desserts are focused on chocolate. Check out the wine tasting schedule; events typically take place on alternate Thursday evenings, a good value at $10, and that includes appetizers.
9
Tastings: A Wine Experience
335 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Ste. A, Decatur, GA 30030 / 404-373-3244
An Atlanta franchise of a Florida-based operation, this small wine bar has all the bells and whistles one could want for a serious wine adventure. Here's how it works: You load up a credit card-style key with whatever number of dollars you wish to spend. Then you insert the card into a slot and choose how much of a given wine you want dispensed into your Riedel glass: a one-ounce taste, a three-ounce pour or a six-ounce pour. Then you may choose a larger pour to enjoy with any of several delightful small plates. The cheese selection is good, but local health authority requires it be kept frigid cold until it's cut, so if you want cheese, order it early in the evening so it can warm up. The small plates are very inventive, such as the gently spicy "buffalo" duck to be dipped into a tasty blue cheese sauce, and some are quite hearty and substantial, such as the braised short ribs. There are also flatbread pizzas. Besides wines, one may enjoy martini tastings, Scotch tastings and beer. Warning: the ambient temperature is near cellar temperature, so a sweater might be a good idea.
10
Vino Libro
933 Garrett St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 / 404-624-3644
A redeveloping area of Atlanta just below I-20 features a traditionally designed community of residences blended cleverly with commercial enterprises, among them Vino Libro. This classy wine bar with an adjacent retail operation occasionally doubles as an art gallery and always doubles as bookstore. Hence, the name. Showcasing wines in decent glasses, Vino Libro also offers a few very good beers and a line-up of goofy martinis. Small plates include beef skewers with a Gorgonzola fondue and sautéed garlic spinach and mustard-tarragon lamb chops. The small plates average $9 each. The few desserts also are made in-house and change every three to four days.
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