At Tiger Sun, Experience a Cocktail Journey On a Vintage Bus In Reynoldstown
Tiger Sun opened its doors in November, bringing an exclusive cocktail experience like no other in Atlanta with only 18 seats and two seatings a night. You’ll find the bus in the parking lot of Muchacho in Reynoldstown, and while the bus no longer drives, it’ll certainly take you on a journey.
How exactly does a bar end up on a bus? Owner Michael Lennox credits his “affliction” for seeing cocktail bars in every empty space he encounters. Lennox also owns Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, Muchacho, and Ranger Station — each of which has its own distinct personality — so it’s fair to say that he has a knack for this kind of thing.
Lennox originally purchased the bus when he needed some additional storage while building out Muchacho and (the now-closed) Golden Eagle. “I found this old bus on Craigslist for three grand, and it was a shell,” says Lennox. “It belonged to an 80-year-old guy who had a bluegrass group with his church, and they had planned on touring but threw in the towel on fixing the bus.” Lennox took it off his hands. Eventually, the bus stopped serving its purpose as a storage facility and sat unused in the parking lot. While Lennox wanted to use it as a cocktail space, he wasn’t sure how to make his vision a reality.
It wasn’t until Lennox met with Magnolia Arthouse, an Atlanta-based set design firm, that the idea for a cocktail bar on a stationary bus gelled. He didn’t want to work with a standard general contractor for such a unique space, “and none of them would’ve seriously given us a look, anyway,” adds Lennox. Working with Magnolia, however, meant creating a space that’s over-the-top fun, and ‘70s groovy in a sophisticated way. Here’s what to expect.
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A shagadelic design sets a playful tone.
Lennox hopes you quickly forget that you’re on a bus after you enter the space. “There should be some suspension of disbelief,” says Lennox. He drew inspiration from swanky airplane bars of the ‘60s and infused the space with ‘70s funk. The design started with thick orange shag carpet and built up around that. There are banquettes outfitted in green floral upholstery, polished black tabletops, and sheepskin-clad captain’s chairs. Purple and orange swirled fabric lines the walls imbuing a psychedelic element. “It’s not identical to how tiger stripes flow through a tiger, but it is a bit of a homage, if you will,” says Lennox. Dim, orange-tinted lighting adds to the vibe. While Lennox’s other hotspots are known for their buzz, that won’t be an issue at Tiger Sun which only seats 18 people at a time, thus guaranteeing some level of exclusivity.
The menu pays homage to omakase-style experiences.
Visiting Tiger Sun requires a bit of planning. Instead of dropping in, guests book an omakase-style cocktail experience with four drinks paired with small bites. Typically associated with Edomae-style sushi counters, omakase translates to “I leave it to you” in Japanese and the meal involves several courses of sushi hand-chosen by the chef. Atlanta’s experienced a boom of omakase restaurants in recent years, with four of them earning Michelin stars. While guests won’t find sushi at Tiger Sun, the menu follows a similar format in that there’s a pre-set drink menu chosen by the bartenders, thoughtfully paired with bites — don’t expect your run of the mill drinks.
The debut menu pays homage to the classic ’80s movie The Karate Kid with two cocktail “paths” to choose from (Wax On and Wax Off, of course). The drinks themselves cheekily nod towards different lines or situations in the movie. The “fish and karate” cocktail, for example, references the time Daniel (the protagonist) realizes Mr. Miyagi isn’t a fisherman, but in fact, a karate legend. It’s a play on a sushi roll with cream cheese-washed gin, mezcal, and cucumber vermouth, garnished with dried seaweed; a bite-sized sweet crab toast accompanies the tipple. On the sweeter side, the “get him a body bag” riffs on mango sticky rice with cachaça, vanilla, passionfruit, mango, lime, and coconut milk, served alongside a toasted milk shortbread. “It just felt like a creative, fun way to round out that particular menu with a very memorable cocktail,” says Lennox.
It’s an immersive experience from start to finish.
At a time when new bar and restaurant openings can play it safe, Tiger Sun stands out as a truly immersive experience, from the design to the music pumping through the speakers. Lennox credits his small-but-mighty bar team for setting a fun tone. “I think five of them have some level of theater experience,” he says. “I would stop short of saying this is dinner theater – we’re not doing murder mysteries – but there is a theatrical element that we’re having fun with.”
Besides the drinks and retro decor, the playlist nods to the ‘80s flick, too. “The majority of the soundtrack is not that great, but we tried to stay within the period, also within Southern California (where The Karate Kid takes place),” says Lennox.
The theme will change soon.
If you think you’ll get a kick out of the Karate Kid theme, don’t wait too long. “We’re going to do the Karate Kid-inspired menu for the first four to six months, and then rolling into another movie as our source of inspiration,” says Lennox. He hasn’t nailed down the theme yet, so stay tuned.
Lia Picard is a lifestyle writer who has called Atlanta home for more than a decade. She writes about food, travel, and design for publications like the New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and Atlanta magazine. When Lia’s not writing, she can be found on an Atlanta adventure with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Instagram.
