12 Summer Cocktails Around Atlanta For Keeping Cool

This sophisticated bar and cocktail lounge atop the Forth hotel wears its fabulousness lightly, and with views across town and an exclusive members club feel, makes for an appropriate place to retreat from the heat of the city. The Ghia paloma – a non-alcoholic blend of Ghia NA Aperitif, grapefruit, lime, agave and seltzer – fits the summer brief perfectly.

A floral, breezy take on the gin and tonic, Eti’s G&T is served with a sprig of rosemary, a slice of lemon, and in an oversized wine glass. Made with rosé gin and rose liquor, Kitty Dare’s G&T puts your tastebuds in a garden of subtle botanicals, where you’ll want to sip and savor all afternoon long. Even for those who don’t typically enjoy a G&T, this drink is unlike any other and one that’s worth your next visit to Kitty Dare.

Cathedral-height ceilings and a bumping soundtrack of Diana Ross and Prince have made this Colony Square bar a must-visit since it opened, and it’s also an excellent place to cool off in the heat. The signature drinks list is stacked, but if it’s refreshment you’re seeking, order the Casanova, a breezy blend of Ford’s gin, Génépy, aperitivo and vermouth, finished with lime spray and cucumber.

The perfect summer night is sitting at a café table outside of Vesper, sipping on a refreshing Bonita cocktail, watching the world on Glenwood pass by. Lunazul tequila, prickly pear syrup, lime,  and Fever Tree ginger beer make this sipper a stunner. And if you’re looking for an equally delicious zero proof version, try the Bonito, with zero-proof tequila.

This new arrival to Poncey-Highland is a shoo-in for most end-of-year lists for its wine program and relaxed bistro-plus cooking, but don’t overlook their cocktails. Cool off with the bar’s signature spritz, blending crémant, seltzer, citrus and mint; or slink into the evening with a Madeira Park, the venue’s eponymous cocktail, which combines 10-year sercial and seltzer with sultry orange oil and burnt rosemary to create a light and refreshing drink, perfect for long evenings in good company.

Avocado is so versatile that Fogón and Lions thought they’d go ahead and put it in a margarita. Their avocado margarita is served in a large margarita glass, with either a Tajín or salt rim, and is like the classic cocktail’s suave cousin. The drink is refreshing, decadent, and a must-try any time of the year, but especially summer on the patio of Fogón and Lions, with a few tapas while you scope out the downtown Alpharetta scene.

In a city of lounges, V12 stands out not merely for its famous co-owner and location (yes, it’s above a gas station) but also for its standout cooking and service. Cocktails, unsurprisingly, are a strong suit – try the spicy hibiscus margarita, which layers Herradura Blanco tequila with hibiscus, jalapeno and lime; or a refreshing Blackberry Bugatti, which hits smoky and sweet notes owing to a foundation of agave and smoked Hennessy combined with blackberries.

Are you ready to be transported to a tropical paradise without leaving Buckhead? Galliano, banana, pineapple, vanilla, and citrus make the Drift Away at St. Cecilia a summer favorite. Enjoy your cocktail alongside the chef’s selection of crudo and you might as well be beachside.

Jason Liang’s café and lunch spot in West Midtown morphs into a chic dinner spot at night, with a spacious wraparound bar perfect for perching and losing a couple of pleasurable hours in a friend’s company. As with the restaurateur’s other spots, the bar program is noteworthy, with innovative pours that stand out – try their riff on a classic G&T, nodding to the restaurant’s East Asian roots with aromatic yuzu-lime cordial and makrut lime leaf gin.

Fancy frosé is on the menu at the Battery favorite, C. Ellet’s. Enjoy a 10- or 16-oz summer slushie with rosé wine, vodka, Aperol, and a fresh mint garnish. It’s refreshing, boozy, and just a darn pretty drink. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, try the refreshing Bossa Nova, served on the rocks with cachaça, dry Curaçao, guava, Chinola, and lime.

The pretty peach-hued drink of your dreams, the Slabtown Sling at Ticonderoga Club is made with Murrell’s Row JamJam gin, Bénédictine, lemon lime, hibiscus, and soda, and served on the rocks in a Collins glass. Belly up to the bar at the Club, order this fruity, refreshing cocktail and before you know it, you’ll be ordering yourself another. Not feeling the booze? No problem. Try the refreshing Rosebush, a zero-proof cocktail with pineapple, lemon, apple cider vinegar, and soda.

Take a classic tiki drink, freeze it, and you’ve got a refreshing, rum-forward, tropical slushie. The S.O.S. Tiki Bar has a distinct summer vibe all year long, but they really push it into tropical territory with the frozen Painkilla. S.O.S. bartenders took the mai tai, made with white rum, aged rum, coconut cream, orange, and pineapple, and gave it the frozen drink treatment.  While you can’t really go wrong with anything on the menu (like the Zombie, a personal favorite), a must-have this summer is the frozen Painkilla to take your summer blues away.