Our Favorite Summer Dishes and Drinks in Atlanta
This article originally appeared in Where Atlanta‘s 2016 Summer Fun Guide.
Atlanta’s summers engage the senses like no other season—think warm breezes, gorgeous blossoms and vibrant landscapes. Summer’s natural beauty is enhanced by the flavorful dishes and zesty drinks concocted by local restaurants and bars as an homage to this season’s endless charm. Dig into Atlanta’s hottest time of year with our favorite summertime dishes and drinks.
A Sip of Summer
Our favorite summer cocktails capture the essence of the season in a glass. Sip on these to cool down while Atlanta heats up.
Grain uses liquid nitrogen to prepare many of its cocktails. Not only does this technique look cool, it also makes for exceptionally refreshing drinks. (©Tomas Espinoza)
Grain is a quintessential locals-only stop in the heart of Midtown. Sit in the shade of their outdoor patio while cooling down with the Endless Summer Smash, a mixture of Bols Genever, nitro-muddled mint and sage, watermelon, strawberry, beet shrub and vermouth served in a martini glass.
Kimball House creates some of the city’s best cocktails, so it’s no surprise this Decatur hotspot nailed their warm-weather cocktail, the Spring Daiquiri. Served in a goblet glass, this eye-widening concoction of rhum, rhubarb vermouth, celery, lime and chartreuse will awaken your senses. We’re holding on to this tasty and tart drink all summer long.
The Iberian Pig’s bright and refreshing Feel Good Hit of the Summer (Courtesy The Iberian Pig)
The Iberian Pig is a staple for Spanish cuisine, but we can’t stop thinking about their Feel Good Hit of the Summer. This sweet and zesty cocktail stirs up Papa’s Pilar Blonde rum, cachaça, strawberry-basil syrup and lemon over crushed ice to transport you to a whitesand beach.
A new South-African stall at Ponce City Market, Biltong Bar mixes up a refreshing selection of cocktails. The bright-red B.B. Cooler is especially apropos for a hot day: Aylesbury Duck vodka, lemon, lavender and Grapetiser—a sparkling red grape soda from South Africa—find a home for themselves in a collins glass with an orange-peel garnish.