Go where the glitterati go with this list of exclusive, over-the-top experiences in food and drink.
The high-rolling Masayoshi at Himitsu.
Best MultiCourse Tasting Menu
Restaurant Eugene (2277 Peachtree Road NW, restauranteugene.com) Linton Hopkins’ pièce de résistance is certainly the impressive tasting menu at his most formal establishment.
Most Impressive Wine List
Empire State South (999 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. 140, empirestatesouth.com) This James Beard Award-winning wine list complements the new Southern staples at Hugh Acheson’s Midtown restaurant.
Best Sommelier
Samuel Gamble, Atlas (88 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, atlasrestaurant.com) Samuel Gamble is an absolute delight, whether he’s pouring a la carte or from the tasting menu at Atlas.
Best Whiskey List
Little Alley Steak Buckhead (3500 Lenox Road NE, Ste. 100, littlealleysteak.com) Hundreds of whiskeys from as far away as Taiwan and India—and, of course, from Kentucky, as well—are on Little Alley Steak Buckhead’s list.
Most Impressive Cocktails
Himitsu (3050 Peachtree Road NW, puraibeto.com/himitsu) The delights at this reservation-only cocktail den are never-ending and internationally acclaimed.
Best Speciality Steak Cuts
Chops Lobster Bar (70 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, buckheadrestaurants.com) Everything from a porterhouse for two to the A5 Miyazaki wagyu will tempt carnivores at Chops Lobster Bar.
Best Service
Aria (490 E. Paces Ferry Road NE, aria-atl.com) Known for attention to detail, Aria’s guest experience—whether at the bar or in the dining room—is extremely special.
Best Private Catering
Sun In My Belly (2161 College Ave. NE, suninmybelly.com) Max LeBlanc and his team provide hassle-free, elevated and delicious options for your private events.
Best Event Catering
Bold Catering & Design (887 W. Marietta St. NW, bold-events.com) The most requested catering in town is supreme for its expansive menu and excellent service.
Best Wine Instruction
Vino Venue (4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, vinovenue.com) Everyone from novices to pros can find education at Vino Venue thanks to its classes and certifications.
Best Patio
Mission + Market (3550 Lenox Road NE, missionandmarketatl.com) Enjoy chef Ian Winslade’s West Coast-inspired fare on Mission + Market’s spacious patio overlooking Lenox Road.
Best After-Work Scene
Gypsy Kitchen (The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, gk-atl.com) Perched above The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, Gypsy Kitchen is the place to see and be seen after hours with a menu overflowing with tasty bites and sips.
Spanish-inspired nibbles complement the libations at Gypsy Kitchen.
Most Philanthropic Restaurant
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (3500 Peachtree Road, davios.com/atl) Known for its generosity to local charities and the community, Davio’s is always a place to eat well and do good at the same time.
Best Wine Storage
Vine Vault Atlanta (3764 Miami Circle, Ste. 211, vinevault.com) Whether you need to store your wine in a professional setting or have your wine cellar moved with a white-glove touch, Vine Vault is the place in Atlanta to take care of your precious bottles.
Most Innovative Menu
Gunshow (924 Garrett St., gunshowatl.com) The dim sum-style menu of rotating chef creations—presented by the chefs themselves—has earned Kevin Gillespie’s Gunshow restaurant international acclaim.
Most Over-the-Top Caviar Service
Marcel (Westside Provisions District, marcelatl.com) The Iranian Imperial Osetra Caviar Service at Marcel ($395) is unparalleled, and that’s before the accoutrements of steak tartare, truffle aioli and more.
Most Exclusive Dining Space
C. Ellet’s Steakhouse (The Battery Atlanta, c-ellets.com) A private back room reserved for Atlanta Braves players, executives and VIPs, the only way to get in is to be in the know.
Above: Gypsy Kitchen.
Newest Vip Club
RFD Social (Ponce City Market, poncecityroof.com) This invite-only club on the 12th floor of the tower of Ponce City Market is tight-lipped about its clientele for good reason.
Scene-iest Dining Room
Le Bilboquet (The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, lebilboquetatlanta.com) You come here as much for the Cajun chicken and curried chicken salad as you do to be seen by Atlanta’s hautest diners.
Most Anticipated Opening for 2019
Le Colonial (The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, lecolonialnyc.com) One of the most highly anticipated openings for 2019 is surely Le Colonial. Brought to Atlanta through a collaboration of the owners of Umi and Le Bilboquet, this guaranteed hot spot will be serving up Vietnamese in a French-inspired interior. Piggybacking on the successful outposts in Manhattan, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston, the Atlanta concept will be installed in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta sometime in the spring and will be like nothing else in the area. Expect dishes like bo luc lac shaking beef, crispy wild-caught red snapper with spicy garlic glaze and more.
