If it makes me a snob for only really wanting to order a martini when I’m at a restaurant or fancy bar, so be it. However, from this newfound habit, I’ve learned the hard truth that not all martinis are created equal. Save yourself the money, and albeit, hangover, by enlisting these suggestions when looking to sip on a good martini in Atlanta. As a disclaimer, I plan on having this be a running list of martinis of places I’ve tried I would ONLY both recommend to a friend and order again myself. Another thing to note is that the two martinis I consistently enjoy are extra dirty vodka and espresso martinis, so this is a listing of staple and simple martinis. There are still so many spots I want to explore, so if you have any good recommendations send them my way!
‘The Dirty Greek’
Espresso Martini
Kyma never misses when it comes to martinis – they even have an entire portion of their menu dedicated to the craft. My two favorites to get when I go is the Dirty Greek and their iteration of the Espresso Martini. The Dirty Greek has been the best dirty martini I’ve found in Atlanta so far, largely because of the little intricacies they add to it, such as an olive oil wash, feta-stuffed olives, and sometimes if you’re lucky a few sprigs of fresh oregano. I’ve also fallen in love with their espresso martinis, which always come out either creamy or frothy.
Lychee Martini
I apologize for this terrible photo, it truly doesn’t capture the essence of how good it is. It’s a seamless combination of both exotic fruit and floral that cuts any taste of the vodka. Added bonus – it pairs well with any of their menu offerings!
The Georgia Tech Hotel Club Room
Extra Dirty Martini
This is definitely a curveball, I know, and I was taken aback too at how good it was when I first tried it. The ratio of olive brine to Tito’s (they don’t have Grey Goose btw) was perfect and you need to try it for yourself.
Lemon Drop Martini
The lemon drop is the first martini I ever became familiar with because it’s my mom’s favorite drink and the only thing she’ll order (other than the occasional glass of champagne) when we go to a nice family dinner. I tried it for the first time at Bistro Niko this past Christmas Eve as a fresh 21-year-old and I couldn’t help but think about how much it reminded me of fancy vodka lemonade.
‘Private Eyes Report’
My roommate Chloe and I TREATED ourselves this past March by having ourselves a GNO that started at the Four Seasons bar, Bar Margot. A highlight of that experience was running into the mayor of Atlanta while I was coming back from the bathroom. Making the night even more memorable were the yummy drinks we ordered. I started off with an extra dirty martini with Grey Goose and olives stuffed with BLUE CHEESE! It was so good. Then for our second drink, Chloe and I both ordered their iteration of an espresso martini that featured the unconventional additions of bourbon and maple syrup.
Blood Orange Martini & Extra Dirty Martini
My cousin Julian has been raving for months about Ipp’s $5 ($5??!!!!!) weekly Wednesday martini night and we finally got around to making the trek OTP to indulge in the fun. Let me tell you – $5 gets you FAR here. Half of the restaurants on this list have thus far failed to make a martini as strong as the one I tried here. Take that knowledge however you want to, but nonetheless, it tasted like a grown-up version of Sunny-D and I would come back again. Also, don’t be afraid of the shockwave that the amount of vodka gives you because they have complimentary garlic butter rolls that soak it all up 🤣.
That’s all for now! Again, if you have any recommendations for martini places or a specific martini I need to try, I am all ears. I hope you enjoy these if you give them a try:)
💘 Hanna
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