Walk through bubblegum-pink doors to find a cozy cocktail den bursting with culture and community.
Parlor’s cocktail menu uses seasonal ingredients and is constantly rotating.
If you’re searching for the perfect place to enjoy postsupper sips, look no further than Parlor, a craft cocktail den hidden behind a pink door in Castleberry Hill. Alphonzo Cross, who owns the bar, explains that the idea was born out of a need for the in between, a place where people could interact without the hurry of a restaurant or fast pace of a club while still enjoying an elevated food and beverage program. While the cocktail list is superb (Cross hints at a delicious new concoction made with St. George absinthe), it’s a small part of the Parlor experience.
Here, guests sit side by side on lush velvet sofas, so that even strangers leave as friends, and bartenders are encouraged to interact with guests, placing hospitality at the forefront. The atmosphere is cozy, but packs a heavy dose of cultural DNA. The decor pays homage to the 1800s, which Cross notes was a transformative period for African Americans in the United States: “We wanted a high level of cultural impact around African Americans in the food and beverage space.”
Work from local artists hangs on the colorful walls accompanied by vintage portraits.
The space is intimate. With an occupancy limit of just 50, you won’t find an intimidating drink line or overcrowded bar front. This is a place where people come to enjoy intentional conversation against Parlor’s signature blues/hip-hop mix. It stands in stark contrast to the usual rush of Atlanta’s buzzy night scene.
At the heart of Parlor is an overwhelming sense of belonging. Perhaps it’s the dedication to community and conversation, or maybe it’s the emphasis on comfort. Regardless, the space is a break from the noise above and a reminder to slow down as only those at Parlor can: “People really get to live in the space and live in the moment in which they are wanting to live in the space,” says Cross. We’ll drink to that! @parlorden
Velvet sofas replace bar stools for a cozier cocktail experience.
Photography by: John R. Walder
