The Waiting Room

Cocktail Bar Offering Live Music the Waiting Room Opens Above Bon Ton in Midtown Atlanta | Eater Atlanta

"Tucked above Bon Ton on Myrtle Street in Midtown and occupying the former Top Flr space, the Waiting Room channels sexy 1970s lounge vibes with banquettes covered in red and pink shag, bucket and Panton-style chairs, cozy nooks, DayGlo mood lighting, and a piano wrapped like a disco ball on a small stage where DJs and live music begin at 10 p.m. Owned by Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins, it’s a seated, 21+ cocktail lounge (not a dance club) that seats around 50 people, requires guests to check in downstairs before being escorted up, and highly encourages reservations — especially on Friday and Saturday. The tongue-in-cheek menu features funky riffs on classic cocktails using ingredients such as blue curaçao, basil-infused eau de vie, and crème de menthe, plus large-format decanters for sharing like the Rock and Roll (Japanese whisky, bourbon, Dos Equis Especial) and the Train Round the Bend (gin, manzanilla sherry, blue curaçao). Snacks include boiled peanuts, barbecue adobe cocktail meatballs, and daily oysters on the half shell, with wine, beer, and cleverly concocted nonalcoholic drinks also available. Open Thursday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., the Waiting Room aims to fill a post-dinner drinks void with unpredictable nightly programming that might range from R&B or soul to someone strumming a harp." - Beth McKibben