The National - Review - Downtown Athens - Athens Ga - The Infatuation

"The National is a parent-friendly favorite for students looking for a top-notch, fancy-ish meal on someone else’s dime. Fine dining by college-town standards, the Mediterranean spot still fills with folks in khaki shorts (but polos and button-ups often replace the worn Greek T-shirts). And though it’s not a bar-bar, it’s a worthy switch-up if you want a sophisticated drinking scene in tavern-heavy Downtown Athens. Join the regulars huddled around the wooden bar and sip on a rotating menu of excellent seasonal cocktails designed by different bar staff members, like a creamy tequila drink with ube-pistachio orgeat or a rye sipper infused with sesame oil. And the creamy hummus platter or the sweet celery-stuffed dates help cleanse the palate, so you can keep the cocktails coming. photo credit: Sarah Newman" - Delaney Tarr