The Waiting Room
Bar · Atlanta
674 Myrtle St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Highlights
Cocktails, 1970s vibes, live jazz, and cozy nooks
Cocktails, 1970s vibes, live jazz, and cozy nooks
"Step inside Midtown’s Bon Ton, ignore the hostess stand, and head up the dark staircase in front of you. The stairs give way to a carpeted, orange-tinted room—with live music, Austin Powers-approved interior decor, and drinks as strong as the kind they serve on Bourbon Street. Walk underneath the disco ball and past the curved booths with shaggy orange fur seats to get to the small bar. You can order everything from Bon Ton’s Cajun-Vietnamese menu downstairs (there are no exclusive menu items up here). But we usually stick with drinks (like the absinthe Hurricane) because it’s too tight of space to fumble around with a crawfish boil. And the place really gets crowded on Tuesdays when they have live jazz performances that make the space even more eclectic and fun." - Juli Horsford
"Throughout December, the cocktail bar above Bon Ton in Midtown will be decked out in holiday finery and serving festive drinks. Look for holiday events, too, like Christmas karaoke, Christmas trivia, a Christmas PJ party, and even Christmas bingo." - Beth McKibben
"This Midtown cocktail lair is likely Atlanta’s grooviest drinking destination. It simply oozes sexy 1970s lounge vibes. Backed by Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins, the Waiting Room takes over the former Top Flr space above their restaurant Bon Ton, sporting banquettes covered in red and pink shag, cozy little nooks for canoodling, and DayGlo mood lighting. There’s even a piano wrapped like a disco ball gracing the stage where DJs and live music kick off at 10 p.m. Look for funky riffs on classic cocktails using ingredients like blue curacao, basil-infused eau de vie, and creme de menthe heavily featured on the menu paired with snacks such as boiled peanuts, barbecue adobe cocktail meatballs, and daily oysters on the half shell. Groups can also order large format cocktails offered in decanters holding multiple servings, including the Rock and Roll mixed with Japanese whisky, bourbon, and Dos Equis Especial and a martini riff in the Train Round the Bend mixed with gin, manzanilla sherry, and blue curacao." - Beth McKibben
"The Waiting Room is officially open, and it’s likely Atlanta’s grooviest drinking destination oozing sexy 1970s lounge vibes. Owned by Atlanta restaurateurs Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins, the Waiting Room takes over the former Top Flr space above their restaurant Bon Ton on Myrtle Street in Midtown. Carr describes the new cocktail lair as a “sexy” somewhat “mysterious” bar, sporting banquettes covered in red and pink shag, bucket and panton-style chairs, cozy little nooks, and DayGlo mood lighting. There’s even a piano wrapped like a disco ball gracing a small stage where DJs and live music kick off at 10 p.m. But the Waiting Room “is not a dance club,” Carr clarifies. It’s “a seated cocktail lounge with bites,” that happens to offer live music. It’s also 21 and up. Seating around 50 people, reservations are highly encouraged to secure a table or seats at the bar." - Beth McKibben
"Following the closure of the Lawrence at the end of the month, Carr and Simpkins will turn their attention to opening cocktail bar the Waiting Room above Viet-Cajun restaurant Bon Ton on Myrtle Street. Described by Carr as a 'sexy, cozy' somewhat 'mysterious' bar oozing 1970s throwback vibes, the Waiting Room takes over the former Top Flr space offering classic cocktails and shareable decanter drinks, bar snacks, and live music. The Waiting Room should open by early February." - Beth McKibben
