Found in Buckhead, Copper Cove has an undeniably cool vibe. It might be the combination of a neon sign above the stage that says “love me or leave me alone,” the East Coast hip-hop influences throughout, and the dimly lit atmosphere. The lounge-restaurant serves Southern eats (think D’USSÉ chicken and waffles) and has a killer cocktail menu. Keep it cool with the Copper Cove Martini; the drink is sweet and citrusy with D’USSÉ Cognac, orange liqueur, and orange and lemon juices. 

At Buckhead’s Lily White, guests can enjoy Mediterranean and Persian flavors in a stylish setting that includes a blue-hued bar. Expect lots of bright flavors, especially in the cocktails. This is especially the case in the Yalda, a simple yet potent concoction of GREY GOOSE, pomegranate, and pineapple. It goes excellently with a mezze spread of hummus, labneh, fattoush (tomato and cucumber salad with bread), and harissa-glazed wings.

A white and blue color palette will have you thinking of the Mediterranean, but you’re actually in Buckhead. Go for the evening and unwind in the lively party atmosphere. If you’re looking for a zesty cocktail to kick off the evening, try the D’USSÉ Mule, a combination of the Cognac and ginger beer. The restaurant has a Mediterranean-inspired menu with seafood dishes like calamari and fried lobster mac and cheese.

T.I.’s ode to trap music, the genre that was born in Atlanta, is so much more than a museum. Yes, there are exhibits featuring visual artists and installations featuring musical artists, but there’s also a trap-themed escape room. On Thursdays, you can head into the music room for “Sip and Trap,” featuring DJs and cocktails, with complimentary champagne and a private guided tour of the museum. There’s also a bar that’s open Thursday through Sunday. Try out the escape room, and then calm down with the bar’s Port of Miami cocktail made with D’USSÉ Cognac, BACARDÍ Coconut, coconut syrup, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. The Trap Music Museum also works with community partners for programming, like the Juneteenth Virtual Mall, and recently organized the Atlanta Black Business Restoration Fund to help other Black-owned businesses rebuild.

The Gathering Spot is a private membership club for Black business owners, executives, and creatives. In normal times, the hub has open workspaces and meeting rooms, and there’s a full-service bar open on weekdays. Today, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent protests against police brutality, the Gathering Spot has become a hotspot for activism, virtually and IRL. The club recently raised $50,000 in community funds for businesses, and encouraged nearly half a million dollars in spending activity at Black-owned companies in just five days, thanks to its own social media campaign. If you find yourself there soon, order the Jessica Rabbit cocktail, created bartender Eric Nathan. It’s a sweet, slightly earthy blend of GREY GOOSE vodka, carrot juice, ginger syrup, mango nectar, and agave.

The word “luxe” springs to mind when you enter Suite Food Lounge. The downtown hotspot features plush seating, ambient lighting, swanky rooftop, and a variety of entertainment experiences ranging from live jazz to comedy. When it comes to drinks, you can’t go wrong with the Downtown cocktail. It’s a blend of GREY GOOSE Le Melon, ginger beer, and lime juice, and leaves you feeling refreshed — particularly when you’re on the rooftop patio.

Reality television made the Old Lady Gang —Joyce Jones, Bertha Jones and Nora Wilcox — famous, but Kandi Burruss-Tucker made their recipes accessible to everyone. Head to the vibrant Castleberry Hill neighborhood, just south of downtown, and you’ll find the original OLG. It’s a great spot to cool off and chow down on some classic southern food like Bertha’s fried chicken with macaroni and cheese. It’s also a great destination for inventive cocktails, like the Honey Bee (GREY GOOSE vodka, peach schnapps, lemon juice, honey, and lemonade). Pair it with Mama Sharon’s crabcakes (lump crab, corn relish, and remoulade) for a winning duo.

Cocktails with a side of games? Look no further than Pin and Proper in Grant Park. While your summer evening away with refreshing cocktails, like the D’USSÉ Collins, and a rousing round or two of “Pinfall.” The game is a bowling-football hybrid and is as interesting as it sounds. If you get hungry, there are also bar treats, like pretzel bites, a variety of flatbreads, and sandwiches.

The sports bar founded by Fletcher Penn offers casual confines for someone hungry for pub grub and looking to catch the game. Wet your whistle with the D’USSÉ margarita (instead of tequila, the base is Cognac) and chow down on hearty treats like the Philly cheese steak or the pan-seared catfish.

Head to College Park for Virgil’s, whose owners trace their family roots to the Gullah Geechee people — a population descended from Central and West Africa, were enslaved on islands from the Carolinas to Florida, and have a long history of preserving ancestral traditions and foodways. The industrial space features dishes passed down through co-owner Gregory Smalls’s family, like fried rice with crab, fried shrimp, and okra soup. You can also order the Uppity Old Fashioned, featuring D’USSÉ Cognac, bitters, and vermouth, and sip it alongside the sammen balls (fried salmon croquettes with geecheeboi sauce).

Night owls seeking libations in a trendy spot: look no further than IceBar, just south of downtown. There are bites, but it’s all about the drinks (and fishbowls) here. If you’re not sure where to start, you can’t go wrong with the Mango Tango Punch with BACARDÍ Mango, peach schnapps, orange juice, and lemonade.